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ChemRacer 2713: The Legend of Kid ChemReviewed by Hilary WilliamsonPublished by Ohio Distinctive Software
PC version requires: Mac version requires: Description:
The Pro Series is similar. In this case catching another ChemRacer results in a multiple choice question asking you to identify its element from a set of 4. Hints can be accessed but reduce the score (the last hint is the symbol itself, which makes it easy to deduce the answer). The Super League is the same as the Pro Series, except that action is timed. An announcer entertains with tv commentary during the 'race', which is more like a free-for-all. The racing game gets irritating after a while but you don't actually have to move the mouse - eventually a competitor will be caught anyway. There are 20 levels of play, and higher levels provide both information and questions at a more advanced level. For example level 10 indicates the number of neutrons in an atom of an element, and level 20 asks questions such as what element is used to strengthen stainless steel. The Gallery includes character and opponent bios, information on racing tracks and a Trophy Case. Track and opponent information is unlocked by progressing through the races. Games, their progress levels and trophies, can be saved and loaded again. The Glossary includes excellent (though brief) overviews on Atoms, Protons, Electrons, Neutrons, Isotopes, Elements & Compounds, the Periodic Table, and Element Families - a very useful part of the program. Features:
Technical Aspects:I tried the program on a Pentium II with Windows 98. There was no installation required, the program simply started from the Run command in the Start menu.This would be suitable for someone with auditory difficulty - they would only miss music and verbal repetition of text on the screen. Report and Conclusions:The age range indicated for this title is 3 and up. However the only part accessible to younger kids is the free for all racing, which is not enough in itself to make purchase worthwhile. Nor would I recommend it as a teaching tool for the Periodic Table and the chemical elements, though the Glossary overview is very nice. Information is simply presented on each element captured in a race, and my son (10) barely read it and then guessed answers in the Pro Series.Where ChemRacer 2713: The Legend of Kid Chem is strong is in its provision of drills and reinforcement of the fundamentals of chemical elements. It would be most useful for a child who is already studying chemistry, as another path to understanding and memorizing the information. They should be encouraged to review the Glossary content as well. The price is definitely right and this title can provide strong reinforcement of basic chemistry studied at home or at school. |  |
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Play as Blaze Avogadro (female student of ChemRacer trainer Rusty
Alkali) and race in the Elemental Derby League in the year 2173. Kid
Chem, the greatest ChemRacer in history, has just retired so there is an
opening for a new champion. Start with the EDL Training Series. Each
series requires moving your ChemRacer with the mouse to catch
competitors in an open area by driving up to them. Each opponent
represents a particular chemical element and catching them unlocks its
basics - name, symbol, number in the Periodic Table and atomic weight.
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