Rat Race

[coulsonc]

Can someone explain the technical aspect of Rat Race? Drew says the rats have been "wound up" and that they "might not even make it to the finish line." Is the outcome of the race predetermined by the staff, or do the rats behave in a random manner? Does the rat move itself, or are there guides underneath each rat that move?

[SteveGavazzi]

The outcome of the race is not predetermined and is not controlled by anyone.

[Superballer]

Otherwise someone would probably end up serving hard time for breaking FCC game show anti-rigging rules. 

[PriceFanArmadillo]

Not if the staff determined the results before the race began, and had papers to show S&P ahead of time which rat would finish where.

(Not that they do that...they don't, but it would be legal if they did it that way.)

[Axl]

It would only be "rigging" if it was done in such a way as to deliberately help a specific contestant win or lose, or if it were impossible for the game to be fairly won.  Since the contestants choose the rats after the track is already set up, there is no rigging.  Even if the show knew how the race would end ahead of time, the contestants' choices are basically random.

[magic#92]

are there guides underneath each rat that move?

You are correct.  If a rat becomes stuck, it still places.

[Franc]

Otherwise someone would probably end up serving hard time for breaking FCC game show anti-rigging rules. 

How is it different from having 5 playing cards, having the contestant discarding 4 of them at random, and giving a bonus prize to the contestant if one of the discarded cards was the Joker?

[tpirman1982]

Rat Race is one of my favorite games.

[Superballer]

Incidentally, does anyone have a picture of the start button mechanism?  The one gripe I might have with the game design is that I feel the start might be a little more exciting if a visible action was taken to start the race such as pulling a large lever rather than simply pressing an out of sight button. 

[nowhammies11]

So then the big blue lever with red circle on top that the model presses doesn't start the race?

[magic#92]

[brtsimpson142]

So then the big blue lever with red circle on top that the model presses doesn't start the race?

If not then I submit that this would be an odd way to design a game prop.  'course this would be from the same cast of characters who brought us the "dummy" calculator in Check-Out--the models were hitting the buttons, but someone offstage was actually entering the amounts.

[garffreak]

...or the "dummy" buzzer in Bonkers or the "dummy" lever in Freeze Frame...

[heelsrule1988]

'course this would be from the same cast of characters who brought us the "dummy" calculator in Check-Out

Not so much.