Itbox
itbox is a gambling games terminal which is found in thousands of pubs, leisure centres and amusement arcades in the United Kingdom. Classified as a SWP (skill with prizes) machine, itbox typically includes 25 different games. Each game costs 50p to play and lasts between 10 seconds and several minutes. From most of these games it is possible to win modest cash prizes.
Games
The games on itbox are largely question-and-answer based where the player will need to answer a varying number of questions (often from a range of subject categories) correctly before he or she can opt to collect a small prize (normally £1) or gamble for a chance to win a larger prize by answering further questions.
- Bullseye - This game is based on an old Television programme, which had seen its day, and had been taken off air. It became, and remains, the "bench mark" Question and Answer game of all time. Much to the annoyance of the big corporate developers this game was designed, and written by what was at the time a single game developer, working out of his spare bedroom. Players must skillfully throw darts into a dart board to achieve points towards their target score. If this score is achieved, then the player is entered into the prize round, where he is able to throw darts into a "prize" board to gain cash prizes. This game has been so sucessfull that it can be argued that it has led to the nostalgic resurgence of old quiz programmes back onto television, including the original Bullseye, unfortunately without the iconic Jim Bowen.
- Pub Quiz - Players must answer a series of questions from a randomly selected catergory, although there is the option to switch catergory (just the once). Once the third round of questions is complete, the player wins a guaranteed £1 and can continue to move up an animated pint glass in order to collect more winnings. A bonus round is available featuring a Cheat (Free Answer) and Extra Try Again - although a collect money option may appear, albeit rarely.
- Hangman's 2 - Considered by many gamers to be one of the 'benchmark' itbox games, Hangman's is based around the pen-and-paper game of the same title.
- Hangman's Haunted House - This caused a major stir in the itbox community once it appeared, as it took the ever popular Hangman's franchise and revamped it to new levels, with the setting moved from the Wild West to a Haunted House somewhere in the Carpathian mountains. The option to 'kill catergory' proved popular with fans, as did the music derived from the Beetlejuice theme tune. However, objections were raised regarding the unskippable nature of the instruction screen prior to play.
- Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - Based on the popular television programme, Millionaire enables gamers to sit face to orange face with Chris Tarrant in order to win £20. The completion of the Fastest Finger First round opens up bonuses such as 'Ask the Audience' and '50:50', which can be invaluable in helper the player reach the payout questions. A recent 2006 edition has been launched, with less time available to answer individual questions but improved odds of gaining Fastest Finger bonuses, as well as more video footage of Chris Tarrant.
- TV Times Trivia Teaser - Players answer a series of questions (or complete specified picture tasks, e.g. completing a jigsaw) framed in stacked multiple TV screens as they advance up to the Cash Zone. Once here, the player pushes a button which can select either a monetary prize, an extra question, or the dreaded arrow resulting in another question round. Answering all five categories of question leads to a bonus, typically a free try again/answer, but sometimes instant advancement to Cash Zone, or on rare occasions a Cash Prize (typically £1).
- Cryptic Clues - In a similar fashion to the games of the Hangman's stable, the player must identify a phrase or a name derived from the catergory they have selected. The action takes place in an abandoned pyramid deep in the Valley of the Kings, and the more points gained leads to the location of the mystic quid.
- Spiderman II - The gamer takes on the mantle of Peter Parker, AKA Spiderman or simply 'Spidey' to his close friends. The game consists of a top down view of a city which Spiderman has to navigate by way of a question grid based on the street layout. Bonuses include the 'Spider Sense' and the famed 'Swing On'.
- Donkey Derby - A relatively new addition to the itbox stable, this games recreates the excitement of racing donkeys around a muddy field. Speed is of the essence, as the faster questions are answered the more chance the player's donkey has of finishing in first place. Now with added Hee-Haw! (meaning that prizes already won are not risked by continuing with the game)
- Mouse Trap - Based around the titular board game, gamers must throw dice and travel around a board in order to qualify for a Prize Up (not to be confused with the other itbox game/Cameo song Word Up). The player must then go on to complete the Mouse Trap in order to win a cash prize.
