Heading for the last round-up

The main educational purpose of Round-Up from Tynesoft lies in the practicing of rounding up to the next multiple of 10, so that 27 becomes 30 and so on.

A fair enough idea, perhaps, but I am less than convinced about the way it's then implemented.

It centres around a maze with a little figure moving around trying to collect money by passing guards — no, I didn't see the link either - who are dotted around the maze. In order to successfully move on, an addition or subtraction question, shown in the centre of the screen, has to be answered.

> Three answers are illuminated in sequence. The child selects an answer by pressing the spacebar when the desired answer is illuminated.

An incorrect answer rather abruptly ends the game - no three lives here - and I question the educational value ofthis kind of failure. I personally like those programs which children are forced to succeed at, rather than actually being told they have failed.

Several children found the maze had no obvious destination, and they also seemed to be bored a little too quickly for it to be considered a worthwhile buy.

> It is a fair program and could probably be exactly what some schools/parents are looking for but it won't be seeing much work in my school.

Phil Tayler