Wheel of Fortune (GameTek)

From Sega Retro

For the Mega-CD version (not by GameTek), see Wheel of Fortune (Mega-CD).

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Game Gear

WheelofFortune MD title.png

WheelofFortune GG title.png

Wheel of Fortune
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: GameTek
Sega Mega Drive
Ballistic (US re-release)
Developer:
Licensor: Merv Griffin Enterprises
Sega Mega Drive
Columbia TriStar Television (re-release)
Genre: Table

















Number of players: 1-3
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-83016
Sega Game Gear
US
$39.9539.95[3] T-83018
ExpandNon-Sega versions

Wheel of Fortune is a video game version of the game show of the same name ported to a variety of systems by GameTek including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear. Vanna White appears and turns the letters, as she does in the television program, and also acts as hostess in the absence of Pat Sajak.

Being developed in the United Kingdom, European releases were planned after their US counterparts[1][4], but failed to materialise. This also has the side effect in-game of having words and phrases written in British English rather than American English, such as using "jewellery" instead of "jewelry," despite the game being targeted to an American audience.

Gameplay

The game is an adaptation of the long-running American game show Wheel of Fortune. It can be played by one to three contestants, and players can choose how many contestants are computer-controlled (which may be all of them if players want to watch the computer play a game).

In the Mega Drive version, multiplayer games can be played using one or two control pads, and players two and three can be assigned to use either control pad. There are two difficulty levels for computer-controlled contestants (Easy and Hard) and two timer speeds (Slow and Fast). Players can choose from six personas (three male and three female). The interface uses pointer that moves freely like a mouse cursor, with the D-Pad moving the pointer and B making a selection. When entering text a name or solving a puzzle, B selects a character, A deletes a character, and C submits the text. Time remaining on a turn is indicated by a white bar under the player's name.

In the Game Gear version, all players share the same Game Gear. Players can choose from five personas (two male and three female). The interface uses a pointer that is constrained to the selections on-screen, with the D-Pad moving the pointer and 1 making a selection. When entering a name, 1 selects a character and 2 deletes all characters. Time remaining on a turn is indicated by a number under the board.

The game is similar to hangman. Contestants are presented with a word puzzle with the letters blanked out and must try to guess letters that appear in the puzzle and ultimately decipher the entire phrase. Each puzzle has a category (for example, "Title," "Place," "Person," "Phrase," or "Thing") that, along with the arrangement of blank letters and spaces, hints at the phrase. Both versions of the game claim to contain over 4,500 puzzles. There are three regular rounds and an additional bonus round played by the player with the most winnings at the end of the three regular rounds. Each round has a different word puzzle to solve. Contestant one starts round one, and subsequent rounds are started by the next contestant from the previous round. In the Mega Drive version, at the start of every round, players can choose to continue the game with the puzzle shown by pressing C or to get another puzzle by pressing A.

Regular rounds

Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: Permission denied Error code: 126
Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: Permission denied Error code: 126
Letter board and the Wheel

The Wheel of Fortune is a large wheel resembling a roulette wheel and having 24 colored wedges. Most wedges represent dollar amounts (with the top value increasing in each successive round), but there are also Bankrupt, Miss a Turn, and Free Spin wedges. Higher value wedges are added to the Wheel in later rounds.

At the start of each round, every contestant has $0. Contestants are given turns starting from the leftmost to the rightmost. On each turn, the contestant is given a limited amount of time to choose from the following actions:

  • Spin: Gives the contestant the opportunity to spin the Wheel to collect money and guess a consonant in the puzzle. In the Mega Drive version, a power meter appears under the player's name and increases and decreases in length, and the player spins the Wheel by pressing B when the power meter is at the desired power level. In the Game Gear version, the player spins the wheel by pressing 1 and cannot choose the power of the spin (the outcome is randomized on each spin and cannot be affected by the player). Landing on a dollar amount lets the player guess a consonant. Calling a correct consonant results in Vanna revealing every instance of that letter and awards the value of the spin multiplied by the number of times the letter appears in the puzzle. Calling a correct consonant also extends the contestant's turn, so the player can again choose to spin, buy a vowel, or solve. Landing on Bankrupt eliminates any cash the contestant has accumulated within the round. Landing on Free Spin gives the player a chance to earn a free spin by correctly guessing a letter in the puzzle, which can be used at any point in the round to keep the player's turn after otherwise losing it.
  • Buy/Vowel: Lets the contestant guess a vowel for a flat rate of $250 (until no more remain in the puzzle), regardless of how many of that vowel are in the puzzle. Correctly guessing a vowel does not reward any money but helps solve the puzzle.
  • Solve: Lets the contestant attempt to solve the puzzle by filling in the missing letters.

