Game shows have been popular for almost a century, with 1930s Spelling Bee arguably the first to hit our TV screens. Right now, these shows include some classic names but we’re also seeing a new trend where they’re used to lead the way for huge multi-media franchises in exciting ways.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=EMULUP2wfHk
Monopoly has expanded into numerous markets
Monopoly started life as a board game in the early 20th century and has expanded into a massive franchise since then. As well as numerous different versions of the board game with varying themes, it’s led to a TV show, sponsorship deals with fast food chains, and even some attempts to create a Monopoly movie.
The emergence of live casino games has given a new way of playing the game, with the example of Monopoly Big Baller. This game sits beside casino classics like roulette and blackjack, but adds a unique twist with the Monopoly aspect. As live casino games are getting even more popular, this is something we can expect to see more of in the future, as more franchises spot a way of reaching a new audience.
The Squid Game competition due out this year
The idea of turning a TV series about a game show into a real-life game show is the intriguing concept behind the new Squid Game: The Challenge. This show is due to be shown later this year, with a set of games based on those that the fictional characters try to overcome in the drama series. Of course, the big question is whether viewers will find the same games as interesting without the high stakes in the original.
A big pool or prize money should certainly add to the appeal and the tension, and it’s been described as being a social experiment as well as a competition to try and win that cash. Netflix says that contestants will be pushed to their limits and that there will be surprises too. If the game show is a hit, could this franchise eventually be best known for this version rather than the series that started it all?
Deal or No Deal
We’ve seen so far that game shows can lead franchises in different ways and this third example gives us another approach. Deal or No Deal was launched in the Netherlands in 2000 and soon turned into a global sensation with players from just about every country on the planet trying to beat the banker before too long.
This led to it turning into a massive franchise that led to gambling games, mobile games, and a huge amount of merchandising such as clothing, mugs, and other items. A new season of the original show is due to be shown in the UK in 2023, with Stephen Mulhern to host the show for ITV and ITVX. If it continues to be a success then look out for new ways in which this franchise enters our lives.
These examples let us see how game shows have entered popular culture in various ways, as parts of huge franchises where the content creators attempt to use a familiar look or concept as a way of making it easier for us to try something new but related to the original.
