Super+Scribblenauts

=**Super Scribblenauts** =



Super Scribblenauts is a game designed solely for the Nintendo DS. It's the sequel to the original Scribblenauts. I'm not sure if it it necessarily classifies as an educational game, but my kids are sure learning a lot through it and it was on one of the Scholastic book order things not long ago, so I'm going to go with it.

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The game is basically a puzzle game. You control this guy, Maxwell, through different levels. For each level, the goal is to get a starlite. In order to get a starlite, you have to solve a problem. That's where the game is unique. To solve whatever the problem is, you have to think up whatever you'd need to solve it, then write or type the word for that in. For example, say Maxwell needs to get up on a ledge. You could type in "ladder," and a ladder would appear. Then you'd guide Maxwell up it, etc. But you could also type in "airplane," "slingshot," "escalator," etc. Sometimes, the puzzle calls for using specific adjectives to solve the problem. For example, instead of a "coat," you'd have to have Maxwell wear a "polka dot coat." It's really a lot of fun!

This game teaches a number of things. It helps with spelling, writing (if you choose not to type the words), use of adjectives, etc. I guess the primary area it helps is in language. And I think it does a good job of that. Two of my kids are already better at spelling as a result. But where the game really shines is how it helps the player use his / her imagination. It feels like you could type in anything and it'd work. That winged, dotted bathtub in the pic above? You can create that.

I'd say that the game definitely uses an active learning approach. Players are engaged with using their imagination, and want to use language correctly in order to create the items they want. There's some identity principle in that you can customize the character's look, almost like an avatar. And there's definitely a lot of practice. Players write and re-write a huge variety of words.

Even though I initially said that I wasn't sure if this would classify as a learning game, I will say that this game definitely does a better job at helping players learn than some learning games I've seen. And it's so fun! I bet most players wouldn't even realize they're learning. I think a teacher could easily incorporate this into a curriculum. You can't give everyone a DS to play with in class, but I could see having it as a bonus thing after coursework is completed.

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 * Just for context, here's a trailer on the original Scribblenauts: