The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Ian Wallis on June 22, 2004, 11:47:23 AM
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I can't remember if this exact discussion has come up before or not, but what pricing game on "The Price is Right" do you think is the easiest to win?
I'm not talking about "games of chance" where you have to pick which item is displaying the right price, because you could easily get it wrong, but games that you can definately win with good strategy.
Although we'd all like to win cash or cars, for me, I think the Clock Game would be the easiest to win. Maybe the prizes aren't always the most glamorous offered on the show, but everytime I see it played I long to be on stage!
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Others might not agree with me, but I think Bonkers is pretty easy if you're fast enough...it's usually pretty obvious if the first digit is higher or lower...all you need then is speed to do the 8 possible combinations for the other three numbers.
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The easiest game to win? 1/2 Off, of course. Nobody's lost that game! :-P
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I concur on Clock Game. That's part of why I'm not wild about the game anymore--if you somehow don't win, it has to be because you simply don't understand it. Why wouldn't they try it with more expensive prizes? At least it would be challenging.
The other like that is Hit Me. If you've never seen it, it's way too complicated. If you have seen it and know what to do, it's way easy. And even if you screw up, you could still win if the house busts. Ugh. Lousy game.
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For me, it would be Hole-in-One or Two. I always play golf in the 70's. Any warmer than that, I stay home.
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 11:57 AM\']I concur on Clock Game. That's part of why I'm not wild about the game anymore--if you somehow don't win, it has to be because you simply don't understand it. Why wouldn't they try it with more expensive prizes? At least it would be challenging. [/quote]
It seems to me that at one time the second prize in Clock Game was frequently over $1,000 (but usually not over $2,000)--and we're talking back in the late 70s. I even recall a car being in Clock Game and Barker mentioning that the producers were worried about using cars in the game (this, of course, is when cars were much cheaper). Somewhere along the line, it was decided to make the game easier for either the contestants or Barker--I don't really know which (although I'd suspect Barker's needs come first, as they usually do).
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I believe they made the prizes under $1,000 because the contestants would get confused with the 4 digits.
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 01:36 PM\']
It seems to me that at one time the second prize in Clock Game was frequently over $1,000 (but usually not over $2,000)--and we're talking back in the late 70s. I even recall a car being in Clock Game and Barker mentioning that the producers were worried about using cars in the game [/quote]
In the early-mid 80s, Clock Game would sometimes offer trips worth a few grand or even a low end car as the second prize. When they offered prizes with four digits in the price, they would be told that the prize was between $x000-$x000($1000 spread, essentially giving them the first number in the price). Davidson's TPIR would sometimes play Clock Game for two prizes worth $1k+, or two prizes under $1k(in those instances, a bonus prize worth a few grand would be given for winning both prizes)
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 11:57 AM\'] I concur on Clock Game. That's part of why I'm not wild about the game anymore--if you somehow don't win, it has to be because you simply don't understand it. Why wouldn't they try it with more expensive prizes? At least it would be challenging.
The other like that is Hit Me. If you've never seen it, it's way too complicated. If you have seen it and know what to do, it's way easy. And even if you screw up, you could still win if the house busts. Ugh. Lousy game. [/quote]
Bullseye is a far easier game than the players often make it out to be, as there's usually one or two products that picking two of would guarantee a win these days. Ten CHances is easier than the players make it out to be, when the player does not know the end in zero rule
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Aside from possibly Ten Chances, Money Game is certainly the easiest car game on the show. I'll never understand how that game could possibly have a losing record....
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Hurdles seemed like the easiest game to me...I've got about a dozen eps where it was played, and only 2 of them featured a loss.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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[quote name=\'Frank15\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 07:39 PM\']Aside from possibly Ten Chances, Money Game is certainly the easiest car game on the show. I'll never understand how that game could possibly have a losing record....[/quote]
It still cracks me up how hard it is for people to find their back ends. At least it's not as bad as Any Number (5-20).
Obviously the easiest games are my faves, the "quickies." Double Prices (my personal fave), Most Expensive, and Barker's Bargain Bar are perennial locks for .500+ records.
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Money Game was also my first thought. Pretty much a guaranteed 100% win. I haven't missed one in well over a year.
