In October 2001, the famous game show as we know it gets a big facelift-a new bonus round with a $100,000 grand prize on the line! This is indeed the best change to the show in years! Before we get there, however, we gotta describe the main game rules... MAIN GAME: Three new contestants compete each show. To start, a $1,000 toss-up puzzle is done. The category of it is revealed, and letters start to pop up, one at a time. When a player knows it, they press their lock-out button. If correct, they win $1,000, otherwise, the other two get a chance to buzz-in and steal. If no one gets it, no money is awarded Then, a second toss-up was played, worth $2,000. This is important becuase the one who wins this gets to start Round 1. In the event no one solves it, play starts with the farthest player to the left. In each round, the blank spaces in the puzzle are revealed, and a category is said by the host. Player then spins the big wheel, with dollar amounts from $300-$2,500. Also, there are Bankrupt wedges, and Lose a Turn Wedges. If the player spins a dollar amount, he/she can call out a consonant of the alphabet. If it's in the puzzle, he/she earns money for each time that letter is in the puzzle, and can decide to spin again and call another consonant, buy a vowel, or try to solve the puzzle. If the player gives a letter that's not in the puzzle, his/her turn ends. Player also loses turn if s/he takes too long, or gives a letter that has been called already. Also on each turn, he/she can buy a vowel(A,E,I,O,U) if he/she has at least $250 in his/her bank. If the wheel lands on LOSE A TURN, player loses turn. If wheel lands on BANKRUPT, player loses all cash and prizes accumulated that round, and loses his/her turn. Starting in the first round, a $1,000 prize tag is placed on one of the wedges, and a $10,000 cash prize wedge is placed, surrounded by two mini-Bankrupts. If he/she gets a consonant into the puzzle, the tag is put into the bank. Also, a FREE TURN marker is on the wheel all game, and if a consonant is put in the puzzle, he/she gets the marker, which can be used for another turn in event s/he loses a turn. This can only be used once. The first player to solve the puzzle gets to keep the cash and prizes accumulated. Round 2 is the "Jackpot Round", and a Jackpot wedge is put on the wheel. Also, the biggest money wedge in this round is $3,500, and a prize wedge is also placed(the prize can be earned the same way as the Gift Tag). The Jackpot starts at $5,000, and each time a player lands on a money wedge, that amount is put into the pot, regardless if a letter was correctly called or not. To win it, a player had to land on it, call a consonant correctly, and solve it on that turn. Round 3, beginning in the second season of this run, is the "Mystery Round". Two Mystery Wedges are put on the wheel. Top regular money amount wedge is still $3,500. If a "Mystery Wedge" is landed on and a letter is called correctly, s/he can take $500 for the consonants s/he just placed in the puzzle, or flip the wedge over. Under one is a car, the other a Bankrupt. If its the car, it goes into the bank like any other prize, and if its the BANKRUPT, you know what happens. If a Mystery wedge is flipped over, the other one is out of play and becomes a normal $500 space. Before Round 4 starts, another Toss-up is played for $3,000 and the right to start the round. In Round 4 and rounds thereafter, the top money wedge is $5,000. If time runs out, Sajak then spins the wheel one more time, and the game goes into "Speed-up" mode. The value of each consonant at this point is $1,000, plus whatever the wheel lands on. Placing vowels into the puzzle(at this point, it doesen't cost them anything)don't add anything to a player's bank, but gives them a chance to solve. The player can call a letter or solve. If a letter is placed, the player gets three seconds to solve; otherwise, the next player in line gets a chance to call a letter or solve. At the end of the game, the player with the highest total becomes the champion and plays the bonus round. Starting in the 2nd season of this run, if a player got shut out, they get $500. BONUS ROUND: The champion now spins a 24-section wheel to determine the prize s/he can win if one more puzzle is solved. Each wedge has an envelope, and when a player takes an envelope, it is handed over to the host, and the prize is not revealed until after the puzzle was solved or not. The player is shown one final puzzle, and the letters R,S,T,L,N,E are given at the start. After any of these letters are put into the puzzle, the player calls three more consonants and a vowel. After any letters are put into the puzzle, the player gets 10 seconds to solve the puzzle. If solved, the player wins the prize in the envelope, otherwise it is lost. In the first season, 11 wedges have $25,000, 12 have a car or another prize(4 for each of the three prizes offered that week), and one has the $100,000 grand prize. In the second season, 12 have $25,000, 6 have cars(3 for each of the two cars offered on the week), 5 have cash amounts from $30,000-$50,000, and 1 has the $100,000. Three contestants and one team so far have won the $100,000. Doug was the only one to win it in its first season. It was won three times in its second season-Byron, Nancy, and the Malones.
