Dad's Fun Math Games

Archive for 2010

Upon cursory examination, it’s obvious that there’s no shortage of math game websites. However, most of these aren’t terribly good, inasmuch as they were not developed by those who understand the elements that drive a good game (namely, game designers).

Of the sites that were developed with the input of game designers and mathematicians or teachers, most of these are “drill” sites. That is to say, sites that hone a skill the player already possesses. Very few of these can actually teach.

So, I’ve been on a mission to discover fun math game websites that actually do just that… Teach. I’m not talking about sites that exercise the math concept children have already grasped, but sites that extend a child’s current knowledge base with respect to math.

Two teaching websites that come immediately to mind are DreamBox Learning and MangaHigh (via Prodigi). Between these two sites, they provide curriculum for grades K-3 and grades 7-11+, which leaves a gap (no curriculum) for grades 4-6.

It seems that this “gap” is almost organic, in that there is a natural division after 3rd grade and before 7th grade. Be that as it may, parents are still left to find, curriculum to fill the gap. So, I’ve been on a quest of sorts, to discover if there’s someone who provides curriculum to fill the aforementioned “gap”.

Occasionally, I find some really interesting sites, but they just don’t help fill this “gap”, so the search continues.

Technorati Tags: Dreambox, fun, game, games, learn, learning, Manga High, math, mathematics, maths, teach, teaching

Algebra Meltdown is a fun math game in which the player solves linear equations to guide atoms through a nuclear reactor. You have been hired by Lissaman Industries to work on one of its dangerous black-ops research projects. Your job as a new controller is to fulfill the requests of the scientists waiting at the Generator’s outlets. Each scientist will request a certain atom, which you create by solving linear equations, then guiding ‘raw’ atoms through the Generator’s labyrinth of machines and tubes to the appropriate requester.

I played a few of the algebra games I found on the web, in an effort to establish a context for what the MangaHigh team achieved with Algebra Meltdown. The thing that struck me immediately was that most of the algebra games are terribly simplistic in terms of game play, so much so that sometimes the game play is derived from some bolted on activity. In contrast, Algebra Meltdown is real game with a serious algebra curriculum as its underpinnings.

The game play has complications beyond the equations themselves… You have to be quick and give the rather impatient scientists what they need. If you take too long in fulfilling a request, the scientist will storm off. If you frustrate too many scientists, you will be terminated. So, the clock is ticking… tick-tock, tick-tock. The other complication is managing the gates, on any given reactor, that deliver an atoms to a specific outlet. You might solve the desired equation, but route it improperly.

The pace of Algebra Meltdown is quite good and it some how avoids that “math test” feel. It doesn’t take too long before you start to feel the pressure created by the demands of the scientist and managing multiple requests. The quality of the game design really does shine through, inasmuch as the curriculum is woven into the very fabric of the game.

Once again, I have to say, “Bravo!” to the MangaHigh team.

Technorati Tags: Algebra Meltdown, Fun Math Games, MangaHigh

I was in the midst of preparing to write a rather synoptic review of  Timez Attack, by installing and playing the game. After I’d successfully installed the game and had started to play, the on-screen activity caught my daughter’s eye (even though she doesn’t care for dungeon games).

She asked in her sing-song way, “Papa… Whatcha doin’?”

I responded, “I’m trying to play a game called Timez Attack.”

Without missing a beat she asked, “What kind of game is this?” Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: Fun Math Games, Timez Attack