'1 vs. 100'

In an ongoing campaign to fuse the worlds of TV and online gaming, Microsoft is debuting an interactive version of "1 vs. 100," an Endemol-created game show in which one person combats 100 others for a sizable cash prize.

"1 vs. 100" marks the first offering for Xbox Live Primetime. The show will air in North America over the summer and fall, MediaWeek writes, and as many as 200,000 Xbox Live Gold members are expected to play either the live versions, which will air Fridays and Saturdays, or quick-play versions throughout the week.

Advertisers aboard the initiative include Honda and Sprint. Xbox Live members will have the opportunity to win up to 10,000 Xbox Live points, redeemable for game, movie and TV show downloads; as well as home theatre systems and other products.

"We definitely started this with the big picture in mind and the belief that there's this crossover between TV and gaming," stated Director Manuel Bronstein, director of the show. "We feel we can provide a very compelling experience by bringing the high production values, the scheduling and the anticipation that happens around TV and combine that with the stickiness and social interaction that happens with gaming."

In 2007, Microsoft took the popular Tomb Raider gaming suite and availed them to Xbox Live users as downloadable "gamisodes."

A Juniper report found gaming — particularly mobile games with an element of chance involved — has flourished in this economy.