) I guess the next on will be Poland then...
History of Millionaire graphic(and more)
Apr 23, 2023 8:06:10 GMT -5
FinalAnswer19, Fimoku, and 4 more like this
Post by Minh Dang on Apr 23, 2023 8:06:10 GMT -5
Millionaire is going to be 25 this year. Along with the changes in format, on how the game is played, and more, the graphic itself have it's own long history in its phenomenal 25 years.
Rewind back...to the early of 1998.
When the show still only in its development stage, we can see the graphic in it's simplest form. The question itself don't have it's own lozenge, but having a money tree along is unique. But since it's not really necessary, they removed.
But thing got changed, when it's came to the 2nd Pilot, and then the launch of the show in September 4th, 1998
Replacing the Gill Sans MT is our familiar ITC Conduit font. Question also have it's own lozenge. But the lack of animation is what's missing of this infamous Black graphics.
Note: there is many more variants of this black graphics, but I'll focus on which one that have significant differences. Most of other graphic is the same as UK, but they just changed either the background or the font.
Russia in 2005 is an example:
When Netherlands become the first ever country that have license for WWTBAM, they're also the one that add animation on graphic. Even if it's still simple and not all of graphics have animation, they really did something:
And when Germany and Austria also got license, they did the same. Easy, Endemol produce all of them, hence the earlier days, they're sharing everything. Later, when RTL able to build their own studio in 2000(and let Austria borrowed it), they also build their own controller. Of course, it's based on Netherlands one, so it's the same:
Then they have this(but I think it's look bad)
Hungary did the same thing, but they do it with real deal. There's no sign of custom graphic, at all. But the font look bad.
For Portugal, they also using LWM graphic in 2000, but then in 2001, they changed back to original UK black. It's weird, considered Portugal have the same root with other Endemol-version.
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Back with the Netherland, they still use that until 2006(with only one change on the background), when they decided to make it a bit different. Still, it's based on original controller.
There is 2 variants of it.
2006-2007(I think this one look better than the later)
2007-2008
Hong Kong have a variant of Black Graphic in 2001. And this is what notable of it:
Question and answers lozenge flip into the money lozenge when it's a right answer. Idk, but later the Singapore version, and the Play It! set also using the same controller as Hong Kong.(For Play It!, this is just a guess, I'm not gonna confirmed that.)
US updated their graphic when it's came to the Syndicated era. Noted that lozenge border have a new, lighter blue compare to UK one. They even make a new, separate money lozenge before Clock Format launched.
Italy also want to do it different, and this is how they done. A little bit small, especially on a 4:3 resolution. And it's too small for questions and answers. Really.
There is no word for Spain anyway. Thanks god that later, they using the black.
I even thought that this is an unlicensed version at first!
Also, I will give a honorable mentioned to France, because of this. They also set the 12Qs format while still in Classic(But US and Australia used to do it better with 10 and 11.)
And Japan, with this:
They really pushed Classic Black to new level with that.
In 2007, 2waytraffic took the right of WWTBAM from Celador, and also, Millionaire ended its Classic Era(Well, some still using Classic in 2010s, but Classic Black finally retired in 2011, after 13 years)
Entered, the Rave Era. Begin from the Celebrity Special in August 18th, 2007, UK introduce their 12Qs format, and a new graphic!
It's new, but still have the soul of its predecessor in it. And 3D effect make it look better. This is also the first time, Millionaire graphics have a proper animations.
In October of the same year, Australia, not only break the limit with the 16 questions format, but also, introducing what we known as "International Rave 2007", as many countries later using Australia graphics as their Rave graphics.
Later, this thing made it to their Hot Seat format in 2009.
Germany and Austria in the other hand...They keep the animation and modified that 2007 International one. It's look nice anyway.
Italy also keep its mold when they entered Rave era. It's even smaller.
Later, they changed color to red, for a short lived spin-off that later, become Millionaire Hot Seat.
Hungary decided to messed up a bit. Not only they made the first and only "1 of 2" lifeline, but their graphic also look unique.
