Game shows have a long history in the world of TV. This event is also a type of entertainment that many people like. If you like watching them, you might want to try making your own. Whether you want the show to be broadcast on a major or local television network, or even if you want to stream it for free from a YouTube channel, there are a number of things to keep in mind when developing a game show.
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Part 1 of 5: Preparing the Event Format
Step 1. Choose the genre
There are many different types of game shows on the market, so you'll need to determine the genre for your show. Some of the types include:
- Trivia games, such as Who Wants to Be A Millionaire and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
- Puzzle games, such as Concentration.
- Word games, for example Family 100 and Related Words
- Physical competition games, for example Takeshi Castle.
- Performance competition programs, such as Indonesian Idol and Indonesia's Got Talent.
Step 2. Create a unique event
You have to find a way to differentiate your show from other games on the market – make it special. Do not let you imitate other events 100%. However, you can mix different aspects of these various events into a unique format for your own event.
- Will the participants win prizes in cash or in kind (eg car/free holiday trip to the Bahamas)? Or do they have the opportunity to make donations to a charity of their choice, such as a celebrity game show?
- You can narrow the scope of the event to be specific: for example, about a football game at the university level, which is aimed at sports lovers.
- Do the participants have a chance to stay afloat for several rounds, or will the lowest ranked be eliminated after one round?
Step 3. Determine how long each event is
Don't let game events end too soon, but also make sure they don't last too long. At the very least, the game should last about half an hour to ensure all questions have been asked and answered, and the audience is satisfied. If your show is longer than an hour, people may start to get bored and stop paying attention.
Step 4. Divide each episode into rounds
By setting up a competition structure, you give it a competitive nature in a narrative style. At the end of each round, the audience gets to see and support some contestants more than others; this way, tension will be created as they anticipate who will win.
- Make sure each round is long enough to fully develop – take at least ten minutes. The number of rounds will depend on the duration of the event – shorter events may only run two rounds, while longer ones may play four acts.
- The duration of each round must be the same/same.
- You can increase the point value for various questions as the round progresses so that it is more difficult for the leader of the standings to maintain their position and other competitors will find it easier to catch up. The audience will be immersed in this drama.
- You can run a much shorter final round, but still give the participants the opportunity to dramatically change the final standing.
- This round may use a single question of great value, or it may allow the contestant to bet his points on the final question.
Step 5. Decide on the contestant format
Do you want them to compete one-on-one, or do you want them to make a team? If the format is a team, will the team be formed randomly, or will it have to be filled by a group of people who already know each other and come together as a team?
Part 2 of 5: Developing Questions for the Quiz
Step 1. Determine the question category for each episode
All quiz shows, from weekly trivia at nearby entertainment venues to ones like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, divide the questions into categories.
- These categories can be specific or broad, but make sure you mix the two in a balanced way.
- Some examples of broad categories might include: science, history, music, or politics.
- Some examples of more specific categories include: endangered species, World War II, punk music, or the president of Indonesia.
- While you can repeat categories from time to time, vary as much as possible between each episode. Do not let the contestants be able to guess the type of questions that will be asked and the audience becomes bored.
Step 2. Establish a disciplined research routine
A successful quiz show depends on consistently producing quality questions. You must have a stash of questions to ask. Also do your research before the event starts so you can be fully prepared.
- Prepare more questions than necessary. This extra amount can be used at a later date. This way, you also have the option to select the best and most interesting questions from a larger pool, instead of using the first few questions that come to mind right away.
- Start work prematurely. Don't put off research until the last second or you'll be in trouble.
- Assemble a group of researchers. Take advantage of each member's strengths and delegate specific categories to them. For example, researchers with a science and technology background should prepare science-themed questions, while researchers with an English background should develop literature-themed questions.
- Adhere to the research schedule. Don't break this schedule throughout the week if your event is weekly. After delegating responsibility to the research team (or assigning questions in all categories yourself), set a deadline for submissions.
- For example, if you have a team, set a deadline in the middle of the week to get three times as many questions as necessary. Two days before the event, you must select it so that it contains only the questions that will be used.
