Order of the Abacus series
iPhone games that reckon they can teach kids maths and science.
ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 11, 2009) --- Plainvue Software, Inc. has launched the first in a series of video games that turn complex math concepts into learning adventures for young students.
Plainvue's Order of the Abacus game series --- Chainshooter, Fortune's Prime and Fraction's Kitchen --- is designed to appeal to "Digital Kids" with engaging plots and compelling characters.
Daniel Roy, founder and chief executive officer of Plainvue Software, Inc., said the company will eventually launch a wide range of math and science-based video games that target advanced elementary and middle school students.
"We brought together some of Orlando's best teachers and game developers to incorporate current research in teaching with cutting-edge video game development," Roy said.
"Our games supplement, amplify and encourage traditional classroom learning skills and bridge the home-to-classroom divide, reinforcing key math and science concepts that are critical for success in high school and beyond," Roy said.
Fortune's Prime, one of the first games to be released, targets students in grades six through eight, Roy said.
"Fortune's Prime is a solitaire game played with a standard deck of cards. It's based on an algorithm developed by an ancient Greek mathematician to identify prime numbers," Roy explained.
A prime number is a natural number with only two divisors: itself and 1 (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, etc.). Prime numbers are an essential concept in simplifying fractions, finding common denominators and developing computer programs.
In Fortune's Prime, numbered cards are turned over, one row at a time, to build a tower. Players increase their score as they identify prime numbers and add the numbers in each row. Points are deducted---and cards are removed from the tower---when prime numbers are overlooked.
Roy said the games meet both national and state math standards.
Further information about the games is available at www.OrderOfTheAbacus.com.
Chainshooter and Fortune's Prime will be available soon on the Apple iTunes Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch devices.
"As students master the games, they master the fundamental math concepts they will need to compete in the future," Roy said.
Plainvue is a client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program based in the Central Florida Research Park,
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For more information, contact
Daniel Roy, CEO, Plainvue Software, Inc., 407-277-2973, droy@plainvuesoftware.com;
Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 or LvershelCo@aol.com
About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, Lake County, the City of Leesburg and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.
For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.