Meant to be look like Endemol graphic, but instead of question lozenge got pushed up by the answers, this time it already in place.
Japan during its only show of 2013 also bring on their Rave, but there is many classic elements in it. But for the sake of only one time use, I appreciate their effort.
Now, came to the US. In September 8th, 2008, they introducing the new Clock format. A brand new graphic was made, and it's look freaking nice. There's also many new animation and gimmicks add in.
And notice to all of you, almost the rest of Rave history and even to today, are beginning with this.
Begin with the 2010s, when 2007 Rave is popular, UK already bring the Big, Bad Clock to the home soil. Along with that, the 2007 graphic got a revamp with purple as it color.
France later using this for the rest of its run(2011-2020), without the clock.
Then, we have...India. In its first season on SET(and after 3 years break), they playing with Clock Format, but they've done really well mixing 2 Clock Format. And the "US-look like" graphic is one of them.
It's the Netherlands who bring those graphic to their home for 2011 revival. There is some extra modification on it.
Little did they know, this is the beta version for a new Rave style. We'll talk about that later.
Meanwhile, Russia is on their new level. Not just made their own graphic with own animations, they also know how to use Rave background as the graphic texture. This is used from September 2010 until August 2011:
With US, with the launch of Shuffle Format, they gave us this:
While it also look nice, I want to say that the removal of that strap(which connected the lozenges, have been there since its early days in NYC) make it also feel wrong. It's also more "flat" and too "simple" compared to Clock version predecessor.
India, returned with their 5th season, presenting this new-style graphic for their version. Even until now, every other local version of KBC(except Hindi, of course) using it.
And then they changed the color to purple in Season 9. Outside of Hindi version, only Nepal using this graphic.
Germany and Austria...They still being a bit nostalgia. They kept the same controller, but made a new graphic. Both are used since 2011 until now.
For Germany, a more blue-ish texture got used.
And for Austria, it's look like their own remastered version of 2007 Rave
Back to Russia. In September 10th, 2011, not only they moved to one of the "worst Millionaire studio ever, but they also have a new graphic. I really love their "cylinder" animation. This thing was used in 10 years, from 2012 until...when their version isn't licensed anymore.
Let's talk a bit about Hot Seat. In 2009, Australia presented it so it's not just a special like in Italy, but a separate spin-off. They using the 2007 Rave that already there since the Multi-Millionaire format. When other countries(Except Vietnam, sharing same controller with Australia) pick up the format, they modified the 2007 rave. Portugal is an example:
It look more "squished" compare to Australia one(Yes, I know this is a 4:3 screen anyway)
In 2015, when they dropped classic format to be back with Hot Seat, now it's look better.
In January 2015, Australia changed its Hot Seat graphics. Now it's look like this:
And Belgium also have an attempt with their Hot Seat:
Their graphic look really clean!
Talk about Portugal, I did said that when they returned to original format in 2013, they using same graphic as Netherlands:
Yes, that was the first form of what we known as International Rave 2014(Aka Rave 2.5, Portugal and Netherlands are 2.0)
Now we came to Vietnam. In September 2014, they also upgrade the graphic. Interestingly, despite sharing many similarity with the Rave 2.5 graphic, it's have the same animation, and same controller "kernel" as the Rave 2007.
I still called that a win for our version, because they used to use 4:3 Rave 2007 graphic on 16:9 resolution.
Rave 2.5 got used for a while for most of remaining active version. For 2007 Rave, it's run finally ended when the last country using it, Nigeria ended its first run of WWTBAM in 2017. 2007 Rave got retired after 11 years.
For US version, with Disney hold the license of Millionaire, this must be their worst decision ever. With the hexagon graphic retired for this, the last piece of Millionaire legacy have gone, and so did the show. That's the final syndicated season.
In 2018, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary, ITV decided to revival Millionaire after ended it in 2014. And there's the new graphic:
It's a new, a mix of 3D outline with its flat texture. Probably the best of all. Also, back then, I see the 20th Anniversary graphic look really similar to...you might unexpected it: Vietnamese 2014 pack.
