Slingo

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For the British meteorologist, see Julia Slingo.

Slingo is an online multiplayer game created in 1995 by Slingo, Inc. It features a mix of slots and bingo. In July 2013, RealNetworks acquired Slingo for $15.6 million.[1]

Play

A player has 20 turns to "spin" the numbers below his or her bingo card. Five numbers appear, and if they are found on the card, they can be marked off.

During the game, other special items may show up in the number spots below the card. Jokers are wild, and can be used to mark off any number in the column in which it appears. A joker in the center (N) column may sometimes become a Super Joker, which can be placed anywhere on the board. (When it appears, the Super Joker must be played first, before any other numbers.)

Devils also occasionally appear during the course of the game. If a devil appears in place of a number, the player's score is cut in half. Frequently though, a cherub appears and cancels the devil's effects by shooting it with an arrow.

Other special items include coins, which grant automatic points to the player, and Free Spins. The last four spins of the game (17, 18, 19, and 20) must be bought using points. A player may use accumulated free spins in place of the fee for any of the spins.

Time limits are imposed on spins as well. If a player does not begin his spin within a time limit, he loses that spin. If a player does not mark off all possible numbers or jokers within the time limit, those are considered lost.

At the end of the game, the winner is the player who has the most points.

Spinoffs and ports

Outside of internet gaming, there have been other Slingo products, including versions of the game for PC and cell phones, and as a handheld electronic game (which features no Super Jokers, multiple Joker bonuses or cherubs due to technical limitations).

Slingo has also been spun off into Slingo-themed slot machines, and scratch-off lottery tickets.[2][3]

A game show version of Slingo was filmed in The Philippines and Hosted by Joey de Leon on ABC5 in 2007. [4][5] In 2008, an unsold pilot was produced in the United States.[6][7]

Scoring

Points are earned for:

  • marking a number on the board (200 points)
  • clearing a line of numbers either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, as in normal bingo fashion (1,000 points)
  • getting a coin on a spin (1,000 points)
  • spinning three, four, or five jokers in one spin (super joker counts) (3 = 1,000 points, 4 = 2,500 points, 5 = 10,000 points) This bonus didn't exist until the millennium version.
  • clearing the entire card, which earns a bonus proportional to the number of spins used:
    • Spins 5-12 - 11,000 Points (it is impossible to fill a Slingo card in less than 5 spins)
    • Spin 13 - 10,000 Points
    • Spin 14 - 9,000 Points
    • Spin 15 - 8,500 Points
    • Spin 16 - 8,000 Points
    • Spin 17 - 7,500 Points
    • Spin 18 - 7,000 Points
    • Spin 19 - 6,500 Points
    • Spin 20 - 6,000 Points

Points are deducted for:

  • hitting a devil (cuts the score in half)
  • paying for the last four spins
    • spin 17 - 500 points
    • spin 18 - 1,000 points
    • spin 19 - 1,500 points
    • spin 20 - 2,000 points [8]

Millennium / Classic versions

For a good deal of time, the multiplayer version of Slingo was only available through AOL. A single-player version aimed at children on slingo.com was the closest members could get to the real thing. However, for the new millennium, Slingo launched a new version with newer graphics than the old game, and it had a resemblance to the graphics of the kid's version of the game. Also, the bonuses for three or more jokers were added into the game, and the Devil and Cherub cartoons were revamped. Another revision was done along with a name change in September 2009 to Slingo Classic. This included another graphics update.

Game Modes

Some of the CD-ROM versions of the game had different versions of Slingo with slightly different rules:

  • Classic Slingo - The original version of the Slingo game.
  • Mixed Matrix Slingo - This version has all the numbers in random locations, not just limited to the traditional column. Spin Numbers can be used no matter which column it is on the board, however Jokers still can only choose numbers of the column it is under. This is a more time-based game, since it will take longer to try and search which numbers where hit and where they are.
  • Duel Slingo - Play against the computer in a 2-player game board. Both the player & computer take turns alternating to clear the same board and compete to see which will get the highest score.
  • Giant Slingo - Same as the original, but a new 'Giant' item is added to the game. If a giant is earned during a 'Spin' and once you choose the numbers or Jokers you can, the Giant will Spin again (except the column he was under) for 4 new numbers on the same turn. This makes it eaiser to clear the board with basically 2 spins on the same turn.
  • Super Squares Slingo - Same as the original, however during each Spin, up to 5 of the numbers on the board will randomly turn Red each turn, indicating a 'Super Square'. Each super square is worth a point bonus if that number is marked & another point bonus is added to your score if you earn a slingo from that square. Also, as well a normal Jokers for normal squares (if used on a super square, it will only count as a normal number), Red highlighted 'Super Jokers' can be used to mark super squares for the full bonus (it can also be used on normal numbers if no super square is in that column).

