Millionaire Questions...

[jalman]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Feb 29 2004, 11:23 PM\'] [quote name=\'Jumpondees\' date=\'Feb 29 2004, 09:02 PM\'] Okay...After reading some of the questions here, I'm going to try to pen my own...

I'll admit that I don't think it's MDQ worthy, but I think it's top tier worthy...

"Prior to becoming world famous for it's video games, Nintendo manufactured and exported what product?"

A.  Transistor Radios
B.  Stationary
C.  Calculators
D.  Playing Cards

Looking at it from a hotseat perspective,  this is one piece of IMO obscure trivia that unless you've heard it before, you'd never know the answer to.

Now the answer, so I don't leave anyone in suspense....

D.  Playing Cards

Nintendo's "founder" Fusajiro Yamauchi started maufacturing "Japanese" playing cards (known as "Hanafuda") as early as 1889.  By 1902, Yamauchi was exporting his playing cards from Japan.  The name "Nintendo" was not used until 1933 when the company's name became "Yamauchi Nintendo & Company". 

Nintendo didn't get into the "video game/arcade" industry until the 1970's and didn't hit it off big until Donkey Kong came along in 1981.

Okay...I'll take my criticism like a man, and my praise with humble pride (I sense more criticism coming than praise :-D ) [/quote]
I did in fact know that, but I agree that it's an excellent question that not many people would know. And someone fluent in Japanese could reason it out if they knew what Nintendo meant. (now THAT is an MDQ. [/quote]
 I don't remember it completely, but Nintendo stood for something about "lucky hand" of something, but I do remember luck being part of it.

And now for my WEAK question of the WEEK:

Which one of these video game companies was not founded by an American?

A: Atari
B: Sega
C: Namco
D: Electronic Arts

Not much of a question, just wanted to throw something to the videogame geeks here.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'jalman\' date=\'Feb 29 2004, 11:22 PM\'] I don't remember it completely, but Nintendo stood for something about "lucky hand" of something, but I do remember luck being part of it.
 [/quote]
 "Leave luck to Heaven", specifically. Very good, tho!

Which one of these video game companies was not founded by an American?

A: Atari
B: Sega
C: Namco
D: Electronic Arts

Not much of a question, just wanted to throw something to the videogame geeks here.

That's an exceptional question, if you ask me. I know the answer (and I won't ruin it right away), but I like it 'cuz one answer can fool you from the name, and another from its recent history.

[rstrata]

Here's mine...

The side of the box of the original Trivial Pursuit Genus
Edition game contains a quotation from which poet?

A) John Milton
B) William Shakespeare
C) Alexander Pope
D) Christopher Marlowe

[Dbacksfan12]

[quote name=\'jalman\' date=\'Mar 1 2004, 01:22 AM\'] I don't remember it completely, but Nintendo stood for something about "lucky hand" of something, but I do remember luck being part of it.
 [/quote]
 I'll try to dig up my "100th special" copy of GameInformer magazine; there was an at-length article covering this precise topic.  Of course, I knew the answer right away.

Here's a possible upper tier question:

What restaurant chain did Dan Evins start on September 19, 1969?

A. International House of Pancakes
B. Waffle House
C. Cracker Barrel
D. Village Inn

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'Dsmith\' date=\'Mar 4 2004, 12:18 AM\'] What restaurant chain did Dan Evins start on September 19, 1969?

A. International House of Pancakes
B. Waffle House
C. Cracker Barrel
D. Village Inn [/quote]
 Good one. I guessed right (but I was waffling between two). Easy to Google, but I suppose if you make it to the upper tier with your PAF intact you deserve the free pass

[GS Warehouse]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Mar 4 2004, 11:42 AM\'] [quote name=\'Dsmith\' date=\'Mar 4 2004, 12:18 AM\'] What restaurant chain did Dan Evins start on September 19, 1969?

