Based off of the Australian version of the Millionaire Hot Seat, the game is design to be a faster-paced game than the classic format of Millionaire. Otaku
Millionaire Hot Seat involves six contestants playing each episode, with each player take turns. All questions will have a time limit to answer them. In this
version, the tenth question milestone is removed from play.
Question time limits.
| Questions | Time limit | Type |
| 1-5 | 15 Seconds | Easy Otaku |
| 6-10 | 30 Seconds | Medium Otaku |
| 11-14 | 45 Seconds | Hard Otaku |
| 15 (Money Question) | 45 Seconds | Non-Otaku |
If a player runs out of time and cannot pass, or the player gives an incorrect answer, that player is eliminated and leaves with nothing, and the highest value remaining on the money tree is removed.
Lifelines:
Players are given a total of one lifeline in the first episode, three lifelines in the second episode, four lifelines from episodes 3 to 6, and six lifelines with the limit to hold the lifeline is four to help them up to the ¥1,000,000 prize.
Pass (Episodes 1-6: Questions 1-15) (Episodes 7-9: Questions 1-10): Each player receives a lifeline called “Pass” which moves the question down to the next person in line, but the next person must answer the question. This is the original lifeline since Episode 1.
Double Dip (Episodes 3 -4: Questions 3 -15) (Episodes 6-9: Questions 3 -14): When the player chooses to use Double Dip, the clock is reset to the next highest 15 second marker, the player must decide on their first final answer. If the answer is correct, the lifeline is wasted but the player stays in the game. If the first answer is incorrect, the clock resumes, and the player must give their second final answer. If that answer is correct, the player stays in the game. This lifeline debut on Episode 3 with the team getting to ¥1,000. In Episode 7, the rules change to get the lifeline with getting to ¥1,000 with no errors.
Ask the Expert (Episode 7-9: Questions 3-12): An expert can help you on the question, but the answer will be hidden from the host meaning everyone will know at the same time.
Ask a Friend (Episodes 7-9: Questions 3 – 15): Similar to the traditional Phone a Friend lifeline. The player is able to converse with their in-audience companion (if one is present) and work together to answer the question as the clock ticks down. When used, the question and the four possible answers are read out by the host. Like on the TV version, the player is not allowed to look at their companion.
Ask the Audience (Episodes 2-9: Questions 11-15): Allows the audience to vote to see which answer is the correct answer by a poll. Using this lifeline will mean that the player must answer the question; however, on the final question, they can still use 50:50. This lifeline debuts on Episode 2.
50:50 (Episodes 2-9: Question 15): Allows the computer to randomly take away two incorrect answers allowing the player in the hot seat between the correct answer and the remaining incorrect answer. Using this lifeline means that the player must answer the question; however, they can still use Ask the Audience. This lifeline debuts on Episode 2.
Contestants on this show are playing for prizes repenting the value of the
yen value (i.e. ¥250,000 prize being higher than ¥1,000 prize.)
Here is the Money tree with the represented prizes (Note: Prizes are these
except when noted.).
| Question | Value | Prize | |
| First attempt | Can be Answer | ||
| 1 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | ¥100 | Can’t win. |
| 2 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | ¥200 | Can’t win. |
| 3 | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | ¥300 | Can’t win. |
| 4 | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | ¥500 | Can’t win. |
| 5 | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 | ¥1,000 | Pocky |
| 6 | 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | ¥1,500 | Can’t win. |
| 7 | 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 | ¥2,500 | Can’t win. |
| 8 | 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 | ¥4,000 | Can’t win. |
| 9 | 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 | ¥6,000 | Can’t win. |
| 10 | 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | ¥10,000 | $10 Right Stuf Gift Certificate |
| 11 | 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | ¥20,000 | $10 Right Stuf Gift Certificate |
| 12 | 12, 13, 14, 15 | ¥50,000 | $25 Right Stuf Gift Certificate |
| 13 | 13, 14, 15 | ¥100,000 | $25 Right Stuf Gift Certificate |
| 14 | 14, 15 | ¥250,000 | $50 Right Stuf Gift Certificate |
| 15 | ¥1,000,000 | $100 Right Stuf Gift Certificate | |
Question 15:
Question 15 is called the money question because whoever answers the question gets the prize represented to that value; however, the question is usually nunatak based. The question can be worth from ¥10,000 up to ¥1,000,000.
End of Game:
The game is over when the top amount that can be won is achieved, the player gets knock out on the final question getting ¥1,000, or the last player gets knock out winning either ¥1,000 (if the fifth question is answer correctly) or nothing.