Sorry, but the PaF clock, the background, the animations...look really identical.
The revival of UK version begin a trend, where other international version also got its revival. Again, it's Netherlands who begin the trend. A brand new graphic pack made by Olga van den Brandt, have set a brand new graphic style of Millionaire.
Not just based on UK Revival graphic, but they even based on the 1999 Endemol graphic and the Rave 2.5 graphic in term of animations:
Olga Graphic pack later got adapted in many other version, thus, there is some variants of it:
This is the Hot Seat variant:
In some South American countries, a new design of the pack are in use(later it's become Version 2 of the pack)
With Vietnam and Azerbaijan, the UK team help them with a controller, that even thought it's Olga, many elements are took from UK Revival pack. I don't blame them for having a "cheap" pack like that, that the best UK team can help them when they can't afford a new controller.
US decided to do it different when they revived Millionaire, and they want to "back to 1999 again". They're using UK Revival pack, but having the nostalgia black color that similar to Classic Black. But they're using Olga background(It changed from purple to blue on the 2nd Season)
India still not made me disappointed. It's Olga graphic, but with gold outline and a clock that look like they brought it from the new video game.
A blue background( have some different to US one) also make it better.
And finally, Australia. I know this is temporary, and only use for few weeks. But this is the 2007 Rave controller. Probably the cheapest variant of Olga pack. There's also many UK elements in it.
And that, is the 25th year history of Millionaire graphic. It might not perfect, but I tried my best.
But now we come into a question:
Can the graphics look better than now?
The Olga van den Brandt is an ultimate mix of Millionaire long history together. From the design, texture, to background, the animations, and the brand of Millionaire, all of them, already make me think, this is the most perfect graphic pack ever. It just can't be better than this. But still, in the future(Most of Millionaire graphic pack have a 10 years life cycle, and Rave 2.5 already almost reach it's limit), will anyone able to design a new graphic pack, that can surpassing current Olga pack?
This will be a question that currently, hard to find a correct answer, but maybe we'll know in the future, maybe in its 30th Anniversary.
Rewind back...to the early of 1998.
When the show still only in its development stage, we can see the graphic in it's simplest form. The question itself don't have it's own lozenge, but having a money tree along is unique. But since it's not really necessary, they removed.
But thing got changed, when it's came to the 2nd Pilot, and then the launch of the show in September 4th, 1998
Replacing the Gill Sans MT is our familiar ITC Conduit font. Question also have it's own lozenge. But the lack of animation is what's missing of this infamous Black graphics.
Note: there is many more variants of this black graphics, but I'll focus on which one that have significant differences. Most of other graphic is the same as UK, but they just changed either the background or the font.
Russia in 2005 is an example:
When Netherlands become the first ever country that have license for WWTBAM, they're also the one that add animation on graphic. Even if it's still simple and not all of graphics have animation, they really did something:
And when Germany and Austria also got license, they did the same. Easy, Endemol produce all of them, hence the earlier days, they're sharing everything. Later, when RTL able to build their own studio in 2000(and let Austria borrowed it), they also build their own controller. Of course, it's based on Netherlands one, so it's the same:
Then they have this(but I think it's look bad)
Hungary did the same thing, but they do it with real deal. There's no sign of custom graphic, at all. But the font look bad.
For Portugal, they also using LWM graphic in 2000, but then in 2001, they changed back to original UK black. It's weird, considered Portugal have the same root with other Endemol-version.
Back with the Netherland, they still use that until 2006(with only one change on the background), when they decided to make it a bit different. Still, it's based on original controller.
There is 2 variants of it.
2006-2007(I think this one look better than the later)
2007-2008
Hong Kong have a variant of Black Graphic in 2001. And this is what notable of it:
Question and answers lozenge flip into the money lozenge when it's a right answer. Idk, but later the Singapore version, and the Play It! set also using the same controller as Hong Kong.(For Play It!, this is just a guess, I'm not gonna confirmed that.)
