Give Your Video Calls an Entertaining Twist This Weekend with Our Video Chat Bingo!

Let’s face it, this Easter bank holiday isn’t quite what we were expecting. With the UK likely to stay under lockdown for a little longer yet, many of us will be feeling a little lost without those usual family gatherings we often enjoy at Easter. However, staying home is the way forward right now, and probably will be for a bit longer. So no matter how tempting it is to pop and see a loved one this weekend, resist the urge and stay home. 

All is not lost though, and it’s times like this we can be especially grateful for the technology we have that allows us to make video calls to our loved ones. Sometimes seeing someone face to face as opposed to just hearing their voice is what can really make a difference, and there’s no doubt that this weekend many of us will be making good use of those video calling apps on offer. While you may not necessarily be able to enjoy the usual banter with your friends and family this bank holiday weekend, we still want to help you make things a little more entertaining. So many of you loved our Self Isolation Bingo from a couple of weeks ago, which is why we’ve come up with our brand new game - Video Chat Bingo! Conference call bingo is something a lot of people will be familiar with and we wanted to expand on that by bringing it into your family and friends video call this weekend.

Video Chat Bingo: The Rules

As before, our Video Chat Bingo is super simple and can be played in groups or just 1 on 1. Be sure to share this article to everyone involved in the video call and you’re all set. Play for a line or a full house, it’s up to you! In terms of a prize, why not have it so the last person to fill their card has to host the first post-lockdown BBQ?

Video Call Classics

These are all the classic tropes most of us experience during every video call. Here are all the things that you can score points on:

• “What did you say?” - A classic. Pretty much likely in every single video call you’ll ever have! You can also count “can you repeat that?” and all of the other variants for this one. 

• Poor camera angle = multiple chins - We’ve all done it, particularly when using our phones to video chat! Tilt your laptop screen so it’s at a slightly more flattering angle and make sure you sit up straight to avoid getting caught out by this one! 

• Two or more people talk at the same time - Self explanatory.

• Video freezes - Bonus points if you think that person is just staying very still and listening intently.

• Someone types VERY loudly - Again, self explanatory!

• “Can you hear me?” - Yet another technical issue that’s likely to pop up, particularly in a group video chat! 

• Child or dog interrupts - Bonus points if they try to get on camera themselves. 

• Someone shows their pet - If you have a pet parent in your family (or maybe it’s you!), chances are they’ll put the camera on their fur-baby to get them involved!

• Someone forgets they’re on camera and yawns - We’ve all done it!

• “This is clever, isn’t it?” - Often one that’s uttered by the folk in the group who aren’t particularly tech savvy!

• Another member of the house walks on camera - More likely in the case of housemates, or perhaps even your parents if you’re a student isolating at home.

• “We’ll have a proper get together when this is all over” - If this whole thing has taught us anything, it’s that we definitely don’t spend enough time with our loved ones. A lot of the time we say “we’ll have a proper get together soon,” without really meaning it, but this time, it’s a pretty safe bet that we mean it. 

What Are the Best Video Calling Apps to Use? 

So you’re all set with your Video Chat Bingo cards, but if you’re not particularly well accustomed to the world of video chats, you might not know what apps to use. So, we’ve put together some of the best to give you a hand. 

Skype: One of the longest serving video calling apps around and can be downloaded onto any platform. Be it your phone, your laptop, and even your TV in some cases! It supports group chats of up to 24 people as well, so it’s well equipped for a family group session. 

Facebook Messenger: If you already have a Facebook account, you’re pretty much all set. Use on your laptop or on your phone and chat to a group of up to eight people. You can also make use of the filters too for a little more entertainment. 

WhatsApp: I’m sure we’re all familiar with the family WhatsApp group, but you can also use it for video calls too. The downside is that it only supports video calls for up to four people, so it’s not ideal for larger groups.

FaceTime: Anyone with an iPhone (and to be honest, most people without) will be aware of FaceTime. If your family or friends all have Apple devices, this is a super easy option for a video call. However, if you have a few Android users in the group, you’ll have to go with something else!

HouseParty: A fairly new addition to the line up of video calling apps, but in recent weeks it’s become very popular. This one allows you to play built in games on top of video chatting, so it’s a fun option for a catch up with your mates!

We know that the current situation is less than ideal at the moment, particularly during a holiday where most of us get to spend time with our loved ones. However, never underestimate the power of a long old video chat with your friends and family to give yourself a boost. Combine it with our Video Chat Bingo and it’s sure to create a little extra fun this weekend. 

While it can definitely be tempting to want to pop over to your friend’s or your loved ones’ houses this weekend, especially in the case of some lovely weather, it’s really important that we all stay at home. Let’s face it, the more we do as we’re told, the quicker things will go back to normal. This bank holiday weekend, stay home and make use of some of the fantastic tech we have at our disposal to speak to your loved ones. That’s what the My Favourite Voucher Codes team will be doing - along with a few G&Ts of course. Well, it IS a bank holiday after all!

Written by Amy Jackson - 9th April 2020