Bonus round
A bonus round (sometimes also called a bonus game or sometimes in the industry an end game) is a special round in game shows and other games. It usually comes after the main or "front" game as a bonus for the winner. The game play of the bonus round usually varies from the standard game play of the main game, although there are often borrowed or related elements of the main game in the bonus round in order to ensure the entire show has a unified premise. Though some end games are referred to as "bonus rounds", many are not specifically referred to as such in games, though they fit the same general role.
There is no one formula for the format of a bonus round. There are differences in almost every bonus round, though there are many recurring elements. The bonus round is often played for the day's top prize. The prize may or may not be announced in advance, and may or may not change from episode to episode. The prize is sometimes progressive, increasing in value (cash or by adding prizes) each time the bonus round is played until the prize is won. The game may be all-or-nothing, or the contestant may be able to win a portion of the bonus prize depending on their progress in the round. There also may or may not be a consolation prize for losing the round (this may be tied to whether the main game offers the contestant any prize on its own). One example is Family Feuds "Fast Money" round, where a team failing to achieve the target score of 200 points still wins $5 per point scored. It is notable, however, that the end game on shows (such as Feud) in which there is no prize for winning the main game is not truly a "bonus" round, as there is no main prize on which to offer a bonus. Though often referred to as "bonus rounds", this type of main game/end game setup is more appropriately classified as an elimination round and a prize round, which is not uncommon.
The bonus round may or may not affect a contestant's future on the show. Both extremes have been represented: On one hand, Beat the Clocks original Bonus Stunt (which interrupted the contestants' main game, but then returned them to the same place in the main game, regardless of winning or losing the bonus; whereas, the bonus round on ' affected the contestant's significantly. If each contestant in an episode won one game, their winnings during the bonus round determined who would return the next day as champion; In addition, the contestants with the fastest times in the bonus round were invited back for a tournament competing for the show's grand prize.
Origin
Until the 1960s, most game shows did not offer a bonus round. In traditional two-player formats, the winner — if a game show's rules provided for this — became the champion and simply played a new challenger either on the next show or after the commercial break.
One of the earliest forms of bonus rounds was the Jackpot Round of the original series Beat the Clock. After two rounds of performing stunts, the wife of the contestant couple would perform at a jackpot board for a jackpot prize. Here, the contestant was shown a famous quotation or common phrase, and the words were scrambled. To win the announced bonus, the contestant had to unscramble the words within a time limit (20 seconds). The contestant received a consolation gift if she was unsuccessful.
Another early example was the Lightning Round on the word game Password, starting in 1961. Here, the contestant who had met the objective of the front game played a quick-fire series of passwords within 60 seconds, netting $50 per correctly guessed word (for a maximum bonus prize of $250).
There is no one formula for the format of a bonus round. There are differences in almost every bonus round, though there are many recurring elements. The bonus round is often played for the day's top prize. The prize may or may not be announced in advance, and may or may not change from episode to episode. The prize is sometimes progressive, increasing in value (cash or by adding prizes) each time the bonus round is played until the prize is won. The game may be all-or-nothing, or the contestant may be able to win a portion of the bonus prize depending on their progress in the round. There also may or may not be a consolation prize for losing the round (this may be tied to whether the main game offers the contestant any prize on its own). One example is Family Feuds "Fast Money" round, where a team failing to achieve the target score of 200 points still wins $5 per point scored. It is notable, however, that the end game on shows (such as Feud) in which there is no prize for winning the main game is not truly a "bonus" round, as there is no main prize on which to offer a bonus. Though often referred to as "bonus rounds", this type of main game/end game setup is more appropriately classified as an elimination round and a prize round, which is not uncommon.
The bonus round may or may not affect a contestant's future on the show. Both extremes have been represented: On one hand, Beat the Clocks original Bonus Stunt (which interrupted the contestants' main game, but then returned them to the same place in the main game, regardless of winning or losing the bonus; whereas, the bonus round on ' affected the contestant's significantly. If each contestant in an episode won one game, their winnings during the bonus round determined who would return the next day as champion; In addition, the contestants with the fastest times in the bonus round were invited back for a tournament competing for the show's grand prize.
Origin
Until the 1960s, most game shows did not offer a bonus round. In traditional two-player formats, the winner — if a game show's rules provided for this — became the champion and simply played a new challenger either on the next show or after the commercial break.
One of the earliest forms of bonus rounds was the Jackpot Round of the original series Beat the Clock. After two rounds of performing stunts, the wife of the contestant couple would perform at a jackpot board for a jackpot prize. Here, the contestant was shown a famous quotation or common phrase, and the words were scrambled. To win the announced bonus, the contestant had to unscramble the words within a time limit (20 seconds). The contestant received a consolation gift if she was unsuccessful.
Another early example was the Lightning Round on the word game Password, starting in 1961. Here, the contestant who had met the objective of the front game played a quick-fire series of passwords within 60 seconds, netting $50 per correctly guessed word (for a maximum bonus prize of $250).
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