By Dale Farris, Vice President
Golden Triangle PC Club
September 2004

Game Overview

Viva-Media, LLC, the supreme children's software distributor, announces their newest game with this super game for children interested in learning more about math.

As many readers likely know, children's software programs that are supposedly created to simulate reality, or offer experiential, interactive learning, many times fail to make the grade. However, as any computer owner familiar with the award-winning lineup of software from Viva-Media knows, you can always depend on Viva-Media for top quality programs, regardless the targeted age group.

In the special case of mathematics tutor programs, most readers are probably familiar with various of these programs that target adults, but finding such a program created at the level of children has till now been a problem. With The Number Devil you now have exactly what you want if you are interested in helping children learn math.

The Number Devil is way, way more than an exercise in traditional math drills. Instead of this more boring approach, this super program focuses on learning mathematical concepts through 10 amazing nights of math exploration with the Number Devil. While the age range on the box suggests ages 8 and up, this program will also be very suitable for older students, even through high school, as well as adults wishing to bone up on these mathematical concepts.

What always stymies any computer software creator with a desire to create a program on learning math is of course the inherent complexity of the subject, something that just naturally makes for an added challenge if you want to help children improve their math skills by working with a computer program.  The Number Devil scores a bulls-eye in its marvelously playful approach to a math tutorial that will appeal to all children, as well as adults interested in the fascinating world of mathematics.

Despite the fun you will have, the game is of course built on serious matters, namely many powerful mathematical concepts and all the subtle, powerful aspects that accompany learning math.

Players take command of the action and point-and-click the main character, Robert, through 10 wondrous nights of marvelous mathematical learning, guided all the while by the ever clever Number Devil. Poor Robert! Math was a nightmare for him, until the Number Devil popped into his dreams and showed him a whole new way to understand math concepts. Over the course of his vivid 10 amazing nights, the witty Number Devil helps Robert discover the tricks and wonders of numbers by magically transforming unfamiliar or difficult math concepts into a dynamic learning experience.

Join Robert and the Number Devil and learn as you play the Number Devil way, where some numbers "hop," prime numbers are "prima donnas," and roots are "rutabagas." Who knew math could be so devilishly fun?

Math Concepts

You play ten (10) fun games on your way to learning these important math concepts. These include

1st Night - the number 1;  indefinitely many of ordinary numbers;  indefinitely many small and ever smaller numbers between 0 and 1;  the 1 is the mother of all numbers;  Closing in on a number game

2nd night - the meaning and importance of the number zero;  the hopping numbers (Powers, Squared);  Digits;  the significance of the position;  Roman numerals game

3rd night - divide without a rest;  prima donnas (primes);  prime numbers up to 50;  XXL prima donnas (large primes);  tricks with prima donnas;  Recognizing primes game

4th night - fractions/decimal fractions;  number snakes (numerical series) between 0-1 and 1-3;  number snakes (numerical series);  unreasonable numbers (irrational numbers);  rutabagas (square roots);  Roots and square numbers game

5th night - triangular number;  any number consists of a maximum 3 triangular numbers;  squared numbers are made of two triangular numbers;  another trick:  get the 12th triangular number by adding;  square numbers (squared);  Loading triangular piles of coconuts game

6th night - Fibonacci numbers;  Fibonacci numbers in nature

7th night - Pascal's triangle;  playing with Pascal's triangle;  patterns in Pascal's triangle;  Pharaoh's secret game

8th night - combinatorics with two variables;  combinatorics with several variables; combinatorics with 2/3/4/11 variables, groups of two;  combinatorics with 3/4/5 variables, groups of three;  combinatorics and Pascal's triangle game

9th night - number series and infinity;  naming number series (serial typology);  various number series;  The undestroyable arrow game (infinitely small numbers)

10th night - the irrational number 1,618033989 (the golden section);  pentagon;  Euler's formula (planes, knots, and lines);  Catching Euler bodies game

You can tell from this listing of the many concepts packed in this important game how important is The Number Devil, and how valuable it will be to many age groups, not just children. There are some very sophisticated mathematical concepts explained here, and all are presented and explained in a very entertaining, refreshing way, with an emphasis on having fun while you learn.

Game Play

You move the characters and interact with the screen by using the mouse. You will also want to have handy a hand-held calculator.

Age Group

The game box states the game is relevant for ages from 8 and up, and I think the game is a super choice for a CD ROM approach to a math tutor. The Number Devil will well serve the needs of students of all ages, including through high school and college, and adults will also likely have a great deal of fun learning math with this marvelous game.

Educational Value

Obviously, the most significant educational value of the game is its tutoring in learning math. While many may think that math can be tedious and difficult, in this game children will have a ton of fun as they learn these powerful math concepts in such a fun way. Once they have worked through the game, which should present hours and hours of fun, they can of course move on to higher levels of mathematics. Any parent who desires their children learn math now has the right computer software to help them in this endeavor.

Targeted Customers

Viva-Media's marvelous game The Number Devil is targeted to the age group 8 and up. While the youngest 8-year olds may indeed have fun with this game, because they are having fun learning math, the program will be a more likely success the more serious the player is about learning math. Older children should also find this game a super tool to use in their initial learning steps.

Again, Viva-Media presents a title that provides super value to public libraries as a wonderful title to be added to their collection. The game could be made available on workstations for children and their parents to play, or it could represent a super tool for use in Little Bookwork programs designed around the topic of learning math.

Price

$29.99 (super bargain!)

Minimum System Configuration Requirements

Windows
Pentium 233 MHz processor
Windows 98, ME, XP
64MB RAM
100MB free hard disk space
12x CD ROM drive
Sound card
Mouse

MAC OS X
Power Mac G3 or higher
OS X System 10.1 or later
128MB RAM
100MB free hard disk space
12x CD ROM drive
Sound card
Mouse

Mac Classic
Power Mac 233MHz
System 8.1 or later
64MB RAM
100MB free hard disk space
12x CD ROM drive
Sound card
Mouse
16-bit graphics card
 
Installation and Setup

The game should install and set up with no problems. You do need the game disc in the CD ROM drive to play the game.

About Viva Media, LLC

Viva Media, LLC, publisher of high quality family entertainment and educational software, is a privately owned New York company dedicated to publishing a wide array of interactive content of the highest standards. The company's collection of more than 40 multimedia titles tout more than 30 awards for excellence in publishing. Viva Media brands include Viva Chess, Viva Adventure, Viva Kids, Viva Music, Viva Astronomy, and the award winning line of Viva-Media Publishing CD-ROM games.

Contact Information

John De Feo, Media Coordinator
Viva Media
580 Broadway, Suite 604
New York, NY 10012
212-431-4420, ext. 207
FAX 212-431-4537
john@viva-media.com
mail@viva-media.com
www.viva-media.com

You can also order from other retailers or online vendors.