The reason folks miss so much is that there's this inexplicable draw to the high numbers. They get the front, then start the "95", "83", "75" path to hell.
Get your front of the car, then take the lowest number on the board that ends in 5 or 0 for the rear*. That's probably 75% success ratio right there. If that's not the right one, take the next lowest number ending in 0 or 5. That's around 99% right there.
If that's still not right, then I'd consider the lowest number not ending in 0 or 5, depending on what the next lowest 0 or 5 number is. I've seen it be this oddball number once or twice.
*Note the special case "15". It's almost always a sucker bet. It looks like a great choice, could be the front, could be the back, almost never is either. Pick your 14, 16, 17 first, and only go to it if none of them were correct for the front. Ignore 15 when looking for the rear as I described above, if 15 was one of the potential front numbers.
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[quote name=\'Gromit\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 10:50 PM\'] Money Game was also my first thought. Pretty much a guaranteed 100% win. I haven't missed one in well over a year.
The reason folks miss so much is that there's this inexplicable draw to the high numbers. They get the front, then start the "95", "83", "75" path to hell.
Get your front of the car, then take the lowest number on the board that ends in 5 or 0 for the rear*. That's probably 75% success ratio right there. If that's not the right one, take the next lowest number ending in 0 or 5. That's around 99% right there.
If that's still not right, then I'd consider the lowest number not ending in 0 or 5, depending on what the next lowest 0 or 5 number is. I've seen it be this oddball number once or twice.
*Note the special case "15". It's almost always a sucker bet. It looks like a great choice, could be the front, could be the back, almost never is either. Pick your 14, 16, 17 first, and only go to it if none of them were correct for the front. Ignore 15 when looking for the rear as I described above, if 15 was one of the potential front numbers. [/quote]
Why do I have a feeling that the actual stats don't even come close to bearing this out?
I would love to see the boards for the last 15 or so playings of Money Game to tell definitively whether this theory holds any water at all.
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 10:47 AM\'] I can't remember if this exact discussion has come up before or not, but what pricing game on "The Price is Right" do you think is the easiest to win?
[/quote]
In my opinion, the easiest pricing game to win is Grand Game....most items are obviously under the target price. If you think a 200 ct bottle of Centrum is under $6.00; then you deserve to lose.
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For me, it's Hit Me. It's really a larger scaled version of blackjack. First, try to pick a product whose price is multiplied by 10. Best way to tell is look at the last digit. If it's the only product there, bingo! That's your 10. However, as a recent playing indicates that there's more than 1 product in this category & that can create confusion if s/he doesn't lose sight of finding a 10 first. Next, look for the product whose price is EXACTLY right. That's the Ace. Best way to tell is look at the price & see if it's divisible by any other whole number other than 1. If it isn't, bingo! That's your Ace. Game over right there no matter what the house had.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 01:54 AM\'] [quote name=\'Gromit\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 10:50 PM\'] Money Game was also my first thought. Pretty much a guaranteed 100% win. I haven't missed one in well over a year.
The reason folks miss so much is that there's this inexplicable draw to the high numbers. They get the front, then start the "95", "83", "75" path to hell.
Get your front of the car, then take the lowest number on the board that ends in 5 or 0 for the rear*. That's probably 75% success ratio right there. If that's not the right one, take the next lowest number ending in 0 or 5. That's around 99% right there.
If that's still not right, then I'd consider the lowest number not ending in 0 or 5, depending on what the next lowest 0 or 5 number is. I've seen it be this oddball number once or twice.
*Note the special case "15". It's almost always a sucker bet. It looks like a great choice, could be the front, could be the back, almost never is either. Pick your 14, 16, 17 first, and only go to it if none of them were correct for the front. Ignore 15 when looking for the rear as I described above, if 15 was one of the potential front numbers. [/quote]
Why do I have a feeling that the actual stats don't even come close to bearing this out?
I would love to see the boards for the last 15 or so playings of Money Game to tell definitively whether this theory holds any water at all. [/quote]
I don't know if those specific stats are right, but just off the top of my head, the last two numbers haven't been higher than 65 more than six times in the last year and a half.
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I think the Easiest to win is Double Prices. Come on, pick one of 2 prices correctly and win. Not hard, is it? Well, there have been more wins than losses.
