The easiest way to describe FlickPicks is this: It's fantasy football, but for movies at the box office. And instead of running a football team, you're running a movie theater, deciding which films you will put on your theater's screens each week.
2. So are there seasons just like fantasy football?
No, which makes FlickPicks more enjoyable. You play on your time and unlike fantasy football, you won't be penalized for missing a week. The more you play, the higher you'll go on the ladder. Get to the top and you'll be in for a wild ride with those competing to hold on to first place.
3. So how do I play?
Once you've registered and joined a division, your primary duty as a movie theater owner is to decide which of the films available you will place on your screens.
Click the "Set Screenings" link to do just that (this option is available Monday-Friday only). Here is the one rule you need to know about setting your screenings:
1. You will notice that each film allows you to put a film on up to two screens. However, you can only show two films on two screens. Your remaining picks can only have one screen each.
4. So I set my screenings. Now what?
Now you let the American public do their thing. For every person in the country who goes to the movies you picked, the more points you'll get. The results are based on overall box office sales, not per-screen averages. There is, however, the option to wager some of your points to predict per-screen averages as part of the Bonus Challenge on the homepage.
You might even consider going to one of your screenings in real life to help your points.
5. How are points calculated?
It's pretty simple: Let's say a film gets $10 million at the box office over the weekend and you put it on 1 screen at your theater -- you get 10 points. If you'd put it on 2 screens, you would have made 20 points. Easy, right?
6. What are "Challenges"?
Challenges are another way to "win." Each week, you have the option to go head-to-head against another theater.
The theater that earns the most points for that week is awarded an additional 25 points as well as one "win" on their profile. The theater that loses, however, loses 25 points. A tie results in no gain/loss for either theater (i.e. you got away lucky).
Challenges are risky, but can pay off significantly if you win. Choose wisely when challenging someone or accepting a challenge from another theater.
Below is the breakdown by division for gain/loss based on a challenge:
- Below Megaplex Division: +25 for win/-25 for loss
- Megaplex Division: +25 for win/-200 for loss
- Colosseum Division: +0 for win/-400 for loss
6a. What is the "bonus challenge" on the homepage?
Many FlickPicks theaters are looking for an extra bit of fun/challenge each week, so feel free to try the "Bonus Challenge" feature on the homepage of FlickPicks.
These challenges range from predicting the largest percentage change to the highest per-screen average for the week. You can gain points from this challenge by making a wager. If you wager 10 of your points, a correct prediction will result in +10 points for your theater, whereas as an incorrect prediction will result in -10 points for your theater.
6b. What happens when I tie my opponent?
A tie means both theaters neither gain nor lose any points. Consider yourself lucky. There are currently no tie-breakers (the bonus challenge does not count as a tie-breaker).
6c. Why did I lose 400 points?
If you're a Colosseum, chances are you were put into a match and lost. "But I was taking the week off..." As a Colosseum, you have a great responsibility to continue playing consistently if you want to compete at that level.
7. How do I move up a division?
Also simple: Earn points. More specifically, you need 300 points to move up a division, so the 6 divisions are broken up like so:
0-300: Drive-In Division
300-600: Cineplex Division
Etc...
8. So what happens when I get to the top division?
The game doesn't just end or get dull once you make it to the top. Consider the top division a "King of the Hill" situation where staying in that division is actually quite difficult. Why?
1. Challenges lost in the top division (Colosseum Division) will penalize you -400 points.
2. If you aren't in a match by the end of the week, you will be placed into one with a random theater.
3. If a theater challenges you and you do not accept by Friday, it will automatically be accepted on Saturday.
You still have the option of making your own challenges, but if you're not in one by the end of the week and you have already been challenged, you will be forced into the match. As you can imagine, this can make it a heated environment at the "top of the hill."
If you are able to be the game leader (#1 in the Colosseum Division) for 3 weeks straight, we will reward you for it with a physical prize (movie tickets, DVDs, etc.).
9. When are the results posted?
Results and new rankings are posted on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
10. What is the deadline each week to make my picks?
The deadline for picks is Friday night at 11:59 p.m. Mountain time. Why? Because if you made picks Saturday, you would have had access to early box office results. It also gives you a chance to scope out the popularity of your picks at your local theater.
You can set your next screenings starting every Monday once Sunday's results are posted (as late as 6 p.m. PST).
11. What is the FlickPicks Store?
The FlickPicks Store allows you to purchase upgrades and enhancements for your theater. For example, if you want the ability to show a film on three screens, you can spend points to do so (usually a good idea on big blockbuster movie weekends).
Be aware that you are purchasing items with your livelihood -- your points. Buying items is risky, but if you can follow up a purchase with a good series of accurate picks, the rewards can be very significant.
12. How do I win?
"Winning" is a relative term in FlickPicks. You technically "win" every time you move up a level and into a higher division of players.
When you make it to the top division (called Colosseum), you will be competing in a high-risk environment where a loss in a 1-on-1 match with another theater could push you down a division. If you can secure the #1 spot as a Colosseum for three weeks, you'll be rewarded with a prize (DVD, movie ticket, etc.).
There are also occasional league-wide competitions to win trophies to put on your profile.
13. Any tips?
The box office is a crazy, unpredictable world. Sometimes the choices are obvious, sometimes it's split between four films and sometimes the actual results are completely surprising.
- Read reviews to see what the public is being steered toward and against. Be aware though that sometimes the public will ignore the reviews and see a film anyway.
- Track the Twitter buzz about opening and current films. Twitter has been known to send large audiences to or away from a film.
- Keep track of film news, hype and how often a trailer is appearing and in how many places.
- Keep track of new trailer showings. Any geek-related new trailer will cause swarms of geeks to come out of their caves to see a film just to see the trailer to something else.
