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EAN: 9781892854001 Edition: Version 1.6 ISBN: 1892854007 Publication Date: 1998-04 Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Product Description: This multimedia space adventure mystery detective game includes math, logic, and astronomy. Kids play the role of the young Detective MazMaz in recently discovered Alborz Galaxy. Kids have to solve puzzles and math problems, and apply the analytical thinking and common sense. The game is based on a solid story line with an interesting and humorous cast of characters. The captivating story line and the animating (talking) characters in the game keep kids interested throughout the game. While playing the game and having lots of fun, kids practice their math and logic skills in a variety of ways. In this game, kids have complete control over the actions of the detective. For example, they can walk around, gather clues and information, read different documents, interact with other characters in the game, read the map of the galaxy to navigate the spaceship, go to the other planets using the spaceship, buy and sell different items, manage their money, play a simple stock market (buy low and sell high) to increase their pocket money, find and decode a code sheet to get a password, recover a stolen key card, and find a fugitive scientist. Kids would discover a serious threat against the galaxy. It is their job to prevent the Crisis in Alborz Galaxy. But be aware! This story ends with an interesting twist! Generally, it takes many days to successfully finish the game. The game can be saved at any moment, and kids can continue the same game later on. The nonlinear game can be finished in different ways, making it more interesting and challenging. The game is designed for kids in grades 3 to 8, by experienced math teachers with feedback from parents, teachers, and kids. In this non-violent game, the detective does not have any gun, and neither does the spaceship. The detective has an impatient and stingy boss, Chief SunShine, who does not even know what the detective's mission is supposed to be. In addition, the detective gets a spaceship with a missing engine part. Therefore, the detective cannot travel to every parts of Alborz Galaxy. Worse yet, the detective's assistant is a useless robot, called Schnoock (which stands for Synthetically Constructed Humanoid with Numerous Obsolete, Obscure, and Contradictory Knowledge). Not only Schnoock is no help, but it also causes trouble for the detective. Schnoock is supposed to stay in the spaceship to protect the spaceship against any unauthorized entry. Therefore, each time the detective wants to get into the ship, Schnoock gives the detective a math problem. Depending on the grade and level of difficulty chosen at the beginning of the game, the topics and the degree of difficulty of the problems would change. The detective, being a math genius, is supposed to answer the problems correctly. Otherwise, Schnoock does not open the door and does not let the detective in the ship, in fear of an unauthorized entry by a fake detective's look-alike! With practically no money, no clues, and a defective engine, the detective begins the mysterious mission. As in a real detective story, most of the characters in the game are wise guys. They give the detective hard time at every stage of the investigation. Information is not free, getting the information is not easy, and almost all the characters in the game request money or other information in one way or another to provide any clue. To add to the challenge, some of the information are completely useless, and kids have to filter out the real clues from useless ones. Kids generally love these kinds of challenges. The conversations between different characters in the game are both heard and displayed in the talking balloons on the screen. This gives the players the ability to turn off the sound, if they wish. In order to finish the game successfully, kids have to manage their money very wisely. This game is not only very entertaining and fun for kids, it also encourages analytical thinking and reasoning. Math Test and Practice Math test and practice utility can generate millions of math problems from hundreds of especially designed math templates for grades 3 to 8. The two levels of difficulty for each grade helps to smooth out the transition from one grade to the next. The following math topics are covered in this software: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Rounding, Fractions, Decimals, Powers and Exponents, Equations, Percents, Integers, and Sequences. Generating a math test is very easy and quick. Kids can use the practice utility to sharpen their math skills by selecting the grade, the level of difficulty, and the appropriate mix of math topics. After grading a math test, the correct answers are indicated by check marks, while the solutions are shown for incorrect or incomplete entries. In addition to name, score, and date, kids' original answers are also saved in the math test result files. Parents or teachers can view the kids' test result files and examine their answers to specific math problems in order to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Problem sets can be printed for taking written tests in class. The kids' test result files and the solution sheets can be printed, as well. The program is a fat binary, i.e., it contains the native code for both PPC and 680x0 processors. The CD-ROM contains several helpful "Read Me" files in addition to a User Manual. System Requirements (Only Macintosh Version) - Macintosh Computer or Compatible External or Internal CD-ROM Drive 256 Color 13" Color Monitor 4 MB available RAM 5 MB Hard Disk Space, and System 7.1 or later, with QuickTime. Please note that the PC-version is not available yet. 
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