Playing to Learn Game Reviews

Free Rice:
Free Rice is an addicting multiple choice question game. For each correct answer, 10 grains of rice is donated to the United Nations World Food Program. It's a skill-building game and a fight against world hunger all in one!

From the learner's point of view, this game can be surprising. I didn't know I knew as many words as I realized when I was playing the game. I played the vocabulary game, but there are other subjects available: math, science, foreign languages, art history...There's pretty much something for everyone. It's exciting to watch rice accumulate in the bowl with every correct answer. This game is addictive, as I said before. I found it hard to stop playing, and I'm sure if I started again, I would be able to sit here for hours (now I know what I can do at work when I'm bored, haha). Ten grains per question doesn't sound like a lot, but it multiplies very quickly; I racked up nearly a thousand in less than an hour.

From the developer's point of view, Free Rice is very well-developed. At first glance, the site is neat and easy to navigate. The first question is right in the middle of the home page, plain as day; you can't miss it. The controls of the game are very simple. There are different skill levels, and you can hear the words pronounced if you need to. The game itself is a unique and innovative contribution to the fight to end world hunger.

I honestly don't know what I could suggest to improve this game. It works very well for what it is, its instructions are clear, it's HTML-based, so I don't think it has much trouble displaying on other browsers with or without certain plug-ins and such.

Go Rabbit, Go!
This was the second game I played, a Flash game in which you run around the screen as a rabbit, collecting carrots before a turtle can catch you. The interesting twist on the game is that the rabbit has been injured, making him unable to turn left. This had me going in frantic circles trying to go the way I wanted to when that menacing hover-tortoise was gaining on me.

From the player's perspective, this game is simple, but entertaining. It reminded me of Snake. It's entertaining, and also has the potential to be very addictive.

From the developer's perspective, this game has clear controls and a clear objective; it's well designed. The graphics are simple, but nice. The controls work well, as described.

In terms of design, I would like to learn more about the process of drawing and animating in Flash. In terms of functionality, I want to learn how to make the easiest to use controls for the type of game that is beginning to grow in my mind that work well without a game controller. In terms of content, I just want to be able to create something engaging and fun that people will enjoy playing.

I'm looking forward to the chance to do all of these things!