rusnakcreative's Macro-enabled PowerPoint Gameshow Games!

JadeJohnsonGames wrote:No suggestions yet, but three words:

"Yay!  Thank you!"

TimsSlideshowGames wrote:I bet you know which games I decided to check out...

First off, I have to say that your VBA skills are phenomenal. Even though I can't see the code you're using, I can tell you've put a lot of thought into it through some rather advanced functions. I'm slowly starting to learn more VBA, and I appreciate how you've made me scratch my head more than a couple times.

TimsSlideshowGames wrote:Next, let's look at Wheel of Fortune (rusnakcreative)'s feature set. The rusnakcreative version has several fundamental differences from the Tim's Slideshow Games version, some which were executed well, others which could have been implemented better. The first major difference is that the rusnakcreative version is based on setting up puzzles via multiple puzzle board slides. By setting up puzzles beforehand, it allows for the possibility of some automation. The host wouldn't have to consider the letter placement in the puzzle, which s/he would have to do currently with the Tim's Slideshow Games version. That said, it does take quite some work for the host to set up these puzzles, filling in the letters in white and changing fill colors for each tile. It's not difficult or anything, but I think there's a more efficient way to handle this process, which is currently being researched for a future version of Wheel of Fortune (Tim's Slideshow Games).

TimsSlideshowGames wrote:Then we have toss-up and bonus round support, which aren't in the Tim's Slideshow Games version (yet). The toss-ups work very well, and I can tell I'll have to work furiously to build my own implementation of that. I couldn't get the bonus round to work properly though. You mention that PowerPoint 2010 has an issue with the timer code, so I'll give the benefit of the doubt it's good too. I'll see if it's possible to implement a bonus round that supports PowerPoint 2007/2010 for the Tim's Slideshow Games version.

TimsSlideshowGames wrote:Now the wheel, I have mixed feelings about this. I'll start with the pros. I like how the rusnakcreative version tries to stand out with the strength slider and how you click on the wedge landed on to perform automatic adding to a player's score. That said, there's only one wheel used for all main puzzles, and the wheel isn't very accurate to the actual game show's. For instance, there are two full bankrupt wedges in the actual game show's wheel. This wheel only has one, which may lower the tension of spinning the wheel.  Also, I couldn't find any of the "big value" wedges ($2500, $5000) that make the wheel more compelling to watch. 

TimsSlideshowGames wrote:Design wise, it's gotta be a toss-up (no pun intended). Keep in mind that design is very subjective, so bear with me. Several of the vectors look amazingly polished, like the bonus round wheel, the toss-up icon, and even the puzzle board to some degree. But then there are things that can look kind of off. The stage lights (which I created by the way) may look fine with my own design motif, but they look a little out there compared to the rest of the rusnakcreative design. And maybe the floor could be raised up a bit more so that the puzzle board looks more planted. Yes, this is being nit-picky, but it's hard not to analyze this when I see my own stuff in there.

TimsSlideshowGames wrote:Overall, Wheel of Fortune (rusnakcreative) is a solid Wheel of Fortune PowerPoint contender, and I can feel the heat of some competition. Here's my current, attempt-to-not-be-biased, breakdown of the two versions.

- If you desire a Wheel of Fortune PowerPoint that utilizes more automation and has formal support for toss-ups and bonus rounds, use the rusnakcreative version.
- If you desire a Wheel of Fortune PowerPoint that's easier to understand how it works and features more realistic wheels, use the Tim's Slideshow Games version.

Of course, that's just right now. Future versions of the Tim's Slideshow Games version will attempt to overcome its current shortcomings, and I have no doubt the rusnakcreative version become more sophisticated over time. IT'S ON!

