Keywords
Keywords was a gameshow that aired on HLN. Prior to this show, the network’s primary focus was news so the equipment and workflows to produce this type of show were not in place. Upon hearing the requirements and rules of the game during the initial meeting, I began to conceptualize a new way to use VizRT. Viz is the industry standard system we currently use to create real-time graphics for our shows. My idea was to develop an interface that would allow an operator to control the gameplay graphics. After the meeting, I created a prototype of the game system and presented it to management, who enthusiastically embraced my concept. Since contracting an outside vendor would have increased production cost significantly, this saved the company money and allowed us to use devices we currently owned and operated.
Challenge:
Create an interactive user interface (UI) that controls game graphics for HLN’s gameshow Keywords.
Goal:
Use existing systems to create UI that a graphics operator can use to control gameplay for gameshow.
Features:
- Ability to display logo graphic
- Ability to display round graphic
- Ability to display categories graphic
- Ability to select a specific category as a “Play or Pass” category
- Ability to start category
- Ability to play through three keywords (questions)
- Ability to display correct symbol graphic
- Ability to display incorrect symbol graphic
- Ability for interface to display score
- Ability for interface to change score, if needed
- Ability for buzzers to pause gameplay
After developing the game controls, my next task was leading a multi-functional team to implement and test the workflow. This team consisted of engineers, graphic operators and other technical staff to configure buzzers and run show rehearsals. Thinking outside the box and using VizRT allowed HLN to quickly turnaround a graphics solution for the show and saved network production cost of contracting an outside vendor.
