I think normally Monday to Friday is one recording day, which is why a DC guest is normally on from Monday to Friday, but that's not the case right now. Basically, if you want to go through old records, the best way to work out where in a recording day a game is, look at how many games the guest has done.James Robinson wrote:Well no, because the end of the day was Wednesday's show, so it was only the 2nd game of the day was yesterday's show, and she seemed pretty competent on Thursday's show, but maybe it's just all those shows that have started to take their toll............Peter Mabey wrote:We know that (notwithstanding Nick's remarks) several games are recorded in a day.
Eileen didn't seem to be her usual self yesterday - would that have been at the end of a long day for her?
Is there any evidence on how other multiple winners have fared at the end of a whole day recording?
Ask Graeme?
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13382
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
- Graeme Cole
- Series 65 Champion
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:59 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
The most frequent max in all "Old 15" games is 119, which occurred in 213 games out of 2596.Johnny Canuck wrote:Apologies if I'm asking too many questions, and sincere thanks for answering my earlier ones, but...
What is the most frequent max score for a 15-round game, and would it be possible to make a graph featuring number of games vs. max score?
Frequencies of maxes:
Cumulative frequency (percentile):
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Played two matches and was never in front?Neil Collins wrote:More of a trivia question than a stats question...
What is it that makes me unique amongst all Countdown contestants?
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Graeme Cole wrote:
Cumulative frequency (percentile):
Sorry to sound really thick (really), but I don't understand this graph?
#layplease
- Chris Davies
- Series 61 Champion
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
The graph shows the percentage of games that had equal to or below a particular maximum score. So it can be seen that 50% of games had a maximum of 125 points or below.Dave Preece wrote:
Sorry to sound really thick (really), but I don't understand this graph?
#layplease
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
H, thanks Chris, apre iate that (was expecting some 'clever' comments), cheersChris Davies wrote:The graph shows the percentage of games that had equal to or below a particular maximum score. So it can be seen that 50% of games had a maximum of 125 points or below.Dave Preece wrote:
Sorry to sound really thick (really), but I don't understand this graph?
#layplease
- Andy Platt
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1091
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 3:00 pm
- Location: Wirral
Re: Ask Graeme?
I think your chances will be better on pof.com or match.com than on here mateDave Preece wrote:#layplease
- Rhys Benjamin
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3108
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 4:28 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Did you ever take O-Level/GCSE Maths? Simple cumulative frequency graph.Dave Preece wrote:Graeme Cole wrote:
Cumulative frequency (percentile):
Sorry to sound really thick (really), but I don't understand this graph?
#layplease
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
LOLAndy Platt wrote:I think your chances will be better on pof.com or match.com than on here mateDave Preece wrote:#layplease
Like your sense of humour Andy!
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
I did GCSE maths yeh, I only got a 'D' from middle band! I was told this was more or less max (I imagine 'C' was 100%), but have learnt far more about maths in the 23 years since, but not including this type of graph...Rhys Benjamin wrote:Did you ever take O-Level/GCSE Maths? Simple cumulative frequency graph.Dave Preece wrote:Graeme Cole wrote:
Cumulative frequency (percentile):
Sorry to sound really thick (really), but I don't understand this graph?
#layplease
One thing I didn't ever have to learn, however, was to have the BALLS to ask when I didn't get something, sonny!!!
-
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3661
- Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:18 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
You shouldn't have felt obliged to reply to that comment from such an ill-mannered and obnoxious child.Dave Preece wrote:I did GCSE maths yeh, I only got a 'D' from middle band! I was told this was more or less max (I imagine 'C' was 100%), but have learnt far more about maths in the 23 years since, but not including this type of graph...Rhys Benjamin wrote: Did you ever take O-Level/GCSE Maths? Simple cumulative frequency graph.
One thing I didn't ever have to learn, however, was to have the BALLS to ask when I didn't get something, sonny!!!
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Graeme Cole wrote:The most frequent max in all "Old 15" games is 119, which occurred in 213 games out of 2596.Johnny Canuck wrote:Apologies if I'm asking too many questions, and sincere thanks for answering my earlier ones, but...
