Tikamtikam

Expert InterviewExpert Interview

MY EXPERT!MY EXPERT!

BETTY TEO

Mother, Property Agent and Ex-Tikam-Tikam vendor

WHAT IS WHAT IS TIKAM-TIKAMTIKAM-TIKAM??

• Malay word for trying one’s luck

• It also refers to a traditional children’s game of luck

HOW DOES IT LOOK LIKE?HOW DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

• Essentially it is just a board

• Top half: Grid of prizes, labelled with numbers

• Bottom half: Slips of folded paper with:

– Amount of money to be won

– A number that corresponds to a prize

HOW DOES IT LOOK LIKE?HOW DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

HOW DO YOU PLAY IT?HOW DO YOU PLAY IT?

• Player would pay a sum of money (5 cents) for a try at the game

• From the bottom half of the board, player would pick a slip of paper to win a prize

• The slip of paper would indicate a certain amount of money won or a number that would correspond to a certain prize

• Some numbers correspond to a blank column, in which case the player would win nothing

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?

• Vendors would try to get prizes that are:

– Exotic, rare or novel

– Worth more than the cost of playing tikam-tikam

• Example: Japanese bell

• Works as a lure

HOW WAS IT OPERATED?HOW WAS IT OPERATED?

• It is usually part of a provision shop (which is also their house)

• As a means of earning extra money (from the kids)

– Typically patronised by children from ages 5 to 16 years old

• The board is hung up at a corner of the shop and man by a vendor

• My mum helped manage the game as she worked in the provision shop

HOW WAS IT OPERATED?HOW WAS IT OPERATED?

• One could earn about $10 each day from tikam-tikam; base cost was merely $2

• It was game available at almost every provision shop back then

WHEN DID IT DIE OUT?WHEN DID IT DIE OUT?

• “I ran it when I was in primary school (about 1960) up till we ended our provision shop business”

• “Back when you were a kid, you were still able to play tikam-tikam at the mama shop downstairs at our old place. You won a Japanese bell.”

• From my understanding, it seems like it lost its popularity in mid-80s

WHY REVIVE WHY REVIVE TIKAM-TIKAMTIKAM-TIKAM??

• The idea of “chance” is still central in many games that we know today – even among children games

• Things of the old have become kitsch and highly sought after

– Costs SGD70 – 80 today

OTHER OPINIONSOTHER OPINIONS

“This was a simple game which was fun and exciting for the children of that era. It probably contributed quite significantly to the earnings of the stall owner too and he didn't have to pay entertainment duty for it.”

http://victorkoo.blogspot.com/2005/10/vanishing-scenes-of-singapore-part-2.html

OTHER OPINIONSOTHER OPINIONS

“Personally I feel that this is a highly addictive game as I’ve personally experienced it. I will keep going back hoping to win the ‘Big One’! I won’t stop until I’ve emptied my pockets… The current Gashapon: Capsule toys, plastic spheres containing all sort of items like action figures, snap-together models, etc.. is probably evolved from our old Tikam board game. Now you just need to drop a few coins (probably $1 to a few dollars now depending on what’s inside) and turn the knob and the capsule will drop out”http://timesofmylife.wordpress.com/2007/07/TiKam

Concepts for RevampConcepts for Revamp