Acknowledgments
Very special thanks to the Walt Disney Company for Star Wars characters and concepts.
Special thanks to ABCVIZYON Productions for their production of Şansini Dene and to Bill Carruthers for the original Press Your Luck.
Random numbers for player spins came from OpenOffice Calc.
Preface
Although this is coming later than I'd like due to a busier offline schedule, I always look forward to my annual parody of a prior This is Madness tournament. Originally, I planned to do a reprise of Glück Am Drücker, but I found an even lower budget international version of Press Your Luck in Turkey's version titled Şansini Dene [Try Your Luck]. Here are the essential rule differences compared to the US version:
» The big board is set up with 16 squares in the perimeter of a 5x5 arrangement.
» With five questions per round and two spins awarded for a correct answer, ten spins is the maximum possible per round. A perfect round would have one player with 10 spins and two with five.
» In each round, the board cycles sequentially through three different sets of squares. In other words, if a directional space appears, it will appear again three board updates later.
» Instead of winning prizes that add to one's score, players appear to receive prize points tracked separately. Should a player win the game with prize points, they win up to two prizes in addition to – and separate from – their cash winnings.
» The square BUYUK ODUL translates to "Big Prize" and is this game's "Big Bucks" space.
» For some reason on the single episode available online, the board indicator never lands on square #3 (the highest amounts). I'm not sure if this was deliberate, but I've programmed this feature into my board with an option to deactivate it and allow players to hit the big values once someone hits it via "Big Prize".
» The show displayed cash values in millions of Turkish Lira. At air time, one million Turkish Lira converted to roughly USD $19.18 and 19.05 Galactic Credits. As such there will be round-off errors in this version (e.g. 1M hit 10 times is 19 x 10 = 190; 10M hit once is 190.5 or 191).
» The biggest difference in this version: hitting a whammy with a passed spin does not convert remaining passed spins into earned spins. As such, it's now possible to whammy out on passed spins. This makes for interesting strategy.
As is tradition, spins are assigned randomly based on seeding with a minimum of three spins per round up to the maximum of 10 and the total number of spins not exceeding 20. Also, the unnamed announcer's lines will be shown in all italics.
A blank bracket and board samples will be posted on my Twitter account. An episode – in Turkish (expect for the Whammy animations from the US) – is presently available at youtu · be/7Z5TCPssixU
Before the game began, various clips appeared.
Count Dooku cheered upon receiving 210 credits.
General Grievous snarled upon receiving a whammy.
Lando looked on curiously to receive 95 credits and the chance at a prize.
A large turntable rotated to reveal the day's contestants to an applauding audience. Next, Preigo walked out onstage.
"Galactic Entertainment Media is pleased to present another exciting game show for your enjoyment," he said.
After more applause, he added, "For the next three weeks our players will compete in various locations and try their luck in hopes of being named tournament champion when we return to Coruscant. Now, let's meet our contestants. General Grievous, you're first on the list."
"Lucky me!" Grievous snapped sarcastically. "Anyway, this still has to be better than dealing with bumbling battle droids."
"It certainly sounds that way. I won't bore you with small talk. Lando Calrissian, you're next."
"Excellent. I don't suppose you have some Mustang 54 backstage?" Lando asked in reply.
"I don't think so, but if you win, you can buy some for all of us."
"Now, that sounds like a plan. I like this already."
"Just remember to get something for those that don't like alcohol. Finally, we have Count Dooku."
"I'm not sure why I was invited back. Someone has a sick sense of humor," Dooku replied indifferently. "But who knows, maybe I'll actually win for a change."
"That would certain be a good thing," Preigo replied. "We'll see what happens today. Since we could only accommodate 31 people, our thirty-second player – Greedo – didn't qualify. He'll be receiving a consolation prize just for being considered.
"Here is the big board for you to try with. Let's hear about the prizes you could win in round one."
As the game board's 16 squares cycled through three different patterns, an offstage announcer spoke."
A refresher brush, a combination grill and cooler, dinnerware, a weekend resort getaway for two, and a color holovision set with remote control and stereo sound.
"Anyone who wins the game with prize points will take home up to two prizes. During that announcement, our computers randomly assigned spins. Grievous has three, Lando has four, and Dooku – our top seed today – has nine. Of course, you won't win credits or prizes all the time., We have something for you to avoid: the whammy. Here's one for you... whammy."
One of the squares with a picture of a hideous face lit up to show the contestants what to avoid.
"Four whammies eliminate you from the game and our tournament. The player with the most credits advances to our next round. You can pass spins to the next highest player, and we begin with the player having the least spins. Grievous, that's you. Try your luck"
The board began to update, but Grievous didn't wait long to stop the board with his button.
"Fifty-seven credits and a prize point. If you win with it, you could take home that refresher brush. Fifty-seven credits with two more spins."
"I want more credits," Grievous replied. Once again, he stopped the board.
"Seventy-six credits. That's 133 for you. With one more spin. You can pass or try to avoid the whammy."