What is the most frequent max score for a 15-round game, and would it be possible to make a graph featuring number of games vs. max score?
Frequencies of maxes:
Cumulative frequency (percentile):
Graham, would he first graph look much more 'bell curve' shaped if the 9's scored 9 points instead of 18?
- Andy Platt
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1091
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 3:00 pm
- Location: Wirral
Re: Ask Graeme?
Good question, is it possible to apply flat scoring to the database?
I wouldn't mind seeing Dave's hypothetical bell.
I wouldn't mind seeing Dave's hypothetical bell.
- Jon O'Neill
- Ginger Ninja
- Posts: 4554
- Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:45 am
- Location: London, UK
Re: Ask Graeme?
I reckon a bell with a little dip for impossible numbers or something.Andy Platt wrote:Good question, is it possible to apply flat scoring to the database?
I wouldn't mind seeing Dave's hypothetical bell.
I wouldn't mind seeing the graph for maxes-only scoring.
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 799
- Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:12 pm
- Location: Kildare, Rep. of Ireland
Re: Ask Graeme?
Rhys Benjamin wrote:
Did you ever take O-Level/GCSE Maths? Simple cumulative frequency graph.
It may be easy for you to recognise, Rhys, because you've studied these in the last year or so. Try going 20-odd years without seeing one and it won't come to you so easily. By the time you're Daves age, unless you find work in an field where a good knowledge of maths is useful, the odds are that you'll have forgotten at least half the maths you learn over the next three years.
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13382
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Stepdown too.Jon O'Neill wrote:I reckon a bell with a little dip for impossible numbers or something.Andy Platt wrote:Good question, is it possible to apply flat scoring to the database?
I wouldn't mind seeing Dave's hypothetical bell.
I wouldn't mind seeing the graph for maxes-only scoring.
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Is it bad that i felt a little aroused [joking], after reading that?Andy Platt wrote:Good question, is it possible to apply flat scoring to the database?
I wouldn't mind seeing Dave's hypothetical bell.
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 647
- Joined: Tue May 07, 2013 6:41 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Hi, so is it ok to ask a question about a certain contestant here? This has been bugging me for weeks now!!
- Graeme Cole
- Series 65 Champion
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:59 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Don't see why not.Philip Wilson wrote:Hi, so is it ok to ask a question about a certain contestant here? This has been bugging me for weeks now!!
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 647
- Joined: Tue May 07, 2013 6:41 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Ok, well a few weeks ago while the closing credits were rolling I spotted the two contestants were chatting to each other, which seemed rather good and a change from sitting there which can appear a bit 'awkward'. Anyway that's just my view, but it reminded me of a contestant a few years ago who used to do it every time. So therefore being new here I just tried to investigate further and try and find this contestant's name in the lists, as I have no idea who he was now, but was just interested in when it was etc, human nature stuff I guess.
Well I thought it would be really easy to find him in the list of shows but I just can't and I wondered if you know who it was!
I know he won several times, probably made it to an octochamp and he definitely came back for that series' finals, which makes it all the stranger that I can't find any info. I think he was on during Des O's or the beginning of Jeff's time, but not totally sure about that, but he didn't come back for the CofC in January. Oh and if it's any help he looked a bit like Shane Long [footballer] and was a Fulham fan!
Who was he!?!?!
Well I thought it would be really easy to find him in the list of shows but I just can't and I wondered if you know who it was!
I know he won several times, probably made it to an octochamp and he definitely came back for that series' finals, which makes it all the stranger that I can't find any info. I think he was on during Des O's or the beginning of Jeff's time, but not totally sure about that, but he didn't come back for the CofC in January. Oh and if it's any help he looked a bit like Shane Long [footballer] and was a Fulham fan!
Who was he!?!?!
- James Robinson
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 10580
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:38 pm
- Location: Mirfield, West Yorkshire
Re: Ask Graeme?
That sounds like Jeffrey Burgin from Series 61 to me.Philip Wilson wrote:Ok, well a few weeks ago while the closing credits were rolling I spotted the two contestants were chatting to each other, which seemed rather good and a change from sitting there which can appear a bit 'awkward'. Anyway that's just my view, but it reminded me of a contestant a few years ago who used to do it every time. So therefore being new here I just tried to investigate further and try and find this contestant's name in the lists, as I have no idea who he was now, but was just interested in when it was etc, human nature stuff I guess.
