Player X revives TV gameshow - Blockbusters

A BRITISH gameshow that proved so popular that it managed to run five times a week, Blockbusters, has been converted into mobile phone format.

It's being pitched to the UK network operators by specialist games distributor, Player X, which is hoping to repeat its previous success with another gameshow conversion - Family Fortunes.

The heyday of Blockbusters was circa 1984 when it was hosted by Bob Holness. Participants picked a letter and Mr Holness responded with a question whose answer started with that particular letter. A correct answer allowed a line to be built across the board.

This gave the largely teenage competitors the opporunity to come out with classic lines such as "Can I have a P please, Bob?" and "I want U, Bob." Closet Hippies naturally got their kicks with - "I want an E, Bob."

In the mobile game, created by Qbranch Wireless, players are presented with a game board of 20 hexagonal tiles and must build a line from one side to the other within a three-minute time limit.

The mobile version contains more than 500 general knowledge questions and three game modes. It also attempts to replicate TV original show format by adhering closely to the original gameshow rules.

A swift straw poll of gameshow addicts revealed that a mobile game based on the current Channel 4 gameshow, Deal or no deal, would prove a smash hit with young women in particular. Are you listening, Endemol? µ