Subject Area: Game of Discovery
Objectives: Build motor skills (hand/eye co-ordination), math, science,
and reading skills.
Brief Description: A game of discovery and learning that utilizes many
graphics and sounds to entertain and encourage children to explore.
A
point and click game that combines sounds and movement with appropriate
graphics. Also has a photo segment that allows the player to capture
and
review pictures they previously created.
Entry Capabilities Required: Ages 3 - 6 with some degree of motor
skills.
Rating: (1-5)
Relevance to objectives: 4 The game is
skillfully designed to
encourage players to continue to discover and relate various items
and
sounds. Does not appear to have a direct correlation to learning math
and reading.
Provides practice of relevant skills: 5
The program encourages
players to point and click to make objects move, change, make sounds,
etc.
Likely to arouse/maintain interest: 4
The game will entertain
younger age groups for longer periods of time.
Likely to be comprehended clearly: Some basic
parts of the program
are easily understood but some buttons are ambiguous and hard to
discover their functions.
Technical quality (durable, attractive): 5
A very colorful,
graphic and animated program that adds to it's enticement to continue
playing.
Game: Winning dependent on player actions
(rather than chance): 3
Not a gaming type program. More of a discovery/correlation type program.
Simulation: Validity of game model (realistic,
accurate depiction):
4 The game has the level graphics that young children can understand
and
relate to. Not realistic but cartoon like.
Evidence of effectiveness (e.g. field-test
results): N/A
Clear directions for play: 3 Discovery
of main actions fairly
easily understood, but more in depth capabilities such as the photo
sudio and some of the button actions are difficult to comprehend.
Effectiveness of debriefing: 2 Unsure of the
scope of the program
and its intended objectives.
Strong Points: Extensive use of appropriate graphics, color and sound
to
intended age group. Good motivation to keep players interested and
practice motor skills.
Weak Points: Some difficulty understanding capabilities and buttons
in
the program.
Reviewer: Donna L. Bazinet
Position: GRED 518 Student
Date: June 13, 1998
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.
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