Buzz!: The Schools Quiz
Encyclopedia
Buzz!: The Schools Quiz is an educational game based on the popular Buzz!
series of games. The game was developed by Relentless Software
in association with the UK Government's Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The game's 5,000 questions are based on the Key Stage 2
Curriculum that covers children between the ages of 7 and 11 years.
Although the game is published by Sony the development cost were covered by Relentless themselves and a Government grant from DfES to fund the initial prototype.
gave it top marks of 5 stars and said "The Schools Quiz is certainly no substitute for homework or proper revision, but it is a good way to reinforce what children have already learnt in class" The Guardian
gave the game 4/5 and said "This game is a great way for both teachers and parents to make learning fun"
Despite the game being for use in UK schools only, it was criticised by US attorney Jack Thompson
who was quoted in UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph
as saying "Video games have hurt far more people than they have helped,", "I don't see how they can be of any more benefit than normal teaching.".
Although in an email to UK video game website Eurogamer
, Thompson stated that the quotes were "a total fabrication". Thompson continued "I was never interviewed about Buzz. I had never heard about it until I was quoted having allegedly said this about it,".
Buzz!
Buzz! is a series of video games originated by Sleepydog Ltd., developed by Relentless Software and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles. They are quiz games that see the players answering trivia questions while...
series of games. The game was developed by Relentless Software
Relentless Software
Relentless Software is a British video game company formed in 2003 that is based in Brighton. Following Relentless’ first title, DJ: Decks & FX it developed 12 games in the Buzz! franchise with over 10 million units sold in more than 15 languages...
in association with the UK Government's Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The game's 5,000 questions are based on the Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
Curriculum that covers children between the ages of 7 and 11 years.
Although the game is published by Sony the development cost were covered by Relentless themselves and a Government grant from DfES to fund the initial prototype.
Rounds
- Fastest Finger - A traditional round of Buzz! games. Players press their coloured buttons as fast as they can and see if they can get the questions right.
- Pie Fight - A round which first appeared in Buzz! The Mega Quiz, when a player gets a question correct they choose who they want to throw a pie at but they have to be careful, they could throw it at themselves!
- Fact or Fiction - Another round that was also in Buzz! The Mega Quiz. The questions take the form of Buzz making a statement and players use the blue and orange buttons to say if the statement is fact or fiction.
- General Knowledge - New to Buzz! You select your subject and everyone answers a question on it.
- Top Rank - Players put the answers in the correct order as fast as they can!
- The Final Countdown - Players' points are turned into time and however long they take to answer a question, their chances of winning goes down. Last one standing wins the game.
Voices
- Buzz - Jason Donovan
- Rose - Nicky Birch
- Questions - Sally Beaumont
Reception
Probably because Buzz!: The Schools Quiz was seen more as an educational aid rather than a game per se, the game wasn't reviewed in any of the regular games magazines and websites although the newspaper reviews that it did receive were positive. The Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
gave it top marks of 5 stars and said "The Schools Quiz is certainly no substitute for homework or proper revision, but it is a good way to reinforce what children have already learnt in class" The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
gave the game 4/5 and said "This game is a great way for both teachers and parents to make learning fun"
Despite the game being for use in UK schools only, it was criticised by US attorney Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson (attorney)
John Bruce "Jack" Thompson is an American activist and disbarred attorney, based in Coral Gables, Florida. Thompson is known for his role as an anti-video-game activist, particularly against violence and sex in video games....
who was quoted in UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
as saying "Video games have hurt far more people than they have helped,", "I don't see how they can be of any more benefit than normal teaching.".
Although in an email to UK video game website Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
, Thompson stated that the quotes were "a total fabrication". Thompson continued "I was never interviewed about Buzz. I had never heard about it until I was quoted having allegedly said this about it,".