"That's not enough to pass. I'll go again."
After watching Grievous take his final spin, Preigo, "Try your luck, Grievous. Two hundred and eighty-six credits and a prize point. Excellent. You finish with 399 credits and two prize points. We'll see if that holds out."
Turning to Dooku, Preigo stated, "Lando, you play next with four spins. Try your luck, Lando!"
"I sure intend to," Lando replied, taking his first spin, and stopping on a whammy.
A quartet of whammy musicians appeared and sang, "Ooh, I took the credits back from you."
As a whammy card popped up in front of Lando, Preigo stated, "That's your first whammy; luckily it didn't cost you too much. Are you going to try again?"
"I certainly can't do much worse," Lando replied. This time, he waited longer before stopping the board.
"One space forward to 95 credits and a prize point. It looks like you're in the running for the refresher brush. You still have two spins."
"Just what I wanted," Lando replied sarcastically. "But I have to go again and avoid the whammy."
"Fifty-seven credits. That gives you 152, less than half of Grievous' score with one last spin."
"I can pass it, right? Let me pass it."
The lights on Lando's podium briefly blinked before the spin appeared in Greivous' "Passed" box.
"Alright, Grievous, you have to take this spin. Let's see if you can keep your lead," Preigo said.
"I better," Grievous bellowed before stopping the board.
"Nineteen credits. That 19 more gives you 418. Dooku, you have your work cut out for you but you have nine big spins. Ready to avoid the whammy?"
"I don't have much choice," Dooku deadpanned. He noticed none of the red squares appeared to have whammies, so he decided to try to land on those as much as he could.
"Fifty-seven credits to put you on the board. Fifty-seven credits and eight spins."
"I have to go again."
"Try your luck, Dooku... Fifty-seven credits more – 114 in all – and seven spins."
"I have to pass Lando and consider my options. Avoid the whammy."
"Two eighty-six and a prize! Great job. That gives you 400 credits even, 18 behind Grievous, and six spins."
"I'm so close, I have to go again," Dooku mused. "Besides, it might even make that refresher brush worthwhile."
"Thirty-eight credits and a spin. The credits put you in front with 438. You still have six spins, though."
"I need to go at least once more before I can think about passing, Let's avoid the whammy."
"No whammy."
Unfortunately, Dooku's next spin was just that.
"Whammy... whammy."
A trio of female whammies appeared and sang, "My world is empty without your creds."
"I guess we jinxed that," Priego conceded as a whammy card popped up. At least you have five spins for starting over."
"Indeed. Let's hope I don't see any more of those crude creatures."
"Thirty-eight credits... 38 puts you back in the game with four spins."
"I have to go again to improve my chances. I just hope I can avoid the whammy and the refresher brush."
The audience chuckled as Dooku took his next spin.
"Seventy-six credits," Preigo informed him. "You have 114 now, Dooku, and three spins to pass or to avoid the whammy."
"I have to at least tie Lando, so let me go again."
"Thirty-eight credits again. You did it. You tied Lando with 152, but you have two more spins left."
"Grievous needs to share the grief, I think. Pass them to him," Dooku replied with a slight sneer.
As Grievous groaned in disgust, Priego replied, "Grievous, you must take both of these spins. Let's see if you can increase your lead."
Grievous snarled to see his first passed spin resulted in a whammy.
A whammy walking and swinging a lightsaber appeared, saying, "Look out, Shaak. Look out, Mace, Look out, Yoda." After laughing, one heard the sound of the lightsaber cutting through whammy flesh.
"That hurt in more ways than one," Preigo quipped. "But you still have a passed spin you must take. Let's hope you end the round with something other than a whammy."
"You said it!" Grievous exclaimed, taking the final spin.
"Try your luck, Grievous, for 38 credits. After the first round, everyone has a whammy. Grievous has 38 credits. Lando and Dooku are tied with 152 with Lando having a prize point. We'll be right back with the second and final round right after this."
⁂
Returning from the commercial break, Preigo spoke to his contestants.
"This is it. Whomever has the most credits after this round wins the game and advances to our main tournament. First, let's hear about the prizes you can win in this round."
Dinnerware, a weekend resort getaway for two, a portable heater, an electric stove, and a color holovision set with remote control and stereo sound.
"In addition to these great prizes and the higher credit amount on the boards, what else is there, that you have to avoid?"
"Whammy," the three players replied together.
"That's right. You each have one, remember. In this round, Grievous has three spins, Lando has five, and Dooku has eight. Once again, you can pass earned spins. This time, though, we start with the player having the least amount of credits. Grievous, that's going to be you. Try your luck."
Greivous grunted, waited a moment, and took his first spin.
"Ninety-five credits and a spin. That brings you to 133 with all three spins available."
Grievous nodded and took his next spin.
"One fourteen credits. You've got the lead with 247 and two spins."
"I don't have much chance to add to it, I have to go," Grievous replied, taking another spin.
"Three hundred and forty-three credits."
The small audience assembled applauded loudly.
