The Bank Job online game gets nearly 2 million plays

Since its launch just one week ago, the online game for C4's The Bank Job has had over one hundred and five thousand players, playing  over 1.7 million times.

Contestants for the live TV game show will be cast exclusively from those playing the online game.

Both the online game and television programme were created by Endemol's Remarkable Television. Commissioned by Jody Smith, cross platform commissioner at Channel 4, the online head-to-head game was built by Glasgow-based creative digital agency Chunk Games.

Airing on Channel 4 from January 2nd for six consecutive nights, The Bank Job gives players the chance to pull off a bank heist and walk away with a large sum of money. Set in a real bank vault and hosted by George Lamb, the only way to get an application form for the show, and have a chance to compete for real money live on Channel 4 is to play the online game.

The online game mirrors the high-stakes TV format . Going head-to-head against other online players in real time, players must answer general knowledge questions inside a virtual vault. A correct answer allows a player to pick a deposit box which could contain a cash sum, allow them to steal some of their opponent's cash or if they're unlucky, be empty. The winner is the player who leaves the vault with the highest amount of cash before the time runs out.

Jody Smith comments: "We're overwhelmed by the popularity of the online game. Launching a new programme format as a playable game before it's even on air is a first and how well it has translated online goes to show what a great format we have with The Bank Job. Some players have racked up several hundred games, far more than the two tournament wins they need to unlock a chance to apply for the show. The game has also done a great job in building awareness of the TV show before we've even marketed it."

David Flynn, executive producer of The Bank Job at Remarkable adds: "The Bank Job game has captured the popular imagination and become an internet phenomenon in a very short space of time. It's simple and terrifyingly addictive. And unlike most game shows, all contestants who are selected will have a strategy they've built up playing the online game which will help them when they're playing for real money."

The online game is available to play any time, but players must win two games during an online tournament to become an 'Elite ' player which will allow them the chance to unlock the application form and enter a prize draw to win £10,000. Tournaments take place at various times during the day.

The online tournaments will run during the early episodes of the live TV shows so players could find themselves competing for real, live on Channel 4, just days later.
As players compete online they will build a personal profile which reflects their game play performance and their player type. Individual game performances and personal profiles can then be shared with friends via Facebook. In the live shows, viewers will be able to play along with the contestants in the real vault, competing to beat the best player on the show. Online players will also be able to compete against their Facebook friends using Facebook Connect.