TimezAttack

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The aim of the game is to escape from the dungeon. In order to do so, a learner needs to progress to different levels within it. To do so, he needs to unlock doors within the dungeon. By answering.  a multiplication question, he obtains possession of the key to unlock a door. In the above screen shot, a learner gains possession of the key by inputting the answer to the question 6*5.	To assist the learner in answering a multiplication question, a corresponding number of snails virtually appear within the room. The learner must navigate to collect these. As he collects each snail, a voice over is given as to the number  of snails collected.  For example, in the above screenshot, as each snail is collected, the voice over counts up in a series of four. A numerical representation of the aforementioned count is also given. This reinforces the counting procedure within the learner's mind .
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Once all the snails have been collected, the learner must insert each into the table to the right hand side of the multiplication question posed. This is achieved by a throwing action. Within the table, each snail appears  as a dice. As each dice is revealed, a voice over and numerical representation is given of the total quantity displayed by all dices. Again, this is done to reinforce in the learner's mind the manner by which multiplication is achieved.  When all slots have been filled, the learner is able to type in the answer to the original question posed. Such an action opens the  door.	On opening the door, a monster appears. The monster serves to ensure that the learner has correctly learned his tables. In order to kill the monster, the learner must provide the correct answer to each multiplication question that it poses. The learner has a limited time period in which to do this. The learner's  time line is symbolised by the yellow line at the top of the screen. The monster's life line is symbolised by the red line. As the learner answers each question correctly, the life line of the monster is reduced. The monster keeps a complete history of all multiplication questions posed and randomly displays each to ensure that the learner has learned them correctly.

"We did a fairly informal testing of the software by bringing in six children who were

about to enter 3rd-grade.  We had them play the game 1 hour a day for 9

days.  At the end of that period, 50% had completely passed off all

their multiplication through 12's.  33% were roughly an hour or two away

from passing them all off.  One child had only passed off three facts.



You see, the beauty of Timez Attack is that a child simply cannot 

progress from one level to the next without demonstrating what we term

 "total mastery".  We define this as being able to recall every single

fact in the set and to be able to type it in correctly within 3 - 4

seconds each.  So you see, you really can't play through the game with

any result other than total mastery.



So again, the question becomes, "how long does this take", and "how hard

is it to get children to play".  So our test roughly showed that it

takes a child an average of about 9 hours to master all their times

tables.  And the even better answer is the response to the second

question.  We've tested the game now with thousands of children and the

overwhelming response is that they love to play.  And as discussed, when

they play it, they totally master multiplication."