Overview

Released in 1984, this game for the IBM PC brought the excitement of the popular TV game show “Wheel of Fortune” to computer users. It emulates the classic format where players compete to solve word puzzles and spin a giant wheel to determine the value of their guesses. The game captured the essence of the show, incorporating the thrill of spinning the wheel and the strategic guessing of letters.

Gameplay

Players take turns spinning the wheel and guessing letters in an attempt to fill in the blank spaces of a word or phrase. The objective is to accumulate as much money as possible by solving puzzles while avoiding bankruptcy segments on the wheel. Successfully identifying a letter would reward the player with a monetary amount, and solving the puzzle would lead to a cash prize. The game featured both single-player and multiplayer modes, allowing friends and family to join in on the fun.

Graphics and Interface

The game, by today’s standards, featured simplistic graphics using text-based characters and basic rendering typical of early 1980s computer games. The interface was straightforward, primarily relying on keyboard input to spin the wheel, choose letters, and solve puzzles. Despite its simplicity, the game was effective in providing an engaging experience closely mirroring its television counterpart.

Legacy and Impact

As an early adaptation of a popular television show into a computer game, it helped pave the way for future game show video games. Although it may not be widely discussed today, it holds a place in gaming history as part of the early efforts to bring interactive entertainment into homes through personal computers.