If you're reading this, then allow me to welcome you to the first episode of Guess that Game, a monthly feature loosely based off of the game of 20 Questions. The first thing you might want to do is make sure you are viewing this with the website lights turned on (the switch is located at the top of the website near the search box). If you don't...the clues and answer might be inadvertently revealed as you read this.

Twenty Questions is a spoken parlor game which encourages deductive reasoning and creativity. It originated in the United States and escalated in popularity during the late 1940s when it became the format for a successful weekly radio quiz program. In the traditional game, one player is chosen to be the answerer. That person chooses a subject but does not reveal this to the others. All other players are questioners. They each take turns asking a question which can be answered with a simple "Yes" or "No." In variants of the game multiple state answers may be included such as the answer "Maybe." The answerer answers each question in turn. If a questioner guesses the correct answer, that questioner wins and becomes the answerer for the next round. If 20 questions are asked without a correct guess, then the answerer has stumped the questioners and gets to be the answerer for another round.

(Ta da - That's the light switch)

However, instead of each of you asking me 20 questions, I have come up with 20 clues about a game whose identity you are trying to guess. The clues start out rather generic and progressively get more revealing, so if you have to read all of the clues, the answer should be fairly obvious by the end (or if you read only the 20^th clue, you have a fairly good chance of guessing it, but that kind of defeats the purpose). Your goal is to guess the game after reading as few of the clues as possible starting in numerical order with Clue #01.  

NOTICE: Of course I have no way of verifying the integrity of your answer, so should you choose to leave a comment with your score, it is based off of the honor system. I'll take you at your word.

Long time readers may remember last year I did a similar feature called Guess that Gamer that posted 20 questions and answers from a member of the community, and those who chose to participate tried to guess who the mystery member was based on their answers to the questions. It was generally received with positive results, but one of the biggest issues with the way the series operated was when and how guesses were made, and the influence it had on other members' guesses. The other problem was you were either right or wrong - and if you piggybacked off of someone else's answer, you were just as right (or wrong) as the person making the initial answer.

Using this new and improved process, not only will you find out the answer at the end of the questions, your performance will also be determined by how many clues you needed to  guess the correct answer. Now, you might notice that except for Clue #1, the rest of them are blank. How are you supposed to read the rest of them? Ah, using the magic of technology...the clues are there, however the font is white so the text appears invisible. In order to view them, all you have to do is highlight the text by clicking and holding the cursor on the text and dragging the cursor over each clue. This is an extremely easy process that most of you are undoubtedly familiar with. Oh, as a reminder - if you're viewing the GI website with the lights off, obviously this isn't going to work since the font color is reversed. I recommend turning the lights on when viewing this blog.

The same concept applies to the answer which is found at the very end of the blog.

Well, I think that's it. I've stated the goal and provided the instructions, all that's left is for you to read the following clues, in order, and guess the mystery game in as few clues as possible.

Good luck, you'll need it!

GOAL: Guess the game by reading as few of the clues as possible, starting at #1.

CLUES:

01. This game is considered a shoot'em up / strategy game.

02. This game was initially released on a home system in 1982.

03. This game was later ported over to a coin-operated cabinet style arcade game.

04. The game was rated one of the four best arcade games in 1985.

05. This game has generated a couple of sequels bearing the same name.

06. Two media outlets awarded this game their computer game of the year.

07. There are over a dozen versions of this game including an XBL/PSN version.

08. This game is played by submarine crew members in Tom Clancy's book The Hunt for Red October.

09. The game setting includes the desert, sea, caves and a city.

10. You smuggle a vehicle in and arrive at a small post office.

11. You operate a vehicle named the "Hawk-Z".

12. You battle tanks, jets, ships and anti-aircraft fire.

13. This game was developed by Dan Gorlin.

14. Your mission is to rescue hostages from POW camps.

15. Be careful not to kill the hostages - there are several ways you can.

16. The hostages are sixty four United Nations delegates.

17. This game was published by Brøderbund.

18. The game takes place in an area ruled by the evil Bungeling Empire.

19. The POW's might shout at you - "Don't leave."

20. You are a combat pilot flying a rotary winged aircraft.

CONCLUSION:

So, how did you do?

Lucky Dog (1-5 clues)

Veteran (6 - 10 clues)

Commoner (11 - 15 clues)

Rookie (16 - 20 clues)

You might've noticed the first five clues were very generic and could fit any number of games, so if you managed to get it in five or fewer guesses, then you just got lucky. The next five clues include some obscure facts and more specific information about the game, so if you got it in 6 - 10 clues, you really know your video games.  All of the clues after number 10 are fairly specific to the game, so if it took you 11 - 15 clues you're a commoner. The final five clues are very specific to the game with some hints that people naturally associate with this particular game. If it takes you 16 - 20 clues, better luck next time...NOOB! (I'm only kidding.)

I hope you've enjoyed this new series. If the reception is positive, then I'll see you back here next month with the next episode. Depending on the number of responses, I might even keep score and at the end of the year I'll tally up the results and who knows, maybe even give the winner a prize or a big pat on the back.

ANSWER: (BELOW)

Choplifter

Cheers.