Well I thought it would be really easy to find him in the list of shows but I just can't and I wondered if you know who it was!
I know he won several times, probably made it to an octochamp and he definitely came back for that series' finals, which makes it all the stranger that I can't find any info. I think he was on during Des O's or the beginning of Jeff's time, but not totally sure about that, but he didn't come back for the CofC in January. Oh and if it's any help he looked a bit like Shane Long [footballer] and was a Fulham fan!
Who was he!?!?!
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 647
- Joined: Tue May 07, 2013 6:41 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
That's him! Thanks James, and so quick! I'm sure I googled that name before and someone else appeared. So finally beaten by Innis thenJames Robinson wrote: That sounds like Jeffrey Burgin from Series 61 to me.
-
- Series 66 Champion
- Posts: 979
- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:32 pm
- Location: Blackpool
Re: Ask Graeme?
This may have already been asked but has any numbers game ever come up more than once in the show's history? (Same numbers and target but order of the numbers doesn't matter).
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
I very much doubt that!Jack Worsley wrote:This may have already been asked but has any numbers game ever come up more than once in the show's history? (Same numbers and target but order of the numbers doesn't matter).
- Johnny Canuck
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:44 pm
- Location: Montréal 😃, Québec 😕, Canada 😃
Re: Ask Graeme?
CoC XII GF, Round 14: 100 50 25 75 3 4 -> 880Dave Preece wrote:I very much doubt that!Jack Worsley wrote:This may have already been asked but has any numbers game ever come up more than once in the show's history? (Same numbers and target but order of the numbers doesn't matter).
Series 63 4th QF, Round 5: 50 100 75 25 4 3 -> 880
(Incidentally, it is impossible to get 10 points on this particular numbers game. )
This is the only one I know off the top of my head, but I'm betting there are at least a few others.
I'm not dead yet. In a rut right now because of stress from work. I'll be back later in S89. I also plan to bring back the Mastergram - if I can find a way to run a timer or clock through pure MediaWiki without having to upload to Vimeo every time.
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
I stand corrected, sorry!
Are the odds on that somewhere near 50,000/1?????????
Are the odds on that somewhere near 50,000/1?????????
Re: Ask Graeme?
I started to think about the calculation, but you'd want to weight it by the selection type. Clearly it's much more likely that a 4 large game would be repeated since 4 of the 7 components are guaranteed to be the same from the off, but then 4 large isn't picked very often. Then I thought I'd just wait for somebody else to do it.Dave Preece wrote:I stand corrected, sorry!
Are the odds on that somewhere near 50,000/1?????????
Re: Ask Graeme?
I haven't done the calculation either, but given that there must have been something like 13,000 numbers games in the entire history of Countdown (I'm sure someone will supply the correct figure), it doesn't strike me as particularly remarkable that two of them turned out to be the same. It's a version of the so-called birthday problem - there are 365 possible birthdays, and yet you only need 57 people in a room to have a 99% probability that two have the same birthday.
- Andy Platt
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1091
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 3:00 pm
- Location: Wirral
Re: Ask Graeme?
Wouldn't surprise me if there were more as I've had the same numbers and target in the same numbers attack (20 rounds) before a couple of times on apterous (although yeah, 4 large)
Re: Ask Graeme?
OK, I've done a few rough calculations now. For simplicity I'll just look at the "one large" picks. From the graph posted by Graeme some time ago it looks as though they come up about 70% of the time, so that's about 9000 games played in total.
For further simplicity I'll just look at the ones where no number is repeated. Statistically these should come up around 52% of the time, so that's about 4680 games. There are four possible choices of large number, 252 (=10C5) choices of small numbers, and 900 choices of target. That comes to 907200 possible combinations. Using the approximate formula given on the Wikipedia page, the probability that two of these games have yielded the same combination is close to 1 - exp(-(4680^2)/(2*907200)), or around 99.9994%.
So I don't think anyone should be remotely surprised!
