Author Topic: The Balance game... (Read 5594 times)

Shredder · « **on:** March 30, 2006, 11:41:12 AM »

Havn't watched price in five or so months since I started work...now that I'm on a week vacation, I've finally managed to catch it. Is Balance Game the only new one to be added this season so far?

I don't know why, but I just don't care for Balance Game that much...Something about it just dosn't scream, 'fun' or 'interesting'...

zachhoran · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2006, 07:10:48 PM »

[quote name=\'Shredder\' post=\'114776\' date=\'Mar 30 2006, 11:41 AM\']
Havn't watched price in five or so months since I started work...now that I'm on a week vacation, I've finally managed to catch it. Is Balance Game the only new one to be added this season so far?

[/quote]

Yes, it is the only new game to debut this season, having debuted on the 2/6 episode.

JayDLewis · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2006, 10:22:47 PM »

[quote name=\'Shredder\' post=\'114776\' date=\'Mar 30 2006, 12:41 PM\']
I don't know why, but I just don't care for Balance Game that much...Something about it just dosn't scream, 'fun' or 'interesting'...
[/quote]

That's cause it's Pick A Number with a fancier set.

Let's take an example of a snowmobile. Barker puts $188 on the scale leaving $2,000, $3,000 and $5,000 bags left. IOW, is the first digit in the price 5, 7 or 8?

I dunno who created this game but they obviously aren't even trying anymore. PG creation has stunk..and the 2 most "innovative" games (On the Spot and Time Is Money) have been canned.

ChuckNet · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2006, 12:10:42 AM »

Quote

That's cause it's Pick A Number with a fancier set.

I was wondering why BGII didn't grab me, but couldn't place my finger on it...Jay's right, though, it's basically just PaN w/a better set and more suspenseful reveal.

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

Neumms · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2006, 12:16:34 AM »

It's better than Pick-a-Number in that, requiring the digit in the thousands place rather than the hundreds, it's a fairer test of pricing acumen. Now whether that makes it entertaining or not is up to you.

What they need are more "funny little man moving across a board" games like Cliff Hangers and the long-departed Hurdles.

cmjb13 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2006, 08:02:29 AM »

[quote name=\'JayDLewis\' post=\'114827\' date=\'Mar 30 2006, 11:22 PM\']
and the 2 most "innovative" games (On the Spot and Time Is Money) have been canned.
[/quote]
On the Spot, yes. Time is Money will be back.

Robert Hutchinson · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2006, 06:53:14 PM »

[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'115214\' date=\'Apr 4 2006, 12:16 AM\']
It's better than Pick-a-Number in that, requiring the digit in the thousands place rather than the hundreds, it's a fairer test of pricing acumen. Now whether that makes it entertaining or not is up to you.[/quote]

Doesn't Pick-A-Number use the thousands digit occasionally? I thought it did.

I finally got to hear Balance Game being played (CBS station on the radio), and my main negative was that it gives Bob a bigger opportunity to mess up the rules. He told the contestant he would need to place 3 of the remaining bags on the scale, and while that's obviously wrong, it does contribute to the contestant (and the screaming audience) possibly not knowing that *exactly* 2 more bags are needed.

(I could go off on a tangent about just how much of the show Bob was flubbing that day--but no.)

Brandon Brooks · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2006, 07:38:02 PM »

[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'115309\' date=\'Apr 4 2006, 05:53 PM\']
Doesn't Pick-A-Number use the thousands digit occasionally? I thought it did.
[/quote]Yep. They did that today for a hottub.
(Oh, damn it to hell! I spoiled the show! Please don't banninate me!)

Quote

I finally got to hear Balance Game being played (CBS station on the radio), and my main negative was that it gives Bob a bigger opportunity to mess up the rules...
<snip>
(I could go off on a tangent about just how much of the show Bob was flubbing that day--but no.)

He's bumbly. He forgets the rules of his show. Constantly. And he's wrong. A lot. He's still the best their ever was for the show, and is a legend, but he needs to consider moving on.

Still, Barker's armpit hair has more talent than John Davidson.

Brandon Brooks

Steve Gavazzi · « **Reply #8 on:** April 04, 2006, 08:46:26 PM »

[quote name=\'Brandon Brooks\' post=\'115314\' date=\'Apr 4 2006, 07:38 PM\']
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'115309\' date=\'Apr 4 2006, 05:53 PM\']
Doesn't Pick-A-Number use the thousands digit occasionally? I thought it did.
[/quote]Yep. They did that today for a hottub.
[/quote]

Any digit can be the missing one in Pick-a-Number. At least once earlier this season, they had the ones digit missing. (They tend to make the right answer really obvious when they play it that way.)

