Easy Times is, apparently, "a simple-to-use tables game".

My children weren't enamoured by this program - "Where's the game?" being the usual comment! For me, this is pure drill and practice, the sort of program produced in the early "cottage industry" days and available by the dozen from those programmers who thought it was what was required in primary schools or from teachers cutting their teeth on programming.

Thankfully, they're setting together more these days, and there are far more motivating ideas around.

The user is given the option to choose the tables (1-9) he wishes to practice or random computer choice. The first table is displayed on the right hand side of the screen. An incomplete equation is moved to the centre of the screen, and the user types in the answer. If correct, a tick is shown plus what I assume is a "success sound" heard and a little man, Mr. B, Micro, comes down the screen and moves the completed equation off left. If wrong, the correct answer is put in and the equation is moved back into what's left of the table for another try. The score is kept at the bottom of the screen.

Sorry, we've been clearing this sort of program off our discs - the space is more valuable!

Sound 30%
Graphics 50%
Documentation 50%
Educational Value 30%
Value For Money 40%
Overall 40%

Spellwell gives the user a choice of nine spelling lists, each containing ten words with a theme rather than any phonic or shape connection. The first word appears in the middle of the screen, disappears and when the bell sounds, the user has to type in the word. Three attempts are permitted and, if still wrong, the child is asked to type in the answer over the correct spelling.

The score is kept at the bottom of the screen.

A Teachers' Menu, which is accessed while the title page is displayed by holding CTRL and pressing T, offers three choices:

1. View and Amend Word
   Lists allows words to be changed, gives the option of having a case check on/off for initial capital letters, and allows the time the word is presented on the screen to be changed.
2. Turns sound off/on.
3. Saves program and lists.

This adds a useful dimension to the program for those teachers wanting an alternative means of checking the weekly spelling list or individual's spelling problems, but again, nothing new!

Sound 50%
Graphics 60%
Documentation 60%
Educational Value 50%
Value For Money 45%
Overall 45%

Two versions of the same game, which set out to develop table skills. Shoot uses joysticks and is intended for two players; Top Shoot is for one player only and uses the cursor keys. The users are offered the option of 2-9 tables or a random selection. The screen shows the score(s) at the top the "sum" on a red background, and five numbers in white on a green board - not the best combination for clarity I find.

In Shoot there are two sights (black and white) each steered onto the correct answer by a joystick and the fire button is pressed to shoot it out; in Top Shoot, the black sight is controlled by the cursor keys and TAB is the fire button.

"Two exciting all action games... All the fun of the fair" may be a somewhat exaggerated claim, but I always remember my fate at the darts board when I played an ex-pupil I'd always considered non-mathematical.

He'd worked out his score, completed the subtraction and written the correct answer in half the time it took me. So I don't decry this type of game. For some it can give them the motivation they need - transferring it is another matter!

Sound 40%
Graphics 65%
Documentation 60%
Educational Value 50%
Value For Money 60%
Overall 60%

Hoopla is a program which gives practice with plotting co-ordinates and estimating. The user has four choices of boards, 0-1, 10, 100, 1000 and whether to see the instructions, which includes a demonstration and a sound on/off option. Each game has ten pegs to be "hooped".

The screen displays a red board with a black peg. The hoops are "thrown" by plotting the co-ordinates, and scoring depends on accuracy of throw - 10 for "spot on" to 0 for "missed".

Personally, I think there are more creative ways that can be used for introducing co-ordinates - drawing pictures, maps - but some youngsters might like trying their hand during wet playtimes!

Sound 30%
Graphics 60%
Documentation 60%
Educational Value 50%
Value For Money 50%
Overall 50%

Number squares are frequently used at various stages throughout the primary school maths course to help children investigate number patterns. To produce them in variety by traditional methods is a time consuming task, so a computer program that draws the grid, puts in the labels and fills in the grid in a few seconds looks like a promising addition to any maths software.

The user is offered a choice of three grids:

1. a Counting Grid
2. an Addition Grid
3. a Multiplication Grid

and in each case is allowed to select the grid required or accept the Computer's choice.

The latter gives a 0 to 99 number square on the Counting grid, 0 to 9 on both axes of the Addition grid and 1 to 12 on both axes of the Multiplication grid. If the user decides to select for himself, the flexibility offered is excellent not only in the range of numbers permitted, but also the variation of mode depending on the number of digits involved. Mnemonic commands allow the user to vary what is displayed on the screen - grid lines, numbers, number pattern, equation, labels - and choice of using the program with or without sound. The cursor keys move the box and the space bar colours in the numbers.

The quality of display varies considerably. It is excellent in Mode 1 with numbers in the 7-12 range, but in Mode 2 with numbers up to 6 and Mode 0 (13-25), the alignment of numbers and grid is not good. Near the upper limit, the numbers almost become a river of white, and a different choice of colour could have been used to advantage.

While this is a useful program to assist in the development of number sense, few schools have enough computer time to use if fully as it stands. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a printer option, which would make it a very useful utility program to provide teachers with printouts of a wide range of number grids.

Graphics 75%
Documentation 70%
Educational Value 70%
Value For Money 60%
Overall 60%