Spicks and Specks-Interactive Quiz: The Encore Edition (2009)

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General		Extras
Category	Game	Main Menu Audio Booklet-Instructions and score sheets Collector Card-Game Cards
Rating
Year Of Production	2009
Running Time	?
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	None Given
Studio Distributor	Entertainment One	Starring	Adam Hills Myf Warhurst Alan Brough
Case	Slip Case
RPI	?	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    I thoroughly enjoy the music quiz television show, Spicks and Specks on the ABC due to its fast moving comedic style, fun host (the very amusing Adam Hills), interesting contestants and of course, the trivia. Accordingly, I was keen to see how well this interactive DVD game would convert the show to a game format. This is in fact the second edition of a DVD game based on Spicks and Specks with an initial one being released a year or two ago by Hopscotch. This new one entitled The Encore Edition features new questions which may well make it appeal to fans of the original. I have not had the pleasure of playing the first one so I cannot directly compare them.

    To my mind, this is one of the best interactive DVD games I have played in that it moves along quite quickly (unlike the painful Who wants to be a Millionaire? ones) and is definitely aided by being hosted by the genial Adam Hills and the team captains, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough (as opposed to the annoying Eddie Maguire). The format of the game is very similar to the show and players need to be divided into two teams, joining either Team Alan or Team Myf. The only drawback is that you cannot really play this properly with less than four people (although you can play with two if you skip Round 4). Unlike other DVD games this one does not keep score but a scorebook is included. Although this might seem like a drag it does make the game move along more quickly adding to the enjoyment.

    When you start you can choose one of 32 different games (which comprise variations on what each round is but share questions in the basic trivia sections) which are all made up of five rounds. The five rounds are

1. Know Your Product - Each team chooses a category of questions and then all try to answer them

2. Look What They've done to my Song Ma - Popular songs played and sung very differently and you try to guess what they are

3. Various games from the show depending on which of the 32 games you choose

4. Substitute or Cover Versions - These games both require at least two people in each team and the use of cards included in the disc package. Substitute involves singing the tunes of songs using text from a unrelated book. Cover Versions involves drawing hints to a song title. Both require on team member to perform and the others to guess what song they are doing.

5. The Final Countdown - Trivia Questions with a time limit.

    According to the box there are over 1200 questions included for the trivia sections, however, you will notice some duplication if you consistently choose the same categories. The only thing missing from the actual show are the comedic elements as the contestants bounce things off each other and Adam. These are obviously difficult to create in a game environment.

   Fans of the show who have mates around will enjoy the challenge of this game. Recommended.

Video

    The game is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced widescreen.

    The picture was clear and sharp with no major issues to report.

    The colour was excellent.

    There are no subtitles.
    

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio is good.

    This DVD contains an English Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack which is perfectly adequate for a game.

    Dialogue was clear and easy to understand.

    The surround speakers and subwoofer were not used in any noticeable way.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu includes the same intro as the show and is simple to operate allowing access to an explanation of the rules by Adam Hills.

    This is a Region 4 release only.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is good.

    No extras.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall