Bank Job

[Phil Reynolds]

Anyone else had a go at this yet?

http://www.channel4.com/bankjob

I'm reynolph if anyone comes up against me in a tournament game...

[Jon O'Neill]

Just played it. Got 7/9 questions. Other guy got two steals and won easily. Poo.

[Jon O'Neill]

Is there any point in leaving when you're behind? Seems a stupid question to ask.

[Phil Reynolds]

Is there any point in leaving when you're behind? Seems a stupid question to ask.

I suppose you might hope that your opponent runs out of time and gets stuck in the vault.

[Graeme Cole]

Is there any point in leaving when you're behind? Seems a stupid question to ask.

If you leave, and your opponent gets locked in the vault, you win. Wouldn't have thought it's worth doing unless your opponent's only got a small amount of time left, though.

[Jon O'Neill]

Is there any point in leaving when you're behind? Seems a stupid question to ask.

I suppose you might hope that your opponent runs out of time and gets stuck in the vault.

I worked out the hard way that you lose if you get stuck in the vault. Seems like an okay game, but you spend a long sitting there between questions.

[Phil Reynolds]

Most annoying misfeature is when you only have a few seconds left, the question comes up, you know the answer... and then the time runs out before the multiple choice answers appear, so you lose.

[Michael Wallace]

Most annoying misfeature is when you only have a few seconds left, the question comes up, you know the answer... and then the time runs out before the multiple choice answers appear, so you lose.

Yeah, I've noticed that you basically have to spend around 3-4 seconds per question, even if you click as soon as the options come up. You just have to factor that in really, because if they made it genuinely the case that the time only ticked down for when the options were there and you're able to click it would last absolutely ages.

Quite a fun little game though, although this clearly MPDL-inspired user-interactivity stuff still feels a bit like some old guy somewhere saying "hey! you know what's cool? these 'socialising networks! the kids really like them!".

[Jon O'Neill]

Most annoying misfeature is when you only have a few seconds left, the question comes up, you know the answer... and then the time runs out before the multiple choice answers appear, so you lose.

I thought about that. The options take about 3 seconds to appear. Perhaps that's to mimic the time it would take for the question to be read out in the real life game show.

[Phil Reynolds]

Quite a fun little game though, although this clearly MPDL-inspired user-interactivity stuff still feels a bit like some old guy somewhere saying "hey! you know what's cool? these 'socialising networks! the kids really like them!".

I've no idea what MPDL means, and Google, Wikipedia and Acronym Finder were no help. I hate the internet.

I actually find it slightly weird playing against real opponents but not being able to communicate with them in a chat window (which wouldn't really work in this case given the time factor). Probably just as well, given the frequency with which I shout "Bastard!" when someone steals my biggest bundle. Just now I gave some guy a sound drubbing and then immediately played him again, which gave it something of the feeling of a grudge match, but it felt odd not being able to say something to him at the start like "back for more? lol gl".

Anyway, I've applied for the show, so let's see what happens.

[Michael Wallace]

Quite a fun little game though, although this clearly MPDL-inspired user-interactivity stuff still feels a bit like some old guy somewhere saying "hey! you know what's cool? these 'socialising networks! the kids really like them!".

I've no idea what MPDL means, and Google, Wikipedia and Acronym Finder were no help. I hate the internet.

Huh, genuinely surprised (by google, not you not knowing it), Million Pound Drop Live. Although it seems it doesn't help that they can't decide whether it's Live or not (MPD game show works from a google perspective, but not MPDL game show).

[Phil Reynolds]

Million Pound Drop Live

Oh for crying out loud, can't believe I didn't twig - been watching the frickin' thing all week. Last night's was a stonker - two consecutive couples lost the entire million on their first question, including one who couldn't even be bothered to read it properly.

[Mark James]

Million Pound Drop Live

Oh for crying out loud, can't believe I didn't twig - been watching the frickin' thing all week. Last night's was a stonker - two consecutive couples lost the entire million on their first question, including one who couldn't even be bothered to read it properly.

I had to give up watching MPD as the numpties they get to go on it make me wanna punch my tv. I have applied to go on this though.

[Mark James]

So has anyone watched this? I thought it was ok. Although the host was annoying me when he kept saying "you have X grand left" instead of "X seconds". Countdown got a mention too in one of the questions.

[Graeme Cole]

So has anyone watched this? I thought it was ok. Although the host was annoying me when he kept saying "you have X grand left" instead of "X seconds". Countdown got a mention too in one of the questions.

I've watched Monday's episode. It's a nice idea for a format, but it runs a bit slowly. Also, the host has the irritating habit of putting "my darling"/"babe"/"my dear" on the end of every sentence addressed to a woman, something which you're allowed to do if you're Delboy, but not if you're anyone else.

[Mark James]

What's the point of the clock if you can still answer the question after the time? You can't do that when you play online.

[Mark James]

What's the point of the clock if you can still answer the question after the time? You can't do that when you play online.

Actually thinking about it it makes more sense that way and it's the online that should be changed to match it. Enjoyed last night's episode. It's still far too dragged out though and I hate all these interviews with the contestants on how they think they'll do. And some of the contestants are as bad as on million pound drop (are any of them ever over 30?). One of them said the questions are much harder on the show. What? I think the only one I didn't know was the JLS one.

[Michael Wallace]

Can't believe they prisoner dilemmaed for the final. If I'd been a contestant in the final I think I'd've deliberately lost, can't see many people not stealing in that situation (as, of course, you shouldn't).

Edit: Although the guy being all tearful in an attempt to persuade his opponent to not steal was pretty funny.

[Mark James]

Can't believe they prisoner dilemmaed for the final. If I'd been a contestant in the final I think I'd've deliberately lost, can't see many people not stealing in that situation (as, of course, you shouldn't).

Edit: Although the guy being all tearful in an attempt to persuade his opponent to not steal was pretty funny.

Despite watching all week I didn't watch the final. Just watched the box swapping on 4od. It's totally in your interest to lose before the head to head. On the prisoner's dilemma though, the best I've seen was on an episode of Goldenballs where contestant A said he was picking steal no matter what but he would still split the money after the show if contestant B picked split. It totally threw B off. He knew he wasn't gonna win either way and just had to trust that A would split the money so he did chose split and it turned out A was just bullshitting him and picked split as well. It's a good ploy to get your opponent to pick split.

[Michael Wallace]

Ha, yes, I was thinking of that Goldenballs when I was watching. I do wonder if the contestants knew beforehand that the 'losers' would be put in that position though, since they looked pretty surprised when they were told. On the other hand, you'd think all the rules (including that bit) would have to be explained to them in advance, just like any other game show.

I wonder if it's possible (in a legal sense) to get a contract drawn up that you could whip out in the final and show your opponent saying "I will pick steal, if you pick share then this contract obliges me to pay you half of the winnings". Would make for pretty funny TV, at any rate.

[Ryan Taylor]

I've not watched any of these, but the online game was pretty cool. Can someone just briefly explain what kind of happens as you're talking about a final? Did the winner's of each show not actually win the money from the show but instead just won a place in the final which was then when money was played for?

[Michael Wallace]

I've not watched any of these, but the online game was pretty cool. Can someone just briefly explain what kind of happens as you're talking about a final? Did the winner's of each show not actually win the money from the show but instead just won a place in the final which was then when money was played for?

Pretty much. Each show's winner took 'their' money through to the final, where it was all added up to make a jackpot (which was eventually about 450k). The final had 5 contestants (whereas the regular shows only had 4), so there were 2 people left after the three rounds were played (each round eliminates a player). Then the final two got to play 'share or steal', with the other 3 finalists getting to share the jackpot if they both stole (as they inevitably did).

[Ryan Taylor]

I've not watched any of these, but the online game was pretty cool. Can someone just briefly explain what kind of happens as you're talking about a final? Did the winner's of each show not actually win the money from the show but instead just won a place in the final which was then when money was played for?

Pretty much. Each show's winner took 'their' money through to the final, where it was all added up to make a jackpot (which was eventually about 450k). The final had 5 contestants (whereas the regular shows only had 4), so there were 2 people left after the three rounds were played (each round eliminates a player). Then the final two got to play 'share or steal', with the other 3 finalists getting to share the jackpot if they both stole (as they inevitably did).

Thanks! Wow, they are greedy bastards for wanting 450k rather than just settling for 225k. There's something really quite sick about the whole thing.

[Mark James]

Thanks! Wow, they are greedy bastards for wanting 450k rather than just settling for 225k. There's something really quite sick about the whole thing.

Agreed. Even on Goldenballs where the amount is much more modest I always think "Just share it you greedy cunts. It's the least you could do after lying you're way through the rest of the show." And couldn't they have checked their cases at the same time instead of after each other. I think I'd rather longer ads than this nonsense dragging out of tv shows.

[Thomas Carey]

Thanks! Wow, they are greedy bastards for wanting 450k rather than just settling for 225k. There's something really quite sick about the whole thing.

Agreed. Even on Goldenballs where the amount is much more modest I always think "Just share it you greedy cunts. It's the least you could do after lying you're way through the rest of the show." And couldn't they have checked their cases at the same time instead of after each other. I think I'd rather longer ads than this nonsense dragging out of tv shows.

One thing that always irritates me on Goldenballs (and this) is that you are guaranteed no money, whatever you do, if your opponent picks steal.

[Steve Balog]

Yea, that's the rub with prisoner's dilemma for money splitting -- share is a dominated strategy, so there's not any real reason to choose it. I mean, there's the entertainment factor of trying to convince the other person to pick share, but it's still never going to be more profitable.

I agree with the idea that, if I was a finalist on Bank Run and I knew that the pot would be split among the other 3 contestants if both pick steal, I'd intentionally lose to get into the group of 3.

[James Robinson]

Anyone see Rach on tonight's Celebrity edition

[Eoin Monaghan]

Yep! Started very strong and definitely deserved to win IMO, I've never seen this properly before but I enjoyed it last night.