The "DVD Mystère" discussion thread

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 13 Apr 2006, 12:20

Thanks, guys.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 13 Apr 2006, 12:45

Here are the rules with comments added in green:

About the concept of DVD Mystère:
People have tried to improve it in the past. Some tried Sound Mystère (you had to guess the movie based on a sound-clip), some tried DVD-Cover Mystère (guess the movie based on a cover where the title is erased), but it won't work. Nothing can beat the simplicity of:
Grab a DVD - Take a screencap - Post the screencap - Guess.

The player who won the previous round will post a screenshot from a movie. And not a TV show. Should we allow TV shows from now on ?
-Asian movies are preferred, but not mandatory. Although BnB is asian-oriented, I thought "asian movies only" would be too restrictive.
-Well-known movies are preferred, but not mandatory. That's one of the most controversial rules. How do you define well-known ? Common sense says that you should just try to avoid using films that only you have seen.
-A clue concerning the country of origin is preferred, but not mandatory. Also known as the "Markgway rule". It allows him to take some time off when somebody posts a korean movie.

-A minimum resolution of 640x360 is recommended. That was back when Mark was posting thumbnail shots of Shaw Brothers movies.
-Avoid posting a screenshot that contains spoilers (key characters dying, etc...). Common sense
-Make sure the title of the movie is not contained in its filename or URL. Again, common sense.
-No posters, no deleted scenes, no stills. Only the movie itself. This is for people who have seen 2046, but haven't seen deleted scene N°788685758. It helps focus on the film itself.

Guessing:
-Only one guess per player is allowed.
-A player can guess again only when the current gamekeeper tells him that his previous guess is wrong.
-If a player wins with multiple consecutive guesses, he will get only one point (only if the number of guesses is inferior to 4). That sounds fair IMO. If you guess 3 times, then you multiply your chances of winning by 3. It's only fair that your winnings should be divided by 3.
-The winner scores 3 points and becomes gamekeeper for the next round.
-In case 2 players win at the same time, they will both get one point.They could each get 3 points, but we might be giving points to a cheater (the second winner). By giving them both 1 point, we're giving the second winner the benefit of the doubt.

**If the gamekeeper notices that the players can't find the movie, he should post a clue or a new screenshot (approx. 24h after posting the first shot). That gives the gamekeeper some time to breathe if he's got a life.

**If the winner doesn't post a screenshot 24 hours after winning the previous round, I will take his place. Just to keep the game going.

**If a movie has several titles in english-speaking countries, any of those titles are accepted. However, the only valid AKAs are the ones that can be found on hkmdb.com , imdb.com and hkflix.com databases. I know Mark doesn't like that rule, it's just that I'd feel bad about the fellow who found the correct movie but not the correct title.

The first player to reach 100 points will win. I think 100 points is a bit much. 5 months to play one game is too much. 50 points would be more reasonable, no ?

If anybody has any commments or ideas to improve this game, now is the time to say it. But I think it's going quite smoothly now that the rules have been constantly upgraded in the last 5 months.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 13 Apr 2006, 12:54

I have a new rule which I would like the panel to consider:

The country of origin should be different from the previous screen grab. Again this is just for the sake of diversity. There were long spells where a single country was used, which kinda made the game boring. I tried not to be biased towards one country and took grabs from US, Korea, Japan etc.

So to put it simply. If you win a round and guess a movie from Korea, take a screen grab from another country. Obviously the next person can choose Korea if they wish.

What do you think?

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 13 Apr 2006, 13:05

I like.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 13 Apr 2006, 13:14

Congrats on becoming the 'Official Movie-Guessing Master' Tom. I still won't watch Twins Effect 2 though

One question about the screengrabs themselves. How obscure can a shot be? In both (both

) the screenshots I posted, I had far more obscure choices to pick from. For instance, in Ninja In The Dragon's Den, I could've chosen a screenshot which consisted of some firecrackers going off. Would have been legit (at the very least it would've taken longer than 2 minutes to get it!)? In my opinion, it would've required a knowledge of the film itself. Like the shot of the hall from God Of Cookery. It isn't a particularly memorable scene. I actually remembered that shot as it leads up to a very funny sequence.

