Wheel of Fortune gameplay elements

[SRIV94]

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'245572\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 01:36 PM\'][quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'245571\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 02:19 PM\']Never really understood why adding $1,000 was necessary if Sajak landed on the the $5,000 in the Final Spin.[/quote]Because it's a lot easier to make it a blanket rule than to say "we'll add $1,000 UNLESS you land on $5,000 because you don't need any more money, you greedy heathens."
[/quote]
You're not the one doing the landing--this is Sajak's spin.  Adding the $1,000 to a lower amount makes sense.  Adding it to the $5,000 I think is overkill.

[wdm1219inpenna]

This is awesome.  THanks!  I can't believe I forgot about the big ol' pink "SURPRISE" wedge!  And of course the Friday Finals.  And during the F.F., the jackpot started at $10K instead of $5K.  Thanks again all!  Nice to "wheel" down memory lane...

[Steve Gavazzi]

[quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'245581\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 04:03 PM\']when was wipeout week? didnt they go to all cash IMMEDIATELY after?[/quote]
The show was already all cash by that time.

[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'245576\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 03:06 PM\']Another Free Spin note...it went from being on the wheel (and unlimited free spins if hit) as its own wedge, to being a "token" on the wheel, c. 1990?[/quote]
Sometime during the '89-'90 season.

[Joe Mello]

Wipeout Week(s, think there was more than one) were run during that period when there were no PT champs.

[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'245574\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 02:55 PM\'][quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'245572\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 02:36 PM\']I've seen a lot more full fourth and fifth rounds this past season than any I can remember since the toss-ups started.[/quote]
Fine.  Then less sixth rounds, which I'd also rather watch.[/quote]
Okay, this argument I can understand, but Toss-Ups are certainly more entertaining than drawing numbers.

[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'245576\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 03:06 PM\']

Add $1,000 to value of final spin (Love this idea too, gives everyone a bit more of a fighting chance)

Don't like it.  If they'd run a better configuration in the final round, it wouldn't be necessary.[/quote]
If the object of the game is to win, the risk you run is that you make rounds 1-3 unimportant.  Besides, the configs they ran before weren't that great, either.

[J.R.]

Wasn't there some sort of "interactive" element with the Puzzlers? (Like with WebTV or something). Was there a prize attached or was this just funsises for the home players?

I miss (and prefer) the Friday Finals format.

[SuperMatch93]

[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'245571\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 01:19 PM\']And not really game-play oriented, but when did we stop seeing Sajak land on a "Bankrupt" or some non-cash amount for the Final Spin?[/quote]

They started editing those out several years ago.

[Steve Gavazzi]

[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'245589\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 06:26 PM\']Okay, this argument I can understand, but Toss-Ups are certainly more entertaining than drawing numbers.[/quote]
And if they'd made us watch the contestants draw numbers for those first 25 years or so, this'd be a damn fine point...but they didn't.

[WarioBarker]

[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'245588\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 06:05 PM\'][quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'245576\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 03:06 PM\']Another Free Spin note...it went from being on the wheel (and unlimited free spins if hit) as its own wedge, to being a "token" on the wheel, c. 1990?[/quote]Sometime during the '89-'90 season.[/quote]
October 16, 1989. It happened on both daytime and nighttime at the same point.

[quote name=\'wdm1219inpenna\' post=\'245561\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 11:49 AM\']Buy a Vowel space (retired very soon after the show debuted on NBC)[/quote]
It was a really bad idea -- you lost your turn if A) you didn't have $250 to spend or B) all vowels in the puzzle had already been purchased. As for how long it lasted, all I know is that it managed to get into Milton-Bradley's two home games (by which point the $25, $50, and $75 spaces had been ousted), which were published in '75. The more experienced among us on the forum may be able to narrow down a timeframe.

Prize Trip Puzzles (not sure when they began)

Fixed that for...somebody. Seriously, 99% of the time it's a trip (which I seem to recall reading on this site were quite inflated) -- a tactic used by The Price is Right in most of the last two seasons. Originally, and very rarely in this past season, it was not a trip.

Megaword (Really bad idea. Use the word in a sentence.

Such as BOMBASTIC, as in "Being on Wheel Of Fortune is a BOMBASTIC experience". :-)

Star Bonus (used on Woolery's version)

Early 1978. It was probably the first-ever "extra" put on the wheel, and the last time they attempted a Bonus Round before Pat took over. I thought it was a good idea, at least.

Hour long programs in the 70s I believe

December 1, 1975 to January 16, 1976. It was a six-week attempt to duplicate the then-recent success The Price is Right had with its expansion (and/or celebrate Wheel's first anniversary?). It was also the second time they attempted a Bonus Round during the pre-Sajak era.