The turn passes to the next contestant if the player runs out of time, lands on Miss a Turn or Bankrupt, calls a letter not in the puzzle, or attempts unsuccessfully to solve the puzzle. The round ends when a contestant successfully solves a puzzle. Only the player who solves the puzzle keeps any winnings acquired during that round (though each contestant starts each round with $0, their total winnings are accumulated for the final bonus round). Solving the puzzle with $0 awards $200.

Bonus round

Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/convert: Permission denied Error code: 126
Bonus round

The bonus round is played by the contestant who has won the most money at the end of three regular rounds. At the start of the bonus round, the player selects one of five prizes, represented by the letters in "WHEEL." Vanna reveals the R, S, T, L, N, and E letters in the puzzle (the most common consonants in the most common 1,000 words in the English language and the most common vowel) and asks the player to select three more consonants and one more vowel. Then the player is given a limited amount of time to solve the puzzle. Successfully solving the puzzle awards the player a special prize (and its cash value is added to the player's total winnings).

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Wheel of Fortune (R) Was Brought To You By: GameTek and Imagitec Design
  • Programming: RAB
  • Artwork: Peter Goldsmith, Colin Jackson, Andrew Walker, Andrew Gilmour
  • Sound: Barry Leitch, Ian Howe
  • Playtesting: John McKinnon
  • Packaging Design By: Steve Curran
  • Produced for GameTek By: Liz Curran, Rodney Humble
  • Produced for Imagitec By: Jaz Alden-Salter
  • Thanks to the Following: Scotland, Barry, John, Alan, Martin Hooley, Jaz Alden-Salter, Axel Brown, Carl Wade, and everyone who decided to go without sleep until the product was finished!
Wheel of Fortune:(C) 1992 GameTek, (C) 1992 Califon Productions
Source:
In-game credits[5]


Game Gear version

  • Coding by: Richard Clark
  • Artwork by: Micheal Hanrahan
  • Sonics by: Barry Leitch
  • Playtesting by: Piglet, Liz Curran
  • Produced by: Liz Curran, Rodney Humble
  • Thanks go to: Mike Merson, Richard Lodge, Andy, The Big Man
  • Produced in England by: Imagetek Design Inc.
Source:
In-game credits
Wheel of Fortune GG credits.pdf
[6]


Magazine articles

Main article: Wheel of Fortune (GameTek)/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[7]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
22
[8]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-U
23
[9]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
43
[10]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
43
[11]
Sega Force (UK) NTSC-U
62
[12]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
30
[13]
Sega Mega Drive
38
Based on
7 reviews

Wheel of Fortune (GameTek)

Mega Drive, US (Made in Japan)
WoF MD US moj cover.jpg
Cover
WoF MD US Cart Alt.jpg
Cart
WheelofFortune MD US Manual MadeInJapn version.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, US (Assembled in Mexico)
WheelofFortune MD US Box.jpg
Cover
WOF md us cart.jpg
Cart
Wheel Of Fortune MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US (cardboard)
WoF MD US cb back.jpgNospine.pngWoF MD US cb front.jpg
Cover
WOF md us cart.jpg
Cart
WheelofFortune MD US Manual Cardboard Box Release.png
Manual

Game Gear version

ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
60
[3]
Sega Game Gear
60
Based on
1 review

Wheel of Fortune (GameTek)

Game Gear, US
WheelofFortune GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngWheelofFortune GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
WheelofFortune GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Wheel of Fortune GG US Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Wheel of Fortune (GameTek)/Technical information.

References


CollapseWheel of Fortune (GameTek)

WheelofFortune MD title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information


No results



CollapseGames based on Merv Griffin game shows for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
Wheel of Fortune (1992) | Jeopardy! (1993) | Wheel of Fortune 2 (unreleased) | Jeopardy! Deluxe Edition (1994) | Jeopardy! Sports Edition (1994)
Sega Game Gear
Wheel of Fortune (1992) | Jeopardy! (1993) | Jeopardy! Sports Edition (1994)
Sega Mega-CD
Wheel of Fortune (1994) | Jeopardy! (1994)