Educational video game franchise
Video game series
The
Blaster Learning System
is an educational
video game
series created by
Davidson & Associates
and later published by
JumpStart
(formerly Knowledge Adventure) after the two companies were acquired and merged by
CUC Software
. The games primarily focused on mathematics, later expanding into
language arts
and science, and spawned an animated children’s television series in 1999 called
Blaster's Universe
.
Starting in 2011, development of the series focused on an online version of
Math Blaster
played through a browser or mobile app rather than standalone game software.
[1]
On June 13, 2023, JumpStart Games announced the closure of the company and that they would end support for
Math Blaster
on June 30, 2023.
[2]
History
[
edit
]
Davidson
[
edit
]
The series began with the 1983 title
Math Blaster!
released for the
Apple II
and
Atari 8-bit computers
. The initial game was ported to other platforms and received gradual improvements to graphics and sound, with "Plus" added to the title in 1987 and "New" in 1990. The initial release was a collection of four unrelated activities with a space theme, with later versions connecting the activities with a simple narrative and introducing the character Blasternaut.
Spin-offs intended for older children included
Alge-Blaster!
in 1985 and
Math Blaster Mystery
in 1989. These titles, along with their 1990s remakes and sequels, would not follow the Blasternaut character but would still be marketed by Davidson as part of the Blaster series.
The first reboot of the Davidson fundamentals line
[
clarification needed
]
came in 1989. The original
Math Blaster
was written in Applesoft Basic and the Microsoft equivalent. Under the direction of Mike Albanese, the Davidson programming team used
Fig Forth
to make a cross-platform development system. The product did well, and it was the first of many Forth-based products that Davidson would make.
The 1993 release
Math Blaster Episode I: In Search of Spot
was the first in the series to feature a storyline told through animated cutscenes and voice acting. The version of Blasternaut seen in this game, as well as his robot companion Spot and supervisor Galactic Commander (GC), would become recurring characters seen in the 1994 sequels
Reading Blaster: Invasion of the Word Snatchers
and
Math Blaster Episode II: Secret of the Lost City
.
A redesign of the characters was introduced in the 1996 title
Mega Math Blaster
(later rebranded
Math Blaster: Ages 6?9
), which served as a remake of the activities from Episode I with a new storyline, although references to the previous games in the series implied a shared continuity. This redesign would carry over into
Reading Blaster 2000
(also rebranded
Reading Blaster: Ages 6?9
), the Episode II remake
Math Blaster: Ages 9?12
, and three "Junior" prequels for children ages 4-6 focused on math, reading, and science.
Knowledge Adventure
[
edit
]
The characters were redesigned again in 1999, coinciding with the
CBS
Saturday morning cartoon
Blaster's Universe
animated by the Canadian studio
Nelvana
. The Blasternaut and GC characters were altered to be 12-year-old earthlings and Spot was replaced with a robot dog named MEL ("Mechanically Enhanced Lapdog"). The changes also coincided with Knowledge Adventure's rebranding of the full series and switch to identifying games by grade levels instead of age ranges. This would be the last time games in the
Reading Blaster
sub-series were released.
Math Blaster: Master the Basics
was released in 2006, featuring another redesign of the Blasternaut character, comic book styled cutscenes, and 3D graphics in-game. This version of the character would also appear in the 2008
Nintendo DS
title
Math Blaster in the Prime Adventure
.
Starting in 2011, development of the series focused on an online version of
Math Blaster
played through a browser or mobile app rather than standalone game software.
[3]
On June 13, 2023, JumpStart Games announced the closure of the company and end of support for
Math Blaster
on June 30, 2023.
[4]
The company officially closed July 1, 2023 at 3am EST with servers and their website also shutting down. No reason for the closure was given.
The Blaster series
[
edit
]
Math
[
edit
]
Games
|
Platforms and release years
|
Math Blaster!
|
Apple II
,
Atari 8-Bit
(1983)
Commodore 64
,
MS-DOS
(1985)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster Plus!
- Re-released as
New Math Blaster Plus!
