WooWho
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Post by WooWho on Mar 1, 2016 12:45:05 GMT -5
In this installment of the Evaluation series...a Wheel staple--since the dawn of the syndicated version, anyway! It's still alive and well, even in all its different forms... HOW IT WORKS:- The Prize starts the game on the wheel. If hit, a player must simply call a correct consonant to pick it up, and solve the puzzle in the round in which it was picked up to claim it. Simple as that!
- If it hasn't been claimed by the end of Round 2, the Prize is removed at the start of Round 3.
- There are effectively two prizes on the wheel at the start of the game: the Prize Wedge and the Gift Tag. Both function in the same manner; while the Prize Wedge's value can fluctuate, the Gift Tag always has a value of $1,000.
- The Gift Tag, if unclaimed by that point, is removed after Round 3.
WHAT WE KNOW:- Initially, the Prize Wedge was picked up immediately if hit; the player then called a consonant for the value underneath. That changed sometime in late 1990 to the current rule set, except the letter was only for the prize itself. The Prize Wedge (and the Gift Tag, for that matter) began awarding $500 per letter in September 2012.
- From the end of the shopping era to the late 1990s, the prize used to be introduced at the beginning of Round 2. An additional prize was added to the wheel at the beginning of Round 4.
- In 1992, the Surprise appeared on the Wheel from the start of the game and wasn't announced unless it was won; it stayed on the wheel for the entire game. It was retired in 1998.
- For the 25th season only, a special "25" prize wedge appeared on the wheel. It always awarded "25 of something" (which usually meant it was worth $2,500).
- In recent years, the Prize is almost always a trip (or a sponsored shopping spree).
WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW:- Was the Surprise worth having in the first place? (There were prizes placed on the wheel, especially in later rounds, that didn't get announced unless they were won.)
- Should the Prize/Gift Tag award money in addition to the cardboard?
- Why bother with the Gift Tag? Should it be changed to an additional prize, just like the old days?
- We already know about your grievances about the fact that all the prizes are now trips. But what kinds of prizes do you want to see to spice up the selection?
- What was wrong with the original rules for the Prize Wedge?
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germanname1990
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Post by germanname1990 on Mar 1, 2016 14:57:56 GMT -5
I think the Gift Tag is a nice idea because it helps promote its company much better than a Prize wedge even if it's not won.
I still remember when the Gift Tag was introduced, asking myself if it functioned exactly like a Prize wedge. Not long after its introduction, I saw this one gentleman land on Bankrupt with a Gift Tag in hand. He quickly handed the Gift Tag in, helping me confirm its functionality.
As for the Surprise wedge, I think it was worth having even with regular Prize wedges. As someone who loves nice surprises, I constantly think about how fun that wedge was, not just in looks, but the way it worked. I love it whenever I see episodes with someone having won the Surprise. Out of all the retired Wheel elements, the Surprise ranks among those that I miss the most.
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lousan92
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Post by lousan92 on Mar 9, 2016 17:12:59 GMT -5
Was the Surprise worth having in the first place? (There were prizes placed on the wheel, especially in later rounds, that didn't get announced unless they were won.)Probably it would have been better to place the Surprise wedge starting in R2, just like the 1/2 Cars do nowadays, and having a "known" prize starting in R1. In my opinion, it would have made the wedge more special. Should the Prize/Gift Tag award money in addition to the cardboard?
I don't know if you are referring to add cash to the prize or to the extra $500 per letter: - In the first case, I think that it's fine just like that. Contestants mainly play for cash, so the Prize wedge/Gift Tag should be special in this way, giving players something different. - In the second case, I don't think that cardboard has to award the $500 per letter, mainly because now that the minimum in the Wheel is $500 buying vowels is too easy. There should be some wedges which force players to spin in order to win some cash for buying vowels. Why bother with the Gift Tag? Should it be changed to an additional prize, just like the old days?
I haven't thought about that, but I agree with germanname1990: for companies is a good way to get advertising because they show the logo in the tag. And currently, having another prize in the Wheel would overcharge the Wheel with cardboard: we already have another prize, however, it's split in two parts. We already know about your grievances about the fact that all the prizes are now trips. But what kinds of prizes do you want to see to spice up the selection?
I can't answer this question because I don't know how more expensive are the US compared to Spain (and we have also another currency). But we know that the minimum value for a prize is $6,000... Can you, American friends, find something more expensive than $6,000 that is not a trip or a vehicle? I could think about TVs, computers... But probably they are not expensive enough to reach those $6,000, unless they are the most powerful gadgets. What was wrong with the original rules for the Prize Wedge?
I think that the current rules are more fair than the older ones: if you spin the Wheel, you must call a correct consonant to earn what there is in the Wheel without any difference. The older rules made easier to win a prize, players could have a lucky spin, and without calling any good letter they could win that prize (But wait... Doesn't that happen nowadays with the Prize Puzzle but even without spinning during the entire round?  )
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Post by gameshowguy2000 on Mar 11, 2016 0:58:01 GMT -5
I remember the days when there were up to THREE, count 'em, THREE Gift Tags all at once. That, of course, changed to two with the Wild Card. If we can't have three anymore, can we do two? Or is that too much?
I can understand replacing the third tag with the Wild Card, instead of having three tags AND the Wild Card. But was two too much?
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WooWho
Made It and Played It Producer
Panel Quizmaster
"They better NOT be booing me!"
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Post by WooWho on Mar 15, 2016 8:48:06 GMT -5
Should the Prize/Gift Tag award money in addition to the cardboard?- In the second case, I don't think that cardboard has to award the $500 per letter, mainly because now that the minimum in the Wheel is $500 buying vowels is too easy. There should be some wedges which force players to spin in order to win some cash for buying vowels. This is what I'm referring to. While I largely agree with what you said, I do find it a bit of a bummer if someone finds a huge multiple and only has the prize to show for it. But that's the game... |
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lousan92
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Post by lousan92 on Mar 15, 2016 15:35:03 GMT -5
^ Well, players should have in mind that to try not to call the multiples when they landed in a token.
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Post by tlc38tlc38 on Oct 12, 2016 16:40:46 GMT -5
I always liked the look of the surprise wedge. Pretty pink!
....but I thought it was pretty much pointless.
Why couldn't they just add a prize wedge to the wheel? Maybe they did this to save gameplay time because the surprise was never revealed unless someone won it and all the prize wedges were advertised.
Either way, I like the current format just fine. The one prize wedge and one gift tag fit in great.
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Post by gameshowfandanny on Mar 7, 2020 20:44:42 GMT -5
"Was the Surprise worth having in the first place? (There were prizes placed on the wheel, especially in later rounds, that didn't get announced unless they were won.)"
The thing I didn't like about Surprise was that because of the name, we only found out what it was if it was won. I think they should have announced what it would've been if it weren't won. I remember seeing a thread here about a Surprise Wedge on eBay and how sometimes, it was sponsored, so it's likely that they don't keep the Surprise the same until it is won.
"Should the Prize/Gift Tag award money in addition to the cardboard?"
Now, it awards $500 per letter, but I think it should be $900 or $1,000.
"Why bother with the Gift Tag? Should it be changed to an additional prize, just like the old days?"
I think the Gift Tag is good. It gives the contestants a chance to win a $1,000 Gift Card.
"We already know about your grievances about the fact that all the prizes are now trips. But what kinds of prizes do you want to see to spice up the selection?"
Cars because the 1/2 Car is retired, so there's no way to win two cars now.
"What was wrong with the original rules for the Prize Wedge?"
I thought they were okay.
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