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Scarabeo
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 | |
| Manufacturer | Aprilia |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Piaggio |
| Production | 1993-2020 |
| Class | Scooter |
The Scarabeo is a scooter model produced by the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Aprilia. Available in different displacements, it was first presented to the public in 1993.
Initially born as a model within the Aprilia range, today Scarabeo is a brand in its own right, always part of the Piaggio group.
History
[edit]The first vehicle under the name Scarabeo was produced by Aprilia in January 1970 and is a 50 cm3 cross scooter. The name derives from the Egyptian culture. The Scarabeo becomes the progenitor of a series of off-road vehicles with numerous engines, which were produced until 1974.
The title of the research that, in 1990, gave birth to the high wheel scooter is “Study for a City Bike”;[1] the first sketch presents the central tunnel, the large section wheel, a single-sided front fork.
From the pencil of Giuseppe Ricciuti,[2] designer of all the Scarabeo, two projects are born: the first derives from an intermediate version of the original city bike (traditional suspensions, lower section wheels and central tunnel); the second, more slender, loses the tunnel and provides wheels with a smaller section and larger diameter. On May 18, 1992, the maquette from which the definitive Scarabeo will be born was presented. At this point, an engineering work begins that will keep the technical team busy for about a year: Scarabeo is the first Aprilia vehicle on which computers have been extensively used in technical development.[3]
In the panorama of motorcycles of the period, the Scarabeo tried to combine the protection of the fairings typical of scooters with "high" wheels, that is, of classic dimensions rather than the more common reduced ones.
The official presentation took place in September 1993 at EICMA. Between 1994 and 1998, some technical innovations are introduced such as the disc brake. In 1999, the 125 and 150 displacements presented in Lisbon were born.[4]
The 50 and 100 engines use the same body, which is smaller, lighter and more agile. A larger version is intended for the 150 (discontinued) 125 and 200 displacements (renewed in early 2009), while a third version is intended for the 250, 300, 400 and 500 displacements. respectful of Euro 3 anti-pollution standards.
In 2001, the 50 displacement underwent an initial restyling and was equipped with a two-stroke DiTech engine (first generation direct injection for mopeds), also present on another Aprilia scooter, the sporty SR.
The 125, 150 and 200 engines, produced by Rotax up to the 2001 model and which differed only in the size of the engine, were replaced by the Piaggio models that equip the Vespa GTs, in the 125 and 200 displacements. All engines are four liquid-cooled times (excluding the 50, both two and four-stroke, air-cooled), equipped with carburetor up to 200 and electronic injection for the 250, 300, 400 (discontinued) and 500 engines.
In 2002, the GT version of the Scarabeo 125/200 was born. In 2003, ten years after the birth of the Scarabeo, the Scarabeo 500 was presented, a scooter plus Gran Turismo, since 2004 also in a version with ABS. In 2005, Scarabeo celebrates 250,000 registered units. A new 50 cm3 graphic version is also born, called "Graphic". In 2006, the "Street" versions were born with 125 and 200 displacements, and the new 500 arrived, while in 2007, the 250 i.e. version was launched and the new Scarabeo 125/200 arrived.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aprilia Scarabeo.
Scarabeo
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Scarabeo is a classic Italian word-forming board game for 2 to 4 players, in which participants draw eight letter tiles and strategically place them on a grid to create interconnected words, earning points based on letter values and bonus squares for strategic placements.[1]
Developed by Italian inventor Aldo Pasetti in the late 1950s, Scarabeo was initially self-produced before being commercially published by Editrice Giochi in 1963 following a successful legal defense against a lawsuit from Scrabble's publisher, which alleged similarities but was dismissed by Milan's Court of Appeal in 1961 on grounds that game mechanics cannot be copyrighted and the names were sufficiently distinct.[2] The game features a 17x17 grid board with premium squares that double or triple word or letter scores, a set of 130 tiles representing the Italian alphabet (including 2 jokers depicted as scarabei, with frequencies adjusted for Italian language usage, such as multiple instances of common letters like 'A' and 'E'), and hourglasses in some editions to limit turn time to about 2 minutes.[3][4] Players take turns forming valid Italian words that must connect to existing tiles on the board, with no isolated plays allowed after the first word, encouraging tactical expansion and blocking of opponents.[1] Suitable for ages 8 and up, a typical game lasts about 90 minutes, emphasizing vocabulary, spelling, and spatial strategy while accommodating both casual family play and competitive tournaments in Italy.[2] Over the decades, Scarabeo has become a cultural staple in Italian households, spawning variants like Scarabeo Shake (a dice-based fast-paced version) and maintaining popularity through annual championships organized by the Federazione Italiana Gioco Scrabble.[1][5]
This distribution and valuation promote the formation of valid Italian words while maintaining challenge through limited high-scoring opportunities.[15]
Overview
Description