Classic past games that are no longer available except on older machines include The Two Towers, and Dungeons and Dragons. Some games on itbox do not involve questions at all; examples of this are:
- Word Up, here the computer generates a random matrix of letters with different point values, players must form English words from adjoining letters in order to reach a predetermined prize target which ranges from 450-1520 points.
- Triple Towers - A card game in which a random sequence of playing cards are dealt face down in a tri-pyramid pattern. The player is then dealt 24 cards with which he must clear all the pyramid cards within a set time by creating sequential runs (in this game Ace is both high and low)
- Trickshot Pool - A computerised simulation of 8-ball pool. Players must pot a pre-determined number of their own colour balls (between 4-8). If successful the player has a chance to win a cash prize by completing a trickshot by potting an awkwardly positioned black ball determined by the computer. (Standard 8-ball pool rules apply with the exception that potting the 8ball off the break is considered a foul.)
Prizes
SWPs are typically set to a payout percentage of 30% although operators can elect to set this at 40% or 50%. Many of the terminals were actually set as low as 27%, in an attempt to boost revenue. Each game has a prize structure which varies according to whether that game has recently paid out more than it should have according to the fixed payout percentage. Most games have a nominal jackpot of £20 although attaining this requires considerable skill from the player and cooperation from the software. Occasionally the operator underestimates the dedication of quiz machine players, or the software on a particular game is defective. When this happens, fast-acting players can empty machines of the jackpot with minimum difficulty. The players travel the length of the country with this sole aim until eventually the particular game is withdrawn.
Also Known As (AKA )
"itBox" was named as such, (after there was a problem with the original name "Showtime") in what its makers meant to be a clever play on words, and believed that it would become better known as "hitBox". Whilst not being a specific comment on the gaming terminal itself, it has affectionately become better known as "Shit Box" by much of the gaming community.
itbox Slang
During high tension itbox sessions, gamers have developed a slang language in order to communicate objectives quickly and efficiently whilst 'in the zone'. There also slang names for stereotypical classes of player(s), but these belong to SWP machines in general, not just itboxes.
- The Dennis - Refers to the hopper from where the money won in an itbox game is stored before it is collected. Derives from the actor, Dennis Hopper.
- Good Bonii - An expression used to indicate that the bonuses for a particular game are favouring the player.
- Rinse The Box - An itbox session that results in an above average overall payout.
- Blank It - A tactic involving the deliberate choosing of an incorrect answer in order to secure further bonii.
- Duds - Games that have a consistently low payout rate or simply do not give cash prizes.
- Trebus - A term for a stranger who stands behind the player offering their input without being invited. Also known as a 'Treebeard' or a 'Barbara Streisand'.
- Legget - The redundant action of confirming an answer after the correct choice has been made.
- Kill The Frog - To remove the Nature catergory from a game of Hangman's Haunted.
- Guernsey Quid - A coin that fails to be accepted by the itbox.
- Spidey - Spiderman II.
- Bully - Bullseye.
- Milli - Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
- Triv Pure - Trivial Pursuits.
- Pub Quiz Is Paying Out - i) An ironic comment indicating that this particular game is currently dud.
- ii) Could also mean the game/itbox actually is in a period of Salad Days (see below).
- Made Up Fifty - A sum totalling fifty pence composed of 5p, 10p, and 20p coins.
- Pintbox - Consuming alcoholic beverages whist playing the itbox.
- Pregnant - When the machine seems desperate to payout no matter what you do.
- Tart - A pregnant machine.
- Bummed - The opposite.
- AWOL - When, after attempting to collect the money, some or all of the winnings get stuck in the mechanism.
- Tease The Hopper - When the above happens, an attempt to rescue the winnings using a finger, straw or any available implement.
- Quizhampton - An alternate name for a quiz machine.
- Quizchester - A venue with more than one quiz machine.
- Salad Days - a brief but profitable period in which a new game or machine is easy to win on, before it is tightened by the operator.
- The Classic - A veteran game which you play for nostalgic reasons rather than financial gain.
- Stabathon - A game which involves speed-stabbing the screen, e.g. Mahjong, Spot the Difference, Fruitix and Donkey Derby
- Golden Tit - A machine or game which is a guaranteed winner. An udder name for tart.
- Embarrassing knowledge - An impossible question about knitting or Barbie which you fluke.
- Spoiler - An impossible question.