For further simplicity I'll just look at the ones where no number is repeated. Statistically these should come up around 52% of the time, so that's about 4680 games. There are four possible choices of large number, 252 (=10C5) choices of small numbers, and 900 choices of target. That comes to 907200 possible combinations. Using the approximate formula given on the Wikipedia page, the probability that two of these games have yielded the same combination is close to 1 - exp(-(4680^2)/(2*907200)), or around 99.9994%.
So I don't think anyone should be remotely surprised!
- Graeme Cole
- Series 65 Champion
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:59 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Better late than never...
Dave Preece wrote:Graham, would he first graph look much more 'bell curve' shaped if the 9's scored 9 points instead of 18?
Andy Platt wrote:I wouldn't mind seeing Dave's hypothetical bell.
Jon O'Neill wrote:I reckon a bell with a little dip for impossible numbers or something.
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13382
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
I don't think that dip's probably got much to do with impossible numbers.
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Me neither Gavin!
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Dave Preece wrote:Graeme Cole wrote:The most frequent max in all "Old 15" games is 119, which occurred in 213 games out of 2596.Johnny Canuck wrote:Apologies if I'm asking too many questions, and sincere thanks for answering my earlier ones, but...
What is the most frequent max score for a 15-round game, and would it be possible to make a graph featuring number of games vs. max score?
Frequencies of maxes:
Cumulative frequency (percentile):
Graham, would he first graph look much more 'bell curve' shaped if the 9's scored 9 points instead of 18?
Thought so...
{genius LOL}
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
How would YOU rank the top 10 or more contestants?
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Wins, %wins, comp wins, %comp wins, ???
- Adam Gillard
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1763
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:42 pm
- Location: About 45 minutes south-east of Thibodaux, Louisiana
Re: Ask Graeme?
Dave Preece wrote:How would YOU rank the top 10 or more contestants?
Shag, Snog, Stalk, Marry, Maim, Kill, Avoid, Befriend, Berate, Worship?Dave Preece wrote:Wins, %wins, comp wins, %comp wins, ???
Mike Brown: "Round 12: T N R S A E I G U
C1: SIGNATURE (18) ["9; not written down"]
C2: SEATING (7)
Score: 108–16 (max 113)
Another niner for Adam and yet another century. Well done, that man."
C1: SIGNATURE (18) ["9; not written down"]
C2: SEATING (7)
Score: 108–16 (max 113)
Another niner for Adam and yet another century. Well done, that man."
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
I guess the answer is still: I don't know?
- Matt Morrison
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 7822
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm
- Location: London
- Contact:
Re: Ask Graeme?
I think it was Angus Deayton.
- Graeme Cole
- Series 65 Champion
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:59 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Dave Preece wrote:How would YOU rank the top 10 or more contestants?
Dave Preece wrote:Wins, %wins, comp wins, %comp wins, ???
Yep.Dave Preece wrote:I guess the answer is still: I don't know?
However, I'm curious - what does "comp wins" stand for? Competitive? Competition? Competent? Compost?
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Graeme Cole wrote:Dave Preece wrote:How would YOU rank the top 10 or more contestants?Dave Preece wrote:Wins, %wins, comp wins, %comp wins, ???Yep.Dave Preece wrote:I guess the answer is still: I don't know?
However, I'm curious - what does "comp wins" stand for? Competitive? Competition? Competent? Compost?
So... Am I assuming that this is one of the most challenging questions you have been asked in this tread - hence to non-answer????
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
PS
Comp is short for competition.
Comp is short for competition.
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2013 12:34 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Just realised that I never came back on this one.Dave Preece wrote:Played two matches and was never in front?Neil Collins wrote:More of a trivia question than a stats question...
What is it that makes me unique amongst all Countdown contestants?
I was the only contestant to take part in Countdown Masters who had never won a game, having lost in my original appearance the previous year. Richard made a big thing about my appearance on Masters being an experiment to see what would happen if a losing contestant was put up against a previous series champion (Brian Hudson)
The truth was though that the contestant who had been booked to appear against Brian hadn't turned up, and as I worked in the pub that John Meade (God rest his soul) drank in, I was dragged in with about an hours notice to fill in.
