There are a lot of computer games out there for kids of all ages. Most of those games offer nothing more than mindless activity, while other games at the very least add puzzles or other brain-teasers into the mix. However, the folks over at Big Brainz have developed an innovative new way to teach kids multiplication facts through adventure gaming.
The idea of multiplication or math games is nothing new. In fact, math games have been around for almost as long as computers have been in the home and in the school. As early as the 1990s, you could find math games on computer systems in many of the more progressive schools across the world.
However, Big Brainz has taken the concept of math games to a whole new level with a creative game called Timez Attack. This game presents multiplication challenges to children in an environment that features rich graphics and a fascinating adventure gaming experience that will keep kids enthralled with the story, even as they are learning math along the way.
Starting a New Game
The first step when you install and launch the game is to create a name for that game. The program allows you to save multiple games, which is great if there are multiple children in the house that want to play it.
Multiplication or Division
The next step is to choose what game type you want to play. The nice thing about the Timez Attack download is that it comes packaged with both the Timez Attack (multiplication) as well as the Division Expansion pack. You can choose which operation you want the game to focus on by choosing the associated icon.
Finding Challenges
Finally, once the game launches, you'll find yourself in an amazing world filled with high quality computer graphics and even a soundtrack and sound effects that kids will love. The game has the look and feel of some of the most popular retail adventure games on the market for kids.
Movement of the character can take place with either the mouse or the arrow keys, and answers to the math questions throughout the game take place with the keypad.
Choosing a Grade Level
After a short pre-test that lets kids quickly learn and understand how the game-play works, the next step is to choose the appropriate grade level. This allows the game to offer up age-appropriate math content that will challenge the child, but will also keep the difficulty level within the estimated range for that age group. If your child is a little advanced, it's perfectly fine to choose a higher grade level.
Answering Math Questions
The majority of the game consists of locating and answering math challenges in order to open passageways and unlock secret doors or gates. In some cases the challenges start off easy, but as you advance through the levels, the difficulty of the challenges continues to increase as well.
Accomplishing Missions
In some cases, kids will see actual animation take place in response to answering questions correctly. For example, in this challenge, as the child answers questions correctly, the drawbridge lowers a little bit further. Complete all of the math challenges correctly, and the drawbridge lowers so that you can cross.
See Results
At the end of each level, you'll see a pop-up box that displays the success for that level. The graph shows what stage you've completed, as well as how many correct answers you had compared to the total answers. As you move through the levels you'll also see how much you've improved.
Fighting With Math
Some of the math challenges are pretty exciting! At different times in the game, your character may be confronted with an opponent that he or she has to fight. You'll always see a math challenge as part of those fights. Answer the question correctly, and you score a hit. Answer wrong, and you've missed. Once you answer them all correctly, your opponent will fall to the ground, and you win!
Make it to the Goal
Once you make it through the entire level, you'll discover the portal that moves you on to the next level. Every level offers even more interesting graphics, harder challenges, and exciting twists and turns on your math adventure.
BigBrains really outdid themselves with this fun math game. It's a brilliant game that not only encourages children to practice their math skills by encouraging them with a game, but it also encourages retention of those math facts through careful repetition.
Video games are fast becoming the preferred method of many parents and teachers to help foster education and learning both at home and in the classroom. The Timez Attack game is a perfect example of one of those cutting edge educational tools
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