PINBINGO
PINBINGO
PinBingo is a team pinball event that is designed to be something drastically different. The objective of a pinball game is not getting the highest score, but is instead trying to achieve as many different smaller goals as possible in one match. True team play is achieved: while one person is playing, their teammate is looking at the scorecard, creating a strategy to maximize the team's points, and informing the player who is playing what to shoot for. PinBingo allows novices, intermediates, and experts to compete together, simply by creating simpler goals for novices to achieve.
If you want to have some fun, try it out. It does take a few games to get used to this new structure. However, after playing a few games, we are sure you'll want to keep playing! Make a team, find an opponent, and have fun!
If you want to make your own game-cards for different machines, by all means do so, and forward them to Dave (dstewart@eng.umd.edu) to include them on this web site. But before doing so, ask Dave about an entire document on 'how to create rules for PinBingo'. It isn't as easy as you think! But playing IS easy! So Enjoy!
PinBingo is designed for team play. It can be used either for head-to-head competition, or be part of a qualification round where only one team plays at a time. If only one team is playing, then a referee is required to monitor entries into the score-card. In head-to-head competition with another team, the opposing team can act as the referee. The objective is pretty simple. Complete as many squares as you can on a bingo card by accomplishing the feat that corresponds to the number in each square on the score-card. Complete lines, rows, and diagonals to double your points.
Before reading the remainder of the rules and scoring, take a peak at one of the scorecards, by following any of the links below. It will greatly help you follow along in the rules.
Scoring is as follows:
The team with the higher number of points wins.
The middle square of a score card is Free. All teams are awarded that square as a freebie.
Both teammates play with the same bingo card for all games. Typically a match consists of 2 or 3 games for each player; using more games simply results in higher scores. If possible, a different machine should be used for each game; however, all games could be played on the same machine.
Wild-card squares are much more difficult goals to achieve in a game. Each time a player scores such a wild-card square, they make note of it for later. When the match is over, the team can fill in an empty square for each wild-card square they scored. Obviously it makes sense to fill in the squares that would complete a bingo line, in order to double the points of all squares on that line.
Team play is recommended instead of individual, as whenever one player is playing, their teammate can continue to look at the card, and talk to the person playing their game as to what they can/should aim for. This is true teamwork!! The PinBingo rules are designed to more effectively make use of all features on a playfield, especially features that are traditionally ignored or avoided during regular play.
There are separate scorecards for wizard, intermediate, and novice players. This allows players of all levels to compete in the same competition. The only difference is that the difficulty of scoring any square is much more difficult for a wizard than for a novice player. For example, on the Addams Family scorecard, a square during Seance can be scored by a novice by shooting a ramp once. An intermediate must get two knocks. An expert must get three knocks.
If a square cannot be completed due to the particular machine setting or mechanical defect, then that square is awarded as a freebie. Note, however, if more than one machine is used, it might not be possible to get the square on one machine, but you can still do it on the other machine, in which case the square is not awarded for free.
If you have any questions or comments, please send Dave Stewart email!
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