- Graeme Cole
- Series 65 Champion
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:59 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Heh, that's quite interesting. I suppose the result of the "experiment" was more balanced than might have been expected - looks like it was only the numbers games that won it for Brian.Neil Collins wrote:Just realised that I never came back on this one.Dave Preece wrote:Played two matches and was never in front?Neil Collins wrote:More of a trivia question than a stats question...
What is it that makes me unique amongst all Countdown contestants?
I was the only contestant to take part in Countdown Masters who had never won a game, having lost in my original appearance the previous year. Richard made a big thing about my appearance on Masters being an experiment to see what would happen if a losing contestant was put up against a previous series champion (Brian Hudson)
The truth was though that the contestant who had been booked to appear against Brian hadn't turned up, and as I worked in the pub that John Meade (God rest his soul) drank in, I was dragged in with about an hours notice to fill in.
Re: Ask Graeme?
Forgive me if this has been dealt with already- I know it was discussed before but I can't find it.
My question relates to the relative difficulty of Countdown and Apterous. Do we have figures for average max particularly for letters rounds, as I suspect letters rounds are considerably 'nicer' on the show.
My question relates to the relative difficulty of Countdown and Apterous. Do we have figures for average max particularly for letters rounds, as I suspect letters rounds are considerably 'nicer' on the show.
- Andy Platt
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1091
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 3:00 pm
- Location: Wirral
Re: Ask Graeme?
Apterous stats:
Max of 3 = negligibly small / Max of 4 = 0.2% / Max of 5 = 3% / Max of 6 = 19% / Max of 7 = 42% / Max of 8 = 30% / Max of 9 = 5%
Max of 3 = negligibly small / Max of 4 = 0.2% / Max of 5 = 3% / Max of 6 = 19% / Max of 7 = 42% / Max of 8 = 30% / Max of 9 = 5%
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
There are more (I'd go as far to say, far more) 9's on the show IMO.
COULD be more 4's too, others will be similar, just a guess though!
COULD be more 4's too, others will be similar, just a guess though!
- Graeme Cole
- Series 65 Champion
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:59 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
For all letters rounds for which the max is known, up to 1st March 2013...sean d wrote:Forgive me if this has been dealt with already- I know it was discussed before but I can't find it.
My question relates to the relative difficulty of Countdown and Apterous. Do we have figures for average max particularly for letters rounds, as I suspect letters rounds are considerably 'nicer' on the show.
3: 0.0042% (2)
4: 0.0933% (44)
5: 1.7800% (839)
6: 14.4985% (6834)
7: 43.4360% (20474)
8: 34.5723% (16296)
9: 5.6156% (2647)
For all 15-round games up to that date...
3: 0.0035% (1)
4: 0.0315% (9)
5: 1.2257% (350)
6: 12.5263% (3577)
7: 42.5795% (12159)
8: 37.2496% (10637)
9: 6.3839% (1823)
Since 2010...
3: 0.0128% (1)
4: 0.0511% (4)
5: 1.6471% (129)
6: 14.2237% (1114)
7: 43.4755% (3405)
8: 34.8059% (2726)
9: 5.7840% (453)
I don't see any particularly strong deviation from the apterous figures Andy's given. Note that the wiki, and therefore the database from which these figures are derived, gives letters maxes according to ODE3 for games since S64, and ODE2r for all earlier series. This means the letters maxes for series which used earlier editions (series 54 and earlier) might be wrong. A bit.
- Andy Platt
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1091
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 3:00 pm
- Location: Wirral
Re: Ask Graeme?
Looks like the conclusion is that the letters on countdown are 'shuffled' very slightly better than apterous's shuffle algorithm, but Charlie has also done a bloody good job of replicating it.
Re: Ask Graeme?
Good analysis Graeme, but could you improve it by comparing to apterous when taking into account number of vowels picked (i.e compare the figures for 3, 4 and 5 vowel selections separately)? I feel like the average max on the show is lowered somewhat by the number of contestants going 3 vowel all of the time.
Re: Ask Graeme?
Thanks gents.