US updated their graphic when it's came to the Syndicated era. Noted that lozenge border have a new, lighter blue compare to UK one. They even make a new, separate money lozenge before Clock Format launched.
Italy also want to do it different, and this is how they done. A little bit small, especially on a 4:3 resolution. And it's too small for questions and answers. Really.
There is no word for Spain anyway. Thanks god that later, they using the black.
I even thought that this is an unlicensed version at first!
Also, I will give a honorable mentioned to France, because of this. They also set the 12Qs format while still in Classic(But US and Australia used to do it better with 10 and 11.)
And Japan, with this:
They really pushed Classic Black to new level with that.
In 2007, 2waytraffic took the right of WWTBAM from Celador, and also, Millionaire ended its Classic Era(Well, some still using Classic in 2010s, but Classic Black finally retired in 2011, after 13 years)
Entered, the Rave Era. Begin from the Celebrity Special in August 18th, 2007, UK introduce their 12Qs format, and a new graphic!
It's new, but still have the soul of its predecessor in it. And 3D effect make it look better. This is also the first time, Millionaire graphics have a proper animations.
In October of the same year, Australia, not only break the limit with the 16 questions format, but also, introducing what we known as "International Rave 2007", as many countries later using Australia graphics as their Rave graphics.
Later, this thing made it to their Hot Seat format in 2009.
Germany and Austria in the other hand...They keep the animation and modified that 2007 International one. It's look nice anyway.
Italy also keep its mold when they entered Rave era. It's even smaller.
Later, they changed color to red, for a short lived spin-off that later, become Millionaire Hot Seat.
Hungary decided to messed up a bit. Not only they made the first and only "1 of 2" lifeline, but their graphic also look unique.
Meant to be look like Endemol graphic, but instead of question lozenge got pushed up by the answers, this time it already in place.
Japan during its only show of 2013 also bring on their Rave, but there is many classic elements in it. But for the sake of only one time use, I appreciate their effort.
Now, came to the US. In September 8th, 2008, they introducing the new Clock format. A brand new graphic was made, and it's look freaking nice. There's also many new animation and gimmicks add in.
And notice to all of you, almost the rest of Rave history and even to today, are beginning with this.
Begin with the 2010s, when 2007 Rave is popular, UK already bring the Big, Bad Clock to the home soil. Along with that, the 2007 graphic got a revamp with purple as it color.
France later using this for the rest of its run(2011-2020), without the clock.
Then, we have...India. In its first season on SET(and after 3 years break), they playing with Clock Format, but they've done really well mixing 2 Clock Format. And the "US-look like" graphic is one of them.
It's the Netherlands who bring those graphic to their home for 2011 revival. There is some extra modification on it.
Little did they know, this is the beta version for a new Rave style. We'll talk about that later.
Meanwhile, Russia is on their new level. Not just made their own graphic with own animations, they also know how to use Rave background as the graphic texture. This is used from September 2010 until August 2011:
With US, with the launch of Shuffle Format, they gave us this:
While it also look nice, I want to say that the removal of that strap(which connected the lozenges, have been there since its early days in NYC) make it also feel wrong. It's also more "flat" and too "simple" compared to Clock version predecessor.
India, returned with their 5th season, presenting this new-style graphic for their version. Even until now, every other local version of KBC(except Hindi, of course) using it.
And then they changed the color to purple in Season 9. Outside of Hindi version, only Nepal using this graphic.
Germany and Austria...They still being a bit nostalgia. They kept the same controller, but made a new graphic. Both are used since 2011 until now.
For Germany, a more blue-ish texture got used.
And for Austria, it's look like their own remastered version of 2007 Rave
Back to Russia. In September 10th, 2011, not only they moved to one of the "worst Millionaire studio ever, but they also have a new graphic. I really love their "cylinder" animation. This thing was used in 10 years, from 2012 until...when their version isn't licensed anymore.
