Budget
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I can imagine it was expensive to set up for the first year (getting all the equipment etc), but then after that I suppose it was just a matter of some guy sitting at a computer programming better and better dungeons; I'm sure there was more to it than that, but I think it was pretty low budget.
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Wonder what happened to all those lovely props? Tim Child's probably got a lovely firestone sitting atop his toilet.
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A few answers to a few questions.
The CK tests came first naturally - then the first pilot.
The budget (cost) per programme for Knightmare was £50k. As programmes were only 23 minutes long, gameplay was usually constrained to no more than 20 minutes, after you had subtracted the duration of end and closing titles, plus resume.
So at £2.5k per minute it was very expensive for a gameshow (there being no tarrif for adventure games at the time). It was however cheap for drama, but then drama could always be repeated, whereas most gameshows aren't.
In 1993 we kept all the staff and cast on for two days at the end of series production and made a 30 minute pilot for the US market, entitled Lords of the Game.
All the cast were used except Hugo who was replaced by an American actor. Players were provided by the US Air base at Mildenhall in Suffolk. The pilot was not successful, US production companies being terrified of Cromakey-based shows, because of the technical complexity. A German production of Knightmare was agreed with RTL in Cologne in 91 but was then cancelled.
We were to make the first series (50 shows) in the UK, flying in German players and actors, and then export the production to Cologne for series 2.
Finally, a Sci-Fi adventure game format (in the Space Hulk/Aliens) style has been developed and is doing the rounds of the TV broadcasters. We think it's rather good.
It's called GARGANTUA 3.
And for those who are worried about the incorporation of Knightmare into full VR, I say: if we thought we couldn't do atmosphere and tension with this technology, then we wouldn't try it at all.
BVA
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Sorry about my cheeky reference to you keeping props on your toilet, Mr. Child.
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Who would have thought my interest in the budget of Knightmare would have led to a reply from the creator of Knightmare? Crazy.
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Bring on the new series of Knightmare.
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Thanks for that, bva! Gargantua 3 sounds interesting. I hope someone sees the light and picks it up (along with the other knice programmes we could care to mention!)
Thanks also for putting our minds at rest with regards to atmosphere and tension in the revised Km format. I was concerned (as I'm sure lots of others were).
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If it's done well, it should be very good - there has yet to be a great game show set in space. "Scavengers" wasn't really very good.
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It wasn't. It had John Leslie in it. And a crap tacked-on romance between him and an android. And a supposed plot and chronology. A good opportunity squandered. Rubbish.
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Wasn't it implied that they were partners? I'm sure I'm right about this. Get Challenge to repeat it.
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Been watching Series 4 recently, and certain scenes must have been very expensive - the graphic sequences must have cost quite a bit.
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I keep thinking that if they done the eye shield sequences with todays computers, graphics and technology, they would be very realistic. I noticed that when the eyeshield was used, the dungeoneer still managed to go right through the middle of a door way even if they were heading away from it!
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Plus, when they went towards a tree outside, the advisors would try and make them stop and sidestep left/right, but the eyeshield view would just keep on moving forward and casually saunter round the tree...
Classic...
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