What can you do in a million seconds? A lot, considering it’s the equivalent of nearly 12 days. Well, now you can add “become a millionaire” to the list as NBC premiered its new game show, “The Million Second Quiz” on Sept. 9.

The big debut gained a great deal of attention for its unique qualities unmatched by previous game show series. “The Million Second Quiz” goes back to the days of live-recorded trivia quiz shows, but with a 21st century twist. It is filmed high above Manhattan inside an enormous custom-built hourglass. Although the show only airs for one hour each night for 10 days, the contestants are on the spot 24/7, living at the studio so long as they continue to win.

Touting the biggest prize in game show history, this series, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, rewards contestants with $10 for every second they remain in the Money Chair, with a possible total of $10 million if a contestant happens to make it through the show in its entirety. Needless to say, the show is just as much a game of endurance and stamina as a game of skill.

Viewers across the country have the chance to play along with the show with the MSQ app for the chance to compete live on air. Anyone who rings up more than 3500 points is eligible to compete. These “line jumpers” are greeted unexpectedly by NBC at their home and flown out to the NYC set. Contestants are also chosen by open “walk on” casting calls each day.

The top four players live next to the hourglass in “Winners’ Row,” where they will eat, sleep and play until they lose or until time runs out. Each player is challenged in “bouts” with other contestants vying for a spot in the Money Chair. Only the final few contestants remaining at the end of the million second countdown claim their winnings and compete for the grand prize.

MSQ received extensive media coverage even before its Sept. 9 premiere, mostly lauding the game’s unique setup and the number of people already swarming the online app. However, the success of the show’s live broadcast was not quite as enthusiastic.

According to “Businessweek,” the debut episode had a modest 6.5 million viewers on the premiere evening, falling to 5.8 million viewers the next night. This did not match up to the pre-debut expectations and fell behind the ratings of many other popular primetime shows, including CBS’s “Under the Dome.”

Many blame the show’s lack of success on the fact that it’s so difficult to understand. The concept seems simple enough, until you have to negotiate through the rules, the bouts, the line jumpers, the doublers and all of the other game show jargon that critics argue is ineffectively explained.

Tim Goodman, a television critic from “The Hollywood Reporter,” bashes the show, writing, “This is the most confusing game show ever not fully explained to me by the host. Clearly this is a spoof of game shows.”

Time is money for the contestants as they rack up their earnings second by second, but the same may also hold true for NBC as it awaits the fate of one of its most pricey endeavors yet. The seconds continue to wind down, apparently along with the ratings, as the show approaches its two-hour finale on Thursday Sept. 19.