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词条 Blaster Learning System
释义

  1. History

  2. Design

     Art 

  3. The Blaster series

     Maths  Reading  Other  Compilations  Other languages 

  4. Reception

  5. References

  6. External links

{{Infobox VG series
|title = Blaster Learning System
|image =
|caption =
|developer = Davidson & Associates, Knowledge Adventure, Blitz Games
|publisher = Davidson & Associates, Knowledge Adventure
|genre = Edutainment
|platforms = Windows, Macintosh, Apple II, Apple II GS
|creator = Janice G. Davidson
|first release version = Math Blaster!
|first release date= 1983
|latest release version =
|latest release date =
}}

The Blaster Learning System is an educational video game series originally created by Davidson, but is now owned by Knowledge Adventure. Titles in the series have been produced for various computer systems, video game consoles, and as stand-alone handheld units. Originally, the series simply taught mathematics, but eventually expanded to other subjects, such as language arts (reading) and science. Due to the popularity of the original Math Blaster series, Davidson introduced Reading Blaster in 1994, which also went on to become successful.

A Science Blaster was introduced in 1996, but did not reach the same popularity as its predecessors.

History

The first remake of the Davidson fundamentals line came in 1989. The original Math Blaster was written in Applesoft Basic and the Microsoft equivalent. Under Mike Albanese, the Davidson programming crew created a cross platform development system based on Fig Forth. The product was well received and was the first of many Forth based products developed at Davidson.

After starting off with a huge bang and providing the base for the establishment of a very successful public corporation, the Blaster series eventually fell victim to marketing cuts. In an attempt to sell both up and down the age band more and more, Blasters were produced with increasingly thin, fuzzy and overlapping target age groups. Eventually the line came under fierce attack from the Gross brothers of Knowledge Adventure, led by Barton Listic. Knowledge Adventure countered with a simple grade-based segmentation with their JumpStart logo. Eventually, Knowledge Adventure was acquired by Davidson and the company lines were merged.

In 1999, coinciding with the CBS Saturday Morning cartoon Blaster's Universe produced by Nelvana and Teletoon, the characters once again changed, probably to be more identifiable as people, with Blasternaut becoming Max Blaster, a 12-year-old boy obsessed with science and space in the 21st century, and his Galactic Commander becoming G.C., a cool 12-year-old girl who looks like an earthling but is really an alien. Together they must secretly work to save G.C.'s universe, using logic and creativity to outsmart the intergalactic outlaws. Spot, the robot companion was dropped, with a robot dog named "MEL" ("Mechanically Enhanced Lapdog") replacing him.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, for the most part after Davidson began its series of being bought and merged into other companies, these titles were renamed and repackaged with no change in content. One example is the 1999 release of Math Blaster for 3rd Grade in which the box art shows the brand's all new CBS cartoon characters, while the screen grabs of the game show a very different Blaster character and style; "Powerful Praise" quoted on the box shows 4½ stars for the game while admitting it was "previously published as "Math Blaster Ages 6–9," but ironically that was itself previously published as "Mega Math Blaster."

Design

Art

Game designer Brian Reynolds worked on the sketches for the characters in the age group products.[1]

The Blaster series

Maths

GamesPlatforms and Release Years
Math Blaster!
  • Apple II, Atari 8-Bit (1983)
  • Commodore 64, MS-DOS (1985)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster Plus!
    • Apple II, MS-DOS (1987)
    • Apple IIGS (1989)
    • Amiga (1990)
  • Re-released as New Math Blaster Plus!
    • DOS, Windows (1990)
  • Re-released as In Search of Spot
    • DOS (1993)
    • SNES, Genesis (1994)
    • Windows (1995)
  • Re-released as Mega Math Blaster
    • Windows, Macintosh (1996)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster: Ages 6–9
    • Windows, Macintosh (1998)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster for 3rd Grade
    • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster: Math Attack
    • Handheld LCD (1999)[2]
Math Blaster Mystery[3]Apple II, Macintosh (1989)
Secret of the Lost City
  • Macintosh (1994)
  • Windows (1995)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster: Ages 9–12
    • Windows, Macintosh (1997)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster for 4th Grade
    • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
The Great Brain Robbery
  • Windows (1994)
  • Macintosh (1996)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster: Pre-Algebra
    • Windows, Macintosh (1998)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster for 5th Grade
    • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
Alge-Blaster!
  • Apple II, Commodore 64 (1985)
  • Re-released as Alge-Blaster Plus!
    • Apple II, MS-DOS (1989)
    • Macintosh (1990)
  • Re-released as Alge-Blaster 3
    • Windows (1994)
    • Macintosh (1995)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster: Algebra
    • Windows, Macintosh (1998)
Math Blaster Jr.
  • Windows, Macintosh (1996)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster: Ages 4–6
    • Windows, Macintosh (1998)
Geometry Blaster
  • Windows, Macintosh (1996)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster: Geometry
    • Windows, Macintosh (1998)
Math Blaster for KindergartenWindows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster Mission 1: Cosmic Critter Challenge
    • Windows, Macintosh (2000)
Math Blaster for 1st Grade
  • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster Mission 2: Race for the Omega Trophy
    • Windows, Macintosh (2000)
Math Blaster for 2nd Grade
  • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster: Math Madness
    • Handheld LCD (1999)[4]
  • Re-released as Math Blaster Mission 3: Space Defenders
    • Windows, Macintosh (2000)
Math Blaster Cross Terrain Challenge: Ages 9–12Windows, Macintosh (2001)
Math Blaster: Master the BasicsWindows, Macintosh (2006)
Math Blaster in the Prime AdventureNintendo DS (2008)
Math BlasteriOS (2013)
Math Blaster HyperBlastiOS (2013)
Math Blaster HyperBlast 2
  • iOS (2013)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster HyperBlast 2 HD
    • iOS (2013)
Math Blaster Space ZapperiOS (2013)
B-Force BlasteriOS (2013)