[5]
|
Alge-Blaster!
|
Apple II
,
Commodore 64
(1985)
- Re-released as
Alge-Blaster Plus!
|
Math Blaster Mystery
[6]
|
Apple II
,
Macintosh
(1989)
|
Math Blaster Episode I: In Search of Spot
|
DOS
(1993)
SNES
,
Genesis
(1994)
Windows
(1995)
|
Math Blaster Episode II: Secret of the Lost City
|
Macintosh
(1994)
Windows
(1995)
|
Math Blaster Mystery: The Great Brain Robbery
|
Windows
(1994)
Macintosh
(1996)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster: Pre-Algebra
- Re-released as
Math Blaster for 5th Grade
|
Alge-Blaster 3
|
Windows
(1994)
Macintosh
(1995)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster: Algebra
|
Mega Math Blaster
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1996)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster: Ages 6?9
- Re-released as
Math Blaster for 3rd Grade
- Re-released as
Math Blaster: Math Attack
|
Math Blaster Jr.
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1996)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster: Ages 4?6
|
Geometry Blaster
[8]
[9]
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1996)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster: Geometry
|
Math Blaster: Ages 9?12
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1997)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster for 4th Grade
|
Math Blaster for Kindergarten
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1999)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster Mission 1: Cosmic Critter Challenge
|
Math Blaster for 1st Grade
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1999)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster Mission 2: Race for the Omega Trophy
|
Math Blaster for 2nd Grade
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1999)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster: Math Madness
- Re-released as
Math Blaster Mission 3: Space Defenders
|
Math Blaster Cross Terrain Challenge: Ages 9?12
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(2001)
|
Math Blaster: Master the Basics
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(2006)
|
Math Blaster in the Prime Adventure
|
Nintendo DS
(2008)
|
Math Blaster
|
iOS
(2013)
|
Math Blaster HyperBlast
|
iOS
(2013)
|
Math Blaster HyperBlast 2
|
iOS
(2013)
- Re-released as
Math Blaster HyperBlast 2 HD
|
Math Blaster Space Zapper
|
iOS
(2013)
|
B-Force Blaster
|
iOS
(2013)
|
Reading
[
edit
]
Games
|
Platforms and release years
|
Reading Blaster: Invasion of the Word Snatchers
[11]
[12]
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1994)
|
Reading Blaster 2000
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1996)
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster: Ages 6?9
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster for 3rd Grade
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster: Mel's Word Factory
|
Reading Blaster Jr.
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1996)
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster: Ages 4?6
|
Word Blaster
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1996)
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster: Vocabulary
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster for 5th Grade
|
Reading Blaster: Ages 9?12
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1998)
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster for 4th Grade
|
Spelling Blaster
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1999)
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster for 2nd Grade
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster: Word Planet
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster Mission 3: The Secret Of Islandia
|
Reading Blaster for Kindergarten
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1999)
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster Mission 1: Secret Of the Sunken
|
Reading Blaster for 1st Grade
|
Windows
,
Macintosh
(1999)
- Re-released as
Reading Blaster Mission 2: Planet of the Lost Things
|
Other subjects
[
edit
]
Compilations
[
edit
]
Year
|
Title
|
Games
|
|
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
|
- Reading Blaster: Ages 6?9
- Writing Blaster: Ages 6?9
- Math Blaster: Ages 6?9
|
|
Blaster Learning System 3R's: Ages 9?12
|
- Reading Blaster: Ages 9?12
- Multimedia Workshop
- Math Blaster: Ages 9?12
|
2005
|
Math Blaster Game Pack: Ages 6?12
|
- Math Blaster: Ages 6?9
- Math Blaster: Ages 9?12
- Math Blaster: Pre-Algebra
- Math Blaster: Algebra
|
Other languages
[
edit
]
Math:
- Swedish (titled "Matte Raketen")
- Finnish (titled "Matikkaraketti")
- Japanese (titled "算??士ブラスタ?(Sans? Senshi Burasut?)")
Reception
[
edit
]
The original game was praised by
InfoWorld
for its high resolution graphics, and considered it a standout title in the drill-and-practice edutainment video game genre.
[15]
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.
[16]
New Math Blaster Plus
was reviewed in the
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Guide Book
where it was praised for its "arcade-quality graphics [making] drills snappy and entertaining".
[17]
Math Blaster Episode I: In Search of Spot
was rated as one of the top 100 CD-ROM games of 1994 in
PC Magazine
.