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[quote name=\'Craig Karlberg\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 02:00 AM\'] However, as a recent playing indicates that there's more than 1 product in this category & that can create confusion if s/he doesn't lose sight of finding a 10 first. [/quote]
That said, if you're torn between which of $29.90 and $23.70 conceals the Ace, you're an idiot who doesn't deserve to win a thing besides an official Mah-Rone Du Jour.
Next, look for the product whose price is EXACTLY right. That's the Ace.
No way. I refuse to believe it. Can't be.
Game over right there no matter what the house had.
Your mastery of Hit Me strategy is truly mind-numbing.
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[quote name=\'gameshowguy2000\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 08:31 AM\'] I think the Easiest to win is Double Prices. Come on, pick one of 2 prices correctly and win. Not hard, is it? Well, there have been more wins than losses. [/quote]
Do you know that? They're been playing DP since before you were born. When did you get a look at the record book?
Besides, we've proven here just recently (in the Let 'Em Roll discussion) that games exist with a higher-than-50% win probability, assuming even the playing skill of the average college fratboy.
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[quote name=\'gameshowguy2000\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 10:31 AM\'] I think the Easiest to win is Double Prices. Come on, pick one of 2 prices correctly and win. Not hard, is it? Well, there have been more wins than losses. [/quote]
How is a 50/50 random guess easier than a practically guaranteed win in several other games?
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Maybe not the easiest to win, but anybody playing "Bullseye" could say 1 or 2 for each product and they get a shot at the hidden bullseye with each of their three items. When I read the old rules (only chance at the hidden bullseye was with your closest target mark) I wished they would reinstate them.
-Jason
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[quote name=\'JasonA1\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 01:27 PM\'] Maybe not the easiest to win, but anybody playing "Bullseye" could say 1 or 2 for each product and they get a shot at the hidden bullseye with each of their three items. When I read the old rules (only chance at the hidden bullseye was with your closest target mark) I wished they would reinstate them. [/quote]
It should be noted that the total must be at least $2.00 for a marker to go on the board for the product.
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While considering "easiest," Clock Game is the ONLY pricing game that the contesant has FULL control of. With that in mind, it should most often be won. Unfortunately, just like everyone says when they're in the Hot Seat on WWTBAM, it's alot different sitting at home.
In my situation, from the time I walked into the studio (for the very first time) to the time I was standing on the turntable with Bob was literally no more than 10 minutes. The rush of being in the studio, then the show starting, getting actually CALLED as one of the first four and winning the first item up for bids can be quite overwhelming. I was confident I could win almost any game on the show, but I'm surprised I was as calm as I was. After I left the stage, it was still in shock. It didn't sink in until 1/2 way back to the hotel. For others, it may hit right away.
Having been in under that pressure, I won't ever criticize others.
P.S. Bullseye is pretty easy :) (As is Now....or Then/Hit Me/and some others)
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-Hit Me (moron contestants make it much more difficult that it really is)
-Ten Chances (the first two prizes are damn near gimmes, if you can get a decent price range for the car, you've got it made, esp. since you have the zero rule)
-Grand Game (almost common sense)
-Grocery Game (another common sense game, you should be able to pretty much form a price range for each item, say, +/- $0.50)
-Bullseye (see Grocery Game)
-It's In the Bag (same as Grand Game)
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[quote name=\'STYDfan\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 08:22 PM\'][quote name=\'Frank15\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 07:39 PM\']Aside from possibly Ten Chances, Money Game is certainly the easiest car game on the show. I'll never understand how that game could possibly have a losing record....[/quote]
It still cracks me up how hard it is for people to find their back ends. [/quote]
Are you saying that they don't know their back end from a hole in the ground? :)
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 03:50 PM\'] -Hit Me (moron contestants make it much more difficult that it really is)
-Ten Chances (the first two prizes are damn near gimmes, if you can get a decent price range for the car, you've got it made, esp. since you have the zero rule)
-Grand Game (almost common sense)
-Grocery Game (another common sense game, you should be able to pretty much form a price range for each item, say, +/- $0.50)
-Bullseye (see Grocery Game)
-It's In the Bag (same as Grand Game) [/quote]
- Cliff Hangers (25-35-45 almost always keeps Hans safe)
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I prefer 20, 30, 40 for Cliffhangers. Don't remember it failing, whereas 25, 35, 45 has once or twice. But yeah, another dead easy game if you watch the show.
Chris, I don't see every single show, so there certainly may be one or two times when my Money Game strategy doesn't work, but it's *extremely* rare. Checking Golden-road.net, I find the last time they played on June 7, they had this interesting grid:
13 32 14
41 15 53
80 67 95
Theory states: take the 13 and 14, both of which are wrong. Theory states avoid the sucker bet 15, unless it's the only thing left for the front. So, next is the 15 which is the front of the car. Theory states take the lowest number left ending in 0 or 5, which is 80, incorrect for guess 3. Next lowest 0 or 5 is 95, which is the back of the car for the win.
Even when they do high numbers, theory still wins.
June 2:
16 75 90
17 63 15
25 50 44
First two choices are 16, 17, both incorrect. Next choice 15, front of car. Lowest 0 or 5 is 25, back of car. WIN.
May 26:
85 70 19
17 18 90
65 05 50
17, 18 incorrect. 19 front of car. 05 back of car. WIN.
May 22, Million Dollar Spectacular:
52 80 38
27 71 63
24 29 46
Tougher game, but logic says the front is one of 24, 27, 29. It's 27, we'll assume worst case and say we have two misses. Lowest 0 or 5 is 80, back of car. WIN.
May 17:
45 90 16
17 18 22
85 71 60
Front is 16. Theory says 45, 60... for the back. Both are incorrect. Continuing on to 85, 90 would be a loss. 22, the lowest number on the board is the correct back.
This is a tough board, must be "adjust the budget night". To win, you need to get that 16 right away, and not waste two picks on the 17, 18. Personally, if 45, and 60 were not correct, I don't follow it up with 85, 90. I'm getting too high, and it's more likely to be a low number than a high number.
This is a good contrast to the June 7 board I posted. Since there were only two potential 0 or 5 backs, I feel comfortable trying them for that board even though they're high. Here, with four potential 0 or 5 backs, it makes sense to try the oddball 22 when TPIR is being nasty.
May 12:
85 40 90
73 60 16
15 35 14
16, 14 front of car. Avoid the sucker 15, lowest 0 or 5 is 35, back of car. WIN.
May 5:
50 17 65
19 18 70
35 99 85
17, 18 miss. 19 front. 35 back of car. WIN.
So, I'll back off my 100%, and say 99% instead. :)
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Continuing on:
May 5:
50 17 65
19 18 70
35 99 85
17, 18 miss. 19 front. 35 back. WIN.
Apr 29:
05 16 17
80 18 35
75 60 44
18, 17 miss. 16 front. 05 miss. 35 back. WIN.
Apr 21:
65 18 95
16 17 71
47 80 55
17 miss. 16 front. 55 miss. 65 miss. "Budget night" rule kicks in. 47 back. WIN. Possible loss if you take three shots to get the front, but hey, this is a Ford Focus. Much more likely to be 16 than 18. 17, 16 is what the actual contestant chose.
Apr 7:
60 20 70
85 21 22
50 90 35
Higher car than usual. 20 seems an obvious sucker to me again, like the 15 as a possible front. 21 miss, 22 front. 35 back. WIN.
Mar 31:
15 45 90
35 16 85
60 18 77
16, 18 miss. 15 front. 35 back. WIN.
Mar 22:
55 18 71
60 17 16
85 90 22
17 miss. 16 front. 55, 60 miss. "Budget night" says 22, back of car. WIN. Again the Ford Focus, can't afford three shots at front.
Mar. 10:
90 85 19
18 70 17
65 50 35
17, 18 miss. 19 front. 35 back, WIN.
Mar 4:
45 18 90
35 16 17
62 85 70
18, 17 miss. 16 front. 35 back. WIN.
That's 15 for 15 Chris. If you're smart enough to go off the 0 or 5 ending after two incorrect shots at the back of the car, and you didn't take 3 shots to get the front.
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There's a way around that "Budget Night" thing, too. Paint sealant and/or fabric protectant has a weird price and makes cars end in 2 or 7 instead of 0 or 5. If you hear that in the plug, just alter the strategy accordingly.