A. International House of Pancakes
B. Waffle House
C. Cracker Barrel
D. Village Inn [/quote]
... I was waffling between two ... [/quote]
 [throws waffles at Chris]

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'Dsmith\' date=\'Mar 4 2004, 02:18 AM\'] [quote name=\'jalman\' date=\'Mar 1 2004, 01:22 AM\'] I don't remember it completely, but Nintendo stood for something about "lucky hand" of something, but I do remember luck being part of it.
 [/quote]
I'll try to dig up my "100th special" copy of GameInformer magazine; there was an at-length article covering this precise topic.  Of course, I knew the answer right away. :)

Here's a possible upper tier question:

What restaurant chain did Dan Evins start on September 19, 1969?

A. International House of Pancakes
B. Waffle House
C. Cracker Barrel
D. Village Inn [/quote]
Village Inn's logo wouldn't be an orange trapezoid with black writing would it? We have one in Virginia Beach, but never knew it was a national chain.

ObGameShow: Here's another restaurant question, also opened in 1969:

Fast-food restaurant Wendy's was founded in which of these Midwest cities?
A) Gary, IN
B) Springfield, IL
C) Dublin, OH
D) Des Moines, IA

This is not as obscure as you might think. :-)

[tommycharles]

I'm gonna guess Dublin, seeing as it was used in their commercials not too far back. And yes, Village Inn is a national chain. Worst. Service. Ever.

[Vgmastr]

Which of these people have never been a member of the "Saturday Night Live" cast?

A: Ben Stiller
B: John Goodman
C: Damon Wayans
D: Janeane Garofalo

[willmorris]

Just figured I'd give my idea of a high-tier question, maybe Million-Dollar material.

What movie is the highest-domestic-grossing film of the current millenium?

A)  Finding Nemo
B)  Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
C)  Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
D)  Spider-Man

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'Vgmastr\' date=\'Mar 4 2004, 03:07 PM\'] Which of these people have never been a member of the "Saturday Night Live" cast?

A: Ben Stiller
B: John Goodman
C: Damon Wayans
D: Janeane Garofalo [/quote]
I don't know about that one...not because it's not too challenging, but because of the fact that John Goodman wasn't really a cast member per se. I know he's made some guest appearances, but I don't think he was ever part of the opening credits.

[tommycharles]

[quote name=\'Vgmastr\' date=\'Mar 4 2004, 03:07 PM\'] Which of these people have never been a member of the "Saturday Night Live" cast?

A: Ben Stiller
B: John Goodman
C: Damon Wayans
D: Janeane Garofalo [/quote]
 Great question. I'm thinking B, but I can't for the life of me remember seeing Stiller on there. If this were a middle tier question, I'd have added Steve Martin to the list of choices, though.

[Vgmastr]

I don't know about that one...not because it's not too challenging, but because of the fact that John Goodman wasn't really a cast member per se. I know he's made some guest appearances, but I don't think he was ever part of the opening credits.

Which is why he'd be the correct answer.

Great question. I'm thinking B, but I can't for the life of me remember seeing Stiller on there. If this were a middle tier question, I'd have added Steve Martin to the list of choices, though.

Stiller was on a few episodes in the late 80's, during the Hartman/Carvey era.

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'Vgmastr\' date=\'Mar 4 2004, 07:05 PM\']

I don't know about that one...not because it's not too challenging, but because of the fact that John Goodman wasn't really a cast member per se. I know he's made some guest appearances, but I don't think he was ever part of the opening credits.

Which is why he'd be the correct answer. :)

Great question. I'm thinking B, but I can't for the life of me remember seeing Stiller on there. If this were a middle tier question, I'd have added Steve Martin to the list of choices, though.

Stiller was on a few episodes in the late 80's, during the Hartman/Carvey era. [/quote]
OK...my mistake. :-) I had no clue that Ben Stiller was part of the cast though...come to think of it, that might be enough to throw a wrench in the question, if someone is torn between Ben and John.

[Dbacksfan12]

[quote name=\'tommycharles\' date=\'Mar 4 2004, 01:21 PM\'] I'm gonna guess Dublin, seeing as it was used in their commercials not too far back. And yes, Village Inn is a national chain. Worst. Service. Ever. [/quote]
They are owned by VICORP; who also owns the smaller, Baker's Square chain of restaurants.
Worst biscuts and gravy, ever, too.
Incidentally, the correct answer was "Cracker Barrel".