Overview
ZINGO is a fast-paced, fun and interactive matching game for youngsters. It is similar to the classic BINGO game, with players trying to match words with pictures in an attempt to be the first to cover all the spaces on their ZINGO card with matching tiles before their opponents. The game helps young children develop important skills such as vocabulary, winning and losing, following instructions, taking turns, fine motor skills and coordination, observation and perception, matching, letter/sound relationship, image and word recognition, concentration and memory, etc.
Objective
Players attempt to cover the spaces on their board with matching tiles. The first player to do so wins.
ZINGO Rules
All the players must turn their cards to the same side as the cards are double-sided.
Player will call out for tiles they need by saying the image name when the tile appears on the Zinger.
If two players call out for the same tile, the first player to call out gets the tile. If there is a tie, the tile is returned into the Zinger through the reload slots.
If a player calls out for a tile they do not need, the tile will be handed to the next player to correctly call it.
Unclaimed tiles are returned into the Zinger through the reload slots.
To win the game, a player must be the first to cover all 9 spaces on their card with tiles and shout ZINGO to notify the others.
Number of Players Needed
Minimum of 2 players is needed to play the game. At most, 8 players can play at a time.
Equipment
Zinger
72 tiles
ZINGO cards
Setting Up
The setting up process is quite easy; first, the top is removed from the ZINGO Zinger and the 72 tiles are scrambled. The tiles are then loaded into the Zinger in two equal stacks after which the top of the Zinger is replaced. The Zinger is then placed in the centre where all the players can see it. Each player then selects a ZiINGO card.
Note that the cards are double-sided, to allow for two levels of competition. The Green side is less competitive as cards have fewer images in common. This level is designed for younger players. The Red side is more competitive as the cards have more images in common so players have to act fast to claim the tiles. Older and more advanced players will enjoy this level. All the players must turn their cards to the same side, either the Green or the Red side.
How to Play ZINGO
One player can be chosen as a dealer and that player will operate the Zinger. Alternatively, players can pass the Zinger on each turn, giving every player a chance to operate the Zinger during the game. Usually, an adult or an older child is selected as the first dealer.
To begin the game, the dealer slides the Zinger forward and back to reveal two tiles. All the players will then look at their card to see if any image there matches the tile. Once a player sees a tile that matches an image on their card, they call out the image name and take the tile. The player then places the tile on top of the printed image on their card.
Tiles that are not claimed are returned into the Zinger through the reload slots at the top of the device. If two or more players call out for the same tile, the first player to call out gets it. In the case of a tie, the tile is returned into the Zinger. If a player calls out for a tile they do not need, the tile is given to the next player to correctly call it.
The dealer continues to slide the Zinger forward and back to reveal tiles until a winner emerges. To win a game of ZINGO, a player must be the first to cover all the 9 spaces on their card with tiles.
Some variations of ZINGO can be played to make things more interesting. There is a Mini-Zingo that requires players to match three images in a row, either across, up, down, or diagonally. The first player to do so wins. Another variation is Zany ZINGO. In Zany ZINGO, a pattern is selected and the players try to match the selected pattern. The first player to match the selected pattern wins. The last variation of ZINGO is the Multi-card ZINGO. This version is played using two or more cards each round. You can play with one Green card and one Red card. The first player to cover all the spaces on one of their cards with tiles wins.
Winning the Game
The game ends when a player has covered all 9 spaces on their card with tiles. The winning player yells ZINGO to notify the others. The first player to cover all spaces on their card and yell ZINGO wins the game. The winner gets to start the next games as the dealer.