(And lest anyone question this, I've been watching some old tapes recently, and it holds true at least as far back as spring of 2000.)
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 02:50 PM\']-Grocery Game (another common sense game, you should be able to pretty much form a price range for each item, say, +/- $0.50)
-Bullseye (see Grocery Game)
[/quote]
I don't know about that. A range that wide may be okay if you're just taking one or two of each item, but in Bullseye and Grocery Game both you multiply the prices. That means you multiply your mistake, too.
In Bullseye, it doesn't hurt that much since there's a $2.00 margin for error, plus there are three chances. (9-2 record, 3 wins from hidden Bullseyes) Grocery Game offers just the one shot, with a scant $1.00 margin. Ex: If you buy 4 bottles of Phillips Milk of Magnesia (shown nearly every day) because you think they're 5 bucks a pop, you'll lose right out of the gate (painfully, by 25 cents), even though you were just 25 cents off ($5.25, total $21.25). Unless you know one item for sure, Grocery Game proves to be one of the toughest games in the rotation. (2-9 record, hasn't had a winning record since Season 29) It's best just to go a little at a time, but then you risk running out of items if they're especially cheap that day. Nothing is more astounding to me than their records in the past four years. Both games were played 50 times, but Grocery Game was won 17 times, Bullseye was won 40 times. I think that shows how hard the game is, or at least how bad the contestants are at it.
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[quote name=\'ClockGameJohn\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 12:28 PM\'] just like everyone says when they're in the Hot Seat on WWTBAM, it's alot different sitting at home. [/quote]
Everyone? That's strange; I was blown away by how much playing the game in the hot seat was just like playing it in front of my computer.
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[quote name=\'STYDfan\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 07:08 PM\'] Grocery Game offers just the one shot, with a scant $1.00 margin. Ex: If you buy 4 bottles of Phillips Milk of Magnesia (shown nearly every day) because you think they're 5 bucks a pop, you'll lose right out of the gate (painfully, by 25 cents), even though you were just 25 cents off ($5.25, total $21.25). [/quote]
You may want to check your math again ;)....
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[quote name=\'Frank15\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 08:41 PM\'][quote name=\'STYDfan\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 07:08 PM\'] Grocery Game offers just the one shot, with a scant $1.00 margin. Ex: If you buy 4 bottles of Phillips Milk of Magnesia (shown nearly every day) because you think they're 5 bucks a pop, you'll lose right out of the gate (painfully, by 25 cents), even though you were just 25 cents off ($5.25, total $21.25). [/quote]
You may want to check your math again ;)....[/quote]
Never mind. I checked it for him. You would win in that case, wouldn't you? (Four bottles of Phillips Milk of Magnesia at $5.25 a pop would be $21 exactly)
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[quote name=\'Frank15\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 07:41 PM\'][quote name=\'STYDfan\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 07:08 PM\'] Grocery Game offers just the one shot, with a scant $1.00 margin. Ex: If you buy 4 bottles of Phillips Milk of Magnesia (shown nearly every day) because you think they're 5 bucks a pop, you'll lose right out of the gate (painfully, by 25 cents), even though you were just 25 cents off ($5.25, total $21.25). [/quote]
You may want to check your math again ;)....[/quote]
I did. Thanks very much Frank. Let me try it again without the MoM.
If a laid-back beach bum thought a bottle of Greased Lightning cleaner is $3.49, he'll lose, even though he was only off by 50 cents.
6 x $3.49=$20.94 In his head
6 x $3.99=$23.94 Actual total
LOSS
Grocery Game is very unforgiving.
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[quote name=\'STYDfan\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 06:21 PM\'] Grocery Game is very unforgiving. [/quote]
Which is why you can use more than one item to get to the desired range. Sheesh.
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[quote name=\'gameshowsteve\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 09:35 PM\']Which is why you can use more than one item to get to the desired range. Sheesh.[/quote]
Unfortunately, with Bob now erroneously telling contestants "if you want to try and win with just one product, that's fine," or something to that effect, it seems a lot of people would rather take the stupid-but-quick route.
