Math Mania - General Information

Hey, this is Josh Poll.

In this post I would like to provide some general information about South Weber Elementary SEM's Math Mania. I will go over rules, controls, and tips and tricks for each game. 

As a general tip, if you find the game is running poorly, open the Options Menu and set each option to the desired level. The further left the option is, the easier it is for your computer to handle and the better the game will run.

You can find the Options Menu on the Main Menu or on the Pause Menu. You can access the Pause Menu by hitting the Esc or P key.

Additionally, if you select a game you didn't mean to, you must select a character and start the game before you can pause and go back to the Main Menu. You can access the Pause Menu by hitting the Esc or P key. Then select Quit and then the desired option. 

Adventure Game

In this game, the player takes control of a powerful wizard to battle math themed monsters, collecting cards along the way. These cards will show up in your collection which you can view by stepping into the Math Huts, the light colored buildings. 

Rules

You engage in battle by walking up to a monster and running into it, after which you will be transported to the battle arena. 

You have two options in battle, Attack, and Run Away. Running away will send you back to the overworld, but you will receive no cards. Attacking will have you select a target and then answer a math problem. 

On a correct answer, you will attack the chosen monster, but on a missed question, you will forfeit your turn and the monsters will attack.

 Knock all the monsters down and you will win the battle, and some monster cards. 

Controls

You can use the arrow keys or W,A,S,D to move around in the overworld. 

When you are in the overworld, you can press Esc or P to pause the game. 

To teleport to the last Respawn Hut you passed, press the K key.

While in battle, use the mouse to select options. 

Tips and Tricks

The monsters in the overworld will roam around looking for you. Get too close and they'll start to chase you, though you can outrun them if you try hard enough. 

It can be helpful to attack monsters one at a time. This helps reduce the number of attacks coming your way on subsequent rounds.

While you are in a Math Hut looking at your cards, you can exit the hut by walking into the red door on the far wall. Be careful not to walk right back into the hut when you return to the overworld. I recommend taking your hands off the controls during the transition.

If you walk close to an orange/brown hut, you can teleport directly to it by pressing the K key. This can help if you wanna traverse the map quickly. You will teleport to the last Respawn Hut you passed.

Keep in mind that you can't pause in battle. If you want to pause, you will need to finish the turn you are on, then at the start of your next turn hit the Run Away button. 

Racing Game

In this game, the player chooses an animal racer to collect as many trophies as you can and earn your place on the winner's podium.

Rules

To complete a track, you must find each trophy on a track by driving through them. You then will be presented with a math question.

If you answer correctly, you will get a speed boost to help find trophies faster. If you answer the question wrong, a mischievous monkey will pop up and block you way. 

Once you find all the trophies you will be automatically transported to the next track. Finish all four tracks and you will be sent to the podium. Your placement is determined by how many questions you answered right.

Controls

You can use the arrow keys or W,A,S,D to move your racer. You can also press the Spacebar to brake.

You can press Esc or P to pause the game. 

When answering questions, use the mouse to select options. 

To force a backup, you can press the Left Ctrl button.

Tips and Tricks

Your animal racer is capable of making really tight turns. If you find yourself turning too hard, I recommend tapping the turn key (Left/Right/A/D) instead of holding it down.

Sometimes you might get stuck on the walls of the track, in this case you can press the Left Ctrl button to forcefully backup your racer. I would suggest hitting the button multiple times to ensure you're completely off the wall. This will send you backwards so you might end up off the track. If this happens, you can turn your character away from the track and press the Left Ctrl key until you are back on. 

The speed boost from getting a question right will send you in the direction you were last facing so be sure to face the direction you want to before hitting a trophy.

When answering a question, your key presses won't affect your character. Be sure to re-press the keys you want after the question screen goes away to keep your momentum.

Baking Game

In this game, the player takes control of a master chef at several restaurants. You must talk to customers and deliver their orders exactly as they describe.

Rules

You must successfully deliver food to all the customers in the restaurant you're in. Walk up to the customers and press the E key to take their order.

When the order pops up, click on the ingredient icon to prepare the item. You'll then be presented with a math problem to solve.

If you get the question right, that ingredient will be added to your inventory at the bottom of the screen. If you get the question wrong, a garbage ingredient will be added instead.

Once you have all the necessary ingredients in the right quantities, you should serve the customer by presssing the Serve button. If you prepared the order right, the customer will leave satisfied and your inventory will be cleared. If you are missing something, the customer won't accept the food.

Once all customers in a restaurant are served successfully, you will be moved to the next restaurant. Try and serve all the customers in each of the four restaurants.

Controls

You can use the arrow keys or W,A,S,D to move your chef. You can also use the mouse to turn the camera by clicking and dragging.

Press the E key when close to a customer to take their order.

You can press Esc or P to pause the game. 

Click on order ingredients and the Serve button with the mouse.

When answering questions, use the mouse to select options. 

Tips and Tricks

You can only work on one customer's order at a time. Make sure to deliver their food correctly before moving on the next customer.

Make sure you have the correct amount of an ingredient before serving. You should have the same amount or more of an ingredient as requested by the customer. There will be a small number next to the picture in order to tell you how much they want and how much you have. No number just means one of that item. 

If you find you don't have enough room in your inventory to fulfill an order, likely because you have too many garbage ingredients, I'm afraid you'll just have to restart the game from the Main Menu. Press the Esc or P key to pause and quit.

Flying Game

In this game, the player chooses a flying fish that must navigate the seas for their cactus girlfriend, all while avoiding the relentless fisherman.

Rules

Your fish will fly forward automatically and you must guide them through the floating rings in the stage. When you fly through one of these rings, a math question will pop up.

On a correct answer, your score will increase by one. On an incorrect answer, your fish will be frozen in fear as the fisherman tries to catch them.

When you reach the dungeon at the end of the level, you will be transported to the next level and your fish will level up. Your cactus girlfriend awaits you beyond the third dungeon, as does your final score.

Controls

You can use the arrow keys or W,A,S,D to move your fish. 

You can press Esc or P to pause the game. 

When answering questions, use the mouse to select options. 

Tips and Tricks

Your final score reflects how many questions you got right. If you missed a ring, then you didn't answer that question and your score won't increase. Try your best to fly through as many rings as possible to increase your score.

The rings will show up as red behind your fish so you can get a sense of where it's coming from. Though this doesn't work if your fish is completely covering the ring. If you're not sure where the next ring is coming from, try flying around until you see the bright red of the ring.

The power of your computer might affect how fast your fish flies. If you find yourself moving slow, you can lower your settings in the Options Menu.  The further left the option is, the easier it is for your computer to handle and the better the game will run. You can find the Options Menu on the Main Menu or on the Pause Menu. You can access the Pause Menu by hitting the Esc or P key.