Let's talk a bit about Hot Seat. In 2009, Australia presented it so it's not just a special like in Italy, but a separate spin-off. They using the 2007 Rave that already there since the Multi-Millionaire format. When other countries(Except Vietnam, sharing same controller with Australia) pick up the format, they modified the 2007 rave. Portugal is an example:
It look more "squished" compare to Australia one(Yes, I know this is a 4:3 screen anyway)
In 2015, when they dropped classic format to be back with Hot Seat, now it's look better.
In January 2015, Australia changed its Hot Seat graphics. Now it's look like this:
And Belgium also have an attempt with their Hot Seat:
Their graphic look really clean!
Talk about Portugal, I did said that when they returned to original format in 2013, they using same graphic as Netherlands:
Yes, that was the first form of what we known as International Rave 2014(Aka Rave 2.5, Portugal and Netherlands are 2.0)
Now we came to Vietnam. In September 2014, they also upgrade the graphic. Interestingly, despite sharing many similarity with the Rave 2.5 graphic, it's have the same animation, and same controller "kernel" as the Rave 2007.
I still called that a win for our version, because they used to use 4:3 Rave 2007 graphic on 16:9 resolution.
Rave 2.5 got used for a while for most of remaining active version. For 2007 Rave, it's run finally ended when the last country using it, Nigeria ended its first run of WWTBAM in 2017. 2007 Rave got retired after 11 years.
For US version, with Disney hold the license of Millionaire, this must be their worst decision ever. With the hexagon graphic retired for this, the last piece of Millionaire legacy have gone, and so did the show. That's the final syndicated season.
In 2018, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary, ITV decided to revival Millionaire after ended it in 2014. And there's the new graphic:
It's a new, a mix of 3D outline with its flat texture. Probably the best of all. Also, back then, I see the 20th Anniversary graphic look really similar to...you might unexpected it: Vietnamese 2014 pack.
Sorry, but the PaF clock, the background, the animations...look really identical.
The revival of UK version begin a trend, where other international version also got its revival. Again, it's Netherlands who begin the trend. A brand new graphic pack made by Olga van den Brandt, have set a brand new graphic style of Millionaire.
Not just based on UK Revival graphic, but they even based on the 1999 Endemol graphic and the Rave 2.5 graphic in term of animations:
Olga Graphic pack later got adapted in many other version, thus, there is some variants of it:
This is the Hot Seat variant:
In some South American countries, a new design of the pack are in use(later it's become Version 2 of the pack)
With Vietnam and Azerbaijan, the UK team help them with a controller, that even thought it's Olga, many elements are took from UK Revival pack. I don't blame them for having a "cheap" pack like that, that the best UK team can help them when they can't afford a new controller.
US decided to do it different when they revived Millionaire, and they want to "back to 1999 again". They're using UK Revival pack, but having the nostalgia black color that similar to Classic Black. But they're using Olga background(It changed from purple to blue on the 2nd Season)
India still not made me disappointed. It's Olga graphic, but with gold outline and a clock that look like they brought it from the new video game.
A blue background( have some different to US one) also make it better.
And finally, Australia. I know this is temporary, and only use for few weeks. But this is the 2007 Rave controller. Probably the cheapest variant of Olga pack. There's also many UK elements in it.
And that, is the 25th year history of Millionaire graphic. It might not perfect, but I tried my best.
But now we come into a question:
Can the graphics look better than now?
The Olga van den Brandt is an ultimate mix of Millionaire long history together. From the design, texture, to background, the animations, and the brand of Millionaire, all of them, already make me think, this is the most perfect graphic pack ever. It just can't be better than this. But still, in the future(Most of Millionaire graphic pack have a 10 years life cycle, and Rave 2.5 already almost reach it's limit), will anyone able to design a new graphic pack, that can surpassing current Olga pack?
This will be a question that currently, hard to find a correct answer, but maybe we'll know in the future, maybe in its 30th Anniversary.
).
(when they went to 16:9)