Neumms · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2006, 12:19:27 PM »

[quote name='Robert Hutchinson' date='Apr 4 2006, 05:53 PM' post='115309']
[quote name='Neumms' post='115214' date='Apr 4 2006, 12:16 AM']
Doesn't Pick-A-Number use the thousands digit occasionally? I thought it did.
[/quote]

I saw that yesterday, too. Maybe the problem with the game is the name. It shatters any illusion that any of the pricing games are anything more than pick a number.

Steve Gavazzi · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2006, 07:25:29 PM »

[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'115387\' date=\'Apr 5 2006, 12:19 PM\']
I saw that yesterday, too. Maybe the problem with [Pick-a-Number] is the name. It shatters any illusion that any of the pricing games are anything more than pick a number.
[/quote]

What about Hole in One? Or Master Key? Or Bonus Game? Or...there's lots of others, but I'm not gonna bother listing all of them.

I'm not saying it's a fantastic name, but your analysis of it has way too wide a scope.

JasonA1 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 06, 2006, 05:59:21 AM »

Quote

I'm not saying it's a fantastic name, but your analysis of it has way too wide a scope.

He does have somewhat of a point. It'd be like calling Double Prices "pick the right price" or calling 1 Right Price "which one of these is $XXXX?" Nothing about the name "Hole in One" breaks it down to what the game is about - but it's right there in the name of "Pick a Number." In fact, the very same day the ep in question aired, my dad made a point to tell me it was the first he saw of this hilariously simple game where it's called just "Pick a Number." Not scientific, but in his case at least, it went and showed you just how simple the game really was.

-Jason

TLEberle · « **Reply #12 on:** April 06, 2006, 08:19:52 AM »

[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'115472\' date=\'Apr 6 2006, 02:59 AM\']
In fact, the very same day the ep in question aired, my dad made a point to tell me it was the first he saw of this hilariously simple game where it's called just "Pick a Number." Not scientific, but in his case at least, it went and showed you just how simple the game really was.[/quote]And the show can't win either way. Complicated games that might be interesting for viewers are axed for being too complicated. Games that are too simple are pblasted by the diehards, most of them being the one-decision games. Double Prices may not be a thrill-a-minute roller coaster, but it does embody the spirit of the show.

As to Balance Game, it's fine as a one-decision game, but it dies without the chrome. "Is this prize $4995, 5995 or $5995?" That's the decision at hand, but the tilting scale and the xylophone glissando sells it. Get rid of the art, and, well, almost all of the games suck wang. Where would Safe Crackers be without the big horkin' safe and the spooky music? Race Game would be a snooze with four index cards taped to a whiteboard. The hyperbole is for effect, but the point is there, how interesting would these games be on the same set with no flashy graphics or sounds?

uncamark · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2006, 02:34:45 PM »

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'115475\' date=\'Apr 6 2006, 07:19 AM\']
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'115472\' date=\'Apr 6 2006, 02:59 AM\']
In fact, the very same day the ep in question aired, my dad made a point to tell me it was the first he saw of this hilariously simple game where it's called just "Pick a Number." Not scientific, but in his case at least, it went and showed you just how simple the game really was.[/quote]And the show can't win either way. Complicated games that might be interesting for viewers are axed for being too complicated. Games that are too simple are pblasted by the diehards, most of them being the one-decision games. Double Prices may not be a thrill-a-minute roller coaster, but it does embody the spirit of the show.

As to Balance Game, it's fine as a one-decision game, but it dies without the chrome. "Is this prize $4995, 5995 or $5995?" That's the decision at hand, but the tilting scale and the xylophone glissando sells it. Get rid of the art, and, well, almost all of the games suck wang. Where would Safe Crackers be without the big horkin' safe and the spooky music? Race Game would be a snooze with four index cards taped to a whiteboard. The hyperbole is for effect, but the point is there, how interesting would these games be on the same set with no flashy graphics or sounds?
[/quote]

And am I correct that in the last decade or so, more one-decision games have been added than the other kinds? Either the other game types are difficult to come up with or it's easier to take a bit of game play and tart it up with a flashy prop or game board and make people think it's something new.

JasonA1 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2006, 03:15:44 PM »

You would be correct, and the case seems to be the latter. I believe it was Mr. Clementson who was saying the influx is likely due to little time left to play the old-school era's longish games, much less new longish ones.

-Jason

Author Topic: The Balance game... (Read 5594 times)

Shredder

uncamark