Title: Operation Neptune
Overall Rating:
B+
Source: The Learning Company
Playing Time: 2 hours
Date: 1998
Cost: $ 12
http://www.cyber-arena.com/pcmacl~1.txt
Number of Players: 1
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed:CD-Rom
Subject Area: Mathematics
Objectives: To develop intermediate math
skills, such as reading graphs and interpreting data, reading word problems,
and being able to do simple arithmatic in your head.
Brief Description: Allows you to embark
on a mission, inside a submarine, in search of missing capsules.
During the mission, you will encounter numerous math problems that you
must figure out in order to continue on your journey.
Entry Capabilities Required: Must have
some knowledge on reading word problems, interpreting graphs, and simple
arithmatic.
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: 5- This software
really does help to develop one's math skills. With two different
levels of difficulty, you can decide which one is best for you.
Provides practice of relevant skills:5-
During your mission you encounter numerous math problems that need to be
solved, so that you can continue on. Also, as you continue the problems
tend to get a little more challenging for the player.
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: 4-
It will arouse your interest because of the story line that goes along
with the game and the fun graphics. With each capsule that you find,
a new part of the story line is revealed to the player. However,
it does tend to become a little tedious after a while, because you are
doing the same thing over and over again.
Likely to be comprehended clearly: 5-
I found this game to be very easy to understand. The computer tells
you what to do most of the time.
Technical quality (durable, attractive):
4- I thought the graphics were attractive for the age group, but they could
have had a little more variety with each level.
Game: Winning dependent on player actions (rather
than chance):5- In order to complete the mission,
you have to find all of the capsules. With each capsule that you
locate, there is a math problem that goes along with it. You cannot
collect the capsule until you have solved the problem. Therefore,
if you don't answer the problem correctly, you cannot collect the capsule
and finish the level.
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic,
accurate depiction):4- The game was
a little cutesy, of course you have to take into consideration of the age
level that it is for. However, it was very accurate in dipiction.
The water was indeed blue, and the submarine yellow, the plants were a
variety of colors depending on what they were.
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test
results):
NA
Clear directions for play: I found the
directions to be very clear. The computer told you what to do most
of the time.
Effectiveness of debriefing:1-
I saw no evidence of debriefing.
Strong Points:
I thought this game was very good in that it did help to develop the players
math skills. I thought it was an interesting story line that helped
to keep the students attention. I thought the graphics were very
good and also helped to maintain interest.
Weak Points:
I thought that it had a tendency to become very tedious after a while
because
the player had to do the same thing over and over again.
Reviewer: Jessica Bound
Position: Undergraduate (secondary education
/ mathematics)
Date: 9 February 1999
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh
PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.