Buzz!

For other uses, see Buzz (disambiguation).

Buzz!
The logo of the Buzz! series
Genre(s)Quiz
Developer(s)Relentless Software
Kuju Entertainment
Curve Studios
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
First releaseBuzz!: The Music Quiz
October 2005
Latest releaseBuzz!: The Ultimate Music Quiz
October 2010
Spin-offsBuzz! Junior:

Buzz! is a series of video games originated by Sleepydog Ltd.,[1][2] developed by Relentless Software and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles. They are quiz games that see the players answering trivia questions while competing in the fictional game show Buzz!. Created specifically with multi-player party gaming in mind, the series launched in October 2005 and to date comprises 18 games; including 13 in the Buzz! series and five Buzz! Junior titles. The series made the transition to the PlayStation 3 with Buzz!: Quiz TV in 2008. The sixteenth game in the series Buzz!: Brain of the UK was released in March 2009.[3] The latest Buzz! game is Buzz!: The Ultimate Music Quiz which was released in October 2010.

In 2006 the second game in the Buzz series, Buzz!: The BIG Quiz, won the BAFTA award for Best Casual and Social game.[4] Buzz!: Quiz TV has been nominated in the Best Social Game and Best Multiplayer Game categories for the 2009 BAFTA video game awards.[5] The series has sold over 10 million copies.[6]

As with most TV quiz shows the winner of the game is the player with the most points. The show uses a multi-round format with most games in the series featuring eight individual rounds. The exact rounds vary from game-to-game and more information about the rounds can be found in the individual articles. Each game is hosted by the titular Buzz (voiced by Jason Donovan in the English versions).

The games are played with buzzers – a set of four simple controllers that consist of four coloured answer buttons and a red buzzer. These are intended to replicate the buzzers often seen on TV quiz shows. The buzzers plug into a USB port and the game allows use of either one or two sets of buzzers allowing up to eight players in certain games. The games are usually marketed in two versions, a pack containing both game and buzzers for new purchasers or a game only version for players who already own a set of buzzers.

In January 2008 California-based Buzztime Entertainment filed a legal suit, in the Southern District of California, against Sony Computer Entertainment Europe alleging that Sony had violated several of its trademarks. The suit accused Sony of a "malicious, fraudulent, knowing, wilful, and deliberate" violation of its trademarks. In the suit Buzztime is seeking the recall and destruction of all infringing products and is asking the court for actual damages, punitive damages, legal fees and an order to the US Patent and Trademark Office not to register Sony's pending Buzz trademarks.[7] The case was eventually settled out of court in favour of Sony.[8]

  1. ^ Bicknell, Gareth (25 October 2008). "Buzz is the business". icNorthWales. Archived from the original on 17 December 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Buzz Relentless Q and A". thumbbandits.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  3. ^ Purchese, Robert (2 February 2009). "More Buzz! for Sony consoles this March". Eurogamer. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Games Nominations 2006". BAFTA. 2006. Archived from the original on 24 May 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  5. ^ Purchese, Robert (10 February 2009). "BAFTA game nominations revealed: COD4, Fable II, GTAIV, LBP top the bill". Eurogamer. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  6. ^ Phillips, Tom (5 August 2016). "Buzz! developer Relentless shut down". Eurogamer. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  7. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (28 January 2008). "Sony Buzz-ed with trademark suit". Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP – NTN Buzztime Inc. v. Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC". Kilpatricktownsend.com. Retrieved 28 August 2012.