I already posted my Bingo Master Board topic here, and I'll post the Wheel of Fortune topic soon so you can share your thoughts.

rusnakcreative wrote:Eventually I do want to have a way where the puzzles would be generated automatically when you input words or a phrase into an input box. I think I may have an idea how to pull this off, but it's a stretch. For now, I'm content with how the puzzle set up procedure is. In comparison, other Wheel games are set up with hundreds of triggered letter tiles that you have to place into the puzzle board. Now, I'm willing to bet that most people aren't that familiar, nor care to use the align tools after placing their tiles, so the grid of tiles would appear very sloppy. Plus, what if your puzzle has 7 "E"s but the game only has 6 that are set up? Looks like you'll have to go with another word or phrase. With my set up by typing in the letters, and changing the color is already much simpler and isn't as limiting.

rusnakcreative wrote:'m not sure if you've played long enough, but I have the wheel set to change and reveal a couple more wedges in the later rounds. The second Bankrupt value does make an appearance too.

Here's how I have my wheel set up, so that way you can understand it's differences from yours. I wanted to have the wheel to mimic the real wheel in that each spin is random, and has different lengths of spin. Another thing I didn't like about other wheels is that the wheel ALWAYS starts on the same spot, and not where you last left it after the previous spin. With how I have my wheel set up, it will randomly generate a rotation animation, and the strength slider will add more or less to the spin as indicated on the slider. I know it doesn't appear to do much, but it does make a difference. The rotation animation is generated only ONCE per visit to the wheel slide. I also have it programmed to round off by a specific degree to prevent from landing on any lines. When it's all said and done, the code looks at how the wheel is placed now and remembers it the next time you visit so that it'll start in the same place it landed on the last spin. Very cool and often underappreciated feature! With all that said, I do see how just having the animation on the wheel would be easier to set up and use. It's all a matter of preference, and my preference is more of a realistic feeling wheel in terms of function. As for the wedges, they're based off a wheel graphic I found on google, and then I redid the wheel in PowerPoint with shapes and grouped them together.

rusnakcreative wrote:Was wondering if you'd notice, lol! Yes, I started using your file as a base and I went to town adding my spin (pun intended) to it. I liked the lights so I left them in, but I suppose I could let them go or change them up now. Thanks for pointing them out! If it makes you feel any better, I did completely redo the puzzle board from scratch which was a huge pain since I had to align two sets of grid tiles over, and over, and over . . . I'm sure you can remember and relate.

• How easy is it to play?
  
• How close does it feel to the actual game show?
  
• How does it stand out from other Deal or No Deal games on the Internet?
  

• It’s best suited for full screen on a projector.
  
• It has the ability to customize money values.
  
• It’s meant to be played with a contestant, host, and audience.
  

• Actual music, top-notch graphics
  
• Music changes depending on the money value
  
• Ability to customize money values
  

• The Use Decimals toggle
  

• Allow usage of less than 26 briefcases
  
• Add money value sorting in customize money values slide
  
• Remove decimal toggle altogether. Game should be able to handle integers and decimal numbers together.
  
• Add the option to input custom banker offers
  
• Game Settings should lead to Game Settings. Find another way to link to About the Game.
  
• Add money value error prompts when starting a game if the money values are invalid
  
• Bug: Entering large money values for the left money pillar cause visual problems since that side wraps text to shape unlike the right. Make sure all money value shapes contain the same properties.
  
• Bug: The game breaks after five minutes of inactivity due to PowerPoint’s browse at a kiosk behavior. This is a feasible outcome during a game if there is a difficult banker offer decision. Consider finding a way to return to the game’s current state from the first slide to mitigate the breakage.
  

TimsSlideshowGames wrote:[url=forum.rusnakcreative.com/t219-version-3-5-of-deal-or-no-deal-includes-minor-updates-and-bug-fixes]Well, that was quick.[/url]

Were you already preparing this update beforehand?

• How easy is it to play?
  
• How close does it feel to the actual game show?
  
• Should you use rusnakcreative's Jeopardy, or should you look elsewhere?
  

• The logo is bright, front, and center.
  
• The ethereal backdrop and music set the mood.
  
• Set players directly on the title slide. This may not sound like a big deal, but think of it this way: you, the host, get to enthusiastically enter contestant names while while they're pumped up from the above points.
  
