Main characteristics
TriviaCaster, the evolution of our TV Game software, is a computer solution for television contests. It recreates the main mechanics and allows the design of new formats. See ten fully customizable game phases and manage the score of the markers of up to eight contestants, two timers, different game modes, the buttons and the sound effects associated with the different actions.
The software, installed on a Windows computer, properly configured and with the appropriate hardware, generates all the necessary graphic signals. In addition to the different supported game mechanics, in each phase additional resources can be defined that can be launched arbitrarily by the operator, such as images, sounds, videos or TTL signals.
There are three main game modules in TriviaCaster. The graphics of each module are displayed within its corresponding window, which, in turn, can be superimposed on other windows. Likewise, each of these windows can be positioned in a different area of the Windows desktop and can be seen through its associated graphic output. Regardless of the content of the overlapping windows, the auxiliary marker and the two timers can also appear on the screen of each game module.





Contestant scoreboards

TriviaCaster assigns a separate window to each of the contestants' markers. The composition of each window includes a background image, punctuation, name and four possible additional symbols. The marker can have three different states: normal, selected, and disabled. Each state is represented by a different background image. Each of these windows can be positioned in a different screen area of the Windows desktop and, therefore, can be seen through its associated graphic output. Typically, these markers are seen on the monitors located on the contestants' lecterns, present on the show set or on the event set. On each lectern there is also usually an electronic button that lights up when the contestant presses it.The software can dynamically change the position of the contestants' markers on the set.




Scoreboards compositions
In addition to separate contestant scoreboard windows, the TriviaCaster software also reserves two additional windows that can each include a background image, the eight markers with their two states (normal and selected), with punctuation and name, an auxiliary marker, two stopwatches and an animation or video compatible with Windows Media. In addition, still labels or images can be displayed through the first of the layouts. Each of the elements that intervene in the compositions can be shown or hidden individually. Markers can be ordered based on score, simulating a "ranking". Typically, the graphic signal associated with the first of the comps enters the studio mixer and is used to label information. The second,it is generally used to display contestants' scores on the television set or on the set of the event.





Game panel

There are three main game modules in TriviaCaster. The graphics of each module are displayed within its corresponding window, which, in turn, can be superimposed on other windows. Likewise, each of these windows can be positioned in a different area of the Windows desktop and can be seen through its associated graphic output. Regardless of the content of the overlapping windows, the auxiliary marker and the two timers can also appear on the screen of each game module.
The first module is a customizable game panel of up to 6 x 6 squares, with multiple layers: input layer to present the phase or block of the program; main or panel layer without any uncovered boxes; selected box layer; layer of what the box contains; layer of what is hidden behind the box and moving video layer associated with the box. You can write text on some of the layers and assign still images or repeating symbols to the boxes. The squares on the game panel can also appear out of order. The multiple layers allow you to play various types of game and graphically represent various states of the squares: hit or miss; selected or not selected; etc.
Game possibilities:
- Memory.
- Discover the hidden photo.
- Minesweeper, with bombs and double points.
- Selection of topics.
- Etc.




Questions module
The second module is the question module, with capacity for eight hundred (80 per phase), with a statement, sixteen possible answers and various game possibilities: selection of topics; word lists; question with statement, choice of answer and solution; words that are hidden behind their first letter; etc.
Game possibilities
- Statement and possible answers.
- List with initials.
- Discover music.
- Sort lists.
- Etc.





Phrases module

The third module is the phrases module, with capacity for eight hundred (80 per phase), with a selection of up to ten images or symbols, a phrase to be discovered and a list of words or letters that make up the phrase. The phrase can be formed randomly, letter by letter, or manually, by letters and words. This game module also allows you to do crosswords.
Game possibilities:
- Dynamic composition of a phrase letter by letter.
- Composing a phrase letter by letter.
- Composition of a phrase by words.
- Mini crossword.
- Etc.




Other features
There are over forty transition effects to animate the appearance of game panel tiles, questions, and phrases. All actions provided in the software can be accompanied by musical bursts. The customization of the graphics and game mechanics may vary for each of the ten possible phases.
In addition, for each phase of the program there are thirty-two screens, sixteen independent sounds, sixteen Microsoft ActiveMovie-compatible multimedia files, and sixteen electronic signals to illuminate parts of the set. The activation of these elements can be manual or automatic, if the configuration establishes an association with the boxes of the game panel.
TriviaCaster can send through the serial port, or save in an external file, all the information of the contestants' markers (including their status), the auxiliary marker and the two timers. This feature allows another program to communicate with TriviaCaster, being especially useful if we want to replace the graphic video markers generated by the software with electronic markers.