Scarabeo is a classic Italian board game for 2 to 4 players aged 8 and older, centered on forming words using letter tiles placed on a grid.[2][6] The game encourages participants to engage with the Italian language through creative word construction, making it suitable for family and educational settings.[7] In its core mechanic, players draw eight letter tiles from a bag and strategically position them on the board to create interconnected words, similar to competitive word puzzles that reward linguistic ingenuity.[2][8] Scarabeo promotes educational value by enhancing vocabulary, spelling accuracy, and strategic thinking within the Italian language context.[9] Sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes, allowing for extended play that builds language skills progressively.[2]Objective
The primary objective of Scarabeo is to score the highest number of points by forming interconnected valid words using letter tiles on a shared game board. Players compete to create meaningful Italian words of at least two letters, placed horizontally or vertically and intersecting with existing words like a crossword puzzle, with points awarded based on the strategic placement and composition of these words.[10][4] The game concludes in one of two ways: when all letter tiles have been drawn from the bag and at least one player has used up their entire rack, or when no player can form a valid word on their turn, prompting all to pass consecutively. At this point, final scores are tallied, incorporating adjustments for any remaining tiles on players' racks—the player who empties their rack first receives bonus points equal to the value of opponents' unused tiles, while opponents subtract the points of their leftover tiles from their totals. The player with the highest adjusted score is declared the winner; if scores remain equal after these calculations, the game is a tie.[10][8][11] Strategically, success in Scarabeo requires balancing the formation of longer words for potential bonuses, optimal positioning on the board to leverage premium squares such as double or triple word spaces, and efficient use of available tiles to minimize endgame penalties and maximize overall scoring opportunities. This interplay encourages players to anticipate opponents' moves while maximizing their own lexical and spatial advantages throughout the game.[2][4]Components
Game Board
The Scarabeo game board features a 17×17 grid comprising 289 individual squares, providing an expansive playing area that distinguishes it from the more compact 15×15 layouts found in comparable word games. This larger dimension accommodates more extensive word formations and strategic positioning over the course of play.[12] Symmetrically distributed across the board are premium squares designed to influence scoring dynamics, including Double Letter Score (marked as 2L), Triple Letter Score (3L), Double Word Score (2P), and Triple Word Score (3P) varieties. These squares are variously colored and labeled with their respective multipliers to clearly indicate their effects when tiles are placed upon them. The positioning follows a balanced pattern, with Triple Word Score squares located at the corners and along the edges, Double Word Score squares forming star-like patterns inward, and letter score squares scattered to reward precise letter placement.[10] At the center of the board lies a specially marked starting square, serving as the anchor for the game's inaugural word and ensuring all subsequent plays connect to this focal point. Modern editions of the board are typically crafted from sturdy, foldable cardboard, engineered for durability and seamless compatibility with plastic or wooden letter tiles.[13][14]Letter Tiles
Scarabeo features a set of 130 letter tiles, consisting of 128 standard tiles representing letters of the Italian alphabet and 2 special wild tiles marked with a scarab symbol, which can substitute for any letter. These wild tiles, known as Scarabeo tiles, score 0 points regardless of the letter they represent. The distribution of letters is tailored to the frequency of letters in the Italian language, ensuring a balanced gameplay experience. For instance, vowels and common consonants are more abundant, with 12 tiles each for 'A', 'E', 'I', and 'O', and 7 for 'S'. Rarer letters are limited, such as 2 each for 'H', 'Q', and 'Z'; letters like 'J', 'K', 'W', 'X', and 'Y' are absent (0 tiles).[15][16] The point values assigned to each letter reflect their relative scarcity, with common letters valued at 1 point, such as 'A' and 'E', while rarer ones carry higher values to reward their use, for example, 'Q' at 10 points and 'Z' at 8 points. This scoring system encourages strategic placement of high-value letters. The tiles themselves are typically constructed from durable wood or plastic, with letters and point values engraved or printed on the face for longevity and clear visibility during play.[8][7]| Letter Examples | Quantity | Point Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | 12 | 1 |
| E | 12 | 1 |
| I | 12 | 1 |
| O | 12 | 1 |
| S | 7 | 1 |
| H, Q, Z | 2 each | Varies (e.g., Q=10, Z=8) |
| J, K, W, X, Y | 0 | N/A |
| Scarabeo (wild) | 2 | 0 |
Accessories
Scarabeo includes several auxiliary items essential for gameplay, designed to facilitate organization, concealment, validation, and time management. These accessories support the core components without altering the fundamental mechanics of word formation. The tile racks, also known as letter holders or music stands, consist of four plastic stands, each capable of holding up to seven tiles upright to conceal a player's letters from opponents.[8][17] Constructed from durable plastic, these racks allow players to arrange their drawn tiles privately while planning moves, ensuring strategic secrecy during turns.[18] The tile bag is an opaque fabric pouch used for drawing and mixing the 130 letter tiles, including two joker scarabei tiles.[8][4] This drawstring bag prevents players from seeing or feeling the tiles' values, maintaining fairness when replenishing hands after each turn.