A&B Computing


Squeeze

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Acornsoft/ASK
Machine: BBC/Electron

 
Published in A&B Computing 1.11

Squeeze (Acornsoft/ASK)

This is one of the new releases from the educational specialist ASK. It is based on the idea of fitting pentomino shapes (i.e. shapes made of five squares, a domino is made of two!) into a grid. You can either play against the computer, who plays a fairly mean game, or another human being.

Each player is allocated one of the many possible pentomino shapes and they may place their shape anywhere on the screen. This is where the strategy comes into play, if you position your piece carefully you can find a position that will leave you the possibility of placing another shape whilst, at the same time, denying your opponent space for his shape. The game ends when there is no more room for any of the shapes on the screen.

The winner is the player with the most shapes on the grid.

There are three levels of play, each of these allowing a different type of shape movement. On level one you just move up/down and left and right, on two you can also turn the shape around, and on three you can flip the shape over two. As these are the three rotational planes that, we learn about in geometry we have some educational content.

Although the game can be played by the ages suggested (5 to 12) it is probably most 'educational' for the older ones, and possibly even those up to 15. It is also one of the few games that I could see being played by adults as the strategy element can be very involving, especially on the bigger grids and higher levels. Although it is like board games that I have played previously this is a good computer implementation and it really adds to the enjoyment.