The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: KyleCHaight on October 28, 2004, 12:15:39 AM

Title: Cheap Board Games
Post by: KyleCHaight on October 28, 2004, 12:15:39 AM

In the spirit of the Wheel of Fortune board game thread, this one sprung to mind. Why do game companies bother to release newer version of game shows as board games by using an inferior design?

For example: Pressman reusing the old Wheel puzzle board and spinner in 2004 when they did so well with the Deluxe version? Why didn't they lift the Tyco version's puzzle board, why not assimilate that design?

The Endless Games version of "Family Feud?" The Pressman/Milton Bradley version were far more efficient than the "write the answers down" version that Endless put out. You might as well just print out a piece of paper with a "Family Feud" logo on it and you've made an equivalent.

The first edition of "The Price Is Right" by Endless which ripped off the MB 1986 version? (very badly of course) Why couldn't they stick with a winning formula if they had to rip off a previous version in the first place?

What's the point? Why "fix something if it's not broken"?

Title: Cheap Board Games
Post by: clemon79 on October 28, 2004, 12:35:59 AM

[quote name=\'KyleCHaight\' date=\'Oct 27 2004, 09:15 PM\']What's the point? Why "fix something if it's not broken"?

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Because, in all three of your examples, the newer, crappier version is cheaper to produce. It's that simple.

Title: Cheap Board Games
Post by: The Ol' Guy on October 28, 2004, 12:38:50 AM

Just some guesses - take 'em for what they're worth, and if anyone knows the real answers, drop 'em in:

WOF: The deluxe versions may have done well, but they were at a premium price, and they sold millions of the lower-priced versions, so why add the expense? Tyco/Mattel's version of the board design may have some proprietary rights.

One thing that may affect them all - I wonder if the prices of oil-based plastics are adding costs that companies are avoiding with more ink-on-paper props. That deluxe wheel was quite a piece of work.

A few friends of mine state they like a game where you just open the lid and go - no big set-up time. I bought a new game called The Perfect Ten and wanted to use it at a wedding party. The set-up time, large parts and tiny magnetic scoring strips made it unwieldy for crowd use - so we just invented a scoring system and used the questions. It's okay for 4 players, but, like MB Feud, there's set-up time involved, and some won't bother. I agree the Endless version leaves something to be desired. Perhaps a cardboard version of the MB plastic board that uses drop-in sheets, like Cardinal's Pyramid, could save time and money.

Title: Cheap Board Games
Post by: alfonzos on October 28, 2004, 04:09:59 PM

Yes. It enhances the gaming experience when the graphics come as close as possible to those on the set. Quality and sturdy equipment also helps.

Compare the Waddingtons' edition of Blockbusters to Milton Bradley's. The contrast is stark.

It should be noted how wonderful the computer games based on J! and WoF look. Why isn't the same standard applied to TPIR and Concentration? Those two games would look great with decent graphics! No offense to J! and WoF but they are text games and gameplay would not suffer if there were no graphics.