I do not consider myself exactly on the edge of trendsetting, nor do I claim always to know what the next 'big thing' is, but Trivia Crack (TriviaCrack.com) has recently caught my attention.
I started playing the game a few months ago as it came to Windows Phone back in September. Sure, it is fun, but I thought it was just another game for Windows Phone. Then, all of a sudden a few weeks ago, I started getting requests from friends on Facebook to play the trivia game. I had no idea it was even on other platforms. Weeks later and friends of friends are telling me it is all the rage.
What is Trivia Crack?
Trivia Crack is to Trivial Pursuit what Candy Crush is to Bejewelled. At the core, it is nothing new, merely a trivia game as the name implies. The difference is this game connects up through Facebook, and it is available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and even the Amazon Store.
It also became the top downloaded game on iOS in December, which probably explains why I started hearing about it from various social circles. In fact, Business Week just did a write up about the game, as it is now just peaking in US markets.
The game though is very straightforward. Login with your Facebook account, find friends and challenge them to a match. Each game starts with a spin, and you are presented with various categories, including:
- Entertainment
- History
- Sports
- Science
- Arts
- Geography
Your spin lands on one of those categories and that is your question. Once you accept, you are asked a trivia question and given a certain amount of seconds to answer. Users are presented with four possible responses, making it much easier to just visually recognize the answer instead of actual recall.
If you guess right, you spin again. Guess wrong, and it is your opponents turn. Once you answer three questions in a row correctly, you can opt to win a category (or 'character' as the game calls them). After winning all the categories, you win the game and can re-challenge your opponent.
Trivia Crack also features powerups, such as extra spins, or removing two of the four possible answers to help make things easier. These options are obtained by collecting coins, which you earn each time you win a game against an opponent or answering a certain about of questions in a row correctly.
Interestingly, you can rate each trivia question as boring or interesting. Presumably this feedback can weed out erroneous items from the system since the questions themselves can be user submitted.
The game sends notifications to the phone to let you know it is your turn, and so far they have been very reliable on Windows Phone. However, it would be even cooler if they make a Live Tile system that flips to reveal your turn, and maybe your stats.
Why it is so good
Trivia Crack is free to play, and there are no ads. How does the Argentinian company Etermax make money? I have no idea. Regardless, the experience on Windows Phone as an app is excellent as it maintains a 4.3 (out of 5 rating) from a ridiculous 50,000 reviews.
Combined with the cross-platform availability and the Facebook integration, Trivia Crack is that perfect pick-up and play the game that rarely requires more than few minutes of your attention. It is simple, reliable and fun to play against people.
Plus, you can pick up to play Trivia Crack on your Windows Phone then continue it on Facebook, seamlessly and vice versa.
Windows Phone FTW
The only reason I am even bringing this game up is simple: Windows Phone users are often behind the curve on trend setting games. Good lawd we just got Candy Crush Saga a few weeks ago, long after the game peaked on other platforms.
Trivia Crack though is one of the first times Windows Phone users can ride the wave of gaming popularity and not lament being left on the sidelines. Yes, people, this is it: Windows Phone can now be a part of a gaming meme. So let's celebrate this rare victory, eh?
Also, Kudos to developers Etermax for embracing Windows Phone so early. We covered its release in September, but the game has grown considerably since then. As this game continues its meteoric rise, I am grateful my inbox will not be flooded with user petitions to bring the game to Windows Phone.
Finally, if you have not yet tried Trivia Crack, you should. The game is available for Windows Phone 8 and 8.1 devices, including those with 512 MB of RAM and we should show Etermax it was right to make a solid Windows Phone app. You also do not need a Facebook account as you can just create one for the game through an email address.
Are you playing Trivia Crack? Have any tips or tricks to share? Let us know in comments!
