Dunno how many folks played it but: HQ Trivia is shutting down.

[thisismyusername]

Interesting idea for a game-show mobile app that sadly is going kaput because of internal and external factors:

https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/15/hq-trivia-shut-down-final-show/

“If you just got here, this is HQ Trivia. It’s a live mobile gameshow. We’re gonna read about 34 questions and then you’re gonna win about 2 cents and you’re gonna fucking loooooove it” -Roisman

“Who’s going to miss the HQ chat? I’m going to miss all those people telling me I don’t have eyebrows or to do the Carlton” -Richards

“Maybe we should close every night. These are the nicest f*cking comments I’ve ever seen. Wow, you’re finally telling me I look hot. I tried for a year and a half -Roisman

“We bought this giant bottle of champagne for when we hit 3 million players” -Richards (HQ never got there)

Side note: I think I was there when it hit 2million and that was like 2017 in a few weeks after the app launched. With celebs like "the Rock" joining it did that, but then after I changed phones/numbers I didn't bother to resign up. The first bit (winning 2 cents) is a major factor, we'll get to that in a minute.

[Shakening up the champagne and opening it to a disappointing trickle] “It wasn’t as big as I thought it was gonna be” -Richards. “That’s what she said. It was anti-climactic” -Roisman. “Much like this episode” -Richards. “Much like this app” -Roisman

Brutal.

Alright, so going back to it:

The original host bailed (for various reasons): The CEO avoided a mutiny (which probably should've been done, the Vine co-creator killed themselves with a drug overdose and the app kinda floundered after that).

The app was glitchy at launch, and stayed glitchy way past the point where people were willing to stick with it. Wrong answers winning the questions, answering a question but not having it register, lag/etc. in the broadcasts.

The idea was solid: A mobile live-trivia game-show that would pay-out if you hit $20 or so via Paypal, but the execution left a lot to be desired.

Pour one out if you played this (or it's spin-off Wheel of Fortune, I guess? Never did play that one).

Best part?

https://twitter.com/ScottRogowsky/status/1228790695168823301

OOP.

Why are/were the Vine founders so fucking weird?

[james]

I was addicted to it for 2 entire weeks, but got annoyed at how much Scott talked. I much preferred the super hot English chick that did his days off.

[thisismyusername]

Scott talked too much, for sure. But even the ad pages basically kept his face: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.intermedia.hq

Right up to the shutdown.

[ToxicAdam]

My brother in law got into it when it first came out. I remember him spending New Years Eve night (at a party) trying to get everyone to log in with him and play some big giveaway. The servers were all borked and none of us could get in. We gave up after 10 minutes but he kept trying for another half hour.  We had fun mocking him the rest of the night.