Over 1.7m Bank Job online games played

13 December 2011

Since its launch just one week ago, the online game for The Bank Job has been inundated with players. Over one hundred and five thousand* people have now played The Bank Job online game, tackling the head-to-head game of nerve and knowledge over 1.7 million* times. Contestants for the live TV game show will be cast exclusively from those playing the online game. Both the online game and television programme were created by Remarkable Television, an Endemol company.

(* exact statistics at time of press release are total players 105,159 and games played 1,749,775)

Airing on Channel 4 from January 2nd for six consecutive nights, The Bank Job gives players the chance to pull off the ultimate heist and walk away with a life-changing sum of money. Set in a real bank vault and hosted by George Lamb, the only way to unlock an exclusive application form for the show, and have a chance to compete for real money live on Channel 4 is to play the online game at www.channel4.com/bankjob.

The online game is a tense experience that mirrors the high-stakes  TV format and tests the players' nerve and knowledge. Going head-to-head against other online players in real time, players must answer general knowledge questions inside a virtual vault. A correct answer allows a player to pick a deposit box which could contain a cash sum, allow them to steal some of their opponent's cash or if they're unlucky, be empty. The winner is the player who leaves the vault with the highest amount of cash before the time runs out.

Commissioned by Jody Smith at Channel 4, the online head-to-head game was built by Glasgow-based creative digital agency Chunk Games. Jody Smith comments:

"We're overwhelmed by the popularity of the online game. Launching a new programme format as a playable game before it's even on air is a first and how well it has translated online goes to show what a great format we have with The Bank Job. Some players have racked up several hundred games, far more than the two tournament wins they need to unlock a chance to apply for the show. The game has also done a great job in building awareness of the TV show before we've even marketed it."

David Flynn, Executive Producer of The Bank Job at Remarkable Television, an Endemol company adds:

"The Bank Job game has captured the popular imagination and become an internet phenomenon in a very short space of time. It's simple and terrifyingly addictive. And unlike most game shows, all contestants who are selected will have a strategy they've built up playing the online game which will help them when they're playing for real money."

The online game is available to play any time but players must win two games during an online tournament to become an Elite Player which will allow them the chance to unlock the application form and enter a prize draw to win £10,000. Tournaments take place at various times during the day, to find out when players must follow The Bank Job on http://www.facebook.com/TheBankJob or https://twitter.com//thebankjob. The online tournaments will run during the early episodes of the live TV shows so players could find themselves competing for real, live on Channel 4, just days later.

As players compete online they will build a personal profile which reflects their game play performance and their player type. Individual game performances and personal profiles can then be shared with friends via Facebook. In the live shows, viewers will be able to Play Along with the contestants in the real vault, competing to beat the best player on the show. Online players will also be able to compete against their Facebook friends using Facebook Connect.

Follow The Bank Job:

http://www.facebook.com/TheBankJob

https://twitter.com//thebankjob (@thebankjob / #BankJob)

The Bank Job is produced by Remarkable Television, an Endemol company. The Executive Producers are David Flynn and Tom Blakeson and the Series Producer is James Fox. The Bank Job was commissioned for Channel 4 by Commissioning Editor Madeleine Knight and Justin Gorman with the online game commissioned by Jody Smith.

The online head-to-head game was built by Chunk Games. The Play Along game has been in developed by Monterosa. Both online games have been developed in association with Endemol for Channel 4.

 

The Bank Job TX details:

Monday 2nd - Thursday 5th January 2012                         10pm on Channel 4

Friday 6th January 2012                                                            9pm on Channel 4

Saturday 7th January 2012                                      TBC (week two billings)

 

For more information please contact:

The Bank Job team at House PR on

thebankjob@housepr.com  or 020 7291 3000