Sqrambled Scuares

"Sqrambled Scuares" (sic) is a game show airing on Charter Cable in Boone, North Carolina and Hickory, North Carolina. It has been hosted by local personality Buzz Berry since its inception.

New episodes are produced weekly; the original Boone edition has aired over 300 episodes so far.

Starting with the 200th episode of the Boone edition, each episode of "Sqrambled Scuares" is available to be viewed on the Internet.

Gameplay

Two players compete; each is spotted 100 points to start the game.

Players take turns picking squares from a game board of 16. If the player reveals a letter, it is placed on the descrambler board in its proper word, but in the order it was found, and the player is awarded points and a chance to unscramble the squares; consonants are worth 10 points, vowels are worth 20.

Once both players have found a letter during a round, they may ask for revealed letters to be placed in their proper positions, however, this "costs" them points (again, 10 for a consonant, or 20 for a vowel). All letters placed in this way are covered with a transparent yellow card, whether by sacrificing points or by finding a "Placer" (see below).

Along the way, players may find various surprises that can help or hinder them as they make progress through the game.

pecial Squares

*Bonus points: In addition to the points for the letter, the player is awarded the points noted on the card, either 10 or 20.

*Doubler: The point value of the letter is doubled to 20 for a consonant, or 40 for a vowel.

*Double Doubler: The point value of the letter is quadrupled to 40 for a consonant, or 80 for a vowel.

*Placer: The letter is placed in its proper position on the board. The player does not lose points for this.

*Stealer: The player receives double the base value of the letter - 20 points for a consonant, or 40 for a vowel. The opposing player "loses" the base value of that letter.

*Twofer: The player may take an extra turn.

*Prize: The player is credited with a prize, typically a $20-$25 gift certificate to a local business. The player only keeps his or her prizes by unscrambling the squares for that round. On occasion, a prize is coupled with additional points or a "Placer."

*Misser: The player loses his turn, without a chance to unscramble the squares. No letters are placed. Prior to the start of the round, the host will announce the number of missers on the board; typically, there will be no more than 4 missers.

Unscrambling the Squares

After finding a letter, or placing one, a player has five seconds to state, "Buzz, I'd like to unscramble the squares." The host will then give the player a chance to give the solution; if it is correct, that player picks up an additional 100 points, while his or her opponent "loses" 100 points. Scores can never go below zero.

Players can also ask to unscramble the squares "before" picking or placing a letter.

If nobody has unscrambled the squares after all of the letters have been found, "or" five minutes have elapsed, "whichever comes first", the players alternate turns "placing letters only" until one of them unscrambles the squares. Players still lose points for each letter placed.

Winning the game

The game is played in two rounds, each with one puzzle. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins $50 and the first chance to play the "Super Sqramble."

uper Sqramble

The day's winner has 60 seconds to unscramble a 9 or 10-letter word, two letters of which are on a yellow background. Once 15 seconds have elapsed, the host tells the player the location of one of the yellow letters, and once 30 seconds have elapsed, the host tells the player the location of the other yellow letter. Players may move letters around as they wish during the round. At any point during the round, the player may press a button, indicating that they know the word. If they are correct, they win an additional $100. If not, they may continue moving letters, and may guess again if they have another guess.

Should the first player fail, their defeated opponent, who watches the proceedings from a "second chance chair," is given five seconds to unscramble the word and win $50.

Home Scramble

During commercials, letters are revealed, and during the show, the host gives the location of one of the letters. The letters unscramble to form a word, and viewers who call or e-mail the show with the correct word are entered into a drawing for prizes. Typically, there are three winners each week, and each wins a gift certificate to the local Golden Corral.

External links

[http://sqrambledscuares.biz The show's official website]