"Grievous, you have 590 credits, one whammy, and one more spin. Will you pass or try to avoid the whammy again?"
"I can pass, so let me pass it."
"Because they're tied, you get to choose who gets it: Lando or Dooku?"
"It's all yours, count," Grievous replied teasingly.
"OK, that spin goes to Dooku, but he won't take it yet. Lando, you have 152 credits, a possible prize, and five spins. Try your luck, Lando!"
"I sure need to, don't I?" Lando replied.
"Try your luck, Lando, with 267 credits. That gives you 419 to give you second place outright. You have four spins to catch Grievous."
"I can't stop now. Let's get some more credits. Heck, dinnerware even sounds good right now."
"Lando, that's 133 and a prize. You could get that dinnerware, and you're 38 credits away from Grievous with 552 of your own. Pass or avoid the whammy?"
"It would be nice to retake the lead here. We'll avoid the whammy."
"Three oh five credits!"
After more applause, Preigo added, "Lando, you've moved up to 857 credits. You have two spins left. What do you want to do?"
"I better pass before I get another of those whammies. They're worse than Imperials stealing my Mustang 54," Lando stated.
"Those spins go back to Grievous, who must take both. Try your luck and see what you can do."
"Of course I will," Grievous answered before stopping the board.
"Grievous, that's 171 credits. You've got 761—96 shy of Lando—and one more spin you have to take."
"I better not get a whammy this time. Let's tie or beat Lando!"
"Ninety-five and a spin. Believe it or not, you have 856 credits—just one less than Lando. You can take the spin to pass him up or pass it and hope he hits a whammy."
"I wouldn't give him the satisfaction, Carnival Man! I'm taking this one myself!"
"Try your luck, get 95 credits and a prize. You retook the lead with 951 credits and a prize point."
As the board started back up, Preigo told Dooku, "Dooku, you have one passed spin to take first before you take your eight earned ones. Let's get that one taken care of first."
"Indeed," Dooku replied plainly, eager to get the spin over with.
"Three forty-three for you, Dooku. That gives you 495, but you're still in last place with eight earned spins."
"I have to go again. Let's get credits again."
"Dooku, you tried your luck again-earning 171 credits. You still trail with 666 but you have seven spins."
"I can't be that unlucky. Let's try to get more credits. No whammy now."
"That's 95 and a spin. With 761 credits, you trail Lando by 96 for second place, but you have seven spins still."
"I have to keep going. Avoid the whammy..."
"Try your luck, Dooku, 210 credits."
The response drew mixed applause and cheers
"Dooku, you're not in the lead with 971 credits—20 more than Grievous—and six spins."
"I have this feeling my luck might run out soon. I want to pass."
Grievous snarled in displeasure as six spins transferred over.
"Grievous, Dooku gave you six spins and you have to take all six unless you manage to hit three whammies first. We don't want that. Try your luck!" Preigo said.
"Just my luck," Grievous muttered, taking the first spin of the bunch.
"That's 286 and a prize, your second prize point. You now have 1237 credits and five more spins to go."
"They can't come fast enough," Grievous replied, quickly taking his next spin.
"Seventy-six credits... 76 more gives you 1313 to extend your lead. You still have four spins."
"May they end quickly."
"One ninety-one credits! Grievous, you've extended your lead with 1504 total credits. Let's see if you can avoid the whammy three more times."
"Don't jinx me!" Grievous chided before taking the next passed spin.
"Three forty-three credits."
Dooku shook his head, thinking I can't believe he hasn't hit a whammy at all.
Meanwhile, Preigo said, "You have 1847 credits giving you a big lead. You still have tgwo more spins you have to take. Let's take the first one now."
"Try your luck, Grievous, 133 credits. You have 1980 credits now with one final spin. Avoid the whammy and you will likely win the game and win big."
The screen split to show both Dooku and Grievous during what appeared to be the game's ultimate spin. Finally, Grievous stopped the game board.
"Two sixty-seven credits. Grievous, you did it. You avoided the whammy six times and you're our big winner with 2247 credits."
As the audience applauded and cheered, what sounded like choir voices ahhed sub-audibly against the din.
"Well, Grievous, what do you think about pulling off the big upset?" Preigo asked.
"I deserve it after everyone tried to get me to lose!" Grievous bellowed.
"Alright. Let's hear about the two prizes you won."
First you won a set of dinnerware. Whether formal or casual, your dining experience will be enhanced by this fabulous dinnerware.
You also won a weekend getaway to Glee Anselm. Enjoy the beach, aquatic activities, or the recreation facilities in your resort.
"Lando, Dooku, we have the following consolation prize for you in addition to our take-home version of the game:"
Gift certificates to Dex's Diner. He has the best eats of CoCo Town, so you won't be disappointed when you dine at Dex's.
"Grievous, we know already you'll be the 27th seed where you'll next face Yoda and Wedge Antilles in the Corellian Bracket. We'll see you there, and we'll see you all next time. Thanks for joining us and good-bye."