Another Shell Game Question

[tperkins]

Does anybody have any guesses or ideas why shell game was only played once during season 28??

[PIRfanSince72]

Several reasons may have factored into it.

1. Due to extreme time constraints, it's difficult to play a 4 prize SP game.
2. This game could take longer if all four shells are won, since the player then gets to try to win a cash bonus afterward.
3. Budget since the cash bonus has been set equal to the price of the large prize won. 
4. Seems more cash games are played both with grocery items and small prizes rather than merchandise items, since it's become rare if not impossible to get a company to pay the show to plug merchandise.

[JayC]

Keep in mind that this post is asking about Shell Game in season 28, not in the present time. The bonus for getting all four small prizes correct was only $500 until 2010, not exactly budget breaking. Time constraints and unsponsored small prizes wasn't as much of an issue at this time as they became later on.