Jeopardy! 2nd Edition

Requires: Windows 95/98, P166 MHz or higher, 32 MB RAM, 60 MB HD, 4X CD-ROM, 2 MB Windows 95/98 SVGA video card, Windows 95/98 16-bit sound card, DirectX version 7.0a

Description:

This is Jeopardy! . . . Jeopardy! 2nd Edition that is, on CD to play at home and ostensibly (I'm lapsing into Alex Trebek vocabulary here) to help aspiring contestants prepare for a Jeopardy! tryout.

Speaking of Alex Trebek, he's here in full digital glory (visual and audio) accompanied by the voice of veteran announcer Johnny Gilbert. So step into a virtual Sony Pictures Studio and get ready to test your knowledge of esoteric trivia (there's Alex again).

Features:

• More than 4,200 answers
• Classic, solo or tournament of challenge games
• "Behind the scenes" interviews with Alex Trebek, Johnny Gilbert and other Jeopardy! staff
• Sample contestant exam

Technical Aspects:

Obviously a lot of effort went into the graphics for this game. They are clear and sharp, with many 3-D effects, not as photo-like as the product packaging, but enjoyable nonetheless. Alex Trebek morphs in and out occasionally, as if he's just been transported from the Starship Enterprise, but it's not too unnerving. Audio is clear and easily understood throughout.

Answers are written and human contestants type in their questions, but computer-generated opponents speak, rather than write their responses. Comments and explanations by Alex and Johnny aren't captioned, so overall Jeopardy! 2nd Edition is not a satisfactory title for the hearing impaired.

Report and Conclusions:

Alex Trebek chimes in with inspirational remarks following correct responses and seems truly distressed when a contestant errs. I was impressed that rather than having contestants read the answers as they are revealed, each and every one is read aloud by Johnny Gilbert (I could quibble that it's Alex who reads them on the show, but I won't).

Gameplay follows the Jeopardy! TV show format as far as possible. Obviously a human contestant isn't able to speak to a virtual game show host, so answers must be typed in. Although the "Who is" or "What is" portion of the question is provided, there are inconsistencies in whether plural vs. singular counts as correct or in how incorrect a misspelling will be allowed.

Jeopardy! 2nd Edition offers several game formats -- solo, regular, and Tournament of Champions. One, two or three players may compete in the regular game. If three humans aren't available to play, computer-generated opponents are provided. They are very annoying know-it-alls and they don't have to type their answers, so they don't risk a typo or misspelling counting against them. My twelve-year-old daughter came up with the idea of setting up bogus opponents rather than playing the computer geeks. We used our extra player to buzz in when we weren't sure of the answer and didn't want to risk losing points.

The classic game may be played by up to three persons, but that would get pretty cozy with the assigned buzz-in keys at a, n and l. The mouse is used to make selections on the game grid, so it needs to be placed in a central location.

The solo game is touted as an excellent way to prepare for a Jeopardy! tryout. I did not like this option, though, because Alex does not reveal the correct question following an incorrect response from the player.

A player is eligible to play in the Tournament of Champions game after five wins. I gave up trying to reach the tournament after several games were lost due to the Daily Double lockups. I would not want to try playing this game with only the minimum system recommendations.

A few more comments -- the "behind the scenes" interviews don't add much, in my opinion. I would rather see more question and answer categories instead. I encountered the same category within the first five games. Also in one game, the same response -- Kermit the Frog -- was used twice on the same grid in the categories of "Muppets" and "Green."

As for the sample contestant quiz . . . well, I've sat for the Jeopardy! exam, and this is nothing like the real thing. In the actual exam, one sits in a hotel conference room with many other prospective contestants, writing responses furiously with pencil and paper. Only eight seconds are allotted before another answer is revealed. Believe me, it's a high-stress atmosphere. Here in the computer version, the player is sitting in his/her own home, there is more time allowed to answer, and the correct responses may be looked up on the internet. There are some things in common -- 50 questions in 50 different categories, and (OK, I'll admit it) I didn't pass either of them (35 being a passing score).

The user manual gives an age range of 8 and above for this title. The web site, however, recommends the game for ages 14 and over, and I think this is more appropriate. My twelve-year-old honor student agrees.

While this title makes a good attempt at bringing Jeopardy! to the computer, gameplay lapses and lockups are too problematic to warrant a recommendation. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're better off watching it on TV.