Just some clarification if anyone could provide it.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 13 Apr 2006, 13:25

In the screenshots I posted, I had far more obscure choices to pick from.

Would YOU have recognized the films from those obscure shots ?
If not, then it means they were too obscure.

That's how I usually determine whether a shot is "legit".
Can I recognize the movie from my shot ? If yes, then it's possible that somebody else could recognize it as well.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 13 Apr 2006, 13:31

Kurgan wrote:Congrats on becoming the 'Official Movie-Guessing Master' Tom. I still won't watch Twins Effect 2 though

One question about the screengrabs themselves. How obscure can a shot be? In both (both ) the screenshots I posted, I had far more obscure choices to pick from. For instance, in Ninja In The Dragon's Den, I could've chosen a screenshot which consisted of some firecrackers going off. Would have been legit (at the very least it would've taken longer than 2 minutes to get it!)? In my opinion, it would've required a knowledge of the film itself. Like the shot of the hall from God Of Cookery. It isn't a particularly memorable scene. I actually remembered that shot as it leads up to a very funny sequence.

Just some clarification if anyone could provide it.

I think it's very hard what defines a good 1st shot. The shot from the hall in God of Cookery. Me myself I would NEVER have guessed that shot would be from GOC, but you and the other freaks here MIGHT, so I used it. The 2nd shot I would have used a shot of Stephen Chow, but you only see his hair... and the 3rd shot would have been an easy shot, like one of his co-stars...

But it's hard to get the 'right' 1st post. I think there will always be people that think a certain shot is too hard, or one is too easy... it just differes from how many times you have seen a movie, or what kind of impact a certain scene had, or just basically how good your memory is...

I think for the lesser known movies, like some of those shitty Shaws Mark posted, it's better to get an easier first shot... but then again, some of the Shaw freaks would instantly get it...

I had a vague shot of Amelie, and someone guessed it very fast, but I guess that also had to do with the style the movie is shot in, and the saturation...

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 13 Apr 2006, 16:39

hey,

-A clue concerning the country of origin is preferred, but not mandatory. Also known as the "Markgway rule". It allows him to take some time off when somebody posts a korean movie.

I usually fall under the Mark category there also as my thing is HK with some excursions to China and Taiwan. Very rarely Korea.

As for posting screenshots over and over again from let's say HK, don't say I mind it myself or find it boring. So I say that rule should be no rule. There's such diversity within each country anyway so...

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 13 Apr 2006, 16:44

Bruce Lee voice: "Using no rule as rule..."

Sorry.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 13 Apr 2006, 16:46

Just vote, guys:

Should the country of origin be different from the last screengrab ?

Yes, No and Don't Care will do.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 Apr 2006, 16:58

I had to go back FOUR pages to find the actual capture. Stop bickering like children and get back on topic

Since when was multiple posting aloud?

Come on Grim post something I'd have seen to give me a chance

. I've given on up recognising the films most of you guys post

Tom2681 wrote:Just vote, guys:

Should the country of origin be different from the last screengrab ?

Yes, No and Don't Care will do.

YES, YES and YES

I know you guys jack off over HK and Korean films

but it does get boring seeing the contant HK Old School pictures or Korean flicks.

It shouldn't be a hard and fast rule just change it a little more often.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 13 Apr 2006, 17:04

If I knew what you were talking about I'd vote?

Let's say I post a korean movie.
Should the next cap be from a different country ?

EDIT: OK, you got it now.

Stop bickering like children and get back on topic

The game is over. This is a discussion thread now.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 13 Apr 2006, 17:06

Since when was multiple posting aloud?

Since february I think.
You can post up to 3 guesses. But if you win with one of those 3 guesses, you'll only get one point.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 Apr 2006, 17:20

Tom2681 wrote:People have tried to improve it in the past. Some tried Sound Mystère (you had to guess the movie based on a sound-clip)

That's too difficult for most people here (ie. ME!)

I wouldn't know how and it sounds too time consuming.

some tried DVD-Cover Mystère (guess the movie based on a cover where the title is erased), but it won't work.