[18]
Math Blaster Mystery: The Great Brain Robbery
was given a 4 out of 4 star rating by the
Home PC
magazine adding that "most games aren't educational AND fun, but
Math Blaster Mystery
is both".
[19]
[20]
By June 1997, the series sold 5 million copies.
[21]
After starting off with a huge boom and providing the base for the establishment of a very successful public corporation, the Blaster series eventually fell victim to marketing cuts.
[
citation needed
]
In an attempt to sell both up and down the age group added more,
Blasters
were designed with increasingly thin, fuzzy and overlapping target age groups. Finally, the line came under fierce attack from the Gross brothers of
Knowledge Adventure
(now JumpStart), led by Barton Listic. Knowledge Adventure countered with a simple grade-based sub-division with their
JumpStart
logo. Eventually, Knowledge Adventure and Davidson were acquired by
CUC International
to form
CUC Software
, and the company lines were merged.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Cool Math Games for Kids - Online Math Games ? Math Blaster"
. 30 September 2011. Archived from
the original
on 2011-09-30
. Retrieved
31 March
2024
.
- ^
"Adaptive Curriculum Games for Kids - Activities & Worksheets - JumpStart"
.
www.jumpstart.com
. Retrieved
2023-06-15
.
- ^
"Cool Math Games for Kids - Online Math Games ? Math Blaster"
. 30 September 2011. Archived from
the original
on 2011-09-30
. Retrieved
31 March
2024
.
- ^
"Adaptive Curriculum Games for Kids - Activities & Worksheets - JumpStart"
.
www.jumpstart.com
. Retrieved
2023-06-15
.
- ^
Oppenheim, Joanne and Stephanie
(1993). "Computer Software/CD-ROM ? Drill and Review Software: 'New Math Blaster Plus'
".
The Best Toys, Books & Videos for Kids
.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Guide Book
. Vol. 1 (1st ed.). New York:
Harper Perennial
. p. 275.
ISBN
0-06-273196-3
.
- ^
"Compute! Specific: Apple II"
. Retrieved
December 16,
2016
.
- ^
"Works VTG 1980s Coleco Lil Genius Kids Calculator Math Toy Electronic Game"
.
- ^
"GEOMETRY BLASTER".
School Library Journal
.
43
(8). August 1997.
ISSN
0362-8930
.
- ^
"Davidson's next step in math education: Geometry...".
Curriculum Administrator
.
31
(7). March 1997.
ISSN
1082-5495
.
- ^
[1]
[
dead link
]
- ^
"ST Report: Newswire / Tech News / Sun Ripens Java / Jaguar Dazzles Developers / Wired World: The Big Idea / A.T.A.C. & Wargods!"
. Atari Explorer Online.
- ^
Willis, Jerry (July 28, 1996).
"Technology, reading, and language arts"
. Boston : Allyn and Bacon – via Internet Archive.
- ^
"Nintendo Wii Nerf Switch Shot EX-3 Blaster Attachment Only"
.
- ^
[2]
[
dead link
]
- ^
InfoWorld Media Group (1983-07-11).
InfoWorld
. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.
- ^
Ciraolo, Michael (Oct?Nov 1985).
"Top Software / A List of Favorites"
.
II Computing
. p. 51
. Retrieved
28 January
2015
.
- ^
Oppenheim, Joanne and Stephanie
(1993). "Computer Software/CD-ROM - Drill and Review Software: 'New Math Blaster Plus'
".
The Best Toys, Books & Videos for Kids
.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Guide Book
. Vol. 1 (1st ed.). New York:
Harper Perennial
. p. 275.
ISBN
0-06-273196-3
.
- ^
Dave Golder (September 13, 1994).
"The Top 100 CD-ROMs"
.
PC Magazine
.
13
(15): 166
. Retrieved
September 16,
2015
.
- ^
"Math Blaster: Mystery back cover"
. Retrieved
December 14,
2016
.
- ^
"
Math Blaster Mystery - The Great Brain Robbery
"
. Archived from
the original
on January 25, 1997
. Retrieved
June 6,
2017
.
- ^
"Davidson & Associates, Inc launches Educast beta program"
.
Davidson & Associates
. June 30, 1997. Archived from
the original
on January 20, 1998
. Retrieved
March 27,
2024
.
External links
[
edit
]