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Narz Concentration

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JasonA1:
All this talk about "Classic Concentration" lately got me excited about "Conc." in general, so I revisited some tapes. I figured I'd do something in the same vain as Joe Raygor (personal thanks from me for that impressive CC summary!) and try to get the format to Narz's version together. Granted all I have to go from is a 1978 ep. and old posts, but that's where the helping comes in. If anybody can fill it in, feel free.

* Two players compete for the whole show.

* Board has 30 squares. To start, four prizes ("the head starts") are revealed and Johnny O gives them each a plug. As Chris C. reported, this was to guarantee these items plugs.

* The first game is the "three call game" where three numbers are called instead of two. Along with the regular Wild Cards and "Take 1 Gift," there was something called "Free Look." Two such spaces were on the board, and were immediately turned to the rebus when picked.

* Matching Wild Cards is worth $250, win or lose.

* Double Play, for those who don't know, is the bonus round where you solve 2 rebii in 10 seconds. First one is worth $100, second was worth a car. In the final season, a board with 9 squares was presented before the bonus. Whatever they match (prize packages or the car) is what they play for. If they get a special card (did it say "WIN" or "WILD" or what?) they play for all the revealed prizes they have picked, or all of the packages if it's the first pick.

* Second game is the normal, call two numbers part with four Wild Cards in play and the "Bonus Number." Four such cards were on the board, and matching two earned you a third call with your next pick. If you matched in two picks, you could use the third call on the next pick and so on.

* If time is short, the entire puzzle is revealed and the players get on the lockouts a'la CC.

* If there is time left over after the second Double Play, the "money game" is played. The players try to match foriegn currency. Upon a match, Jack reads the American conversion (and considering this show's budget, it was probably low).

And speaking of the budget, this "Concentration" may have had the oddest of prizes on both the front game and end game boards. The front game literally had fee plug items like supplies of salad dressing and small appliances. But it was incredibly cool - a combination of the 60s show with 70s presentation and a great host at the helm. I love the look of the mechanical board, and how they sped up the motors. Of course, that meant more mechanical *problems* but oh well.

Wow that was long-winded.

-Jason

Ian Wallis:

--- Quote ---* Board has 30 squares. To start, four prizes ("the head starts") are revealed and Johnny O gives them each a plug. As Chris C. reported, this was to guarantee these items plugs.
--- End quote ---


The format for that version of "Concentration" changed over the years.  When it first went on in 1973, there were no "head starts", players only picked two numbers per turn (unless they matched the card that said "Bonus Number", which came along in the third season), Wild Card matches were worth $500 (only remember somebody matching them once or twice), and there was no "Free Look".

All of those things were added as time went on to the way it was in that 1978 episode.

Too bad more of these episodes weren't around...

uncamark:
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' date=\'Dec 5 2003, 06:28 AM\']And speaking of the budget, this "Concentration" may have had the oddest of prizes on both the front game and end game boards. The front game literally had fee plug items like supplies of salad dressing and small appliances. [/quote]
That was true on the original version, as well--you would regularly see things like "1,000 Hot Dogs" or "10 Lb. Salami" (or "Towel Collection") in each game.  I seem to remember a prize of a complete line of canned goods popping up regularly, but I don't remember what it was called on the board.  Like the gag prizes, those were good in case you matched a Forfeit.  Better to lose 1,000 hot dogs than a trip to Hawaii or a mink coat.

Starkman:
well even trebek's version had the 1000 cal lottery tix.

Dbacksfan12:
[quote name=\'Starkman\' date=\'Dec 5 2003, 01:58 PM\'] well even trebek's version had the 1000 cal lottery tix. [/quote]
 Yes, but that is a minimum $1000 prize.  I can get 1000 hot dogs for...
1000 hot dogs/8/pk=125.
I can get a package of hot dogs for $1.00
$1X125=$125.

Big difference.

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