Camouflage
1980, Syndicated
Host: Tom Campbell
Announcer: Johnny Jacobs,Tony McClay
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Premise: Another forgotten Chuck Barris anomaly: two contestants attempt to find a smaller picture within a larger picture in order to win the grand prize.
Rules: Tom asks the two contestants a question, typically having two choices, or being a relatively easy short answer question. If the person who buzzes in to guess is correct, they win $50 and a chance to win the game. If not, the opponent wins no money but has the chance. Whoever wins the question moves on to the Camouflage portion.
The Picture
To win the game, and a random money amount from $200-$1000 (in $50 increments) the contestant must find the hidden object in the picture and circle it within 15 seconds. If the contestant cannot find the object, the other person gets a chance as well, so players could pass on the chance if they were uncertain of where that picture was.
After each question without a win, a portion of the picture is removed; color, some larger items of the picture. Then another question is asked, and the procedure is repeated, and so it goes until someone finds the hidden picture and wins the game. This player moves on to the bonus game. Losing players exit with whatever money they do pick up along the way, however.
In the bonus game, the player can win a new car by circling the hidden object in 15 seconds. The catch is that the object must be completely circled, with no mistakes before time runs out, or the champion wins nothing. If the object is only partially circled, or the tracing deviates at all from the right answer, it's no good.
There were two formats, in the first, a contestant would face new challengers until the episode ended or he or she found the item.
A second format had two sets of games each day. The winner of each game won the money, then a chance at $1,000 for a "bonus" picture. The two winners played a final game to determine who would go for the car.
Unlike other shows, like "Caesar's Challenge" or "Classic Concentration," there is no bonus for coming back each time to the bonus game; each time a champ gets to the bonus round, they have to find an item hidden amongst a full picture of camouflage.
"Camouflage" was one of the last syndicated game shows to air only once-a-week, as many shows were moving to the five-a-week strips that are seen these days. It lasted 13 weeks, and was gone, and likely forgotten. I have seen one episode, along with a clip of a full game and a main game. The questions were all laughably easy ("Mix yellow and blue, and what do you get?"), and the one bonus game I saw had an item that was barely hidden.