About the only thing that remains the same, vowels cost $250 in 1975, and cost $250 now.

The three pilots (1973-74) also sold them for $250. And yes, you had to land on Buy A Vowel in those pilots as well.

I'd like to see them raise it up to $1,000. With inflation on everything else, including the wedge amounts on the wheel, $250 seems like nothing now.

I agree on upping the price, but the inflation hasn't really hit the wedges. The huge gap between top dollar ($2,500/$3,500/$5,000) and the second-highest amount ($900) is too large IMO, and regular four-digit amounts were still on the wheel until......2001?

/Prefers the "special" wedges from 1975.
//Especially in the "compass" layout from the '74 pilots.

[Joe Mello]

Okay, Toss-Ups are more entertaining than being told that numbers were drawn backstage.

[RichZ]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'245577\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 03:06 PM\'][quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'245575\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 02:55 PM\']- Beginning in the late 80s in the bonus round, the contestant was given RSTLNE automatically.[/quote]
I've seen October 1988 for this one...the same time they started offering the "WHEEL" envelopes.  

[/quote]

October 1988 is right for contestants being given RSTLNE in the bonus round. I believe the WHEEL envelopes for the bonus round were introduced at the start of the 1989-1990 syndie season.

Rick

[ClockGameJohn]

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'245572\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 02:36 PM\'][quote name=\'wdm1219inpenna\' post=\'245561\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 11:49 AM\']Toss-Up Puzzles (I hate that time is taken away from actual spinning)[/quote]I've never really understood the dislike for toss-up puzzles, since we get three more pieces of gameplay and it doesn't take more than 30 seconds, if that, from "real" traditional gameplay. With toss-ups, you get more material for your entertainment buck.[/quote]

You get more material for someone's entertainment when Jack flashes his Wagner during the SCSD, but it still takes up 30 seconds which could be used for game play.

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'245572\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 02:36 PM\'][quote name=\'wdm1219inpenna\' post=\'245561\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 11:49 AM\']we seldom if ever get to see a complete 4th round w/the $5,000 space played any longer.[/quote]I've seen a lot more full fourth and fifth rounds this past season than any I can remember since the toss-ups started.[/quote]

Well, Chad, the fourth and fifth rounds used to be extremely common.  I don't think I could tell you when I last saw a show where all three contestants had an opportunity to spin the wheel with the $5,000 wedge in play.

[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'245595\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 07:48 PM\']Okay, Toss-Ups are more entertaining than being told that numbers were drawn backstage.[/quote]

They only drew numbers once.

[chad1m]

[quote name=\'ClockGameJohn\' post=\'245598\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 08:39 PM\']but it still takes up 30 seconds which could be used for game play.[/quote]Is a toss-up puzzle suddenly not gameplay? It's a fairer way to decide who starts off with control and we're getting more game.
[quote name=\'ClockGameJohn\' post=\'245598\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 08:39 PM\']Well, Chad, the fourth and fifth rounds used to be extremely common.[/quote]Sure they were. But we also had a minute or two extra and less in-show sponsoring. The toss-up puzzles add more puzzles per show than what we had with the older format. (5-7 then vs. At least 8 now, sometimes 9 or 10.)

[Jeremy Nelson]

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'245599\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 07:51 PM\'][quote name=\'ClockGameJohn\' post=\'245598\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 08:39 PM\']but it still takes up 30 seconds which could be used for game play.[/quote]Is a toss-up puzzle suddenly not gameplay? It's a fairer way to decide who starts off with control and we're getting more game.
[/quote]
Yeah, but I'd have to think the advantage lies in starting Round 3, when top dollar is higher and prizes are often still unclaimed on the wheel. It's not like we go around the horn again and start Round 4 with the player who started Round 1. If we did, then maybe there'd be more of an incentive to solve the $2K tossup.

Regardless of that, my biggest problem lies with the Prize Puzzle and its steroid-like effect on gameplay.

[Strikerz04]

[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'245595\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 06:48 PM\']Okay, Toss-Ups are more entertaining than being told that numbers were drawn backstage.[/quote]

Pretty much, I believe drawing numbers determined where you stood during the game.

[TLEberle]

[quote name=\'Jeremy Nelson\' post=\'245600\' date=\'Aug 8 2010, 06:31 PM\']Yeah, but I'd have to think the advantage lies in starting Round 3, when top dollar is higher and prizes are often still unclaimed on the wheel. It's not like we go around the horn again and start Round 4 with the player who started Round 1. If we did, then maybe there'd be more of an incentive to solve the $2K tossup.[/quote] I would absolutely be OK if a Toss-up was played before each round, but only for the first spin of the round, and not money.

Regardless of that, my biggest problem lies with the Prize Puzzle and its steroid-like effect on gameplay.

Oog, this certainly doesn't help.