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[quote name=\'SamJ93\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 10:43 PM\'] Unfortunately, with Bob now erroneously telling contestants "if you want to try and win with just one product, that's fine," or something to that effect, it seems a lot of people would rather take the stupid-but-quick route. [/quote]
What's the error?
Brandon Brooks
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[quote name=\'Brandon Brooks\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 11:07 PM\']What's the error?
[/quote]
It's not the way the game is designed to be played. Contestants are supposed to pick several different items that add up to $20-$21. Yes, you are allowed to try and go for it with just one item, but as others have demonstrated in this thread, that leaves you with very little margin for error and makes the game unnecessarily difficult.
But obviously, if people want to do that, that's their prerogative. It's Bob's promotion of the incorrect strategy I'm a tad bothered by.
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[quote name=\'gameshowsteve\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 09:35 PM\'] [quote name=\'STYDfan\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 06:21 PM\'] Grocery Game is very unforgiving. [/quote]
Which is why you can use more than one item to get to the desired range. Sheesh. [/quote]
It doesn't matter. Whether they need $20-$21 or $6.23-$7.23, being off a little can hurt a lot.
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[quote name=\'Gromit\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 04:21 PM\'] Continuing on:
[/quote]
Hey, I'm convinced. I'm gonna start keeping track of this now, like I do when CliffHangers is played. Proofs in the pudding. :)
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[quote name=\'SamJ93\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 11:16 PM\'] It's not the way the game is designed to be played. [/quote]
Yeah it is. While I understand you, I don't agree. People can do what they like. All products enable a win. It's not incorrect strategy, and he's allowed to let people know their options. IIRC, he states that you can use a combination of the products to arrive at $20-$21... he should (and does) also acknowledge that one product can do the same thing.
Brandon Brooks
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[quote name=\'STYDfan\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 09:18 PM\'] [quote name=\'gameshowsteve\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 09:35 PM\'] [quote name=\'STYDfan\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 06:21 PM\'] Grocery Game is very unforgiving. [/quote]
Which is why you can use more than one item to get to the desired range. Sheesh. [/quote]
It doesn't matter. Whether they need $20-$21 or $6.23-$7.23, being off a little can hurt a lot. [/quote]
Yes, it does matter. If you're picking five of an item to get into that dollar range, your margin of error is 20 cents. If you've already gotten into the mid-to-upper teens, you'll probably only have to take one of an item, for which the full dollar is your margin for error.
Example:
Total so far: $0.00
You think one of the products is $2.99. You take seven.
You win if the item is between $2.86 and $3.00. Small margin for error.
Pick a few others first.
Total so far: $17.67
You think that product is $2.99. You take one.
You win if the item is between $2.33 and $3.33. Large margin for error.
There is a difference.
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[quote name=\'Brandon Brooks\' date=\'Jun 24 2004, 02:45 AM\'] [quote name=\'SamJ93\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 11:16 PM\'] It's not the way the game is designed to be played. [/quote]
People can do what they like. All products enable a win. It's not incorrect strategy, and he's allowed to let people know their options. [/quote]
Actually, not all products enable a win. The game frequently uses items that you cannot reach $20-21 alone. Some examples:
5/12/04: Hidden Valley Dressing @ $3.19. 6 costs $19.14; 7 costs $22.33.
3/22/04: CLR @ $4.99. 4 costs $19.96; 5 costs $24.95.
3/3/04: Eggland's Best Eggs @ $2.19. 9 costs $19.71; 10 costs $21.90.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. Trying to win with one item can easily leave you no possible chance of winning. Between that and the smaller margin for error when you choose lots of one product, I'd say trying to win on one product is a poor strategy.
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[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' date=\'Jun 23 2004, 04:53 PM\'] There's a way around that "Budget Night" thing, too. Paint sealant and/or fabric protectant has a weird price and makes cars end in 2 or 7 instead of 0 or 5. If you hear that in the plug, just alter the strategy accordingly. [/quote]
Hmm, very interesting. Going to have to watch for that. Thanks.
I agree with the others here, grocery game is much easier if you pick 2 or 3 of a middling product, to get yourself in that $15+ range or so. And of course, leave the cheapest product on the table as your emergency pick, in case you need $1.19 or something.