Step 3. Avoid books/websites that contain a collection of questions
Although you can find them fairly easily, use them only as a last resort, as everyone can access them. Viewers and contestants will also be more excited by interesting and challenging questions, which cannot be found on the website, but are the result of diligent research by you and your team.
Step 4. Get audience interest
When developing questions, consider the audience's reactions. Stay away from boring topics; for example, an entire category devoted to the table of chemical elements.
- Consider the target audience. Based on demographic data, develop different strategies to attract their attention.
- If your show is aimed at teens, develop questions about pop music, movies, or young adult novels.
- If the show is for people who want to watch a tough competition, focus on the types of subjects taught at university: eg philosophy, political science, etc.
- Questions about topical stories and events currently on the news can also increase the viewer count.
Step 5. Don't be too cruel
If all the questions are too difficult for the contestant to answer, the number of potential entrants may decrease. In addition, viewers may also get bored with the show if they are constantly unable to answer.
- While challenging questions are a good thing every now and then (especially those designed to trip everyone up), most of your questions should be on the threshold of being complex and still answerable.
- You can rate all the questions in each category based on their level of difficulty. Start with easier questions and work your way up to more difficult ones.
Part 3 of 5: Developing Challenges for Performance-Based Game Events
Step 1. Create a variety of challenges
While the talent of the contestants is the real selling point in this type of event, also make sure all your challenges are varied to keep them going and the audience interested. Before starting the premiere episode, plan out the various challenges the contestants will have to complete in one season of the show.
Step 2. Have the contestants perform classic tasks
Many performance competition-based game events focus on skills related to the tradition of classics. If your show is like this, viewers may respond favorably because attendees in the modern world respect the traditions of the past.
- For a cooking show, have contestants recreate classic dishes with a long tradition, such as chicken cordon bleu or croquembouche.
- For a singing contest, ask participants to sing old-fashioned standard songs that demonstrate someone's unique singing ability – such as “Chain of Fools” (Aretha Franklin) or “New York, New York” (Frank Sinatra).
Step 3. Ask contestants to replay classic songs with new changes
Although this requires a high level of skill, asking participants to show their personality and views in a well-known classic song will provide an extra challenge.
For dance contests, you can ask competitors to choreograph new songs that are already synonymous with a particular performance - for example Gene Kelly's performance of singing "Singing in the Rain"
Step 4. Challenge the contestants to prove their technical ability
While you may want to design most of the challenges to highlight the contestants' innovation and creativity, showing off their technical expertise is also something that can grab the attention of the audience.
For a dancing contest, for example, you can see how many times a contestant can pirouette without losing her balance
Step 5. Provide time-limited challenges to contestants
Sometimes, you will find it difficult to challenge a group of expert contestants. If this is the case, a good way to put pressure on them is to limit the time in their tasks.
For example, for a cooking contest, you can find out which contestant can cut vegetables into cubes the fastest the Brunoise way and get even results, in a certain amount of time
Step 6. Allow the contestant to show his personality
While some challenges may be focused on technical skills, assign some other tasks so that the contestants can be creative and show their personality.
- For a cooking show, you can ask contestants to make memorable childhood dishes.
- For a singing contest, challenge contestants to compose their own songs instead of performing other people's songs.
Step 7. Encourage contestants to innovate in their field
For some fields, such as dancing and singing, demonstrating innovation may be more difficult because the performer is not the one composing or choreographing them. However, if your event allows contestants to innovate in the industry, define challenges that trigger them to be creative.
- For a fashion design contest, ask participants to create an evening look for women in the next ten years.
- For cooking events, ask participants to rearrange simple dishes or vice versa, i.e. make complex dishes simple.
Step 8. Force the contestants to work in a variety of styles
While you have to make sure they are able to show their own personality and style, also pay attention to whether they can adapt to various boundaries.
- For dance contests, ask them to create styles based on ballet, hip hop, and classical Indian folk.
- Ask cooks to make vegetarian dishes one week, then cook beef in various forms the following week.
Part 4 of 5: Developing Challenges for Physical Competition Games
Step 1. Challenge the contestants to beat each other in a power competition
There are different ways to test a contestant's strength by pulling more than just lifting weights in the gym. Some examples include:
- Hold a classic childhood event, like a wheelbarrow race. In this way, the contestants will not only prove their hand strength over long distances, but the audience will also laugh at their reactions to the childish play.
