The Price is Right for Nintendo DS
FAQ by William “Blissey” Raymer
Table of Contents:
Section 1: Legalities/Updates
Section 2: Who Am I
Section 3: What Is The Game About
Section 4: Game Modes
Section 5: Pricing Game Information and Challenge Objectives
Section 6: Closing Remarks
--------SECTION 1: LEGALITIES/UPDATES------------
This FAQ is ©2008 by William “Blissey” Raymer.
The Price is Right (Nintendo DS version) video game
is ©2008 by Ubisoft Entertainment, under license from
Ludia Inc./©2008 Fremantle Media North
America, Inc. Developed by Ludia Inc.
The use of these trademarks in this FAQ is
not intended as a challenge to Fremantle
Media North America's ownership of these
properties. All other trademarks, logos and
copyrights are the property of their respective
owners.
Wikipedia files on each Pricing Game seen
in the game were used in the creation of
this walk-through (specifically in the
notation of when each Pricing Game was
introduced). The content in those files
was created and used herein under the
GNU Free Documentation license.
There is an in-game disclaimer on initial
loading and in the credits stating that
references to the winning of cash prizes
in the game is only intended for amusement
and enjoyment purposes and to emulate the
experience of being on the actual show, and
that, furthermore, the game's producers absolve
themselves of any responsibilities regarding
the actual payment of these awards. This
disclaimer also absolves me of any similar
responsibility.
This FAQ is cleared for use and publication
on the following websites:
www.ign.com
www.gamefaqs.com
www.golden-road.net
If this FAQ appears on a website other than
those listed above, please e-mail me at
[email protected] with your name, e-mail
address and the name and address of the
offending website, so I can take all
appropriate action. (For this action,
please put “TPIR DS FAQ-Unapproved
Website” in the e-mail subject line.)
If you have any suggestions, comments,
etc. on how to make this FAQ better,
please e-mail me at the above address
with your name, e-mail address and
comments. (For this action, please
put “TPIR DS FAQ-Comments/Suggestions”
in the e-mail subject line.) If I
use your comments or suggestions in a
revision of this FAQ, I will credit you
properly.
UPDATE, 9/29/08: Shortly after posting a link
to this FAQ on Golden-Road.net, I was taken to
the mat by G-R user "JC_Ludia," who, as it turns
out, is one of the game's ACTUAL DEVELOPERS!
He notified me that the only way to accrue
strikes in the single-player mode are in "One
Bid" and the Showcase Showdown. I apologize
for my inaccuracy.
---------SECTION 2: WHO AM I----------
My name is William Raymer, with the
nickname/Golden-Road.net (a leading
TPIR message board) user-name “Blissey,”
after my primary e-mail address and
favorite Pokémon. I have used many a
FAQ in my gaming career, and feel
I have learned enough to create one
of my own in order to help those in need.
----SECTION 3: WHAT IS THE GAME ABOUT-----
The Price is Right brings all of the
action and excitement of television's
longest-running game show onto your Nintendo
DS. Play all of your favorite Pricing Games,
such as “3 Strikes,” “Punch-a-Bunch,” “Cliff
Hangers” and the grand-daddy of them all, “Plinko.”
Play through a series of shows to prove
you're the greatest contestant of all time
in single-player mode, or play in Party
Mode with up to three additional players.
--SECTION 4: GAME MODES------------------
There are two game modes: single-player
and Party Mode.
Single-player mode tasks you with creating
a contestant and playing through a
series of shows to rack up as much
cash and prizes as possible. The
progression of the game in single-player is:
“One Bid” (also known as “Contestant's Row”)
randomly selected “Pricing Game”
Showcase Showdown
Showcase (only if you win the Showcase Showdown;
if you lose the Showcase Showdown, you are
automatically sent back to the “One Bid” round)
A word of warning: Within single-player mode,
a loss in the “One Bid” or the Showcase Showdown
also gives you a strike. Three strikes, and...
you know the rest.
In single-player, there are also a series
of objectives-one for each Pricing Game,
“One Bid,” the Showcase Showdown and the
Showcase itself-for players to attempt
to complete. The challenge might be
something as simple as “Spin a total of $1.00”
in the Showcase Showdown or as complex as
“Get all positions right with 20 seconds
remaining” in the Race Game.
The completion of all objectives unlocks
a “Free Play” option, which allows you
to play a selected Pricing Game without
any fear of striking out. The challenge
objective for each game will be listed
with their applicable game in Section 5
(see below).