Reading

GamesPlatforms and Release Years
Invasion of the Word SnatchersWindows, Macintosh (1994)
Reading Blaster 2000
  • Windows, Macintosh (1996)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster: Ages 6–9
    • Windows, Macintosh (1998)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster for 3rd Grade
    • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster: Mel's Word Factory
    • Handheld LCD (1999)[5]
Reading Blaster Jr.
  • Windows, Macintosh (1996)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster: Ages 4–6
    • Windows, Macintosh (1998)
Word Blaster
  • Windows, Macintosh (1996)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster: Vocabulary
    • Windows, Macintosh (1998)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster for 5th Grade
    • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
Reading Blaster: Ages 9–12
  • Windows, Macintosh (1998)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster for 4th Grade
    • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
Spelling Blaster
  • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster for 2nd Grade
    • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster: Word Planet
    • Handheld LCD (1999)[6]
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster Mission 3: The Secret Of Islandia
    • Windows, Macintosh (2000)
Reading Blaster for Kindergarten
  • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster Mission 1: Secret Of the Sunken
    • Windows, Macintosh (2000)
Reading Blaster for 1st Grade
  • Windows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster Mission 2: Planet of the Lost Things
    • Windows, Macintosh (2000)

Other

GamesPlatforms and Release Years
Science Blaster Jr.Windows, Macintosh (1996)
Ages 6-9Windows, Macintosh (1998)

Compilations

YearTitleGames
Math Blaster Anniversary
  • Math Blaster: Ages 6–9
  • Spelling Blaster: Ages 6–9
Blaster Learning System 3R's: Ages 4–6
  • Reading Blaster: Ages 4–6
  • KidWorks Deluxe
  • Math Blaster: Ages 4–6
Blaster Learning System 3R's: Ages 6–9
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
Blaster Learning System 3R's: Ages 9–12
  • Reading Blaster: Ages 9–12
  • Multimedia Workshop
  • Math Blaster: Ages 9–12
2005Math Blaster Game Pack: Ages 6–12
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?
  • ?

Other languages

Math:
  • Swedish (titled "Matte Raketen")
  • Finnish (titled "Matikkaraketti")
  • Japanese (titled "算数戦士ブラスター(Sansū Senshi Burasutā)")

Reception

{{expand section|date=October 2017}}II Computing listed Math Blaster second on the magazine's list of top Apple II education software as of late 1985, based on sales and market-share data.[7]

References

1. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.toonfox.com/share/artwork%20examples/Mel%20-%20Math%20Blaster.gif|title=Brian Reynolds - Math Blaster|date=|publisher=|work=|author=|accessdate=June 26, 2017}}
2. ^http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Math-Blaster-3rd-Grade-Handheld-Electronic-Video-Game-Ages-7-9-Math-Attack-NEW-/222536781195?hash=item33d039cd8b:g:i38AAOSwhlZYvMLu
3. ^{{cite web | title=Compute! Specific: Apple II | url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue117/p16_specific3_APPLE_II.php | work= | publisher= | date= | accessdate=December 16, 2016}}
4. ^http://www.ebay.com/itm/Math-Blaster-Video-Game-1999-Handheld-LCD-Brand-New-In-Package-Works-/122534479661
5. ^http://www.ebay.ca/itm/BLASTER-ELECTRONIC-HANDHELD-MELS-WORD-FACTORY-TOY-GAME-/120490734411?hash=item1c0dceb34b:m:mxgXW8_995b-Jj0j1yovOtA
6. ^http://www.ebay.com/itm/Word-Planet-Electronic-Handheld-Travel-Game-Blaster-Learning-Systems-/282509130613?
7. ^{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/II_Computing_Vol_1_No_1_Oct_Nov_85_Premiere#page/n51/mode/2up | title=Top Software / A List of Favorites | work=II Computing | date=Oct–Nov 1985 | accessdate=28 January 2015 | author=Ciraolo, Michael | pages=51}}

External links

  • Math Blaster website

2 : Children's educational video games|Video games developed in the United States

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