[17] For resolving word validity disputes, an official Italian dictionary such as the Zingarelli, published by Zanichelli, serves as the authoritative reference, excluding proper names and geographical terms.[19] While not always included in the game box, players are expected to consult this or a similar standard lexicon during challenges to confirm acceptable words of at least two letters.[13] A scorepad, typically a small notebook, accompanies a pencil for manually recording points accumulated from word placements and bonuses.[18][17] This allows players to track running totals across multiple rounds, with spaces provided for each participant's scores. In competitive play, an optional timer—often a three-minute hourglass—is included to enforce turn limits and prevent delays.[20][21] This accessory promotes efficient pacing, particularly in tournaments, though casual games may omit it for relaxed enjoyment.[18]Rules
Setup
Scarabeo is designed for 2 to 4 players.[10] To begin, players determine the starting order by each drawing a single tile from the bag; the player with the alphabetically highest letter—considering A as the highest—goes first, with ties resolved by redrawing.[10] Alternatively, players may agree on the starting order.[22] The game board is then placed centrally on the table for all to access.[10] All 130 letter tiles are placed into the provided bag and thoroughly mixed by shaking.[10] Each player draws 8 tiles randomly from the bag, placing them face-down on their individual rack, starting with the first player and proceeding clockwise.[10] Players agree to use an official Italian dictionary to validate words during play, ensuring all are standard Italian terms of at least two letters.[22] The first player then forms and places an initial word of at least two letters horizontally or vertically on the board, ensuring it covers the central premium square, within the allotted time limit.[10]Player Turns
During a player's turn in Scarabeo, the primary option is to place one or more tiles from their rack onto the board to form at least one new word consisting of two or more letters, which must connect to existing words on the board by sharing at least one letter.[10][8] If unable to play, the player may instead choose to exchange tiles or pass. All placed words must be valid according to the official Italian dictionary, such as the Garzanti, and cannot include proper nouns, abbreviations, geographic names, or other invalid terms like surnames or mythological references.[10][8] Tile exchange allows a player to return between one and seven tiles from their rack to the bag and immediately draw the same number of new tiles to replace them; this action counts as the full turn and yields no score.[8] Passing simply skips the turn without any penalty to the player. The game ends when the bag is empty and no further valid plays are possible.[10][8] At the end of any turn—whether tiles were placed, exchanged, or the turn was passed—the player draws new tiles from the bag to refill their rack back to eight tiles, provided tiles remain in the bag; if the bag is empty, the rack remains as is.[10][8] This sequence ensures continuous play while maintaining the hand limit established at setup.[4]Word Placement
In Scarabeo, players place letter tiles to form new words that must connect to at least one existing letter on the board, ensuring all resulting words—both the primary word and any incidental ones created by intersections—are valid Italian words of common usage.[10] The connectivity rule applies to all plays after the first word. The first player's word must be placed horizontally or vertically, covering the central premium square.[22] All tiles must be positioned within the 17x17 grid without overlapping existing tiles or extending beyond the board's edges.[10] Words are formed exclusively in horizontal or vertical orientations, reading from left to right or top to bottom, with diagonal placements strictly prohibited to maintain the crossword-style structure.[22] Tiles may cross existing words at intersection points, thereby forming additional valid words perpendicular to the original ones; for example, adding tiles to extend a horizontal word might create a new vertical word where it intersects.[10] Each new word, including those formed at crossings, must consist of at least two letters, and players cannot rearrange or move previously placed tiles during their turn.[22] The game's two blank tiles, known as "jolly," serve as wild substitutes for any letter during placement, allowing flexibility in forming connected words while adhering to the same orientation and connectivity rules.[23]Scoring
Point Values
In Scarabeo, each letter tile is assigned a base point value based on its relative frequency in the Italian language, with common vowels and consonants valued at 1 point and rarer letters assigned higher values to balance gameplay. The specific assignments are as follows: 1 point for A, C, E, I, O, R, S, T; 2 points for L, M, N; 3 points for P; 4 points for B, D, F, G, U, V; 8 points for H and Z; and 10 points for Q.[8][23] The two jolly tiles, known as "scarabei," function as wild tiles that can represent any letter and score the point value of that letter.[10] The basic score for a player's turn is the sum of the point values of all letters in the new word or words formed during that turn.[24] If a single turn creates multiple new words—such as by placing tiles that intersect existing words on the board—each new word is scored separately by summing its letter values, and the totals are then added together for the overall turn score.[10] These base point values can be modified by premium squares on the board, such as those that double or triple individual letters or entire words.[8]| Point Value | Letters |
|---|---|
| 1 | A, C, E, I, O, R, S, T |
| 2 | L, M, N |
| 3 | P |
| 4 | B, D, F, G, U, V |
| 8 | H, Z |
| 10 | Q |