Game Idea A Week: Plane Travel Bingo
Week Forty-Two (25/07/2010)
The idea for this week is bingo for plane travel. A game that keeps you looking at your fellow passengers and checking out the window to try and cross off as many items as you can and get bingo first.
Platform:
Paper or touch screen device
Genre:
Puzzle
Why it needs to be made:
Plane travel can be very trying, what with delays and the strange people you meet. This game makes the experience a lot more enjoyable and helps the time pass by more quickly. Travelling with children can also be tiring, this helps children learn about the key aspects of flying and keeps them entertained.
Description:
Before the journey begins, print out a plane travel bingo card. Each time you see one of the items, cross it off. When you have crossed off an entire row or an entire column, you have a bingo.
The bingo cards could be specialised for children, domestic or international travel, and based on country of origin. There could also be easy, medium and hard difficulty levels based on the likelihood of seeing the items. This game can be played solitaire, or with others. If playing with others, then the first to get bingo wins, or the person with the most crossed off. If playing solitaire, then the challenge is to finish before you leave the airport at the other end.
The items are divided into three categories: people, at the airport and in flight. On the card these could be coloured, or shown as below. This helps people determine when they should be looking for specific items. The center item is always "boarding pass" and acts like a "free pass".
Here is an example of a possible medium difficulty bingo card:
| People speaking a foreign language | All white outside the plane | Hamburger Shop | Backpacker | Hello/Farewell Hugs |
| PEOPLE | IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT | PEOPLE | PEOPLE |
| Woman with pointy Heels | Guide to your destination in flight magazine | See wings from your seat | Depart from odd gate number | Red coat/jacket |
| PEOPLE | IN FLIGHT | IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT | PEOPLE |
| Crossword puzzle in airline magazine | On time departure | BOARDING PASS | Someone with no checked bags | Pram on luggage belt |
| IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT | PEOPLE | AT AIRPORT | |
| Delayed at security | Someone stuck behind food trolley | Man in a suit | Non red or black suitcase | Life jacket on airline attendant |
| AT AIRPORT | PEOPLE | PEOPLE | AT AIRPORT | IN FLIGHT |
| Child with toy | Phone addict on plane | Late arrival | Another plane (not at the airport) | Odd flight number |
| PEOPLE | PEOPLE | AT AIRPORT | IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT |
For the children's version, all the items are very likely to be seen, meaning that bingo is almost guaranteed at some point in the journey. In this game, the "people" category contains objects that you must find people wearing. A possible children's version of Plane Travel Bingo is:
| A suit | Stars | Newsagency | Safety Instructions | Departure Gate |
| PEOPLE | IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT | IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT |
| X-Ray machine | People speaking a foreign language | Sun | Red suitcase | Long hair |
| AT AIRPORT | PEOPLE | IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT | PEOPLE |
| Exit Door | Black suitcase | BOARDING PASS | Another family | Clouds |
| IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT | PEOPLE | IN FLIGHT | |
| Luggage Trolley | Scarf | Cars | Departure Screens | Backpack |
| AT AIRPORT | PEOPLE | IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT | PEOPLE |
| Hat | Airline Attendant | Sunglasses | Water | Restaurant |
| PEOPLE | IN FLIGHT | PEOPLE | IN FLIGHT | AT AIRPORT |
Why it will be a compelling game:
The game seems very simple, however trying to get a bingo before you leave your destination airport can be challenging. Every time you travel you will see different people and things, so the game will be different everytime you play, even if you use the same card every time.
Other thoughts: