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Crazy Formula Lab

Mindprint Rating

Tags

Mathematics All Ages iOS App

Skills

Flexible Thinking Working Memory Abstract Reasoning Spatial Perception

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • Puzzles start off easy so students are able to feel a sense of accomplishment as soon as they begin playing.
  • There is a lot of variety in the puzzle design which keeps them interesting and challenging for the user.
  • The app forces students to think about staging and interim solutions in harder levels (e.g. colors need to mix before they can flow).

Considerations

  • There is no option for users to see hints or solutions if they cannot figure out the solution and they receive a "FAIL" message if they are unable to solve the puzzle.
  • Students with visual weaknesses may struggle with the small size of the graphics and overlapping puzzle pieces.
  • The app has fluids flowing up and defying gravity.

Mindprint Expert Review

Crazy Formula Lab is the free version of Crazy Formula, a science-themed puzzle-logic game which has no novelties but several flaws. The free version is worse with the intrusive ads popping up and covering the screen. Players move pipe pieces around so fluid can flow seamlessly from one end to another. Sometimes two different colored fluids have to be mixed to create a third color, so the pipes have to be placed in the correct order for the fluids to mix before they get to the end point. The pipe pieces can be moved around but not rotated, and the player clicks the “Play” button to start the fluid flowing once they think they have the right configuration. If it does not work the player is greeted with a big "FAIL" but can start the level over and try again. The puzzles are challenging and solvable but there are no hints or solutions if a student has trouble. Children with visual weaknesses will struggle with the blurry font and the pieces overlapping each other as students experiment to find the right solution. For students who enjoy visual puzzles the paid version of this app may be fine, but students who struggle with visual puzzles should probably avoid this app.

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
    • Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
  • Anxiety
    • Gives negative feedback (red X's, buzzer)
  • Attention
    • Shows advertisements
    • Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
    • Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
  • Self-regulation
    • Shows advertisements
    • Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
    • Gives negative feedback (red X's, buzzer)
  • Spatial Perception
    • Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
  • Visual Discrimination
    • Shows advertisements
    • Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
    • Words used during activity can be too small or difficult to read
    • Visually distracting with too many pictures, problems or moving objects
    • Directions are visually difficult to read
  • Working Memory
    • Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps

Manufacturer Description

More than 1.5 million downloads and a 4,3 star rating!
Give it a try, and see if you get addicted!!!!!
WARNING - ONLY FOR SMART PEOPLE !!!

Crazy Formula is a truly addicted puzzle/board game where you arrange lab tubes so special formulas (different colors) can pass throw and arrives to the final component in the write way.

You can split the formulas (colors), mixing two or more formulas to achieve a different one, change colors, delay flow, etc.

If you are familiar with some puzzle games where you have to mix primary and secundary colors, than Crazy Formula is the right game for you!

Features:
- Challenging and progressive levels;
- 5 "books of formulas" and a special final book;
- Tutorials in the key levels;
- Intuitive game play: drag tubes, mixing colors, delay flow, change colors;
- Game Center with achievements; (not available in lite version)
- Original graphics and sounds;

Buy the full game for a complete "Crazy" lab experience!!