“Party Mode” allows you and up to 3
additional players to play the game.
In Party Mode, the “One Bid” is followed
by one Pricing Game for each player(from
a selection of 4), then the Showcase Showdown.
After the Showdown, the top two players then
go on to the Showcase.
----SECTION 5: PRICING GAMES/CHALLENGE OBJECTIVES---
“One Bid”
One Bid, also known as “Contestant's Row,” is
the basic Price is Right game play. This section,
which was the only game on the original 1950's
incarnation of the show, is simple: Four
contestants are shown an item (shown on the
top screen of the DS) and are asked to bid on
it. A description of the prize is shown in the
text display on the touch screen.
When it is the player's turn to bid, use the DS
stylus to highlight one of the four numbers on
the bidding display, and, by touching the up
or down arrows, select the number you wish to
place in that slot. After you have your bid in
place, tap the “OK” button.
After all four bids are in, the actual retail
price is revealed. Even if you don't win here,
you go on to a Pricing Game. (But, remember:
If you lose, you get a strike.)
Challenge Objective: Win with a $50 difference
or less.
“3 Strikes” (introduced in 1976)
In this game, five numbers, representing each
number in the price of the car the player is
playing for, are placed in a bag along with a
red “x” chip. The bag is then shaken up. Once
the shaking is finished, tap the bag. If a
number comes out, you must guess where in the
price the number goes by tapping the slot you
think the number goes in.
If the placement is correct, the number lights up
on the game display. If not, a big, red “NO” covers
the screen and the number goes back into the bag.
The player's objective is to illuminate all five
numbers before three strikes are accrued.
Challenge Objective: Win the car.
“Shell Game” (introduced in 1974)
In this game, you must place a chip next to the shell
which conceals a white ball. To earn chips, you are
shown small prizes, one at a time, each with an incorrect
price. The objective here is to correctly guess if the
actual price is higher or lower than the price shown.
Once you have earned a chip, place it next to the shell
that you think conceals the ball by tapping your chosen
shell twice.
After all four small prizes are guessed, the shells are
moved. If a chip is placed next to the shell that conceals
the ball, you win the prize. (If all four chips are earned,
the player can win an extra $500 bonus if they can correctly
guess which shell has the ball under it.)
A loss results when no chips are earned, or if the ball is
under a shell that does not have a chip next to it.
Challenge Objective: Get all four chips.
“Bonkers” (introduced in 2001)
In this game, which was actually created by former
Price is Right host/executive producer Bob Barker,
you are shown the prize you will be playing for,
followed by an incorrect four-digit price. You are
then given four discs that you must place correctly
within the 30-second time limit.
To do so place each disc above the number (if you think
the individual digit is higher than the one displayed)
or below the number (if you think the correct digit is
lower than the displayed number) by tapping the disc with
the stylus, then releasing it when you feel it is in the
right place.
With all four discs in place, tap the “Check” control.
If you hear a “ding,” then you win. If you hear a buzzer
sound, continue to make changes (however, unlike in “Race
Game,” you ARE NOT told how many numbers are correct).
The cycle continues until either you get all four numbers
correct, or the 30-second time limit expires. (If the time
limit expires and you are still making a guess, you are
permitted to confirm a final guess.)
Challenge Objective: Get all positions right on the first
try.
“Cliff Hangers” (introduced in 1976)
In this game, a mountain climber named Hans rests at
the bottom of a mountain marked from 0 to 25, ending
in a cliff. The objective is to make sure that Hans
does not go over the cliff.
To do so, you must price three small prize items. For
each dollar (high or low) you miss the price of the item,
Hans will move one step. If after all three small prizes,
Hans has not fallen off the cliff, you win the top prize.
If Hans falls off the mountain, you lose.
Challenge Objective: Win in 10 steps or less.
“Punch-a-Bunch” (introduced in 1978)
In this game, the contestant is shown four small prizes,
one at a time. The price shown for each item is incorrect-the
player's objective is to determine whether the correct price
is higher or lower than the price shown. For each correct
answer given, the contestant gets a punch on a 50-hole
punchboard.
Inside each hole is a slip of paper. Written on each slip
is a dollar value from $50 to the game's top stated prize,
$10,000. (However, the unstated top prize value is $10,900-
that is if the contestant punches out a Second Chance slip,
then punches out the remaining Second Chance slips on each
consecutive Second Chance punch, until finally punching out
a $10,000 slip on the final Second Chance punch.)
