Testing Testing 123

By | April 23, 2011
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If you are into that sort of thing you’re probably aware that Portal 2 was out this week on various video game devices. It is, of course, the sequel to the brilliant original whereby you as a test subject are subjected to spatial awareness puzzles that try to kill you under the guise of testing for science by a sentient and increasingly disturbing computer AI by the name of GLADoS. It’s a short game, but it’s challenging and frequently very funny, a neat puzzler involving story by stealth, and the sequel is like the original except there is a bit more of it. The original came out in 2007.

It therefore makes us sad that Solitary, beginning in 2006, never really invaded the US public’s conciousness despite being popular enough on the Fox Reality cable channel to get four seasons. In it, test subjects are subjected to physical and mental endurance challenges under the guise of testing for science by by a sentient and increasingly disturbing computer AI by the name of VAL. There were two main tasks on each episode, a frequently frustrating test, the winner of which didn’t have to partake in VAL’s treatment where the first person who couldn’t take it any more and hit the red button went home. For whatever reason there isn’t much up of it on Youtube (back when we did videos we put up a brilliant challenge involving sleep deprivation before we had to take it down) however this video from the final series is quite funny.

Show discussion: The Million Pound Drop – Live! Spring 2011

By | April 22, 2011
30 Comments

I don’t know what number series they’re calling this so I’m playing it safe.

Anyway, the lovely Davina’s back for six more weekends of drop drama and tonight’s first episode is set to feature Andrew Flintoff and partner. It’s on 10pm on Fridays and 9pm Saturdays.

Reports have suggested that someone who beats the online game this series will get to go and play for real – Google will never know what’s hit it. You can play that here.

Things

By | April 20, 2011
41 Comments

Come back in a bit, I’ll have done the You Don’t Know Jack HD iPad review and if I have the time, Ellen’s Know or Go.

In the meantime, Twitter has just announced that The Cube is coming back for a fourth series, so well done The Cube.

Edit: Here’s You Don’t Know Jack.

And 12 Yard’s Holding Out For a Hero has apparently been comissioned for the autumn, so well done them.

Right, and here’s Ellen’s Know or Go HD. If you don’t know Know or Go is, think Russian Roulette if it was done in the same style as Channel 4 non-hit Sabotage. Why isn’t there a verison of Russian Roulette (as in the TV show) on the app store, eh? Anyway, here’s a video.

Good stuff

By | April 18, 2011
3 Comments

Some things I’ve just discovered/been told:

  • Grant Bowler is hosting The Amazing Race Australia, which is excellent because he was brilliant hosting the four seasons of Aussie Mole he did. And Lost.
  • From a tip on Twitter: Push The Button gets French version called Pouch le bouton, hosted by Vincent Lagaf, TF1. Top prize 100k€, launches 7th May. (Thanks @ljouvin) Vincent Lagaf is, of course, completely amazing and I’m very interested to see Push the Button done in the TF1 style.

Board of Excitement 16th – 22nd April 2011

By | April 17, 2011
31 Comments

Another quite boring week:

  • The Bother Series of Poker Game 8: Deepstack Doubler – it’s all very exciting in the world of Pokerland at the moment, however what’s going on shouldn’t affect those of us playing in the UK – yet. You may find you need to update your software by downloading from fulltiltpoker.co.uk if your current software will not update, and regrettably it looks like our one US contestant will not be able to join us for the forseeable. The discussion page for Game 8 is here. (8pm, Sunday, Full Tilt)
  • I’m going to the doctors to get a chest X Ray. Well technically she’s going to phone up the hospital and get me one which seems like quite a convoluted system really. (Wednesday)
  • The Million Pound Drop – Live! – Either series four or five, depending if the run of episodes at Christmas counts as a series or not. Anyway, it’s back for six weekends and Freddie Flintoff and partner are on the first one. That means that there’s every chance Flintoff will be competing with himself on A League of Their Own on Sky One from 9:30pm. (10pm Friday, 9pm Saturday, Channel 4)
  • Don’t Scare the Hare – Nowadays any show that has an obstacle in it is “a bit like Total Wipeout“. This one also has a talking animatronic hare and a lengthy gestation period. Angry frogs and laser beam carrots are promised, and at no point has Barry Davies been mentioned. (5:25pm, Saturday, BBC1)

And at some point I’ll stick up an iPad review of You Don’t Know Jack.