For another low-cost (under $50) buzzer solution, here is a tutorial on how to use PlayStation wired USB buzzers with a PC and Game Show Presenter software. (Note this only works with the older wired form of the PlayStation USB buzzers. So far, we have not heard of a way to make the new wireless buzzers communicate with a Windows PC. Let us know if you know otherwise.)
Wireless Big Red buzzers are available from www.buzzers.com. The wireless Big Red buzzers are top-of-the-line solutions that include a USB computer interface so you can use these buzzers with Game Show Presenter and Game Show PLUS software.
The system puts wireless communications into Big Red "slap buttons" with a 50-foot range. The buzzers communicate wirelessly with a USB computer interface that passes the buzz-in signals to the software. (PCs are supported; Mac support will be added later.) The units are offered in packages that range from 2 to 10 Big Red buzzers. This advanced technology doesn't come cheap -- packages start at $600. But if you need to turn a banquet hall setting into a table-wide game show activity, or if you are setting a stage for a game show event, it's hard to imagine a better solution than this.
Buzzers.com continues to offer its popular handheld USB game show buzzers, which connect to the USB ports on your computer to provide a flexible and affordable buzzer solution. These are pre-configured to work with Game Show Presenter software right out of the box. Just plug them in and you're ready to buzz! When a player buzzes in, it sends the signal directly to Game Show Presenter so the software can display the player's name and adjust that player's score.
Bodine Training Games LLC's PLUS Edition of Game Show Presenter adds the buzzer options for even more control over game show buzzers. The quiz show software has a variable countdown timer (select between 0-30 seconds) and a buzz-in delay (also 0-30 seconds). The buzz-in delay solves the problem of players who buzz in before they read the question. When the delay is on, no buzz-ins are accepted. When buzzers are directly connected to Game Show Presenter, the software even applies a 2-second penalty to any player who does buzz in during the delay period. That prevents players from holding down their buzz button in order to be first when the delay ends.
Also new in Game Show Presenter is support for more than one guess per question. If the first guess is wrong, players can continue to buzz in until someone gets it right or until everyone gives up. (When nobody buzzes in, just hit the ENTER key to tell Game Show Presenter to pass on the question.) You also have the option to have Game Show Presenter reduce the points available for a question each time it is answered wrong. For example, if the question started out worth 500 points and the first guess was wrong, the question is now worth 250 points. With each wrong answer, the point value is reduced by half.
There is a no cost trial version of the PLUS Edition that lets you try out all the buzzer features described above, plus add pictures and sounds to quiz questions, create category-style quiz boards, and more.
Game Show Presenter software allows buzz-in competition and supports many buzzer lockout systems. Our software does not require a buzzer system — you can just use the computer keyboard if you prefer. But a buzzer system adds excitement and atmosphere to your game show. So we designed our Game Show Presenter software (