One at a time, each hole's slip of paper is shown. The
contestant can choose to give up the amount shown on the
slip and look in the next hole or leave with the current
amount. This procedure continues until either the contestant
leaves with his/her current amount, the last hole is examined-
in which case the contestant receives whatever amount is on it,
or a “second chance” slip (one each of the lowest amounts-
$50, $100, $250, and $500-has “Second Chance” written on it)
is revealed.
In the event a second chance slip is revealed, a second
punch is granted. After that second punch, whatever amount
on the new slip is combined with whatever was on the second
chance slip.
After all four small prizes are guessed, the player takes
whatever punches are earned to the punchboard. Tap whatever
hole you want to punch with the stylus. The slip is shown to
you, after which you can decide to keep or give back what you
see.
The game ends when you keep what is on your slip, you find the
$10,000 slip or you look inside your last hole, whichever comes
first. The value of any correctly-guessed small prizes and whatever
cash you find are added to your score. The only way to lose
in this game is to incorrectly guess all four small prizes
and not win any punches.
Challenge Objective: Win $5,000 or more.
“Race Game” (introduced in 1974)
In this game, played for four prizes, the contestant
is shown four price tags (each tag goes with one of the
prizes). He/she is then given 45 seconds to race over to
the prizes and place the tags next to the prizes they think
match the tags.
To do this, tap the left or right arrow with your stylus to
highlight the prize you want to guess, then tap the price tag
that you think the item goes with. Repeat this with the remaining
three tags.
When all four tags are in place, tap the “Pull Lever” button. If
any number less than four appears on the main game setup display,
you can go back and make changes.
Once the 45 seconds have elapsed, the values of any prizes correctly
matched up with their appropriate price tags are added to your score.
The only way to lose this game is to have no tag matches once the
45 seconds have elapsed.
Challenge Objective: Get all positions right with 20 seconds remaining.
“Plinko” (introduced in 1983)
The most popular pricing game since its introduction
in 1983, “Plinko” gives you a chance to win up to
$50,000 in cash.
To start, you are given a single Plinko Chip and a chance
to win up to four more. To earn additional Plinko Chips, you must
correctly determine the prices of four small prizes (such as a
French-press coffee maker set with the numbers 3-5 shown). Your job
is to correctly guess whether the first number (3, in this case) or
the last number (the 5) is the correct number in the item's price.
After all four small prizes, you take however many
Plinko Chips you have earned up to the top of the board.
Once there, use the stylus to place the Plinko chip where
you want to, then let it go. Whatever the chip lands in
(save the 0, of course) is added to your score.
The only way to lose in this game is to have all
of your earned Plinko Chips land in either “0” space.
Challenge Objective: Win with a total of $10,000 or more.
“It's in the Bag” (introduced in 1997)
In this game, played for $16,000, the contestants are
shown four items and five price tags. The player must
correctly match four of the price tags with their
applicable items.
After all four grocery items are shown, you must tap the
price tag that goes with the first item. Repeat the
procedure with the remaining three items. Once that is done,
the revealing begins. The first correct item is worth $2,000.
If the price matching is correct, you can choose to quit with any
money you have so far or risk it all on the next item and win
double the money, all the way down the line. But, if even one
matching is wrong, you lose everything.
Challenge Objective: Risk it all and win $16,000.
“Master Key” (introduced in 1983)
In this game, you have a chance to win two keys from a
selection of five in an attempt to unlock three locks,
representing a small prize, a medium prize and the top prize.
To earn these keys, you must determine the correct price
of a small prize with three numbers shown (For example, a
drink mixer with the numbers “3-3-8” shown.). Your job is to
determine if the first number (in this case, the first 3) or
the last number (in this case, the 8) is part of the correct
price by tapping the number you wish to choose with the stylus.
If you get it right, you can choose a key.
If you have at least one key after both small prizes, you
go to the three locks. One key unlocks all three locks
(the titular “Master Key”), one unlocks none of the three locks
(the “dud key”), while each of the remaining three keys unlocks
each of the three locks individually.
Whatever lock you unlock (if any) adds the lock's prize value
to your score. If you fail to either win any keys or unlock
any locks, you lose.
Challenge Objective: Find the Master Key.
“Money Game” (introduced in 1972)
In this classic game, the player must
find the first two numbers and the last two numbers
(the middle number is given as a freebie)in the price of
a car from a field of nine 2-digit numbers. To guess,
tap the number on the touch screen that you think is
the first two or last two numbers in the car's price.
If a picture of the front half or a picture of the back
half of the car is under the number, you are correct. But,
if a money sign is under the number, then the number goes
in a field of four slots to the left of the nine-number
main field. If the four money slots are filled up before
you find the first and last two numbers in the car's price,
you only win in cash the combined total of the numbers
in the money field.
Challenge Objective: Win the car.
“Check-Out” (introduced in 1982)
The contestant is shown four grocery items, one at a time.
They are then asked to enter what they think the price of
each item is (via the “One Bid” entry procedure). After the
contestant has entered their guesses, the total is shown.
Then the actual prices of each grocery item are shown, then
totaled up. If the contestant's guess total is within $2.00
(high or low) of the actual total, then they win the prize.
If it isn't within the range, then they lose.
Challenge Objective: Win with a difference of 50 cents or less.
“Hole in One (Or Two)” (introduced in 1977 ;
“[Or Two)” format introduced in 1986)
In this game, you must putt a golf ball into a hole. To
determine how close to the hole you will attempt to do so,
you must place a series of four grocery items (shown on the
DS' top screen) from least expensive to most expensive. (The
better you do, the closer to the hole you will be.) If you
arrange the grocery items perfectly, you will also receive
a $500 bonus (win or lose).
After the grocery aspect is finished, it is time to putt the
ball. An arrow will appear over the ball and move from left
to right. Once the arrow is pointed in the direction you want
to putt, tap the ball with your stylus. (It is recommended to try
to have the arrow be parallel to the hole when you tap the
ball.)
If the ball goes in, you win the prize. If it doesn't, you still
get a second chance to putt (JUST CHECK THE NAME OF THE
GAME, ALREADY!) If it doesn't go in on the second try,
you lose.
Challenge Objective: Do a Hole in One. (This means you must
arrange the four grocery items properly, then sink the putt.)
Showcase
This was one of the games introduced when the current
incarnation of the show debuted in 1972.
The winners of the two Showcase Showdowns (on the show-
in the game, the winner of the Showcase Showdown [You,
if you did win] and the next highest-winning contestant)
are shown a prize package (via the top screen), most
often based around a theme or a story of some kind.
The “Top Winner”(You) will have the option of bidding
on the first package or passing it to the Runner-Up and
bidding on the second package. The person who is nearest
to the actual retail price of the package he/she bid on
(without going over) wins their package. However, if the
winner is $250 away from the actual price (again, without
going over) of their Showcase, the winner gets BOTH
Showcases.
To bid, just follow the bidding input procedure from the
One Bid round. (See that listing for details.)
Challenge Objective: Win with a $1,000 difference or less.
Showcase Showdown
Introduced when the show expanded to a full hour in
1975, the three contestants who won their way out of
Contestant's Row in each half-hour spin a giant wheel
divided into sections, each with a denomination on it
from 5 cents up to $1.00.
The person who gets closest to $1.00 in one spin or a
combination of two spins goes on to the Showcase. If
the spinner gets exactly $1.00, they get a $1,000 cash
bonus (win or lose) and a “Bonus spin,” given after all
three contestants get their spins. If one or both of the
player's opponents ties with the player, the game goes
to a one-spin-each spin-off.
The Bonus Spin involves the two green sections (with 5
and 15 cents) and the $1.00. If (in one spin only), the
contestant lands on one of the green sections, they get
an additional $5,000 bonus. If, in the Bonus Spin, a
contestant gets another $1.00, they get an additional
$10,000 bonus. (In the event that two or more contestants
get a $1.00, the Bonus Spin also acts as a Spin-Off, with
the monetary bonus provisions still being in effect if
needed).
When it is your turn to spin the wheel, just move the
stylus from the top of the touch screen to its bottom.
(Like on the show, reverse spinning is not permitted.)
Word of Warning: Lose here, and not only do you go
all the way back to the One Bid round, but you also
get a strike.
Challenge Objective: Spin a total of $1.00.
-------SECTION 6: CLOSING REMARKS-----------------------
Well, I have been a Price is Right fan all my life. So,
when I saw this game on the shelf at my local Gamestop
store, I just had to get it. I hope this FAQ has helped
you figure out how to play these classic games on your
Nintendo DS.
So, in closing, this is William “Blissey” Raymer,
reminding you to help control the pet population. Have
your pet spayed or neutered. Goodbye, everybody....
until next time.
William “Blissey” Raymer
Yuma, Arizona USA
21 September 2008
