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Video & Arcade Top 10 facts for kids
| Video & Arcade Top 10 | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Created by | Robert Essery |
| Written by | Deborah Essery |
| Directed by | Bill Elliot |
| Presented by |
|
| Composer(s) | Nicholas Schnier |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Deborah Essery |
| Producer(s) | Jonathan Freedman |
| Production company(s) | The Robert Essery Organization |
| Release | |
| Original network | YTV |
| Original release | 1991 – 2006 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Clips |
Video & Arcade Top 10 (often called V&A Top 10 or just V&A) was a popular Canadian game show. It aired on YTV from 1991 to 2006. The show was filmed in Toronto, Ontario.
In this game show, contestants competed by playing video games. They played to win cool prizes. The show also featured reviews of new games, music, and movies. V&A Top 10 ran for 16 years. This makes it one of the longest-running English Canadian game shows. You can still watch reruns of the show on GameTV.
The first host was Gordon Michael Woolvett (Gord the PJ Man). He hosted the first season. Then, Nicholas Schimmelpenninck (Nicholas Picholas) took over. Nicholas Picholas hosted the show for the rest of its run. He often had three other people on air with him. One was a main co-host, and two presented other parts of the show. Famous co-hosts included Lexa Doig and Liza Fromer.
Contents
How to Play the Game
Each episode had four contestants. They played single-player modes of video games. These games were usually on Nintendo consoles. Two different games were played per episode. Each game had a different group of contestants. The hosts explained the rules before the game started.
Scoring and Winning
Contestants earned points in different ways. They might try to get the highest score. Sometimes, they collected the most items. Other times, they needed to keep the most health. Or, they might try to get the best time. For example, in WWE WrestleMania X8 on Nintendo GameCube, players pinned the most opponents. In Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64, they collected the most stars.
While playing, Nicholas and the co-host talked about the games. They shared rules, stories, and special moves. They even revealed secrets or codes. The home audience saw gameplay footage. However, they did not see the contestants' exact progress or scores.
Game Systems Used
Most games were played on Nintendo consoles. But, games for Game Boy handhelds also appeared. These were played using special adapters. Later seasons also showed games on Sony PlayStation consoles. Systems like Nintendo Virtual Boy and Nintendo DS were not featured. This was likely because they did not connect to TV at the time.
Prizes for Contestants
The winner of each round usually received a copy of the game they played. They also won a second small prize. In later seasons, this was often a Timex watch. Some seasons offered extra prizes from sponsors. These could be a Toronto Blue Jays prize pack or a KFC meal. Near the end of the show, winners chose a game from the "video game library."
Losing contestants also received prizes. For example, second-place winners got dinner passes for Medieval Times. Third and fourth place contestants won Video & Arcade Top 10 T-shirts. In the last season, they received Air Hogs helicopter toys. Each contestant was also linked to a home viewer and an audience member. If their contestant won, these people also won the game.
The show was edited for TV. Some host mistakes were cut out. Contestants actually had more time to play than what was shown. Several shows were filmed in a row. The same audience stayed for three shows. This meant they were there for many hours.
Top 10 Bonus Wall
After winning a round, the winner went to the bonus round. This was called The Top 10 Bonus Wall. Here, they could win another prize. The contestant was blindfolded. In earlier seasons, they were spun around three times. Then, they put their hand into a container. This container held 11 balls: 10 white and 1 red. Each ball had a number.
If a white ball was pulled, the number on it matched a prize. That prize was then won. If the red ball was pulled, the player could choose any prize they wanted from the wall. Bonus prizes included game accessories and action figures. There were also board games, educational items, and passes to Toronto attractions. These prizes often came from show sponsors.
Other Fun Parts of the Show
Besides the main game, there were other segments. These parts showed new video games and popular media. They also answered letters from viewers. Many segments had contests. Viewers could send in a postcard or letter to win prizes. The mailing address was often shown on screen.
- V&A Update: A co-host quickly shared information and tips for a new video game. This game was not played in the main competition. Viewers were encouraged to write down the tips. This segment appeared twice per episode. Each time, it featured a different game.
- Music Review: Another co-host reviewed a new CD from a popular artist. A short clip from a music video was shown. Viewers could enter a contest. They answered a skill-testing question about the review. The first person with the correct answer won a prize, usually a CD or home movie.
- Movie Review: This was similar to the music review. The co-host reviewed a new home video release. A short movie clip was shown. The contest rules were the same. Winners often received free movie rental passes. These were typically from Rogers Video or Jumbo Video.
- Letter Time: Nicholas Picholas read a letter from a home viewer on air. The letter usually included the viewer's name, age, and favorite games. If their letter was read, the viewer won a copy of a game. This was one of the games a first-place contestant won. Old letters were displayed on the wall behind Nicholas.
- Turbo Tips: Nicholas gave extra tips and hints. These were for the games played in that day's episode. Unlike V&A Updates, these tips were given all at once.
- V&A Top 3: Nicholas' main co-host listed the top 3 best-selling video games. (Originally, it was the "Top 10" like the show's title). A separate contest followed this segment. Home viewers could win a bigger prize. They had to be the first to solve a difficult code or hint. This was for a game not featured that week. This section featured the co-host standing next to an arcade cabinet for Armor Attack.
Show's Theme Music
The theme music for Video & Arcade Top 10 was created by Nicholas Schnier. He also made music for other YTV game shows. These included Clips. Some fans have noticed the V&A Top 10 theme song sounds like the Crash Man stage theme. This is from the Nintendo Entertainment System game Mega Man 2. That game came out two years before V&A Top 10 started.