One thing about G.G. that Bob does is he almost always gives you the amount you need to *lose*, not to win. He'll say "You're $3.72 away from $21.00" So folks go looking for something close to $3.72, find the $3.99 cleaner, and lose. Folks just don't do the mental math to subtract the dollar.
This is a fun topic, because whenever I watch, I'm formulating plans and strategies for each game, things like "get the second digit wrong intentionally in Cover Up on your first guess, guaranteeing you a third shot if needed", etc.
It constantly amazes me that folks watch faithfully every day for years, but have never thought about how to actually win.
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Hit Me. Get the Exact Price one. Get the one that is 10x, and You win. Easy Enough.
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[quote name=\'WilliamPorygon\' date=\'Jun 24 2004, 05:13 AM\'] Actually, not all products enable a win. The game frequently uses items that you cannot reach $20-21 alone. Some examples:. [/quote]
Well, I stand corrected.
Brandon Brooks
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[quote name=\'WilliamPorygon\' date=\'Jun 24 2004, 05:13 AM\'] Actually, not all products enable a win. The game frequently uses items that you cannot reach $20-21 alone. Some examples:
[/quote]
Furthermore, back in about 2000, those Austin Dolphins and Elephant cheddar crackers (a knock-off of Goldfish Crackers) featured three different sizes:
A snack pack tray (about $1.30)
A container with a lid
A large box. (about $4.59)
Contestants never seem to pay attention to package size; and if you thought that large box was $1.30; you were toast.
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[quote name=\'Dsmith\' date=\'Jun 30 2004, 02:05 AM\'] [quote name=\'WilliamPorygon\' date=\'Jun 24 2004, 05:13 AM\'] Actually, not all products enable a win. The game frequently uses items that you cannot reach $20-21 alone. Some examples:
[/quote]
Furthermore, back in about 2000, those Austin Dolphins and Elephant cheddar crackers (a knock-off of Goldfish Crackers) featured three different sizes:
A snack pack tray (about $1.30)
A container with a lid
A large box. (about $4.59)
Contestants never seem to pay attention to package size; and if you thought that large box was $1.30; you were toast. [/quote]
Hey, Dolphins and Friends. Now WHY do I remember that product? :-)
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IIRC, the package that has a lid on it might've been $2.99 or something like that.
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[quote name=\'Dsmith\' date=\'Jun 30 2004, 03:05 AM\'] [quote name=\'WilliamPorygon\' date=\'Jun 24 2004, 05:13 AM\'] Actually, not all products enable a win. The game frequently uses items that you cannot reach $20-21 alone. Some examples:
[/quote]
Furthermore, back in about 2000, those Austin Dolphins and Elephant cheddar crackers (a knock-off of Goldfish Crackers) featured three different sizes:
A snack pack tray (about $1.30)
A container with a lid
A large box. (about $4.59) [/quote]
Not three, four. A $1.29 6-pack, a $1.49 canister, a $2.39 container, and a $4.79 "milk carton."
(I've been watching Season 28 shows lately. Sue me.)
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[quote name=\'gameshowsteve\' date=\'Jun 24 2004, 02:55 AM\']There is a difference.[/quote]
No, there isn't. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Although you are closer and have a larger margin for error, that advantage could easily be overridden. If you do utilize your strategy, I would think that it would increase your chances of (1) running out of products if you overestimate the prices or (2) getting trapped near the target with the remaining products being too expensive to win.
It's obvious that the best way to attack the game is by taking a couple of each product, like you said, but I think I could go further than that. If you work your way from the most expensive to least, you would keep the increasing margin for error, but you won't be as likely to get trapped. I've been trying that on BigJon's game and have been doing a lot better.
You're right about one thing, I forgot to factor in how people played the game. A quick check of golden-road.net shows the truth.
-In the 12 times the game was played, no one used more than three items.
-Three people only used one item, and only one of them managed to win. (That includes Patricia from the Teachers' MDS, who insisted on buying 27 cans of Bruce's Yams!)
-Seven used two items, and they didn't fare much better, finishing with a record of 1-6.
-The other two that used three items both lost.
I think it's safe to say that you're right. Grocery Game's record would be better if contestants utilized the "A little of everything" strategy. If you add that[/t] to my "highest to lowest" strategy, it would lead to even more winners. Grocery Game doesn't look so hard to me anymore.