what game show had the best end game?

[Jay Temple]

The Wonder Wall may have been more fun to play as a contestant, even without considering the amount of money involved, but it was terrible to try to watch it. The Winner's Circle wins, hands down. (But I agree that the Scrabble Bonus Sprint was darn good too.)

[Mr. Armadillo]

I gotta go with Alphabetics for my money.  I'll give an honorable mention to Wheel of Fortune, just because no one else has yet.

[Chelsea Thrasher]

Winner's Circle.   Alphabetics/Super Password.  Wonderwall.  

I'll give my honorable mention to the Classic Concentration end game.  A great balance of luck, memory, and skill - I think just because it hasn't been seen in about 15 years anywhere, some folks have forgotten about it, but it was a good game.

[weaklink75]

In a case of a skill-based endgame, I have to agree with Winner's Circle.

But for out and out suspense, you have to say the Golden Doors from Dream House is one of the better ones..

[fishbulb]

$10,000 Pyramid turned the endgame into an event.

Other shows had endgames before that, but they were along the lines of Password's Lightning Round - a fun diversion, but not that exciting.  It's no coincidence that nearly every other suggestion here came after the Winner's Circle.

[TLEberle]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'169884\' date=\'Nov 18 2007, 05:45 PM\']Admittedly, I like Face The Devil and Bonus Island too. (For some reason, Face The Dragon, not so much.) I don't pretend they are masterpieces of skill or anything, but Lord knows I play enough press-your-luck type games, myself.[/quote]Understood. For what they are, the games are fine. But to say that they rate in the top tier of skill based end games is silly. That's all I was refuting.

[Fedya]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'169851\' date=\'Nov 18 2007, 06:33 PM\']
[quote name=\'whoserman\' post=\'169850\' date=\'Nov 18 2007, 05:29 PM\']
You could definitely feel the tension, and sense the excitement of winning $10,000 in just a minute, which was unheard of in 1973.
[/quote]
Not a win, but watch how this one plays out. The audience's involvement was crazy.
[/quote]
I guess Bob Stewart wasn't very strict about not using one's hands at the beginning of the Pyramid run....

[comicus]

I always thought Whew's Gauntlet of Villains was pretty awesome...

[kenbob_clarker]

[quote name=\'fishbulb\' post=\'169903\' date=\'Nov 18 2007, 09:58 PM\']
$10,000 Pyramid turned the endgame into an event.

Other shows had endgames before that, but they were along the lines of Password's Lightning Round - a fun diversion, but not that exciting.  It's no coincidence that nearly every other suggestion here came after the Winner's Circle.
[/quote]
Hmm... interesting observation...

/Baffled as to why nobody's mentioned the Double Dare Obstacle Course yet...
//And not even honorably...

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'169904\' date=\'Nov 18 2007, 07:59 PM\']
Understood. For what they are, the games are fine. But to say that they rate in the top tier of skill based end games is silly. That's all I was refuting.
[/quote]
Oh, he *did* use the word "skil" (sic) in there, didn't he? Please, then, by all means, continue.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'kenbob_clarker\' post=\'169909\' date=\'Nov 18 2007, 08:41 PM\']
/Baffled as to why nobody's mentioned the Double Dare Obstacle Course yet...
//And not even honorably...[/quote]
I don't understand why. I've given it not even a minute of thought, and I can confidently say it wouldn't even crack my Top 10.

My top 5:

1) Winner's Circle
2) Wonderwall
3) Alphabetics / Super Password
4) Money Cards
5) Gauntlet of Villains

Hell, I'd put the Blackout Clue Screen ahead of the Obstacle Course.

/giving it another minute or two...nope, not even Top 15.

[kenbob_clarker]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'169918\' date=\'Nov 19 2007, 12:36 AM\']
[quote name=\'kenbob_clarker\' post=\'169909\' date=\'Nov 18 2007, 08:41 PM\']
/Baffled as to why nobody's mentioned the Double Dare Obstacle Course yet...
//And not even honorably...[/quote]
I don't understand why.
[/quote]
Just my humble opinion, that's all.  It's not the best in the world (that obvoiusly goes to the Winner's Circle), but I do think it at least deserves an honorable mention.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'kenbob_clarker\' post=\'169928\' date=\'Nov 19 2007, 12:32 AM\']
Just my humble opinion, that's all.  It's not the best in the world (that obvoiusly goes to the Winner's Circle), but I do think it at least deserves an honorable mention.
[/quote]
Well, we disagree, and seeing as it has, indeed, not been mentioned at all, honorably or otherwise, I have an idea what side the majority of the participants in this discussion seem to be coming down on.

[gwarman2005]

As far as dramatic build up my favorite has always been The Golden Doors.  Hands down, bar none.

However, in a game of skill and knowledge, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the NYSI end round.  Complimented the main game like the Scrabble Sprint did and had some of the clues just as clever.  I always enjoyed it.  Never mind I really liked the idea of a progressive jackpot.

[Chelsea Thrasher]

[quote name=\'gwarman2005\' post=\'169930\' date=\'Nov 19 2007, 03:59 AM\']
However, in a game of skill and knowledge, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the NYSI end round.  Complimented the main game like the Scrabble Sprint did and had some of the clues just as clever.  I always enjoyed it.  Never mind I really liked the idea of a progressive jackpot. [/quote]

...My biggest problem with the NYSI bonus game is the depending on whether you're talking about the Narz or Henry version, the bonuses tended to run either unusually difficult (Narz), or unusually easy (Henry) on a consistent basis.