Victory row

Jun 05, 2011 - ARUP KAVAN

Art no. 3319 (Made in China) is Bingo which retails at a delightfully affordable `180. In a Kinder chocolate egg toy moment, I pulled out a plastic tray with three very pink moulded plastic sections that fit together to form a mini rolling machine. After some caustic (and totally unwarranted) snide comments about the colour scheme, and the little

dome lid that falls off irksomely easily, I realised this is an ingenious and marvellously value-priced treat that will assure a great evening of game play.
Bingo aka Lotto aka Tombola involves a bunch of people competing to complete their rows of numbers on play cards, to randomly called out numbers (pulled out of a bin) by a ‘host’, who is typically prone to exaggerated theatrics and over-the-top word associations with each number pulled. Bingo needed snapping off 90 number chips from two plastic frames, and 120 interlocked covering chips. The packaging warned of rough edges and the activity was rated adult, presumably with safety in mind. The operation went off surprisingly smoothly.
All the chips came off the grids perfectly. For those familiar with this sort of user-engagement with play counter set up, this can often be a disappointing start point, with damaged pieces even before the first game is played!
In this version of Bingo, the first person to cover a row of five numbers wins! The rolling machine is a master stroke. Turn the tiny wheel and a number chip spills out into view, snugly nestled in a spout. There’s an equal chance of the number chip popping out face down, which takes away from the mood of the moment, just a bit. But set it back in the spout, right way up, and you’re set to go again! Bingo is a game of chance, and there’s no getting away from that. But there is some element of skill I suppose, in making sure you don’t accidentally miss out on a number chip pulled. This won’t do much to improve your Mensa rating, but then that’s not a pre-requisite for a fun-filled evening!

— The author may be contacted at arup_kavan@yahoo.com

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