Games mechanics
-
During the different phases of the program, up to eight contestants play increasing or decreasing their scores depending on the bets they place.
-
Play to discover the photograph of a character that hides behind the squares of a game panel. The photo may appear cluttered or cluttered. Each box can contain the value or symbol of the prize.
-
Play the classic memory retention game by matching the images found in the boxes on the game panel.
-
Selection by means of the game panel of the type of questions or tests that the contestant must take.
-
Selection by question module of lists of objects or words within the specified time.
-
A question with its statement and several possible answers is superimposed on the screen. The contestant chooses the answer they think is correct and is compared with the true answer.
-
The initials of several words appear on the screen that the contestant will have to guess. As you get them right, the rest of the word appears.
-
A sentence is formed letter by letter. The first contestant who thinks he guesses it and presses the button, for the formation of the phrase. If it is correct, the sentence is solved. If it fails, another contestant is given the option to respond. Without any of the contestants right, the phrase continues to form.
-
Batteries of questions that the contestant must answer within a specified time.
-
Several contestants are waiting to answer a question. The first to press the button has the option of answering. If it fails, its push button is disabled and the other contestants have the option to reply again.
-
The point marker increases or decreases in amount each specified time interval, depending on the stopwatch.
-
Etc.




TriviaCaster can be used...
On a television set, sending the different compositions through the appropriate graphic cards to the studio mixer, to the contestants' scoreboard monitors or to other monitors with physical presence on the set.
At fairs or events, sending the different compositions through the appropriate graphic cards to the projection system, to the monitors of the contestants' scoreboards or to other monitors with physical presence on the set of the event.
In streaming environments, sending the different windows with the different graphic compositions to OBS Studio, the application responsible for mixing and matching the different signals and video sources, such as the different Skype speakers; or performing directly with Zoom, superimposing the selected TriviaCaster window on the selected Zoom speaker. Thanks to the possibility that video conferencing programs offer to share the guest's computer desktop with remote participants, they can follow the contest as if they were in a television studio or watching the program from home.
In any combination of those described, such as, for example, in an event that is carried out as a television contest in which remote contestants participate with face-to-face contestants and is broadcast in streaming.




TriviaCaster versions
Main characteristics
|
Television | Events | Training |
10 fully customizable game phases
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Contestants' scores for 8 contestants
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Compositions of scoreboards, with stopwatches and screens
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Game panel with 36 squares
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Questions module, up to 800, with a statement and 16 possible answers
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Phrases module, up to 800, with 10 possible selections
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Screen loading, up to 32 per phase
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Stopwatches, two per phase and linked to the push buttons
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Sound effects, associated to actions and 16 per phase
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Reproduction of videos, associated to the actions and 16 per phase
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Push-buttons control, one for each marker
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Activation of digital inputs and outputs
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Switching of each graphic signal towards the main video output
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
An independent video output for each different graphic signal
|
![]() |
||
Independent outputs for the two bookmark compositions
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
An independent video output for the composition of scoreboards 1
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
License for television programs
|
![]() |
||
License for animation of events with a large audience
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
License for training with a reduced audience
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Technical characteristics
TriviaCaster generates 13 independent windows on the Windows desktop. In each phase of the game, each of these windows can have a different size and can be positioned in a different area of the screen. If the background color of these windows is defined as transparent, the windows that occupy the same screen area may overlap, offering new composition possibilities. The only limitation is the number of graphical outputs from the computer and the Windows desktop settings. Furthermore, the software operator can act as a producer / mixer and individually select each window, directing it to another area of the desktop previously defined. The multiple ways to configure the different windows allow you to use the software in different environments and in conjunction with other programs. If the signal (s) are to enter the studio mixer, broadcast SVGA/DVI/HDMI to SDI adapters with reference input may be required. Likewise, through other programs such as OBS Studio, we can use broadcast cards from other manufacturers, such as those from the DeckLink family from Blackmagic Design. In addition, TriviaCaster can communicate with NewBlue's Titler Live titration software, passing it the different variables of each phase, as well as changes of state, input and output signals of the graphs , etc. In this way, the graphic capabilities of TriviaCaster are expanded by incorporating the possibility of offering animated and graphic effects with different levels of transparency thanks to the use of the alpha channel.
Independent windows:
- Control interface for the program operator.
- Contestant markers 1 to 8.
- Composition of markers and timers 1.
- Composition of markers and timers 2.
- Game panel.
- Questions module.
- Phrases module.
Audio outputs:
- Direct output of audio samples from your computer's sound card.
- MIDI note output to trigger an internal or external "sampler" to the computer.
Digital inputs and outputs (I / O) and buttons:
- Input for eight+16 pushbuttons.
- Output of eight activation signals associated with the pushbuttons.
- Sixteen digital signals output per phase.
- Support for buttons that emulate the numbers on the keyboard.

Channels with contests that have used our software
