Buzz! spawns School Quiz

Relentless Software and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have announced a new addition to the Buzz! series of quiz games for the PlayStation 2. But this one's not just for fun. The new game fires off questions from a database of 5,000 on subjects from the British national curriculum and is backed by the UK government.

The questions in the quiz cover areas in the Key Stage Two Curriculum on subjects including ancient Egypt and weather. The game is intended for use in primary schools, and has been created in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills.

There are also a series of "teacher features" aimed at education professionals using the game in classrooms, which allows them to personalise quizzes to focus on a specific topic.

Relentless cofounder and creative director David Amor said, "Using the buzzers and the quiz format means the game is instantly accessible--and works on the basis that kids learn more when they're having fun. Learning games like this will, we hope, give teachers an extra tool in the classroom."

Relentless Software is a Brighton-based game developer, founded in 2003 by Andrew Eades and David Amor. The company has previously worked on DJ: Decks & FX, as well as several other previous Buzz titles, including Buzz! The Music Quiz and Buzz! The Big Quiz.

A preliminary version of the new School Quiz game is being demonstrated at the BETT Show at London Olympia from January 10-13. The company will hold trials of the game at schools across the UK, with a tentative release date of summer 2007.