• Straight to the point. No unnecessary bells and whistles.
  

Ok, so rusnakcreative mixed up Jeopardy's questions and answers. I don't blame him, since using the proper semantics would probably confuse the majority of users. But still...ugh! From now on, I'll refer to what the hosts reads as a prompt, and what contestants respond as a response. (Thanks Kevin Dufendach for bailing me out.)

Anyway, adding prompts was easy. Going back to PowerPoint's editing view, each category has its own section, helping me remember the prompts I should be writing.

There's also a way to write the correct response. It's not strictly necessary though, since the host should already remember this on top of his/her head or on note cards.

It is also possible to edit prompts and responses with the template-specific Excel spreadsheet. For those who prefer a bird's eye view of the game, this is a godsend. Importing the prompts/responses to the PowerPoint file worked flawlessly.

There's a respectable selection of settings, and I liked how it was possible to change the score value set. Call me nitpicky, but I would have preferred if the current day score set was the default instead of the classic one.

My arch nemesis: "I'll take Category 3 for $200, please."
Me: "Um, you mean Cartoon Characters for $200."
My arch nemesis: "No, you silly goose. Look, it clearly says Category 3."

Dang it, arch nemesis, you one-upped me again! Seriously though, where's my beautifully crafted category names? I typed them in the category slides in editing view. How come they don't appear on the board?

(Note that the category names will appear when importing with the Excel template. Still, this is definitely a flaw.)

Moments later, we finally continued the game. What's great is that the contestant's scores were always visible whether we were on a prompt or the main board. On prompt slides, a plus and minus sign appears for each contestant, and I'm sure you know what they do. A timer is also included, and clicking on a plus sign will conveniently bounce the game back to the main board.

It took a while, but finally, someone got the Daily Double.

The risk lover: "$3000 wager, please."
Me: "But you don't have $3000. You can't wager that much money."
The risk lover: "Oh yeah? Prove it. Enter my wager and prove me wrong!"
Me: "Alright..." *enters wager* "Oh, snap, it allowed it."
The risk lover: "HA! Take that, incompetent host!"
Me: *sighs* "Where's that error check when I really need it..."

I decided to play along, and it turned out the risk lover missed the Daily Double question. Yikes! There goes a lot of money.

Two things felt off. First, why isn't negative money red like in the actual show. Second, why wasn't I taken back to the main board?

Anyway, the rest of the round went by smoothly. Fortunately, there was a way to skip to the next round without finishing all the first round prompts in case I was strapped for time. Round 2 (Double Jeopardy) played just like the first, except there were two daily doubles and the money values were doubled.

With round 2 finished, it was time for the main attraction: Final Jeopardy.

Me: "And the final category is TV Tropes. Contestants, write down your wagers!"
Experienced audience member: "Hold up. I've used this template before, and that's not it works."
Me: "Huh? But that's how Final Jeopardy works in the actual show."
Experienced audience member: "Yeah, but here, you need to mark each contestant's wager beforehand. They're covered in asterisks so contestants won't know what the others wagered."
Me: "So...does that mean each contestant has to line up in front of me, whisper their wager, and cross their fingers that I didn't mess up inputting that wager?"
Experienced audience member: "Pretty much."

So yeah, that was awkward. It would have been miles better if there was an option to input wagers after the final correct response was revealed.

[Disclosure: The above contestants and scripted conversations were entirely imaginary.]

The Aftermath

• If you're preparing a nonconventional Jeopardy game, this template is NOT for you. For instance, if you'd like a game with fewer than six categories or a scoring system not based on dollars, look elsewhere.
  
• If you want a Jeopardy game that already has prompts, this template is NOT for you. In your use case, you may want to find a Jeopardy game at JeopardyLabs instead.
  
• If you use a Mac, this template is NOT for you. Due to the inclusion of ActiveX controls, the template in its current form will not work on PowerPoint for Mac.
  
• If you're looking to host the most authentic Jeopardy game you can reasonably get, this template IS for you. Despite a few quirks here and there, it's difficult to find a more true-to-form Jeopardy tool than this.
  

