Jon_Steeves%SFU.Mailnet@MIT-MULTICS.arpa (09/05/86)
A GAME CALLED NOGGIN
Is there anyone interested in FORTH & EDUCATION & MATHEMATICS.
Probably lots. Well I need some help. Last year I wrote
an educational game in Forth for the Commodore 64. It is
called NOGGIN and it is sort of a mathematical pinball game,
basically the game allows you to play with and meditate upon
the properties of numbers, while scoring points and winning
free games.
There are three versions of the game: one for elementary
schools (it deals with multiplication, division, addition, etc.);
for highschools (logs, bases other than decimal); and one
for math types (distribution of primes and composites,
modulus arithmatics, number of prime divisors, stuff).
At the moment, the game is being used by numerous school
districts in Vancouver; in alternate schools; in a hospital
for work with the learning disabled; and as a research tool
at universities (memory and learning disabilities).
As educational software it is somewhat revolutionary because
(1) it is a game that teaches (i.e., it's fun) and (2) it's
free (I'm giving it away, though you are allowed to send
donations; in other words, shareware).
NOGGIN NEEDS HELP
I'm sending this message because the game needs help. I want to put
Noggin on other computers, however, because it is free I
haven't the cash to hire people to do it and because there
are so many types of computers I haven't the time or inclination
to do it myself.
The game is written in Forth thus if anyone would like to
make a version for their own computer (and this is altruism
because all programming is hard work and time consuming),
please send me a note over the network. We'll talk.
If you prefer languages other than Forth (APL, C, COBOL),
you are welcome to make versions in those languages
for any machine imaginable (IBM 370 , Dec Vax, Atari 400).
In other words, if you have pent up programming energy
and need a project, here it is. All I ask is that your
version of Noggin retain the spirit of the original (you
give it away for free).
Finally, anyone with access to a Commodore-64 who is interested in a
copy of the game (I'll mail you all three versions), send
a letter containing your return address and $5 (postage
and handling, cost of floppy) to:
Jon Steeves,
7310 Imperial St.,
Burnaby, British Columbia,
Canada, V5E 1N7
You can reach me through the net at:
Jon_Steeves%sfu.mailnet@mit-multics.arpa
(for mailnet, ARPA, and Internet)
userjons@sfu (bitnet)
...!seismo!ubc-vision!sfu.mailnet!jon_steeves (UUCP)dmm@calmasd.UUCP (09/09/86)
Sorry to post - the mailer bounced it back when I tried. PLEASE -n- PAST THIS In article <3564@brl-smoke.ARPA> you write: > > > A GAME CALLED NOGGIN > Jon, This may or may not help. Here in San Diego, the San Diego State Univ. Educational Technology center (I think that's the name) runs a BBS for those interested in computers in education at all levels. I occasionally log on. I could give you their number, or if you want I could post a message for you on it, & see if anyone (sysop or otherwise) wants to get in touch with you. I am completely unaffiliated with these people, & so can provide no more information, or pro/con recommendations. They seem to be serious, but it is a very inactive BBS.s Consider also posting it to a bunch of local (to you) BBS's, & see if it will wend it's way throughout the world. N.B. This net.address goes away tomorrow (I lose my USENET access due to employment changes, but not my local BBS access, of course). Get in touch with me via US Mail at: 8072 Caminito Mallorca La Jolla, California 92037 USA Or if you need a university address, Muir College Writing Program University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California 92093 n.b.^2. I'd be happy to upload this for you onto a couple of San Diego BBS's (provided it isn't TOO long - believe it or not, I still work (attempt to work?) at 300 baud.) [oh, it'd have to be an IBM PC readable disk] Good luck from a mathematical idiot (me), David M. MacMillan, KB6MPN "If feather-dusters are - UCSD [Lit] (ex-UCSC/Crown) made of feathers, what are - Calma/GE [Info-Sci] (ex IBM) crop-dusters made of?" - UCSD Soaring Club - LM, 'cellist - SSA, USHGA, EAA (ch. 14), ARRL