Title: Mario Teaches Typing 2
Overall Rating:
A-
Source: Now licensed by Mindscape,
formerly by Brainstorm
Playing Time: 1 minute to 1+ hours (time
can be set by teacher or parent)
Date: 6/11/98
Cost: $ 29.95 - Contact customer support
at -- http://www.computeresp.com/prdct/245/95.html
Number of Players: 1
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed:
WINDOWS
3.1/95 -- IBM OR 100% compatibles running WIndows 3.1/95, 486/33 MHz
or higher, 4 mb RAM, Mouse, Minimum 256 color VGA monitor, Sound Blaster
series or ProAudio Spectrum sound cards supported.
Subject Area: Keyboarding
Objectives: Players will develop
quality skills that are essential in life such as: Hand/Eye coordination,
reading, spelling, matching, memory, writing and even computer skills.
Brief Description: Mario and his brother
Luigi encounter a typewriter on ground, Mario tries to type on it and it
explodes into pieces and flys all over and the object of game is to find
all the pieces, traveling through different levels (worlds): Begginer,
Intermediate, Advanced, and Practice.
Entry Capabilities Required:
Reading and Finger Identification.
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: +5 --Very relevant,
each level of play involves player in all areas.
Provides practice of relevant skills:
+5 -- Practice is the "NAME OF THE GAME" in
this area.
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: +5
--This game has Mario, his brother Luigi and the Princess (who are all
part of the infamous Mario Brothers Video games) so this alone will arouse
and maintain because one can change into a different character.
Likely to be comprehended clearly: +4
-- Easy to comprehend
Technical quality (durable, attractive):
+5 --Very durable and can be adapted by instructor/parent for many uses.
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather
than chance): +5 -- Winning very much depends
on the players actions.
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic,
accurate depiction): +3 --One section does
have a mock keyboard that lets player identify keys.
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test
results):
+4 --I have used this game in my own classroom and it is an effective way
of review.
Clear directions for play: +4
--Mario's head pops up and talks to you and informs you of what is going
on.
Effectiveness of debriefing:
+5 --Very effective tool to use as a debriefing method, after certain sections
of keys have been covered.
Strong Points:
Effectively goes over keys on Keyboard.
Weak Points:
takes one forever to eventually find all typewriter parts.
Reviewer: Edith M. Hanlon
Position: Student
Date: 6/11/98
Computer System Reviewed on: 586 DX2 -
133 MHz PC.
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