h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This idea has now been used as the basis of a new game show airing on Channel 4 in the UK.

Called 'Trust Me', the game is hosted by 'Nasty' Nick Bateman, the man kicked out of the UK Big Brother TV show for cheating.

In this game, two teams or individuals are in different rooms. Nick goes from one to the other, and at each step the 'active' team has three choices: take the money on the table, share that money with the other team, or wait and play for higher stakes. The money increases as he goes back and forth until, if no-one takes the money, they go to a final game.

In this game, each player has a "take" button and a "share" button.
If both players "share" they get £1000 each.
If one "shares" and one "takes", the "taker" gets £3000, the "sharer" nothing.
If both "take", both get nothing.

The poor piece of design in this show is that both teams are offered *more* than £1000 in the preliminary stages - so if you are going to "share" at the end, you are *guaranteed* more money by taking it beforehand. The only reason for waiting is to make someone you've never met before (and will never meet again) richer.

Anyway, it was interesting to see it being put into practice!

GVI
PS http://www.channel4.com/guide/listings.cfm?advlist=1&id=904484