Math Rabbit

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Math Rabbit
Apple II cover art
Developer(s)The Learning Company
Publisher(s)The Learning Company
SeriesReader Rabbit
Platform(s)Original:
Apple II, MS-DOS

Deluxe:
DOS, Windows 3.x, Macintosh
Reader Rabbit's Math 1:
Windows, Macintosh

Reader Rabbit Math Ages 4–6:
Windows, Macintosh
Release1986 (Original)
1993 (Deluxe)
1997 (Math 1)
1998 (Math Ages 4-6)
1999 (Personalized)
Genre(s)Edutainment
Mode(s)Single-player

Math Rabbit is a 1986 video game spin-off from the Reader Rabbit edutainment series. It was made by The Learning Company for MS-DOS and Apple II series. A Deluxe version was released in 1993 for MS-DOS, Macintosh, and Windows 3.x. In 1997, the game was remade for Windows and Macintosh as Reader Rabbit's Math 1. The final remake for Windows and Macintosh in 1998 is Reader Rabbit's Math Ages 4-6, with a personalized version released in 1999.

Gameplay[edit]

The game takes place in a circus and teaches addition, subtraction, and counting in four different games, each of which with multiple difficulty settings.[1][2] The game is for ages 4–8.[3] The four games are:

  1. Clown's Counting Games - the player is required to count with a number as a guide to pitch the tone of the musical instrument.
  2. Tightrope Game - the player has to help Reader Rabbit match a picture of objects with a displaying number and discard the pictures that don't match.
  3. Circus Train Game - the player has complete a sequence of numbers each being added to a particular number.
  4. Mystery Matching Game - the player has to match turn over cards and find matching pictures of items and corresponding numbers.

Since Math Rabbit Deluxe, the games were retitled "Calliope Counting Game", "Tightrope Show", "Sea Lion Show", and "Balloon Matching Game", respectively, but the game objectives and rules remain the same.

Development[edit]

The game was originally designed by Teri Perl and programmed by Aaron Weiss. Upon the release of the Deluxe edition, Bill Dinsmore, The Learning Company president and chief executive officer, said: "With the release of Reader Rabbit 1 and Math Rabbit for Windows, we now offer five Windows educational software products that help to develop important learning skills".[4]

The original art of Math Rabbit was done by Analee Nunan. For Math Rabbit Deluxe 256 color VGA graphics were applied. The original music and sound composition were done by Teri Perl and Aaron Weiss. For Math Rabbit Deluxe, AdLib soundtracks were composed.

The activities teach numerical relationships to young users. It has a scope, sequence guide, and lab pack.[5]

Reception[edit]

Critical reception[edit]

The program received highly positive reviews from critics. In particular, the Chicago Sun-Times championed it in seven articles.

The Los Angeles Times said the game was "sweet", though Millie's Math House made it "look kind of buttoned-down".[7] FOGG praised the easy-to-use gaming interface,[1] and The Washington Post said it is "entertaining"[8] while incorporating valuable lessons into "colorfully fun graphics".[9][failed verification] Superkids described the game as "excellent" and said it was a great first introduction to educational video gaming for the target audience.[10] Don Crabb, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, recommended the "outstanding"[11] software for the 1989 holiday season[12] and noted it was among the "high-quality educational software sold",[13] and that it was one of the best educational releases for offering a "solid instructional model" for teaching kids the fundamentals of mathematics[14] through "smoothly" integrating the gaming and learning[15] without "bogging them down in mindless mathematical trivia",[16] such as by teaching geometry at a very early age.[17] Computer Shopper said the product was "remarkably good software",[18] and positively compared its depth and carde gameplay to Power Rangers ZEO PowerActive.[19] PC Mag said the game "moves beyond" Stickybear Numbers and Math and Me due to its customization options.[20] Computer Gaming World in 1994 stated that "Math Rabbit is very easy to use, and accommodates different learning styles. It's a fun program kids can really count on".[21]

Commercial performance[edit]

