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Rube Works: The Official Rube Goldberg Invention Game

Mindprint Rating

Tags

Science Mathematics ^21st Century Skills All Ages iOS App

Skills

Flexible Thinking Organization Working Memory Abstract Reasoning Spatial Perception

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • The graphics are engaging, silly and creative.
  • App has students apply basic physics principles along with creative thinking and problem solving skills.
  • App encourages students to make mistakes and try again with alternative solutions.

Considerations

  • The in-scene navigation is not intuitive and students may have trouble remembering the instructions from the information section.
  • Students playing independently could easily grow frustrated trying to figure out the solution, even with the hints.
  • The app does not provide formal instruction, such as explaining levers or pulleys.

Mindprint Expert Review

This unique app is based on the complex inventions of Rube Goldberg and engages children's visual problem solving skills by creating inventions based on the original cartoons. Students will move progressively through the 11 levels of increasingly complex tasks. Each level is a different scene with a unique set of common objects that students must move into the correct positioning. For example, in level 2 they will need to figure out how to carve a turkey starting with a bowl of chicken salad on a window sill and making use of a beach pail, rooster, sand dispenser, sponge, penguin, perch and ice cream freezer. Students can read brief descriptions of the objects and clues about how to use them to create a multi-step solution to meet the objective. Success will require good abstract reasoning, flexible thinking, and basic knowledge of pulleys, levers, and concepts such as melting and freezing. See the Considerations for younger students and those with weaker abstract reasoning where playing in a group or with some support will be beneficial. This very enjoyable app can be an engaging and effective teaching tool, but it requires patience, perseverance, and creative thinking, and, in many cases, help from more than one creative mind.

Academic Benefits

Improves academic skills

  • Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
  • Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
  • Presents educational concepts accurately
  • Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
  • Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
  • Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
  • Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

Fun

Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range

  • Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
  • Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
  • Visually appealing to children in the target age range
  • Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
  • Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
  • Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
  • Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

Easy to Use

Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range

  • Has a free or trial version
  • Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
  • Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
  • Student should be able to use independently after first use
  • Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
  • Multiple users can save a profile
  • Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
  • Can play without sound and not distract others
  • Students can save work between sessions
  • Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
  • Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
  • Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
  • Overall - Easy to use

Cognitive Concerns

May not be advisable for students with the following cognitive needs

  • Abstract Reasoning
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
    • Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
    • Students might need support with navigation
  • Anxiety
    • Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
  • Fine Motor Skills
    • Requires challenging finger movements, motor precision or physical manipulation
  • Flexible Thinking
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
    • Students might need support with navigation
  • Organization
    • Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
    • Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
    • Students might need support with navigation
  • Spatial Perception
    • Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
    • Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
  • Visual Discrimination
    • Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
    • Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement
    • Students might need support with navigation
  • Visual Memory
    • Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
    • Students might need support with navigation
  • Working Memory
    • Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
    • Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
    • Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement
    • Students might need support with navigation

Manufacturer Description

“THIS APP IS AMAZING AND RICH ON SO MANY LEVELS.” —NSTA Recommends (National Science Teachers Association)

The first and only official Rube Goldberg puzzle game. Solve everyday problems in Rube’s trademark elaborate whimsical style by creating hilarious machines. Is pouring a glass of juice just too straightforward and boring? Try using a jack-in-the-box, magnifying glass, string and a cymbal-wielding friend to achieve your goal. The more creative your solution the better!

From award-winning designer David Fox, designer of the classic LucasArts graphic adventure game “Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders” plus SCUMM scriptor on “Maniac Mansion”.

Rube Works is widely adopted by a growing number of elementary and middle schools and is fast becoming one of the years favorite educational games. Aligned with CCSS (Common Core State Standards) and NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards), Rube Works is a standout app that effortlessly bridges the worlds of gaming and education.

FEATURES:
• Only official Rube Goldberg game, based on his original cartoons
• 18 Challenging Puzzles
• Beautiful Graphics
• Aligned with CCSS/NGSS
• Text in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish

REVIEWS
“Fans of cause-and-effect puzzles should not miss this.” 5 Stars, PadGadget

“Rube Works puts a fun twist on learning.” —Common Sense Media

“A sharp, slick recreation of Goldberg’s artistic work that offers a unique and accessible puzzle challenge.” —Touch Arcade

“If you like building crazy contraptions, you’ll love this app.” —CNET

“…Electric Eggplant has done a great job converting Rube Goldberg’s work” —Pixelvolt

“A challenging and fun game that can also teach the user about physics and logic, while not appearing to be an educational app… I highly recommend this beautiful and well made app.” —iPhone Life

“I highly recommend this app for the budding engineer or those with a knack for making contraptions!” —Teachers With Apps

“Highly recommended!” —The iMums

Also available for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch on the iTunes App Store.

Designed and Produced by Electric Eggplant. Engineering and Art by Kalani Games. Produced by Heirs of Rube Goldberg. Originally published with Unity Games.

ABOUT ELECTRIC EGGPLANT
Founded by David and Annie Fox in 1992, Electric Eggplant has consistently garnered kudos on its games, educational software, and books and apps for kids, tweens, and teens. David began his game design career in 1982 at Lucasfilm Games (LucasArts). During his decade there he helped invent the classic point-and-click graphic adventure genre. David is the Game Designer and Executive Producer on “Rube Works”. ElectricEggplant.com

ABOUT KALANI GAMES
Kalani Games is a game design & development studio in Austin, Texas. Founded by industry veteran, Kalani Streicher, Kalani Games has developed games for mobile, social and online platforms, pushing the boundaries of original, innovative and new game play experiences. KalaniGames.com

ABOUT HRG
HRG (Heirs of Rube Goldberg) is a family-run company led by Rube’s granddaughter, Jennifer George. Their mission is to raise awareness of Rube’s work and to license the intellectual property to appropriate entertainment and media partners who will remain true to the spirit of her grandfather’s legacy. HRG works in tandem with RGI (Rube Goldberg, Inc), the non-profit arm whose mission includes education outreach programs for students and tinkerers of all ages through Rube Goldberg Machine contests around the globe. RubeGoldberg.com