Wheel of Fortune

America's favorite wheel keeps on spinning! GameTek's version of Wheel of Fortune lets you experience some of the excitement of the highest rated game show on television.

The basic rules are identical to the television game show. The object of the game is to collect points as you play through three rounds.

Three Rounds of Fun - Without Commercials

Wheel of Fortune has three main game screens. The Letter Board screen show the puzzle, Vanna, the command line, score board, available letters, and the letter selection area. This is where you decide whether to spin, buy a vowel or solve the puzzle. You select letters using the directional arrows to point to the appropriate letter on the lower portion of the screen.

Spinning the Wheel

Selecting the spin option brings up the Wheel screen, Press the '1' button to begin spinning the wheel and press it again to stop. You can land оn point values, or on bankrupt, lose - a - turn or free - spin space.

When the wheel stops you can select a letter from the letter selection area. If the puzzle contains that letter, Vanna will reveal it on the puzzle board. If not, you lose a turn.

Buying Vowels & Solving Puzzles

When ypu have control of the wheel, you can buy a vowel, solve the puzzle or spin the wheel. If you're stumped, a vowel may help you figure out the puzzle, but it will cost you points. When a lot of points are at stake and you don't know which consonant to select, but you want to remain in control of the wheel, try purchasing a vowel.

When you know the answer and you have conrol of the wheel, you can solve the puzzle immediately and keep whatever points you already have, or you can take a chance and keep spinning the wheel, adding letters you know and earning extra points. Of course, a spin could land you on a bankrupt or lose - a - turn sрасе. If you decide to solve the puzzle, select the 'solve' option from the command line. You'll have 29 seconds to complete the puzzle by adding the remaining letters in order.

Winning Tips

Remember, spelling counts. Even if you know the answer, you won't get credit unless you use the correct spelling.

In the early part of each round, when only a few letters of the puzzle are showing selecting the more common letters in the alphabet will give you a better chance of maintaining control. It might help you to know that the most common letter in English is E, followed by T, А, О, I, N, S,H, R, D, L, U.

Multiple Players

Wheel of Fortune is a one, two or three player game. If the one or two player option is selected, the remaining сontestants can be computer generated, or one or two human players can compete without any computer contestants (which speeds up the overall game). Playing alone against two computer opponents becomes almost as passive as watching the game show on television.

This game is ideal for older gamers who enjoy puzzle type challenges without fast - paced action or violent themes. Instead of fast reflexes, Wheel of Fortune requires good spelling skills and strategy. And pretty soon, you'll be able to take Wheel of Fortune on the road. Look for a Game Gear version in September.

Now you can buy a vowel no matter where you are, thanks to a nicely crafted Game Gear version from GameTek. Play against the computer or challenge your friends. Up to three people can play, taking turns. Choose from a gallery of sad-looking contestants who brighten up briefly when they hit big money on the wheel. Play through three rounds, and the winner moves on to the Bonus Wheel.

Admit it. Deep down, you know you're sooooooo much smarter than all those cheeseheaded contestants that somehow manage to make it to the Double Jeopardy round (where the stakes are doubled and you can play for really big prizes). Just think how many times you sat there, screaming at the TV image of some flustered, panicky layer, yelling "EGYPT — the answer is EGYPT, ya mo-ron!"

They never listen, do they?

Well, now you can take the buzzer in hand and prove your massive mental prowess, thanks to a whole mess of new game show titles for the Genesis, Sega CD, and Game Gear.

If you've thrown up your hands in disgust each time a contestant buys a vowel when the answer is soooooo obvious, Wheel of Fortune for the Sega CD from Sony Imagesoft lets you take control. This multimedia title takes you right onto the set, complete with digitized live-action sequences of Vanna White.

Play follows the TV format. You can take on animated opponents (real or computer) through three rounds, leading up to the final Bonus Wheel. Each round ups the value of the wheel and adds prizes like trips, jewelry, and surprises.

Smooth animation, superb sound, and the on-screen MC work of Vanna make this a delightful, faithful re-creation of the popular game. Spin or solve, man! Big money, big money!