Atari Bingo Caller

Random number generator at work

by James Perone

Bring your bingo games into the computer age with Computer Bingo Caller. This simple BASIC program works on all 8-bit Atari computers of any memory size, with disk or cassette. You will, however, need your own bingo cards and markers in order to play.

Next time you play bingo, let your Atari do the calling. No more old-fashioned messy scraps of paper in tumblers. Faster, too. More than a fun addition to the good old game of bingo, Computer Bingo Caller is also a demonstration of how to program random number generation. After all, picking a random number and comparing it against previously chosen numbers is one of the things a computer can do faster than the human brain.

First, type in Listing 1, BINGO.BAS, check it with TYPO II and SAVE a copy before you RUN it.

After the red and blue title screen appears, the bingo caller will display a number and ask you if you want a new one. Type YES and press [RETURN] for a new number to pop up. After that, YES will automatically appear each time you press [RETURN]. Since you presumably already know how to play bingo, you can take it from here. Just keep choosing numbers until "BINGO, there's a winner!" Then type NO to start a new game.

James Perone is working towards a PhD in Music Theory at State University of New York, Buffalo. He is active as a composer of computer music in Fortran and as a freelance musician.

Listing 1: BINGO.BAS Download