Dr Kageyama's Maths Training = DS release
Success of IQ trainers adds up to yet another one
Frankly, it's like our nightmares have been answered by Satan standing at a chalkboard and then dragging his nails from top to bottom. Yes, the prospect of doing maths on our lovely, joy-bringing DS is about as appealing as flying a kite with razor wire for string. However, those of you wanting to brush up on your arithmetic skills or - the horror - who enjoy doing sums for fun may be interested in this just-announced title from Nintendo.
Dr Kageyama's Maths Training consists of daily maths exercises, the main one of which gives you a 10 x 10 grid of sums to solve. Two of the edges (the top and left) are bounded by a list of 10 numbers, and your task is to add up all up combinations - and even we can work out, that's 100 problems to get your head around. The difficulty of this grid will range from what Nintendo calls one to three digit problems i.e. numbers from 0 to 999.
There are other tasks to perform too however. In the manner of the Brain Training games, you'll have three maths tests per day to complete. Depending on how accurately and quickly you complete the grid, you're awarded a bronze, silver or gold medal. Do well and every five days you're given the opportunity to advance to the next level.
Other aspects will see you holding the DS sideways in order to play - so like a book, hence our strange screenshots - and answers are written on the touchscreen. It also keeps automatic track of your commitment to training by ticking the days you've used it on the game's calendar.
Anyone concerned by yesterday's Brain Training 'scandal' can be reassured that the Dr Kageyama featured in the game is a Japanese elementary school principle, so he must know what he's talking about with regards to teaching maths, right?
Those craving calculus on their DS will be pleased to hear that Dr Kageyama's Maths Training will be available on February 8th in the UK. The first person who can work out how many minutes away that is then find the square root of that number... probably doesn't need to buy it.
