Making It Up

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game

Happy Farm from beleduc.

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Today’s home education activity – a bit of game playing. Happy Farm was one of Tigerboy’s Christmas presents, it’s just at the right level for him in terms of counting, taking turns and swapping pieces. It doesn’t take too long to play and is a very beautiful and tactile set made of wood. About the only drawback is the size meaning it’s not an easily portable game – what I might do to work around that is make a fabric or even paper version of the game board for out and about.

I’d say this is an ideal game for early years activities, it says 4 up on the box but Tigerboy is managing it fine age 3, it will depend on patience and counting ability as to how independently your child can play. For 2 – 4 players, works better with 3 or 4.

Available from Amazon (affiliate link) here Beleduc Happy Farm Board Game

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We're feeling Boovie. Introducing HOME: Boov Pop!

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Emerging mobile publisher Behaviour Interactive, one of the largest independent game developers is excited to announce the release of their new title: HOME: Boov Pop!, the official puzzle game based on DreamWorks Animation’s 3D comedy adventure HOME.

And I’m pleased to say we’ve spent a bit of time testing it out for you. The game itself is free for iOS although there are in app purchases available, so if you’re handing the game to a smaller person, you’ll want to check your device settings first.

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The designers say:

This free-to-play casual game offers a new twist to the puzzle genre, by adding a gravity-based design combined with out of this world 3D graphics to create a unique gaming experience! Play as Oh, Tip and Captain Smek as they battle their intergalactic enemy across three stunning settings: Paris, Asia and Florida. Connect power bubbles for epic chain reactions and use each character’s special ability to maximise your score!

And we say – it’s disturbingly addictive. Purely for the sake of giving the app a thorough review, I spent some time playing last night, and then Big had a second go this morning. Turns out (annoyingly) that she’s much better at it than I am. As has been remarked before, I’m really not visual 😉 (But I’m working on it.)

Like I say, the game is based on the new film from Dreamworks HOME! which is itself based on the best-selling book The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, HOME hits cinemas on March 20, 2015. When Oh, a loveable misfit from another planet, lands on Earth and finds himself on the run from his own people, he forms an unlikely friendship with an adventurous girl named Tip who is on a quest of her own. Through a series of comic adventures with Tip, Oh comes to understand that being different and making mistakes is all part of being human, and together they discover the true meaning of the word HOME. It sounds like a film that the kids will love, so I’m definitely going to keep an eye on the facebook page for Dreamworks UK which has a lot of info about publicity events too.

The game is about patterns, colours, and linking, and like I said, oddly addictive. As is the way of things these days, if you link up with facebook you can share with friends and help each other out (not so good when you’re testing it the day before release 😉 ). Also not so good if your daughter has her facebook profile on the device you’re doing that testing on so you don’t get to keep your high scores!

But overall, great fun. I look forward to seeing everyone else enjoying it too 🙂 Get the game on the app store for your iPhone, iPad or iPod.

Win exclusive Skylanders character from Game.

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Enchanted Lightcore Star StrikeWith the Easter holidays around the corner, I’ve teamed up with GAME Junior, a dedicated area of every GAME store which features games suitable for young children, to give *two* lucky readers the chance to win an exclusive Skylanders character, Enchanted Lightcore Star Strike.

The tale of Star Strike is one of mystery, after she was plucked from her home in the distant cosmos and brought into Skylands by Kaos. Having rumbled his evil plans, she unleased her fierce magical powers on him. Word of her victory over Kaos spread quickly and she was soon asked by Master Eon to join the Skylanders. Now gamers have their chance to play with the magical character, only available at GAME.

Be sure to check out GAME Junior in your local store, or online, to grab the best games for your children.

To have a chance of winning this exciting prize, just leave a comment answering the question below:

What is the name of the GAME exclusive Skylanders: Swap Force Character?

a. Enchanted Lighthouse Star Strike

b. Enchanted Lightcore Star Strike

c. Enchanted Bus Strike

Additional optional entries (leave a separate comment for each entry or it won’t be counted. Note, you must complete the mandatory entry, or subsequent entries will not count!)

  • Tweet: “I’ve entered to win an exclusive Skylanders character from @liveotherwise – check it out https://liveotherwise.co.uk/makingitup/2014/03/18/win-exclusive-skylanders-character-from-game/”
  • Like me on facebook
  • Share this giveaway some other way.
  • Sign up to receive this blog by email (see sidebar)

Terms and conditions.

This giveaway is promoted by me, Jax Blunt, and sponsored by Game who are supplying the prizes.

This prize draw runs until 23.59 GMT Monday 24th March. There are two prizes of an exclusive Skylanders Enchanted Lightcore Star Strike as described above (value £11.99). Fulfilment will be arranged by the company and the winners must agree to have details passed to them for that purpose. Open to adults 18 and over with UK delivery address. Entry is by comment as described above. Non completion of the mandatory entry requirement will disqualify any other entries by that individual. The winners will be chosen using a random draw plugin from all comment entries, and notified by email within 48 hours. They must claim the prize within 28 days. Prize delivery may take up to 28 days from details being passed over.

Entry into the competition constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

Orchard Toys: Magic Cauldron game #review

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The lovely ppl at Orchard Toys sent me this Magic Cauldron Maths Game

a couple of weeks back when I was bewailing basic maths skills on twitter. You see, we have a bit of a problem here. It’s a confidence thing really, but quite a bit of the really basic maths stuff, like number bonds and timetables haven’t really sunk in yet for Big, and ways to practise them that are suitable for her age are few and far between. She does a lot of time on live mathletics, which will have to help, but it’s not nearly that much fun, so a game was just the right way to approach it. [Read more…] about Orchard Toys: Magic Cauldron game #review