What Big Brother Teaches Us About Game Design

Thanks to Skotos.net for their article discussing why the TV show Big Brother 4 is an example of good game design, and what we can learn from it. It's pointed out that "a group of n/2 (rounded down) + 1 people can dominate the game", if well-organized, but "the producers of Big Brother have made changes which dramatically reduce the power of a majority", including the ability to veto potential evictees. But it's argued the jury of previously evicted players voting on the final two contestants means "...if you backstab someone or betray them, even if it gets you further in the game, it could prevent you from winning." Is there a perfect strategy for winning Big Brother, and if not, is the concept of "unworthy winners" dissatisfying?

Comments

Big Brother differences

[Oddly_Drac]

We've just started seeing Big Brother (US) in the UK for the first time, and the differences are startling.

In the UK game (which is becoming increasingly 'gimmicked'), the housemates are nominated by the other housemates, and the three with the most votes go to a public vote. Generally it's about public perceptions from the outside, and the press (mostly tabloids) tend to pick someone to support. There have been some interesting accusations of 'vote stuffing' in the past.

In the American version, it's closed voting and alliances are encouraged to provide voting blocks. This is a complete change to the UK version, and partially turned me off because of the constant bitching, but it's essentially a high-pressure political environment compared with the slightly more cooperative model of Big Brother UK.

Re:Big Brother differences

[bigbigbison]

The first season of the US show was like the UK version. It was really very interesting. It was totally non-competitive and the people on the show really bonded. It was pretty interesting because the wife of one of the contestants arranged for the local phone company to pay for everyone in their home town to call and evict her husband's biggest rival, and of course the people in the house had no idea that was going on. People would rent planes with flying banners and stuff to try and tell the people in the house what was going on.
It was really very interesting. So of course they totally changed it. They have made it more and more competitive every year. I guess it is working simce this years ratings are the highest yet.

Re:Big Brother differences

[julez]

The first US Big Brother had the same public voting system. However, it turned out that the public voted out the s**t-disturbers, making each week less and less interesting. In the end, it was just a huge love-in and everyone got along. So Big Brother had to step in and devise ways to turn the houseguests against each other.