Team Play has unveiled Carnival Wheel, a new redemption game aimed at operators looking for a large, visually striking ticket attraction. The company is best known for videmption products, although its catalogue has also included video games such as Family Guy Bowling.
Wheel games remain a major part of the redemption market, alongside ticket cranes. BayTek’s Big Bass Wheel has been a leading example for more than a decade, with various competing designs and related products appearing over the years. Carnival Wheel takes that familiar format in a more elaborate direction.
A wheel game built for visibility
The basic gameplay follows the established spin-and-win formula associated with Big Bass Wheel, itself inspired by the famous wheel game from The Price Is Right. Team Play’s main visual change is a full RGB LED display integrated into the wheel, giving the machine a bright, animated presentation that is difficult to replicate on a home console or phone.
The preview videos were published by US distributor Betson rather than Team Play. Team Play does have a YouTube channel, although its most recent upload at the time of the report was from 2018.
Carnival Wheel uses a carnival-barker theme, while the wheel is styled as a Ferris wheel. Its display can be viewed from both sides, allowing operators to position the cabinet in the middle of an arcade rather than placing it directly against a wall. That floor placement is also demonstrated in the promotional footage.
Bonuses, linking and player appeal
The LED display gives Team Play more room to vary the action than a conventional wheel game. Bonus rounds include Fishbowl Frenzy, Popcorn, Soda and Triple, with additional bonus types also shown in the footage. Fishbowl Frenzy shares its name with another Team Play game.
There is also a familiar collection mechanic: players can spell CARNY BONUS to unlock the game’s largest reward. Operators can link as many as 16 Carnival Wheel units, allowing the bonuses to grow across multiple machines. For redemption players, the prospect of a major win remains the central attraction.
Distribution and reported financing
At the time of the announcement, Carnival Wheel had not yet appeared on Team Play’s website, but it was listed by Betson. No outright price was published.
A financing promotion was reportedly available at almost $800 per month with a $9,000 residual. That arrangement was estimated to place the machine somewhere in the $28,000–$32,000 range, although the figure was not confirmed. Operators would need to contact their distributor for an exact purchase price and account for any interest or other financing costs.
Where Carnival Wheel fits in an arcade
The machine had already undergone testing and appeared close to production, with the expectation that it could reach arcades in time for the northern-hemisphere summer. Australian operators assessing a large redemption installation can compare it with other arcade machines and review the arcade machine buying guide before committing floor space.
Its two-sided presentation, programmable-looking LED wheel and support for linked play make Carnival Wheel an interesting proposition for family entertainment centres. Operators should confirm final availability, pricing and shipping arrangements directly with their distributor.
For more industry coverage, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog, or browse arcade repairs and maintenance support when planning a redemption-floor installation.
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