Might be too easy?

Should we allow TV shows from now on ?

No.

Although BnB is asian-oriented, I thought "asian movies only" would be too restrictive.

I agree.

That's one of the most controversial rules. How do you define well-known ? Common sense says that you should just try to avoid using films that only you have seen.

I think the only realistic enforcement of this is to allow any movie available on DVD. Anything else is subjective.

Also known as the "Markgway rule". It allows him to take some time off when somebody posts a korean movie.

If the gamekeeper notices that the players can't find the movie, he should post a clue or a new screenshot (approx. 24h after posting the first shot). That gives the gamekeeper some time to breathe if he's got a life.

I would make it less that 24hrs. That's a helluva long time if the game is going nowhere. How about a maximum of 12hrs (or less if the gamekeeper chooses).

I know Mark doesn't like that rule, it's just that I'd feel bad about the fellow who found the correct movie but not the correct title.

Only because some titles get listed as alternates that are seriously unknown. I'm not picking on LD here, but I can't think of a single territory where Return of the Lucky Stars is known as Lucky Stars Triad. How was Keung supposed to know that? You're viewpoint is fair, but I would urge guessers to use common sense when guessing and try to select a commonly known title be it original or alternate.

I think 100 points is a bit much. 5 months to play one game is too much. 50 points would be more reasonable, no ?

Hmm. The precedent has been set, no? Winning at 50 points wouldn't be as cool as winning at 100. If we speed up the game a little it shouldn't be a problem.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 Apr 2006, 17:21

BiscLimpkit wrote:I have a new rule which I would like the panel to consider: The country of origin should be different from the previous screen grab. Again this is just for the sake of diversity. There were long spells where a single country was used, which kinda made the game boring. I tried not to be biased towards one country and took grabs from US, Korea, Japan etc.

Interesting idea.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 13 Apr 2006, 17:28

Tom2681 wrote:Just vote, guys:

Should the country of origin be different from the last screengrab ?

Yes, No and Don't Care will do.

Dont care.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 13 Apr 2006, 18:20

Don't care x2

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 13 Apr 2006, 18:30

Tom2681 wrote:Just vote, guys:

Should the country of origin be different from the last screengrab ?

Absolutely.

the68monkey · Post by **the68monkey** » 13 Apr 2006, 20:03

Tom2681 wrote:Just vote, guys:

Should the country of origin be different from the last screengrab ?

Sounds good. It evens the playing field a bit and keeps Mark and Kenneth from having a Hong Kong obscure film runaway.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 13 Apr 2006, 20:07

hey,

master plan uncovered. Dang it.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 13 Apr 2006, 20:38

Damn straight! I want a 10 point head start for coming up with such an awesome rule.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 13 Apr 2006, 20:41

The rule shall be implemented (9 out of 10 players will probably forget about it anyway).

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 14 Apr 2006, 07:57

Hey also the whole purpose of a round is to guess the movie within 3 days right? 1 grab for every 24 hours. Well I've seen some games that have gone waaaay over due to either:

a: poor choice of grabs
b: poor choice of films

So to encourage people to play seriously, how's about the 3 points won from the previous round are pending on whether the next person guesses the film within three days (give or take a few hours of course as we all have lives outside B&B).

To put it simply, say I guess the winning film but don't get those 3 points yet. I post the next grab. As soon as someone guesses my film then I finally get those 3 points. If I need more than 3 grabs or 3 days for someone to guess my film then I don't get those 3 points.

You played Isketch? It's similar to this game but applies this sort of rule.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 14 Apr 2006, 13:36

how's about the 3 points won from the previous round are pending on whether the next person guesses the film within three days

SCREW THAT !
I'd lose 3 points because you losers can't find my film ?! Over my dead virtual body !

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 14 Apr 2006, 14:33

It'd be your fault for choosing an obscure film/grab. Besides, you've got nothing to worry about Tom, you've never been in that situation. Again it's penalising those who cannot play properly. If not losing 3 points then how about deducting 2? Remember that the rules have to be respected, this is just a precaution for those who cannot follow the game's basic principals.