Today at 00:01 GMT 1 v 100 went live on Xbox Live via the newly added Xbox Live Primetime Channel on the dashboard. Now, for those of you who don’t know what 1 v 100 is, it’s essentially the game console iteration of a popular TV game show (more popular in the US but it did/does exist here too).

So how does it work? Well it’s not the same as every other Xbox game you’ve played before. Shows take place live like they would in real life, with real life participants, a real life presenter (some dude from the National Lottery) and real life prizes. Closely following the completion of the US beta of 1 v 100 which proved to be a huge success one should imagine the service in the UK will mirror that already tested.

With a few bits of trickery I in fact managed to play 1 v 100 on a US account a couple of weeks back during a live show and I have to say it really is a revelation in gaming. Essentially when players tune in on any given show night they are randomly assigned to take part in one of three groups. You are either in the crowd, the 100 or you may just be lucky enough to be THE ONE. Briefly how it works is that a series of general knowledge questions are asked. Each time “the one” answers corrently he/she eliminates from the 100 all those who answered incorrectly, each time upping the prize to be claimed. At intervals “the one” will be asked if they wish to take the loot and run or continue to face the mob. If “the one” loses to the mob, those that remain of the 100 split whatever prize value “the one” had accumulated until that point.

During the US beta I saw one “the one” defeat the entire mob and take home a staggering 18,000 M$ points as his prize, although during the US beta prizes were fictional, bummer!

From the information supplied regarding the UK beta it appears to me that whilst M$ point prizes will not be awarded just yet there are several big prizes up for grabs still including TVs, home cinema systems, holidays and a Fiat 500.

Now, it’s fair to assume that more often than not you will be participating from the croud and not from one of the more priviledges 101 places, but prizes are still within your reach for high scores and the likes. Tune in to the Xbox Dashboard and sign in to Xbox Live today for further information on the first live UK show airing this evening.