Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition

From Sega Retro

n/a

TrivialPursuit SMS title.png

Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Domark
Developer:
Distributor: Datart International (CZ)
Genre: Educational

















Number of players: 1-6 (alternating)
Official in-game languages:
  • English
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Master System
    EU
    MK-29008-50
    Sega Master System
    UK
    £32.9932.99[3][4] MK-29008-50
    Sega Master System
    CZ
    Sega Master System
    AU
    FTRI01SEC

    Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition, or simply Trivial Pursuit is a video game interpretation of the board game with the same name. It was released for the Sega Master System exclusively in Europe in 1992.

    While Domark held the license to publisher Trivial Pursuit games for a number of years, this particular video game adaption is unique to the Master System. A different version was released for a variety of home computers between 1986 and 1988, while an Amiga CD32 and CDTV variant, which makes use of CD-ROM technology, would debut in 1994. All three are similar in that they adapt the same board game, but the questions and presentation style differ between the versions.

    Trivial Pursuit would be adapted again for the Sega Mega-CD as Trivial Pursuit: Interactive Multimedia Game.

    Gameplay

    Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: Permission denied Error code: 126
    Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: Permission denied Error code: 126
    Board and options
    Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: Permission denied Error code: 126
    Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: Permission denied Error code: 126
    Question and answer

    The game is an adaptation of the board game Trivial Pursuit, which is based around answering trivia questions. It is hosted by an anthropomorphic bird named Russell. One to six players, sharing the same control pad, can play. Questions are split into six categories, each identified by a particular color, and aimed at a European audience. The game claims to have over 2,000 questions. Before starting the game, the player is presented with an options screen that allows up to six players to be named. Players can pause, quit, or return at any point during the game. The options screen also contains a score chart that shows every player with their collected wedges and the percentage of questions they answered correctly in each category. While viewing the board, the player can open the options screen by pressing 2.

    The game uses a board shaped like a wheel with six spokes. The board is divided into spaces of different colors, and the center space is a hexagonal "hub." At the end of each spoke is a "category headquarters" space. Players roll a die on each turn by pressing 1, which determines the number of spaces that they can move in any direction. After the roll, the player can press Left or Right to select one of the possible spaces and choose it by pressing 1. Then Russell asks the player a question in the category corresponding to the color of the space (with the grey-colored spaces giving a re-roll). The player has a limited amount of time in which to answer the question (during which Russell paces back and forth and a snail moving across the top of the screen indicates the time remaining). The timer is 30 seconds by default, but it can be changed from 5 seconds to 9 minutes long. The player can press 1 after answering the question. Rather than inputting the answer in some way, the game simply asks if the player got the question right, which the player can indicate by pressing Left for right or Right for wrong and confirm by pressing 1. A correct answer extends the player's turn and grants another roll, while an incorrect answer cedes the turn to the next player.

    Regardless of the category, there are three types of question, each having a different room in which Russell stands to ask it: the Study is used for standard questions, the Music Room is used for music questions, and the Projection Room is used for questions with a picture. Music questions play a short music sample, which can be repeated by pressing 2 before answering.

    If the space was one of the category headquarters spaces at the end of a spoke, a correct answer additionally awards the player with a wedge of the color corresponding to the category (if the player does not already possess it). Landing on the center hub space allows the player to choose any of the category headquarters spaces instead. The object of the game is to collect all six wedges, then return to the center hub space to answer one final question in a category chosen by the player's opponents. The player wins the game by answering this question correctly; otherwise, the player moves out of the hub and the next player gets a turn.

    Categories

    Category Abbreviation Color
    Geography GEO Blue
    Entertainment ENT Pink
    History HIS Yellow
    Art & Literature A&L Brown
    Science & Nature S&N Green
    Sports & Leisure S&L Orange

    Production credits

    • Developed by: Teque London Ltd
    • Programmed by: Peter Hennig
    • Producer: Dean Lester
    • Graphics by: Tony Hager
    • Sound & music by: Matt Furniss
    • Coordinator: Tony Love
    Source:
    In-game credits
    Trivial Pursuit SMS credits.png
    [5]


    Magazine articles

    Main article: Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #14: "Novembre 1992" (1992-1x-xx)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Sega Pro (DE) #2: "Dezember 1992" (1992-11-27)
    Logo-pdf.svg

    Physical scans

    ExpandSega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    ExpandSega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
    75
    [6]
    Consoles + (FR) PAL
    41
    [7]
    Gamers (DE)
    67
    [8]
    Hobby Consolas (ES)
    80
    [9]
    Joypad (FR)
    78
    [10]
    Joystick (FR) PAL
    77
    [11]
    Mega Fun (DE) PAL
    71
    [12]
    Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
    67
    [13]
    Power Up! (UK)
    80
    [14]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    78
    [15]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    81
    [16]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    81
    [17]
    Sega Zone (UK) PAL
    70
    [18]
    Sega Force (UK) PAL
    83
    [19]
    Video Games (DE)
    69
    [20]
    Sega Master System
    73
    Based on
    15 reviews

    Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition

    Master System, EU
    TrvialPursuit SMS EU Box.jpg
    Cover
    TrivialPursuit SMS EU Cart.jpg
    Cart
    TrivialPursuitSMSEUManual4L.pdf
    Manual
    Master System, CZ (Datart)
    TrvialPursuit SMS CZ Box Front.png
    Cover
    TrivialPursuit SMS EU Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Notavailable.svg
    Manual
    Master System, AU
    TrivialPursuit SMS AU classics back.jpgNospine.pngTrivialPursuit SMS AU classics cover.jpg
    Cover

    Technical information

    ROM dump status

    System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
    Sega Master System
     ?
    Expand
    512kB Cartridge (EU)

    References


    CollapseTrivial Pursuit: Genus Edition

    TrivialPursuit SMS title.png

    Main page | Magazine articles | Reception


    No results