Number Munchers

Number Munchers is a 1986 video game and a spin-off to the title Word Munchers. It was made by MECC for Apple II, then ported to DOS and Macintosh in 1990. The concept of the game was designed by Philip R. Bouchard, who also designed The Oregon Trail.[1][2] Two versions of the game were released being the Consumer Version (for home use) and the School Version (for classrooms).[3] After The Learning Company acquired MECC, the game was rebranded as "Math Munchers".[4]

Number Munchers
DOS Cover art
Developer(s)MECC
Publisher(s)MECC
Designer(s)R. Philip Bouchard
SeriesMunchers 
Platform(s)Apple II, DOS, Macintosh
ReleaseApple II: 1986
DOS/Mac: 1990
Genre(s)Educational
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

The player controls the muncher who must move around a grid and munch on numbers that match the logic rule above, while avoiding the threatening troggles. As the player progresses the levels, the logic rules have bigger numbers and harder difficulty and multiple troggles pursue the muncher.

Educational goals

The game was designed for school and home use for grades four to eight with parental controlled options to set the difficulty level.[5] It teaches multiples, factors, primes numbers, equalities and inequalities. It helped introduce math skills to younger students,[6] while helping older students to reinforce their existing math skill.[7] In addition teachers could have their own copy of the game networked to copies in class to monitor and control them.[8] It has proven to be attention catching with the ability to train students' hand/eye coordination as well as building up self-esteem and instilling confidence.[9]

Reception

Reviewer Benj Edwards regarded the game as one of the "Top 10 Educational PC Games of the 80s" in PC Magazine[13] and one of the "Best 17 Educational Games of the 70s, 80s and 90s" in PC World.[14] The number munching was commonly compared to a Pac-Man game.[15] GamesRadar+ praised the game for its cartoony graphics and a viable way to make math fun.[16] It was considered both an award-winner and best-seller from Parents' Choice, InCider Magazine and Media & Methods.[17]

References
  1. Bouchard, R. Philip (June 29, 2017). "How I Managed to Design the Most Successful Educational Computer Game of All Time". Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  2. Bouchard, R. Philip (November 1989). "Appendix 3: A Philosophy of Educational Software Design". Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  3. "Essentials - Product Information" (PDF). inCider/A+. IDG. May 1993. p. 44.
  4. Eck, Richard Van (March 31, 2010). Interdisciplinary Models and Tools for Serious Games. Information Science Publishing. ISBN 9781615207206.
  5. "Kids and Computers". Game Player's PC Strategy Guide. Vol. 4 no. 5. October 1991. p. 14.
  6. "The Impact of Video Games on Culture". Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  7. "Educational Software From MECC". Compute!. No. 73. ABC Publishing. June 1986. p. 115.
  8. "Number Munchers - MacUser". MacUser. Dennis Publishing. October 1990. p. 50.
  9. "The Lighter Side of Education". inCider/A+. IDG. September 1991. p. 36.
  10. "MacWorld Star Ratings". MacUser. IDG. April 1993. p. 212.
  11. "MECC History". 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  12. MECC (1995). MECC catalog 1995-1996. MECC. p. 6.
  13. Edwards, Benj (June 13, 2017). "10 Educational PC Games Every 80s Kid Loved". Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  14. Edwards, Benj (August 19, 2015). "The 17 best educational games of the 70s, 80s and 90s". Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  15. Juba, Joe (April 7, 2017). "A Pioneer Story: How MECC Blazed New Trails". Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  16. "The best edutainment games [ClassicRadar]". December 25, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  17. MECC (1990). MECC Catalog Spring-Summer 1990 (PDF). MECC. p. 3.
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