I'd suggest it is fairly significant. Andy's figures suggest 77% 7-or-better max on Apterous, the Countdown since 2010 figures suggest 84% 7-or-better max. Doing a quick weighted average (with 18 pts for a 9) I think the average max score per letters round on the show since 2010 is 7.807. On Apterous it's 7.538. That's about 3 points a game. Jack makes a good point too about the tendancy for contestants on the show (non-Apterites mainly!) to strangle rounds with 6 consonants by default. (I'm assuming 5C/4V yields a higher average max).
Anecdotally the letters on the show seem less random than Apterous... less batches of 3 A's or 4 L's, an uncommon amount of selections with 9 different letters, etc. But then perhaps I see more unfriendly selections on Apterous cos I might rattle through 50-100 letters rounds in a day.
I'd suggest it is fairly significant. Andy's figures suggest 77% 7-or-better max on Apterous, the Countdown since 2010 figures suggest 84% 7-or-better max. Doing a quick weighted average (with 18 pts for a 9) I think the average max score per letters round on the show since 2010 is 7.807. On Apterous it's 7.538. That's about 3 points a game. Jack makes a good point too about the tendancy for contestants on the show (non-Apterites mainly!) to strangle rounds with 6 consonants by default. (I'm assuming 5C/4V yields a higher average max).
Anecdotally the letters on the show seem less random than Apterous... less batches of 3 A's or 4 L's, an uncommon amount of selections with 9 different letters, etc. But then perhaps I see more unfriendly selections on Apterous cos I might rattle through 50-100 letters rounds in a day.
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13382
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Or worse.Andy Platt wrote:Looks like the conclusion is that the letters on countdown are 'shuffled' very slightly better than apterous's shuffle algorithm, but Charlie has also done a bloody good job of replicating it.
Edit - Basically I think it's probably a bit harsh to say they're shuffled better on Countdown, given that Apterous is trying to replicate Countdown rather than merely get the highest maxes possible. And obviously Countdown is always going to be nearer Countdown than Apterous is.
- Peter Thomas
- Rookie
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sat May 09, 2009 12:44 am
Re: Ask Graeme?
On 10 July, the same numbers game target (831) came up twice in a row. Has this ever happened before?
- Johnny Canuck
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:44 pm
- Location: Montréal 😃, Québec 😕, Canada 😃
Re: Ask Graeme?
A while back, I asked the same question. I believe 10 games have had two instances in a row of the same target... or 11 including this most recent one.
If Graeme will kindly accept ANOTHER two questions from me:
* What word has most frequently been used as a conundrum?
* What is the most frequently used conundrum scramble?
If Graeme will kindly accept ANOTHER two questions from me:
* What word has most frequently been used as a conundrum?
* What is the most frequently used conundrum scramble?
I'm not dead yet. In a rut right now because of stress from work. I'll be back later in S89. I also plan to bring back the Mastergram - if I can find a way to run a timer or clock through pure MediaWiki without having to upload to Vimeo every time.
- Andy Platt
- Kiloposter
- Posts: 1091
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 3:00 pm
- Location: Wirral
Re: Ask Graeme?
Interesting one ^
As part of my prep for going on TV I read through a lot of the conundrums that had been used in the past and I think the answer to part A will be INTUITION but keen to hear what Graeme has to say.
Edit: Hmm, only 4 times after checking, so probably not
As part of my prep for going on TV I read through a lot of the conundrums that had been used in the past and I think the answer to part A will be INTUITION but keen to hear what Graeme has to say.
Edit: Hmm, only 4 times after checking, so probably not
-
- Post-apocalypse
- Posts: 13382
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
So combining this all together, has the same question ever been asked twice in a row in this thread?Johnny Canuck wrote:A while back, I asked the same question.
- Ian Volante
- Postmaster General
- Posts: 3974
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:15 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
- Contact:
Re: Ask Graeme?
Has the same question ever been asked twice in a row on this thread?
meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles
-
- Devotee
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: Ask Graeme?
Has the same question ever been asked thrice in a row on this thread?
Re: Ask Graeme?
That wasn't the same as the last two questions, so I presume the answer's no.Dave Preece wrote:Has the same question ever been asked thrice in a row on this thread?