Funky Time Live is the latest and much-anticipated gameshow from Evolution, following the wildly popular Crazy Time. It features a giant spinning wheel that offers multiplier wins and access to one of four engaging bonus rounds. Set in a vibrant 1970s-themed environment with disco music, glitter balls, and presenters dressed in flared trousers, Funky Time transports players back to the era of disco fever.
The game boasts an array of multipliers, with twenty-four of the 64 segments on the wheel offering payouts of 25:1. With the maximum win capped at $500,000 and multipliers in the Stayin’ Alive, Disco, and VIP Disco Bonus games reaching up to 10,000x, Funky Time promises thrilling payouts and nostalgic fun.
Funky Time is centered around a large wheel divided into 64 segments, featuring a new type of wheel called the DigiWheel. This LED panel wheel displays images and multipliers that can be updated in real-time, enhancing the dynamic gameplay.
Here’s a breakdown of the segments:
| Bet | Payout | Segments | Probability | RTP |
| 1 | 1:1 | 28 | 43.75% | 95.99% |
| Letter bet | 25:1 | 2 per letter | 3.13% per letter | 95.49% |
| Bar | Up to $500,000 | 6 | 9.38% | 95.98% |
| Stayin’ Alive | Up to 10,000x | 2 | 4.69% | 95.49% |
| Disco | Up to 10,000x | 3 | 9.39% | 95.51% |
| VIP Disco | Up to 10,000x | 1 | 1.56% | 95.38% |
The game’s RTP is 95.99%, with individual game elements ranging from 95.38% to 95.99%. Unlimited players can join, and an Auto Play feature allows for easy repeat betting and limit setting.
Funky Time features four exciting bonus rounds, each offering unique gameplay and substantial multipliers:
In this round, a robot bartender serves three cocktails. Players choose one, and random multipliers (2x to 20x) are assigned to each glass. A one-reel slot on the robot's face adds another multiplier to one glass, enhancing the final payout.
Fun Fact: The robot bartender mimics Isaac the Bartender (played by Ted Lange) from The Love Boat.
Inspired by the Bee Gees' hit song, this bonus game involves climbing a ladder with increasing multipliers (up to 10,000x). Players choose a ladder color, and a bingo ball machine determines their progress. Drawing black balls results in lost lives, ending the game once all lives are lost. If four black balls are drawn from the physical bingo ball machine, the game ends. If this sounds familiar, it's very similar to John Silver's Loot in Treasure Island.
An individual ball is of a particular color and it will raise the multiplier up by the number of levels specified on the ball. So for instance, if you chose Orange and the Orange Ball has a number 1 on it, it will raise the Orange level up 1. However, if it says '2' on the ball, it would raise it up two levels and this means a higher multiplier is achieved with less balls drawn.
| Level | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1000x |
| 19 | 800x |
| 18 | 700x |
| 17 | 600x |
| 16 | 500x |
| 15 | 300x |
| 14 | 250x |
| 13 | 200x |
| 12 | 150x |
| 11 | 100x |
| 10 | 70x |
| 9 | 60x |
| 8 | 50x |
| 7 | 40x |
| 6 | 30x |
| 5 | 25x |
| 4 | 20x |
| 3 | 15x |
| 2 | 10x |
| 1 | 5x |
Fun Fact: Despite the Bee Gee's inspired name, Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" will play in the background.
These rounds feature Mr. Funky dancing on a dance floor reminiscent of Saturday Night Fever, collecting multipliers based on the square tiles. The presenter spins a mini wheel (in kayfabe) to direct Mr. Funky’s movements. The Disco Bonus game takes place on a 37-square virtual dance floor, and the VIP Disco Bonus game on a larger 63-square dance floor.
The VIP Disco Bonus game has higher multipliers on the board along with more multiplier enhancements on the dance floor. The multiplier enhancements are denoted by Xs on the floor and when they are landed on, the multiplier numbers are randomly raised. All of the highest multiplier numbers are located on the fringes of the dance floor.
The game ends when Mr. Funky falls off the dance floor, with all collected multipliers being added together.
Fun Fact: Disco and VIP Disco each have their own dedicated songs. "Disco Inferno" by The Trampps plays for Disco and "Le Freak" by Chic plays for VIP Disco.
Funky Time is pretty funky in the way it plays out and it's not a game where a player makes an individual bet on one type of segment. It's a game where bets are spread across and coverage and hedging are a must. When it comes to letters, players typically bet the full words (FUNK, TIME, PLAY) rather than the individual letters to get more coverage for an entire segment of the wheel. It's easy to over bet a round with Funky Time and lose money, especially if the Bar segment is hit or if the Disco bonus is a massive dud.
Advanced Strategies Using Machine Learning (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
Leveraging machine learning can further refine your strategy. By analyzing past game data, machine learning algorithms can identify patterns and trends that might not be obvious to the naked eye. Here’s how machine learning can assist:
Predictive Analytics: Use algorithms to predict which segments are more likely to hit based on historical data.
Betting Optimization: Adjust your betting patterns in real-time based on the algorithm’s predictions to maximize potential returns.
Pattern Recognition: Identify streaks and anomalies in game outcomes to inform your betting decisions.
Integrating machine learning into your strategy can provide a data-driven edge, helping you make more informed bets and potentially increasing your chances of hitting big wins. Python's Scikit-Learn and Pandas can be of great use to you. Also, with Evolution's API data, they release the name of the host in the API and you can shape your strategies around a particular host's spinning pattern.
This is highly suggested with Funky Time and it really is the best approach because players cannot cover every non-1 bet and expect a profit. The letters do pay 25:1 and that can be depended upon, but the bonuses are volatile and subject to RNG. Plus, mixing in approaches that have a 1 will result in a better outcome. Multipliers also hit the 1 as well, which means a higher payout.
Test out strategies that include 2 out of the 3 words being covered, leaving certain bonuses on and off, and the inclusion of 1 as a possibility. The objective is to create an accuracy score that beats the wheel probability.
Mixing up bets is usually the way to go here and the best way is through Machine Learning, otherwise this is a game that will be frustrating.
Funky Time Live is a disco-themed adventure that combines nostalgic 70s vibes with modern gaming technology. The Return-to-Player (RTP) is disappointing compared to other live game shows. If you like the Stayin' Alive and the Disco/VIP Disco bonus games, you can get something similar in Treasure Island with a much better RTP. The disco theme is humorous and wins can certainly come here, but strategically you do not want to play a game where there's such a chance of losing while winning. With so many betting options, the game can be a frustrating grind. Either have a Machine Learning approach that tells you the bets to make (where a winning selection shouldn't bring upon a loss) or elect to pass on this game as there are better live game shows to play.
