Xboxist

How to Win Big at 1 vs 100

Well, 1 vs 100 Beta has certainly become a multiplayer phenomenon these past couple of weeks. With on average 50,000 players logging on each session, it seems like everyone is going quiz show crazy these days. And it's all thanks to Microsoft's genius move to make 1 vs 100 free to play to all Xbox LIVE gold subscribers. Couple that with real life prizes for trivia savvy gamers and you have a winning formula.

With so many people competing for the hot seat as The One or clamoring to gang up him as The Mob, we've got some tips for you on how to get selected. But keep in mind that's not the only way to win -- just by playing the game you rack up entries into a drawing for awesome prizes like a new TV. Each question answered nets you an entry, for a maximum of 500 entries during the beta.

No matter how you play, we've devised some keen strategy to maximize your potential and win it big.

Becoming "The One"
The game has two modes -- there's a LIVE version that takes place Fridays and Saturdays each week and it's mediated by a real live host, Chris Cashman. There's also a copious amount of Extended Play sessions throughout the week that give players the chance to practice and improve their statistics. And stats are king. They're your ticket into being selected as "The One" or "The Mob" during LIVE sessions.

The One plays against 100 players who make up The Mob. These players are selected at the beginning of each round of the LIVE sessions. Players have a chance to be selected as The One or The Mob when they first enter the game lobby. Your lifetime stats of how quickly and accurately you answer questions determine if you get selected. Having a high total lifetime score is another determinate.

Making it to the LIVE session is where you want to be because that's where you'll have the best chance of scoring prizes like Microsoft points and XBLA games. Players not selected as The One or The Mob can still play as part of The Crowd, which helps build your stats. Don't give up if you don't make it the first time because stats are reset at the end of every week, leveling the play-field for the next One.

Extended Play
Honing your skills during Extended Play will get you ready for the fast-paced gameplay and types of questions you'll face. Knowing the answer is one thing, but the speed of your answer is what counts. Answers are lain out according to the X-A-B buttons. The first answer corresponds to the left-most button X, second answer to the center button A, and third to the right-most button B.

Get familiar with this layout and you'll be able to lock in your answers quicker. If you answer quick enough, you earn Instant-Answer status and rack up much needed score bonuses. Answer three questions correctly in a row and earn a Skip Question bonus, which lets you skip questions you don't know (by pressing Y) and thereby preserve your answer Streak bonus. Guessing on an answer may be a good choice if you missed the previous question, but if you racked up a 10-correct answer Streak, it's best to skip the question to preserve your Streak bonus.

Players get a few seconds to read the question before selectable answer choices are displayed. Use this extra time to think about the answer. Choices pop up one by one. If you see the correct answer pop up, lock it in as quickly as possible. If you don't know the answer, go through the process of elimination. If choice X pops up and is clearly wrong, place your finger above the A button before choice A pops up. This will give you a slight time advantage if it turns out to be the right answer. If both choice X and A can be eliminated, start jamming on the B button - even before the choice pops up - to ensure you get an Instant Answer bonus.

Playing as The One
When you are selected as The One, stay calm. It's no longer a speed contest. Read all three choices and choose the best answer.

Remember to use your 3 HELPS. One wrong answer and you're eliminated, so be wise. Often, players choke from the pressure and guess at an answer without using their HELPS. Use the HELPS in the order described below. Once you get deeper in the game, the Brain will become your best friend.

The most important advice to winning prizes is a simple but hard one to commit to: DON'T BE GREEDY!

If you've used up all your HELPS and you've knocked out a good portion of The Mob, take the money when they give you the choice of bowing out. A successful player is one who knows when to hold 'em, and knows when to fold 'em. Apparently, very few people do. Rarely has one gone all the way and won the top prize. It's better to count yourself lucky if you land in the hot seat. Take the prize when you get at least 1000 MS points. Not only that, you'll score an XBLA game as well [Take note: MS points will be at stake in 1 vs 100 LIVE, but not currently in the US-Canadian Beta].

Have fun and brush up on your trivia. Up to four players can play on one console. Some people even throw parties during these games and get a ton of free help answering questions from their friends. The real question is -- Are you good under pressure? Or will you lose to The Mob?

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