• Impressive effort recreating Jeopardy graphics
  
• Easy editing, especially with the Excel template
  
• Automatic scorekeeping works seamlessly
  
• That title slide
  

• Contestants having to walk up to the host for final wagers
  

• Make player scores red when negative
  
• Add wager checks to Daily Doubles
  
• During Daily Doubles, return to board automatically after clicking add OR subtract.
  
• A PowerPoint for Mac port (no ActiveX controls) would be nice. Surely it has to be possible.
  
• Editing category names without Excel template is problematic. Game should read the category names entered and place them to the board.
  
• Change the final wager system so that wagers are inserted after the final correct response is revealed.
  

• Red text when negative - I was able to get the scores to change to red when in the negatives, that was an easy fix.
  
• Wager Checks - I'm still working on a way to get a wager check for the Daily Doubles, and the Final Round as well. I will probably need to change the way how this process is done rather than adapt what I currently have, but should be doable.
  
• Return after Daily Double - Daily Doubles will now return to board automatically after clicking add or subtract (only if you have that setting turned on, of course!)
  
• Mac friendly version - Eventually I do want to have Mac-friendly versions of my games available. Does the Mac allow the dialog boxes like Adjust Scores pop up form? If so, then I could change the games to use those instead of in-slide text boxes.
  
• Editing Category Names - I'm a little confused here, was the game changing your category names to the default? What slide(s) did you modify the category names, and which slides didn't get updated that should have? As of now, the category names don't automatically update if you type them in manually, but I can add that feature and would like to know what you think how the best way to incorporate this feature.
  
• Final Wager System - I think this is fine as it is. I may need to clarify how to use it in the game. Here's how I pictured this process to work: The players/teams will write down their wagers, and hand them up to the host, who will then type them into the game, not the individual players.
  

• Mac support: At first, I didn't think dialog boxes like Adjust Scores pop up form would work on PPT Mac, but after some research, I was surprised to find out that userforms, which is what you probably used, are indeed supported. Fascinating, and this could impact my own projects. Thanks!
  
• Category names: Editing category names in their dedicated slides (slides 9-14, 48-53) don't update onto the main board. The game should do this upon starting a new game so that hosts don't have to type category names twice.
  
• Final wager system: The way I see how it should work, contestants write down their wagers on a sheet of paper. On another sheet of paper, they write their response. As each contestant reveals their response, they hold up their wager so everyone else can read it. When the host adjusts the scores, an input box would appear for each contestant asking how much the wager was.
  
  After thinking about it more, I do see the pros and cons of each of our approaches.
  
  Why your approach may be better:
    - Reduces possibility of cheating on wager
    - Only one sheet of paper needed
  
  Why my approach may be better:
    - Contestants stay where they are
    - It could cause more suspense for contestants to reveal their written wagers than just see scores instantly change
  

• This template uses Millionaire’s original rules. That’s fifteen questions and three lifelines; no clocks or shuffling.
  
• Despite the description, Millionaire is NOT Mac friendly due to ActiveX controls.
  

• The actual show has a lot of music. There’s music for each question of the game.
  
• PowerPoint is limited to WAV audio for transitions. WAV takes up a lot of space.
  

• The audio tracks “02 Opening Titles…,” “10 Let’s Play,” and “11 $100-$1000…” (the second one) are duplicates. Since this track weighs 14 MB, that’s 28 MB to save right there.
  
• The audio for questions 6-15 could be trimmed. Each track in the media folder plays for 2 minutes and 40 seconds. However, when listening to the entire track, you’ll notice that the music loops a lot. A thorough investigation with Audacity reveals that each track should last for 32 seconds but are instead looped FIVE times.
  
  Trimming the audio down to 32 seconds trims the file size by about 22 MB each. Since ten question tracks have this issue, that’s a theoretical 220 MB in savings.
  

• For the true original rules, you’ll want to edit the questions 10-12 values.
  
• Delete any unused Millionaire question slides; they’ll slow down the template otherwise.