Copyright: Copyright ©1996  Ron Balewski


Contents

Introduction

Game play

Registration

Questionnaire

Distribution


Introduction

   TimesTable v1.0

TimesTable v1.0 is a very simple times table drill program based on the Mah Jongg tile matching game.  The primary difference is that instead of matching identical tiles, you match a problem tile (2x2) with it's answer tile (4) to remove tiles.  It will drill the times tables from two thru 12.

The main purpose for TimesTable is to collect feedback on this concept and its merits from parents, educators, trainers, or anyone in the education / training field who may have use for this type of tool.  I've got many ideas for a much more advanced series of educational tools based on the tile matching premise illustrated by this product.  However, I really don't know yet if the concept will work or, if it does, which educational markets it would be best suited for,  Rather than spend countless hours developing versions of this program targeting specific markets, only to find that those markets have no need for it, I've decided to release this very simple training tool to demonstrate the concept and invite comments on where and how a more sophisticated Mah Jongg tool can be used.  I'm also interested in what types of features you'd need in the "professional" version to make the tool useful in your home, classroom, etc.  To give you a better understanding of the type of information I'll need to properly design the tool so it can be useful by the largest number of people, I'm including a questionnaire in this help file.  I'd appreciate your taking the time to print it, fill it out, and send it back to me.  Any comments or ideas not specifically asked about are also most welcome.  The more ideas I have going into this project, the more useful the result will be for everyone.  You can also request that I (or a business partner) call or write to let you know when or if we develop a product that can fill your needs.  Thanks in advance for your input!


Registration

TimesTables is being released as bargain-basement shareware.  While my primary interest in TimesTable is to test the marketability of this concept, the program itself is definitely useful and usable for its intended purpose -- teaching the times tables.  I'm therefore asking for the low price of $3 if you find this program useful, helpful, or just plain fun as it now exists.  Whether or not TimesTable suits your current needs enough to register, though, I'd appreciate your comments and suggestions if you have any possible use for more advanced training software of this type.

Since $3 doesn't go very far these days, your cashed check will be your only receipt of registration unless you request otherwise.  If you request e-mail acknowledgement of your registration and include an e-mail address, I'll send one at no extra charge.  If you want a standard mail acknowledgement, be sure to include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.  If you want a new copy of TimesTable on disk, you've got to include an extra $3 to cover the cost of making & shipping it.

Also, you should realize that there will most likely not be an upgrade of this product.  This is simply a concept testing tool.  If there's enough interest in this product to warrant continued development, all energies will be put toward developing a much more advanced product (or family of products) based on this concept.  Because the new product will be so far advanced from this one, and the registration fee for this one is so low to begin with, I don't expect to provide any kind of "upgrade path" to the new product(s) other than letting registered users know when something new is available.

All comments and registrations can be sent to:

Ron Balewski

412 E Ridge St.

Nanticoke, PA  18634-2915

Comments can also be sent by e-mail to:

ronb@paradox.microserve.com


Game play

Playing TimesTables is as easy as playing Mah Jongg.  Simply remove matching, free tiles with the ultimate goal of clearing all tiles from the board.  Tiles match if the problem equals the answer.  For example, the "2x2" tile is a match for the "4" tile.  A "4" tile will not match with another "4" tile.  A tile is free if it can slide horizontally off the board.

When TimesTables starts, it'll be in "Two Times" mode.  To start a new game, press the tool bar button for the desired times table(2 thru 12).  When a game is finished, either by winning or becoming "stuck",  you are so informed and a new game of the same table is started.


Questionnaire

Please return this questionnaire to:

e-mail:

     ronb@paradox.microserve.com

mail:

   Ron Balewski

   412 E Ridge St

   Nanticoke, PA  18634-2915

1.  Are you a:

(  )Parent

(  )K-12 Teacher

(  )Corporate technical trainer

(  ) Other____________________

2.  Do you think an educational tool based on the Mah Jongg tile concept would be helpful to you?  ( Y / N )

3.  What subject(s) could you use the tool for?

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

____________________________

4.  Do you think this tool should be available as:

(  ) a series of preprogrammed exercises on various subjects, ready to go right out of the box -- much like TimesTables.

(  ) a customizable tool with which you will design your own exercises.

(  ) A customizable tool with a series of optional plug-in exercises on various subjects which you can use right out of the box or customize for your particular needs.

5.  Is multimedia (pictures, sounds, video) a useful addition to this tool?  ( Y  /  N )

6.  Will this tool be used by more than one person? (  Y  /  N )

7.  If so, must it allow the user to "log on" and keep track of statistics for his/her use of the exercises? ( Y  /  N )

8.  Do you need the logging system to be customizable enough that you can program it to save & retrieve user data from virtually any type of computer, network, or database?  ( Y  /  N )

9.  If you've got any specific suggestions or requirements dealing with user access, record keeping, and security please note them here:

10.  Is network or site licensing important to you? ( Y  /  N )

11. With respect to screen resolution settings, exercises should:

(  ) be for one particular screen resolution and color depth to allow the exercise to take full advantage of the hardware.  Different versions of the same exercise will allow it to run on with different video settings, making the most of whatever it's running on

(  ) automatically scale for the current screen and window size settings.  While this will eliminate the need for multiple versions of the same exercise, it'll also limit how good an exercise can look.  An exercise designed with great detail for high resolution may lose so much detail as to be unusable at lower resolutions.  Conversely, an exercise designed to be used at lower resolutions will not look nearly as nice as it can when run at higher resolution -- although it will still be usable.

12.  If a Mah Jongg based training product was available which filled your needs and was sold at what you believe a fair price, would you consider purchasing it? ( Y  /  N )

13.  What would you consider a fair price for a product which meets all the criteria you've specified on this questionnaire (single copy price)?  ___________

14.  If you'd like to be contacted when or if I develop a training program to suit your requirements, please list your name & address, phone number, or e-mail address.

Please feel free to expand on your above answers or add suggestions or requirements that I didn't think about when putting together the questions.


Distribution

You have my permission to redistribute the Shareware version of TimesTables provided that:

1.  You must include all files

2. You must not charge more than $5 per disk for duplication & packaging

3. You must label TimesTables in all catalogs, on all disks, and on all packaging materials, as Shareware.  Your packaging must also include the fact that the user is buying only the disk and packaging and not the software and that use of the software beyond a 30-day trial is allowed only after registration.

Any shareware distributors that want a "from-the-author" copy of TimesTables must make the request on their company letterhead and must include a blank, formatted disk along with a stamped, self-addressed return mailer.  If you'd prefer, enclose a $3 check to cover my costs and I'll provide the mailer, disk, and shipping.  However, I will absolutely not send a disk at my expense.  You the shareware dealer will probably profit from this game far more than I will, so the least you can do is pay the expense of getting a copy.