Title:  Math Blaster Mystery Pre-Algebra, the Great Brain Robbery

Content Type:  Math (Pre-Algebra)

Rating:  5

Low Grade:  5th

High Grade:  High School (12th)

Publisher:  Davidson & Associate, Inc.

Date Published:  1996

Platform:  Mac and Windows

Price:  $29.95

Content Description:  This game takes place in Dr. Drabble’s mansion, where the player works his way through the different rooms by solving problems.  These problems include building the skills of pre-algebra, logical-thinking, and word problem skills.  There are four math machines throughout the house that you must outsmart to earn puzzle pieces.  The four math machines are:  Word Problem Creatures, Equation Maker, Kitchen Comparisons, and Number Guesser.  Once you get all of the puzzle pieces you earn the key to the lab, where you can reclaim the brain.  To play the math machines, you must obtain gold coins, which are hidden throughout the house.  The higher the difficulty level, the more coins it costs to play (2 coins –easy, 4 coins-medium, 6 coins0hardest).  Allotted time:  30 minutes per work session (this would not be enough time to finish the whole game).  This program would be best suited for an individual or partners.

Installation:  This software was extremely easy to install.  The minimum requirements for installation on a Macintosh are:  Macintosh Performa 575, 8MB of RAM, 13” monitor, system 7, double-speed CD-ROM drive, 256 colors, and printer (optional).  The minimum requirements for Windows are:  Super VGA or VGA graphics, Windows 3.1 or higher, 4MB or RAM for Windows 3.1, 8MB RAM required for Windows 95, 33MHz 486 speed CD-ROM drive, mouse and hard drive, Window-compatible sound.

Strengths/Weaknesses:  I found this game moderately easy to play.  I believe that the problems I had to solve would be useful in teaching Pre-Algebra.  However, getting around the house and rooms was difficult.  Strengths:  animation, sound effects, problem content, and the overall purpose of the game.  Weaknesses:  lack of directions, the math machines “Kitchen Comparisons, and the material made me easily frustrated.

User Comments:  I did not have the resources to acquire comments form children or parents.  I decided to have the resources to acquire comments from children or parents.  We decided to use the reviewer’s comments.  The reviewers stated, “It is very animated with fun activities that promoted independent thinking, understanding of different aspects of math …”
Links to reviews about this game and others:
http://www.kidsdomain.com
 http://www.wyomings.nsw.edu.au/software/mbpa.htm

Would you use this software in your class?
If I was teaching fifth grade or higher I would have this computer program as an option for my students.  By using this program the students can work on their word problems and logical-thinking skills.  If I were to use this program in my classroom I would train at least two students and then name them the experts of the game.  Then they would split up and teach another pair and it would continue in this fashion until everyone could play the game on their own.

What are some of the ways that you could use this software in your classroom?
I would have the students work individually or in pairs to help them better their logical-thinking skills and to help them better comprehend word problems.  By working individually or in pairs the students can begin making up strategies to help them in similar situations as the ones that they are having problems with.