Product Review of C0D3BR34K3RS

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In C0D3BR34K3RS, players control two kids who have to solve algebra and number puzzles, dodge security guards, cameras, janitors, and IT guys, and avoid pitfalls and trap rooms. The gameplay takes place while breaking into a museum, a bank, and an evil burglar’s villa. By standing on colored squares and adjusting the numbers in those squares, players complete equations to unlock doors.

Changing one equation often affects multiple others on the same level, so it takes careful planning and sequential reasoning to build an algebraic strategy and solve each puzzle. In addition to the numerical side of things, it takes quick taps and careful timing to dodge the various enemies who patrol the levels. Graphics and animations are crisp, fun, and funky, and controls are a breeze to use.

There’s even a multiplayer mode where players can create their own puzzles for others to solve. There isn’t a specific skill-based standard that C0D3BR34K3RS promotes, so it probably doesn’t fit into any specific part of your math curriculum (maybe in middle school pre-algebra units, or when you’re introducing variables). Instead, this is great for building up algebraic intuition.

Keep it on a class set of iPads for kids to play through during otherwise lost moments in the day, or use for some extra challenges after assessments. Or, use it as a hook for lessons on systems of equations, functions, and multivariable solution methods. In any case, because there’s no built-in support for getting through tough levels, it would be a great idea for educators to play all the way through C0D3BR34K3RS first, making notes about each level.

Use these for the inevitable “I’m stuck on level 7!” moments so learners can continue progressing to more sophisticated tasks without overwhelming frustration. Solving these puzzles requires some fairly sophisticated algebraic reasoning, with multivariable equations and systems buried in the core of every room. Further, the app develops sequential reasoning skills as changes to one equation cause others to change.

Various enemies can alter things as well, so understanding how cause and effect can create chains of numerical actions is often the only way to get past a level. Despite this, each level seems to have only one solution, and that solution is often hard to come by. Most kids will probably get through with trial and error rather than by careful reasoning.

There’s potential for real discovery learning here, but it could be strengthened with some open-ended challenges. Also, it’s worth noting that despite the game’s name, C0D3BR34K3RS involves very little code or breaking of it. There’s some Boolean logic, but this is all about algebra.

Website: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1068199132?uo=4&at=10laCG&ct=website Overall User Consensus About the App Student Engagement

There’s plenty of fun here, with great graphics, engaging gameplay, fun dialogue, and complex levels. Getting stuck on one level means the game comes to a grinding halt though, so without support the fun could be short-lived. Curriculum and Instruction

This is a novel approach to algebra, with some fairly sophisticated mathematical challenges at its core (Diophantine equations! Wow!), but most levels only have one correct solution. It would be nice if tasks were more open-ended.

Customer Support

There are plenty of tutorials for how the game mechanics work, and you’ll find a hint or two along the way, but if you get stuck on a level, there’s no support (online or otherwise), and the game won’t let you progress.

Brutal.