- Recreate a fairground event by having contestants compete throwing balls for prizes; however, the ball used must be heavy and the targets at great distances.
- Use your imagination – there are different ways to have fun while challenging muscle strength.
Step 2. See how fast your contestants are
Have them compete live in speed races, or make the event more interesting by having them complete various tasks that are not related to racing. For example, a contestant must run fast for 50 meters, complete a puzzle attached to a card at the 50 meter point, return to the starting line, complete a math count, run through a set of stairs, pronounce the alphabet in reverse order, and then return to the starting point.. You can prank the contestants in any way, but make sure you show their speed.
Step 3. Test their coordination
The ability of the participants is probably the most potentially entertaining factor in a game show. Ask contestants for a modified cake-toss, steel tank, or ball-throwing battle. You can also set up bonus rounds to give extra points to the contestants who are able to get the ball into the basketball hoop from the end of the court.
Step 4. Prepare the obstacle course for the contestants
Tracks like this increase the challenge by forcing participants out of their comfort zone. You can create a military-style track, with climbing walls, balance blocks, exercise equipment to carry and lift, and elements of sprinting. You can also make it funnier, for example by setting up water balloon traps or flour bombs at certain points.
- The advantage of obstacle course is that it is able to test different elements of a contestant's fitness at the same time, instead of separating their strength, speed and coordination abilities.
- Ensure contestants are safe at all times. Use rubber pads on any walls or hard objects that the contestant might hit. Do not aim projectiles that could injure them.
Part 5 of 5: Filming the Episode
Step 1. Assemble the production team
Whether you want to sell a game show to a major television network or local station, or are just about to upload it to Youtube, you still need help from a group of people to make your show a reality. At a minimum, you will need:
- Camera operator – make sure there is enough angle to show the host and all the contestants. If the format is single contestant, you may only need two operators – one for the host and one for all contestants. However, if participants are divided into multiple teams, you may need a camera operator for each team.
- Production editor – someone who is familiar with software in the field of video production, such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut.
- Sound engineer – someone who ensures that the sound quality of an event's dialogue is delivered with clarity.
- Charismatic presenter – the presenter will determine the nature of the event. Whether you're paying someone, asking a friend for help, or playing it yourself, make sure the host generates a high level of energy.
Step 2. Introduce the contestants
The host should introduce each contestant and ask them to share a little bit about their lives. This biographical information can be short and standard (“My name is Mia. I am an accountant for the Jakarta Government”) or more interesting (“My name is Mia. I have a cat who often climbs mountains together on weekends”).
Step 3. Introduce the event
Even if the show has been running for a while, new viewers may always be watching and are not used to it. Introduce the event by explaining the rules and format so everyone knows what's going to happen.
Make a specific script regarding the explanation of the rules. It's important that everything is stated clearly in each episode so that returning viewers will get used to it and feel comfortable
Step 4. Rest between each round
If the show is broadcast on TV, you will have time for this during commercials – however, if the show is only uploaded online, you can prepare resting areas, ideally also in between rounds.
- When a round ends, the emcee must again announce the participant's score.
- This is a good time for the host to comment on the game, or ask the contestants about their performance.
- These short breaks will give the audience and contestants an opportunity to prepare for the next round.
Step 5. Explain the rules and format for each new round
If the show has a different format for each round, make sure the presenter explains this beforehand. Your format might be stable, like Jeopardy, or completely different each round from week to week, like Master Chef.
Step 6. Demonstrate a relaxed interaction between the host and contestants
Viewers want to like the people they watch, especially the presenter who is constant in every episode. Make sure the host is described as friendly, enjoys joking with contestants, compliments them when they do something great, and allows them to show their personality.
Step 7. End the show by reminding viewers to come back to watch the next episode
As an episode draws to a close, the host should thank the contestants for their participation, and congratulate the winner. Take a short time before the end of the show to thank the audience and invite them to rejoin the next episode. Let them know the date, time, and channel of the show so they know when and where to find you exactly when the next episode comes.