It is the seventh most popular in the education category sold across eleven Software Etc. stores in the Washington area in the week ending on August 23, 1995.[22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Fogg, Frank E. (December 1997). "Math Rabbit Deluxe Software Review". Frank's Place (www.fogg.cc). Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  2. ^ Rosenberg, Ronald (November 20, 1994). "Children's educational software still an exploding market". Learning. Boston Globe. pp. 92–. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016 – via ProQuest Archiver.
  3. ^ Fitzpatrick, Sharyn A. (November 17, 1994). "READER RABBIT TRIO NOW AVAILABLE ON CD-ROM!". Fremont, California: The Learning Company. TM-LW -- SJ001 -- 6076. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016 – via PR Newswire Association LLC via Gale, Cengage Learning via Free Online Library.
  4. ^ Fitzpatrick, Sharyn A. (February 16, 1994). "TWO AWARD-WINNING RABBITS, 'READER RABBIT 1' AND 'MATH RABBIT', NOW APPEARING IN WINDOWS!". Fremont, California: The Learning Company. TM-LW -- SJ001 -- 6076. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016 – via PR Newswire Association LLC via Gale, Cengage Learning via Free Online Library.
  5. ^ "3. Software Descriptions: Mathematics: Basic Skills: 5) Math Rabbit". The Latest and Best of TESS: The Educational Software Selector (1991-1992 ed.). Hampton Bays, New York, 11946: Educational Products Information Exchange (EPIE) Institute. 1991. p. 193. ISBN 9780916087159. LCCN 91-72635 – via Univ. Press of Mississippi via Google Books.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  6. ^ "Math Rabbit Grades K-2" Box Art
  7. ^ Sunila, Joyce (October 15, 1993). "SOFTWARE REVIEW: Education Made Fun: New computer programs employ adventure and games of skill to help youngsters learn math". Technology and the Internet. Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Sussman, Vic (November 1, 1987). "A Guide For Parents Series: Education Review". The Washington Post. p. R09GUI. ISSN 0190-8286. Document wp00000020011118djb102ooh. Partially available at https://web.archive.org/web/20171108210029/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1351956.html. {{cite news}}: External link in |postscript= (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  9. ^ Oldenburg, Don (December 10, 1991). "Computers; Merry Software ... (For Kids' Entertainment and Education)". The Washington Post. p. C05MER. Document wp00000020011110dnca01fb9. Partially available at https://web.archive.org/web/20171108210138/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1099417.html. {{cite news}}: External link in |postscript= (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  10. ^ "Software Review of Math Rabbit: The Learning Company's Math Rabbit Deluxe". SuperKids. Knowledge Share LLC. 1996. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  11. ^ Crabb, Don (September 1, 1991). "Reader flummoxed by glitch in software". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010 – via HighBeam Research.
  12. ^ "Crabb's bottom line". Chicago Sun-Times. December 3, 1989. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  13. ^ Crabb, Don (December 13, 1992). "Holiday Computer Gift Suggestions". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  14. ^ Crabb, Don (October 13, 1991). "Offspring does parent proud // Aiming for slightly older kids, Reader Rabbit 2 hits mark". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on June 5, 2007 – via HighBeam Research.
  15. ^ Crabb, Don (June 23, 1991). "Math Blaster Plus! makes math fun for kids". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  16. ^ Crabb, Don (December 3, 1989). "Gifts for the computer-lover". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  17. ^ Crabb, Don (November 12, 1989). "This educational software's a joy to use". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  18. ^ Terra, John (September 1, 1996). "Reader Rabbit's Reading Development Library 3. (Learning Co) (Software Review)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)". Computer Shopper. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  19. ^ Kawamoto, Wayne (November 1, 1996). "Power Rangers ZEO PowerActive Math. (Saban Entertainment's educational software) (Software Review)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)". Computer Shopper. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
  20. ^ Trivette, Donald B. (February 14, 1989). "Fun with Math: Introducing Your Child to the World of Numbers". After Hours: Education. PC Mag. Ziff Davis. p. 442 – via Google Books.
  21. ^ Haverstock, Mark (January 1994). "Reviews: Math Rabbit" (PDF). Kids & Computers. Computer Gaming World. No. 114: "Covering Interactive & Multimedia Entertainment". pp. 138–139. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 29, 2023 – via Computer Gaming World Museum.
  22. ^ "BESTSELLERS". The Washington Post. August 28, 1995. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018 – via HighBeam Research.

External links[edit]

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