DEC Software - Buzz Buzzers

Buzz Controllers - August 2009

Instructions for our games that have not been updated to use Buzz Buzzers directly.

Many of our customers desire a better solution to 'buzzing-in' when playing our games. We've always worked to allow our software to be within the grasp of the typical user (we've never appealed to the user with unlimited financial resources). We believe with support for this new buzz-in hardware, users can easily and inexpensively upgrade to a professional looking system (without spending hundreds of dollars).

These instructions may appear intimidating, but someone with a little computer knowledge can install the hardware and software in less than 15 minutes. We'll try to walk you through it.

Overview

Hardware

Software

Running the Program

Overview

All of our software has been designed for the user to be able to use the keyboard and mouse, the standard configuration of a computer.

When we first saw the Playstation 2 game Buzz!, we were impressed by the buzzers that came with the game (at a very reasonable cost!).

When we found software that could replicate the keystrokes using any USB device (and Buzz! has USB buzzers), we thought, "we've got a perfect match".

Technically, Total Game Control, maps the keystrokes onto the Buzz! Buzzers and allows the user to by-pass the keyboard and use the buzzers.

Hardware

You will need 2 pieces of hardware.

A computer that capable of running Windows 98 or later.

The WIRED* buzzers that comes with the PlayStation 2 game (Buzz!, Buzz! Junior, and a variety of other titles).

Buzz! Junior for the PlayStation 2

To avoid confusion later on, label the controllers as "1", "2", "3" and "4".

These PS2 games (buzzers included) can be purchased for around $25 from Best Buys, Amazon, eBay and a host of other places.

*Do not buy the package that comes with wireless buzzers. Also, when you purchase the software, make sure that it comes with buzzers. Some distributors sell the game only (some users already have the buzzers and don't need another set of buzzers).

Software

You will need 2 pieces of software.

The Ultimate QuizShow version 10.0 or earlier (or another game from DEC Software)

Total Game Control from Digital Transforms.

Actually, you don't even need to purchase this program, if you don't mind taking the 5 minutes before each game to program the keystrokes. The free downloaded version can't save the keystrokes that you program (for later use).

We encourage you to download and then purchase the program. Purchasing the program will allow you to save the keystrokes for The Ultimate QuizShow (Digital Transforms calls this process 'saving a profile').

Running the Program

Setting up Total Game Control to run TUQS (versions prior to TUQS 10.5)

1. Plug in the Buzz Buzzers to a USB port on the computer where you will run The Ultimate QuizShow 10.5.

2. Start the program Total Game Control.

3. With the Device tab highlighted, click the <New...> button, and type in "TUQS 10.5".

4. Drop down the Device list and highlight Buzz.

Figure 1

5. If you've done everything correctly, the screen should look like figure 2.

Figure 2

6. Now click on the Control tab and you should see a screen like figure 3.

Figure 3

7. Now we'll set up the Buzz-in Triggers by clicking on the "second"<New . . .> button. The one circled in figure 4.

Figure 4

a. In the description, type in "Team 1 Buzz-In".

b. Click the Detect check-box.

c. In the Key(s) text box, type in "1".

d. Now, pick up controller #1 (as you labeled them previously) and click on the big red button. While keeping the button depressed, click on the <OK> button.

e. Now, repeat steps a - d using "Team 2 Buzz-In" and "2" for the Key(s) text box.

Figure 5

f. Now, repeat steps a - d using "Team 3 Buzz-In" and "3" for the Key(s) text box.

Figure 6

g. Now, repeat steps a - d using "Team 4 Buzz-In" and "4" for the Key(s) text box.

h. If you've done everything correctly, you should get the Total Game Control screen that looks similar to figure 6.

In figure 6, we have the Team 3 Buzz-In highlighted. Please note that the Trigger is B11 (yours may be different), but you can see that the action from TUQS that this trigger will emulate is "3". In other words, when the player clicks the red button on controller 3, "3" will be sent to the program, telling it that player 3 has buzzed-in first.

8. Now would be a great time to save this profile to your computer, so that the next time you wish to run TUQS, you can just start Total Game Control and load the profile named TUQS 10.5.

Setting up The Ultimate QuizShow to handle Total Game Control and Buzz! Buzzers

OK, just one thing to do now and you'll be set with your new buzzers.

1. Start TUQS.

2. From the main menu, go to Game SetUp.

3. For the Buzz-In keys.

For TEAM ONE, replace "A" with "1".

For TEAM TWO, replace "C" with "2".

For TEAM THREE, replace "N" with "3".

For TEAM FOUR, replace "L" with "4".

When you are finished it should look like Figure 7.

Figure 7

Now, you should be able to use the Buzz! buzzers with The Ultimate QuizShow.

*History of the Buzz-In methods supported by The Ultimate QuizShow (formerly Classroom Jeopardy)*

	Buzz-In Method	Advantages	Disadvantages	Cost
	Players raise their hands	No additional equipment needed.	Hard to tell who raised their hand first.	No additional cost

	Keyboard	No additional equipment needed.	A little cramped when playing with more than 1 or 2 players.	No additional cost

	Keyboard and Y-Key, Key Dual Keyboard Splitter	Spreads out the players.	Need an additional keyboard.	$50 for Y-Key, Key splitter.

	USB gamepads	Players can be situated whereever the gamepads will reach.	4 USB gamepads, wires and extensions can become tangled.	About $10 per gamepad. About $6 for each USB extension cable. May need to purchase a 4 port USB hub if the computer doesn't have 4 USB ports. (about $15 to $20)

	Buzzer systems	Works great once you figure out how to set them up.	Expensive.	$200 and up.

	Wireless numeric keypads	Look Ma - no wires.	Players can buzz-in for other players. Range can vary greatly.	About $30 per keypad.

	Remote controllers	No wires. TV remotes are easily available and inexpensive.	None of which we are aware.	About $6 for the remotes. About $50 for the IR receiver.*

	Buzz! Buzzers	Inexpensive, professional look and feel,		About $25 for Buzz! (with remotes) About $20 for Total Game Control

* Purchase the IR receiver from Home-Electro.com.(Tira-2.1: Remote Control Receiver/Transmitter)

The Ultimate QuizShow is a Jeopardy style program that is fun for the classroom or business presentation!