I’m posting this in GQ because the nature of the question is more general than specific to arts/entertainment.
I just watched The Price is Right for the first time in many years. Whether the “pricing games“ are new or ones I remember from the 70’s, it still amazes me how little they rely on knowledge and intelligence of the price of a given item, as opposed to dumb luck (guessing). I mean, who the hell is supposed to “know” the third digit of the price of a slick motor boat? And, I’m sorry, but most of the contestants still look like they might have NEVER purchased a new car.
Still, there must be ways to maximize one’s odds of winning a given game, from Contestants Row, to the pricing games, to spinning the wheel, to the final showcase. I wonder if there are any sites (which I have as yet been unable to find) that cover how to win on various game shows? Or, if any of the brilliant and helpful lot on this board might have some input?
Well, on contestants row, one thing you never do is guess $1, unless you are the last person to guess. Also, biding $1 more than a previous contestant is tricky, as someone might want to bid $1 than you. But they might think you’re already over anyways, and bid lower.
As far as the actual games go, wwell, I ahve noticed than car prices tend to end in a five more than other numbers. However, most peopel *think[/i[ they end in a nine, but the nine is lamsot never the right choice. Also, knowledge of car prices is good to have for the first two digits. If you’re getting a new Kia, then the first number will probablty be a 1, but a BMW, it will be a 3 or 4.
On the other hand, if you’re the last contestant on Contestant’s Row, you should always bid either one dollar or one dollar more than some other contestant. Pick what you think the price is, and then move that number down until it’s one dollar more than someone else.
On the other games, you can usually do a fair bit by process of elimination, before you get to the luck. And even when you do have to guess, it’s often better than 50-50. For instance, you might have to guess whether a particular digit is over or under the digit displayed: If the digit displayed is 8, it’s pretty safe to guess “under”.
Just be careful, I’ve seen too many people get nervous and bid one dollar UNDER one of the other contestents. If you do that, the only chance you have of winning is if you actually nailed the price.
The thing is, the prices for things on The Price is Right are crazy. I was watching it a few months ago for the first time in years, and the prices of things like canned soup and Pringles were absolutely stupid (high and low with no rhyme nor reason), so even product knowledge is often of no help whatsoever.
Very interesting. I questioned this myself. Again, I wonder if anyone has ever made a study of such a factor, as well as many others that may affect one’s success at the pricing games.
Excellent. Thanks. But I think there must be some name, and general principles, for the system of logic you have conveyed above, that could be used to analyze the other games.
