Most Unfairly Maligned Pricing Game(s)

[BonusShell]

Which pricing game(s) do you think is (are) the most unfairly maligned? My vote for most maligned pricing game would go to On the Spot. I know the game got a lot of criticism, but I actually enjoyed it, as it had a rather unique pricing concept. Also, I don't think that its set was as hideous as many thought.

All that said, I do feel that On the Spot's set was a bit underwhelming. I think that having an elevated board that lighted up as correct selections were made (similar to what Pathfinder has) would have benefited this game. This is a bit off-topic, but I think that Let 'em Roll really benefited after its set was enlarged.

Also, I'm not sure if Split Decision is all that maligned by people on this board, but it was unfair how some thought that the game's prop frequently fell apart. As others have pointed out, that was a popular misconception, since that happened only once.

[dmaingame]

Joker.  Sure the game board looked like producers picked it up at a junkyard, but I actually liked the game play and the pricing element of the game was unique when compared to other small prize games like Shell Game, Bonus Game, or Five Price Tags.

[Alfonzo]

$uper $aver. It got retired because of one mistake! Pity, it was a very good grocery game that was quick to play.

[JayC]

I've always thought people were a little too unfair with criticizing That's Too Much. Not every game can be easy and it's a pure and simple test of pricing knowledge with no luck element or second chances. The problem with it is more how the game is set up more than the game itself.

[goldroadfanatic]

My vote goes to Clearance Sale. Many people write it off as an Eazy az 1 2 3 clone, and while in execution it had the same gameplay (put the lowest sale price on the least expensive prize, etc.), the thought process needed to win is quite different. Contestants had to estimate the prices of each of the three prizes, and then decide which sale price is just underneath the ARPs so that they would win. It added an extra layer of complexity that was absent from Eazy az 1 2 3. Also, the set and presentation of the game were flashier than Eazy's.

[Brian44]

$uper $aver. It got retired because of one mistake! Pity, it was a very good grocery game that was quick to play.

In this $uper $aver playing from 1992, Bob made a mistake explaining the rules as the contestant was about to pick her third item:

Had she not won outright, I wonder if they would have just declared a technical win rather than retire the game?

[GuyWithFace]

$uper $aver. It got retired because of one mistake!

The mistake being (as noted in this post related to a Roger appearance on Stu's Show in 2015) that CBS wanted Barker to modify how he explained the game. Bob opted to retire the game instead.

[Off_trak]

Bump kinda had an early demise, unfortunately. The whole "wind up and let 'er bump" spiel from Barker, along with the lawsuit with Dian doomed a good game. Ironically, with the current #MeToo movement, the game wouldn't stand a chance today played in that same manner.

Bump would be interesting if they revived it as a pricing game played on the turntable video wall, and let it becone the first computer animated game.

[Casey]

I do think Bump could be played without all the suggestiveness that went with it in the past, without much other modifications required...

[someguy23475]

I do think Bump could be played without all the suggestiveness that went with it in the past, without much other modifications required...

It just wouldn’t be the same. The game is remembered far more for the suggestiveness than the actual play.

[greg]

Let James Bump & there would be no controversy

[Casey]

It just wouldn’t be the same. The game is remembered far more for the suggestiveness than the actual play.

I guess I'm of the opinion that a good chunk of the viewing audience today, except for fans like us, won't remember it much at all - it hasn't been played in over 26 years. 

[CaptainPrice]

$uper $aver, Split Decision and Joker for reasons already mentioned.

If anything, the eventual last playing of Split Decision should be blamed for its retirement. (Where Bob berated Jason for guessing the dishwasher was $512 twice) Not the numbers falling off, which only happened once.

[PIRfanSince72]

I'd like to cast my vote for Mystery Price.  It was a 4 small prize game that was very unique and it's most unfortunate that it was retired after just 17 playings, with a decent win/loss record of 11 wins and 6 losses.

[ShootingDio]

Fortune Hunter.

More like Misfortune Hunter since it got retired due to a 100% loss ratio in Season 28. I think it was better off as a prototype of Half Off.