Windfall Auction

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The Windfall Auction is a Minigame in The Wind Waker.[1]

Overview

Windfall Auctions take place every night inside the Auction House on Windfall Island. In order to participate, Link must speak to Zunari near the Auction House stage, who offers to explain the rules before beginning the Minigame.[2] Once Link is ready, the lights are dimmed as Link and six of the townsfolk from Windfall Island gather around the stage. Zunari greets the participants,[3] then reveals the Item that has been randomly selected for auction,[4] declares the Item's starting bid,[5] and begins the auction.[6]

Item Opening Bid
Joy Pendant 40 Rupees
Piece of Heart 80 Rupees
Treasure Chart #18 5 Rupees
Treasure Chart #38 60 Rupees
Swift Sail (TWWHD) 100 Rupees

The auction lasts for one minute, not counting the time taken up by talking or placing bids.[7] The other participants will periodically speak out and raise the bid by several Rupees. The amount of time remaining is only shown while Link is placing a bid, though Zunari will inform the group when time is running out.[8][9] In order for Link earn the right to place a bid, the player must repeatedly press the A button to fill up a gauge on-screen, which takes about 6 seconds with rapid button-pressing. He then raises his hand and is allowed to select any amount of Rupees higher than the current bid.[10] This gauge will slowly fill up on its own without any button inputs, which can force Link to place a bid if it fills completely. After placing a bid, the gauge is reset.

By placing large bids under certain conditions, Link can shock the other participants into a dizzied state, preventing them from outbidding him for approximately ten to fifteen seconds.[11] Gummy, a regular at the Windfall Auctions, hints at this strategy.[12] If the current bid is at least 40 Rupees, then increasing the bid by 10% (rounded to the nearest Rupee) will dizzy the others for a short time,[13] while increasing the bid by 20%,[14] 50%,[15] or outright doubling the bid will cause an increasingly greater shock.[16] If the current bid is under 40 Rupees but at least 20 Rupees, Link must increase the bid by at least 50% to cause a shock. if the current bid is under 20 Rupees, then no amount of an increase will cause a shock to the other participants. Bidding 999 Rupees at any point will automatically win Link the auction, as no further bids will be accepted.[17]

Once the full minute has passed and the auction ends, whoever bid the highest amount is declared the winner and pays that amount of Rupees for the prize.[18] The lights in the Auction House come back on, and Link is free to speak with the townsfolk to discuss their performance in the auction. Should someone other than Link win the auction, the prize will be returned and made available for a future auction, which prevents any of the Items from becoming unobtainable.[19] Link can initiate another auction at any time by leaving and re-entering the Auction House.

Participants

In addition to Link, the Windfall Auction is participated by six of the following townspeople:

Gummy appears at every single auction, and is always the first to bid.

Trivia

  • Tingle tried entering a drawing at the Windfall Auction but was turned away at the door, apparently for not following a dress code.[20]

Gallery

References

  1. "Notice: Windfall Auction Tonight!
    Bidding starts at dusk.
    All comers welcome!
    " — Sign (The Wind Waker)
  2. "Now, you are completely fine with me NOT explaining the auction to you... Am I correct in assuming this?" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  3. "Yes, yes, yes! First, let me thank all of you bargain-loving people for joining us this evening! Dear me, what a turnout!" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  4. "Let's get to it! This evening, our glorious auction item is...

    This!
    " — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  5. "Let the auction begin! Let's open the bidding at 5 Rupees!" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  6. "AAAAAAANNNNNNNDDDDDDD......
    ...Begin!!!
    " — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  7. "The auction only lasts one minute—not counting the time people spend talking! But do not worry! I will show you how much time remains when you make your bid." — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  8. "There isn't much time left, good people! Are you done bidding?" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  9. "Yes, yes, yes, yes! Only five seconds remain! Are you all done? Is this the end?!?" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  10. "Yes, yes, when you want to bid, tap A Button! As you do, your gauge will gradually build up. Once your gauge is full, your chance to bid has finally come! Oh, dear me, yes!" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  11. "If you play it right, your move may just be such a mental shock to the other bidders that they don't know what to do!" — Gummy (The Wind Waker)
  12. "So, I guess the objective would be to raise it by 10%...or maybe even 20%?" — Gummy (The Wind Waker)
  13. "Oh, dear me! Link bids 46 Rupees! And the crowd of auction-goers reels! I see nothing but stunned faces!" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  14. "Ohhhhhhh! Oh, dearest me! Incredible! The drama! Everyone is struck speechless at Link's bid!" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  15. "Ohhhhhhh! Dear me! The spectacle of it all! Link! What an incredible bid! You've sent shockwaves through the auction house! Can these dear people recover?" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  16. "Incredible! Such passion! Link steps up with a tremendous bid! He's frozen everyone! Never have I seen such a powerful display of bidding power!" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  17. "Ohhhhhhhh! This is incredible! I never thought it possible, but the bid has reached the ceiling for this item! No higher bids can be accepted! Dear me!" — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  18. "Aaannnddd SOLD! Here ends the auction!
    Tonight's fabulous Treasure Chart goes to...
    Gummy for the price of 175 Rupees!
    " — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  19. "My dear! Oh my dear me! As you no-doubt see, this is the item that Gummy won in our last auction...
    ...And yet, for reasons I cannot fathom, Gummy has since parted with this fine item, and thus it is once again appearing in our auction!
    But do not worry! This certainly does not mean the item is subpar. It just means that clearly this item is worth far more than the original amount it was purchased for!
    " — Zunari (The Wind Waker)
  20. "East of there is Windfall Island. I tried to enter my best drawing in the auction there. But I got rejected at the door! Why is there a dress code at an auction?" — Tingle (The Wind Waker)