Welcome to the Jungle...Maths
It had to happen, my father found a shop in our small town selling educational computer games. His number one target was maths , in particular my inability to add two numbers together ( or for that matter to subtract, multiply or divide them. These days we call it dyscalculia. ) I was introduced to the world of Jungle Maths. As you can see from the cassette inlay it was a jolly jape across a jungle infested with snakes, piranhas and bogs for ages 5 - 13. We were a very brave generation back in the 80's ( I blame the food additives).
It starts off innocent enough, a nice friendly blue - sorry cyan and green screen , no warning of the bloodshed and gore that lies ahead for the hapless traveller ( particularly when the hapless traveller was me, who had to count on their fingers to solve even the most simple maths problems) . But it can't hurt just to type in your name, can it?
Here is the jungle along which I must pass ...seems innocent enough? Let us answer some questions ....
Argghhh!!! It's a blood bath, those coconuts are a bit lethal, I've chosen to omit the graphic that shows you getting constricted to death by a snake and the line dripping from the box marked 'you' that states this is blood. This game was more graphic than your average game of space invaders. It certainly focused the mind ( unless , like me, you wanted to see all the horrible deaths that could befall you , luckily once you made it to the base , that's just what they did.)
Although perhaps looking back we did see about the same level of cartoon violence on Hong Kong Phooey or Scooby Doo ( I must have missed the episode of Ivor The Engine where Jones the Steam was caught in a forest of deadly coconuts!) It certainly made maths interesting , which was what it was meant to do. Did it help me? I went on to get A Levels in both biology and chemistry so perhaps it did some good. Besides a few maths questions never killed anyone ...did they?
Although perhaps looking back we did see about the same level of cartoon violence on Hong Kong Phooey or Scooby Doo ( I must have missed the episode of Ivor The Engine where Jones the Steam was caught in a forest of deadly coconuts!) It certainly made maths interesting , which was what it was meant to do. Did it help me? I went on to get A Levels in both biology and chemistry so perhaps it did some good. Besides a few maths questions never killed anyone ...did they?