Computer versions

There have been some stand alone computer versions of the Slingo game.

  • Slingo CD-ROM (Atari) 1998 [9]
  • Slingo CD-ROM (Hasbro Interactive) 1998
  • Slingo Deluxe (Funkitron) 2002 [10]
  • Slingo Quest (Funkitron) 2006 - Winner of the 2006 People's Choice Zeeby Award for Best Card, Board, or Mah Jong Game [11]
  • Slingo Quest - Hawaii (Funkitron) 2008 [12]
  • Slingo Supreme (Funkitron) 2008
  • Slingo Mystery (Funkitron) 2009 [13]

Console versions

In December 2008, Slingo appeared on the Nintendo DS with a version of Slingo Quest. This version used the DS's touch screen to duplicate the clicking of a mouse to match numbers. The game was published by Mumbo Jumbo.[14]

Mobile versions

There have been two iterations of Slingo for play on mobile phones.

  • Slingo-To-Go from SuperHappyFunFun/Kayak Interactive (now part of Oberon Media) 2005 - The game featured direct play between the users of the mobile game and players on Slingo.com.[15]
  • Slingo Quest Mobile (Slingo Bingo in EU) from SuperHappyFunFun/Iplay 2007 - This is the mobile version of the Zeeby Award Winning Slingo Quest [16]

Casino versions

Slingo has partnered with high profile casino organizations such as AC Coin & Slot,[17] IGT - International Game Technology, Spielo / Gtech, Planet Bingo, Sunkist Graphics, Gamelogic, and United States Playing Card Company to bring the Slingo game play to the casino floor.

Locations[18]

Games currently on casino floors include:

  • Slingo Bonus Reel Slots
  • Slingo Video Slots
  • Brasil Slingo Video Slots
  • Triple Slingo Jackpot
  • Bonus Bet 21
  • Slingo Bonus Deluxe[19]
  • Slingo Bonus Deluxe Community
  • Slingo Classic Bonus[20]

Hand held version

The Slingo Hand Held[21] game was created in partnership with Tiger Electronics.

References

  1. ↑ "RealNetworks Acquires Slingo". RTTNews. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013. 
  2. ↑ "IGT Launches New PowerVR Based Gaming Machines at Vegas Show". Official Website for Imagination Technologies. 2003-09-24. 
  3. ↑ {8E5C0E95-98A1-472D-A49C-57ABEF3755E2} "Statewide Progressive Jackpot Hit on Slingo Bonus Classic". Marketwatch. 2008-12-15. 
  4. ↑ "Slingo MTV". YouTube. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2013-02-18. 
  5. ↑ "Slingo Merch Plug: Joey Sabado is Slingo". YouTube. 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2013-02-18. 
  6. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuJNYyde_Wg
  7. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THd2YfakpKc
  8. ↑ "Official Slingo Millennium Rules". Slingo.com. 2002-08-01. 
  9. ↑ "Slingo CD-ROM Review at Gamespot". Gamespot. 1998-12-15. 
  10. ↑ "Slingo Deluxe Review at CNET". CNET. 2006-09-26. 
  11. ↑ "Slingo wins award". Casino City Times. 2007-02-09. 
  12. ↑ "Slingo Quest Hawaii Review at Gamezebo". Gamezebo. 2008-04-07. 
  13. ↑ "Slingo Mystery Review at Gamezebo". Gamezebo. 2009-09-24. 
  14. ↑ "Slingo Quest". IGN. 2008-12-09. 
  15. ↑ "Slingo-2-Go Hands-On". Gamespot. 2005-06-17. 
  16. ↑ "Slingo Bingo". Pocketgamer. 2007-09-18. 
  17. ↑ "AC Coin & Slot's Two Highest-Earning Games Keep Casinos Winning Throughout North America". Slingo Inc. 2008-11-06. 
  18. ↑ "List of Casinos with Slingo Machines". Slingo Inc. 2008-12-18. 
  19. ↑ "Statewide Progressive Jackpot Hit on Slingo Classic Bonus". Slingo Inc. 2008-12-15. 
  20. ↑ "Player wins big at Saratoga with Slingo Classic Bonus". CasinoCityTimes.com. 2008-12-16. 
  21. ↑ "Slingo Hand Held listing on Amazon". Amazon. 2008-12-21. 

External links

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