Fortune Hunter
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Fortune Hunter was a pricing game on the American television game show, The Price Is Right. It was played for $5,000 cash and four prizes, each worth between $500 and $3,000.
[edit] Gameplay
The contestant was shown four prizes, each one having a gift box beside it. One of the gift boxes contained $5,000 cash, while the other three were empty.
Host Bob Barker read the contestant three clues, one at a time, indicating which boxes should be eliminated from the game. Sample clues: "Eliminate the prize whose first digit is '6';" "Eliminate the prize whose value is between $1,500 and $2,000."
After all the clues were read, one box remained in play. That box was delivered to the contestant to open. If the box contained the cash, the contestant won all four prizes and the $5,000; however, if the box was bare, the contestant won nothing.
[edit] Trivia
- Due to the game's structure, it was possible for someone to eliminate the wrong prize on every clue and still end up with the right box. In practice, however, making one mistake usually guaranteed a loss.
- Fortune Hunter's "dramatic box open" reveal has since been recycled for ½ Off.
- Weights were placed in the bottom of the "wrong" boxes so as not to make it obvious that the $5,000 was not inside if they were picked up.
- The "dollar bills" seen in the game were not real money.
[edit] Retirement
Fortune Hunter was played from November 21, 1997, to May 11, 2000. The game's poor win-loss record - particularly during the 28th season - led to its retirement. It was the first pricing game to be retired in the 2000s.
