Blaster Learning System

The Blaster Learning System is an educational video game series originally created and published by Davidson & Associates, but is now owned and published by JumpStart (Knowledge Adventure), after the two companies were acquired and merged by CUC Software. Titles in the series have been produced for several computer systems, video game consoles, and as standalone handheld units. Originally, the series simply learned mathematics, but eventually expanded to other subjects, such as language arts (reading) and science. Because the first Math Blaster series was so popular, Davidson made Reading Blaster in 1994, which also went on to be a hit.

Blaster Learning System
Genre(s)Edutainment
Developer(s)Davidson & Associates
JumpStart
Blitz Games
Publisher(s)Davidson & Associates (1983–1998)
JumpStart (Knowledge Adventure) (1998–2023)
Creator(s)Janice G. Davidson, PhD
Platform(s)Windows, Macintosh, Apple II, Apple II GS
First releaseMath Blaster!
1983

Science Blaster was introduced in 1996, but never reach the same popularity as its predecessors.

On June 13, 2023, JumpStart Games announced the closure of the company and end of support for both JumpStart and Math Blaster games on June 30, 2023.[1] The company officially closed July 1, 2023 at 3am EST with servers and their website also shutting down. No reason upon the closure was given.

History

The first reboot of the Davidson fundamentals line came in 1989. The original Math Blaster was written in Applesoft Basic and the Microsoft equivalent. Under the direction of Mike Albanese, the Davidson programming team used Fig Forth to make a cross-platform development system. The product did well, and it was the first of many Forth-based products that Davidson would make.

After starting off with a huge boom and providing the base for the establishment of a very successful public corporation, the Blaster series eventually fell victim to marketing cuts. In an attempt to sell both up and down the age group added more, Blasters were designed with increasingly thin, fuzzy and overlapping target age groups. Finally, the line came under fierce attack from the Gross brothers of Knowledge Adventure (now JumpStart), led by Barton Listic. Knowledge Adventure countered with a simple grade-based sub-division with their JumpStart logo. Eventually, Knowledge Adventure and Davidson were acquired by CUC International to form CUC Software, and the company lines were merged.

In the year of 1999, coinciding with the CBS' Saturday morning cartoon Blaster's Universe animated by the Canadian studio Nelvana, the characters were once again changed, probably to be more identifiable as people, with Blasternaut becoming Max Blaster, a 12-year-old boy obsessed with science and space in the 21st century, and his assistant Galactic Commander (short for G.C.), a cool 12-year-old girl who looks like an earthling but is really an alien. Together, they have to work in secret to save G.C.'s universe by outsmarting the intergalactic bandits with logic and creativity. Spot, the robot companion was removed and replaced with a robot dog named "MEL" ("Mechanically Enhanced Lapdog").

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Davidson started being bought out and merged with other companies, these titles were renamed and repackaged, but the content didn't change. One example is the latest release of Math Blaster for 3rd Grade in which the box art features the brand's all-new CBS cartoon characters, while the screen grabs of the game unveils a very different Blaster character and style; "Powerful Praise" quoted on the box gave 4½ stars for the game while admitting it was "previously published as "Math Blaster Ages 6–9", but ironically that was itself previously published as "Mega Math Blaster".

Design

The Blaster series

Math

Games Platforms and release years
Math Blaster!
Math Blaster Mystery[4] Apple II, Macintosh (1989)
Math Blaster Episode II: Secret of the Lost City
Math Blaster Mystery: The Great Brain Robbery
Alge-Blaster!
Math Blaster Jr.
Geometry Blaster[5][6]
Math Blaster for Kindergarten Windows, Macintosh (1999)
  • Re-released as Math Blaster Mission 1: Cosmic Critter Challenge
Math Blaster for 1st Grade
  • Re-released as Math Blaster Mission 2: Race for the Omega Trophy
Math Blaster for 2nd Grade
Math Blaster Cross Terrain Challenge: Ages 9–12 Windows, Macintosh (2001)
Math Blaster: Master the Basics Windows, Macintosh (2006)
Math Blaster in the Prime Adventure Nintendo DS (2008)
Math Blaster iOS (2013)
Math Blaster HyperBlast iOS (2013)
Math Blaster HyperBlast 2
  • Re-released as Math Blaster HyperBlast 2 HD
Math Blaster Space Zapper iOS (2013)
B-Force Blaster iOS (2013)

Reading

Games Platforms and release years
Reading Blaster: Invasion of the Word Snatchers[8][9] Windows, Macintosh (1994)
Reading Blaster 2000
Reading Blaster Jr.
Word Blaster
Reading Blaster: Ages 9–12
Spelling Blaster
Reading Blaster for Kindergarten
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster Mission 1: Secret Of the Sunken
Reading Blaster for 1st Grade
  • Re-released as Reading Blaster Mission 2: Planet of the Lost Things

Other subjects

Games Platforms and release years
Science Blaster Jr. Windows, Macintosh (1996)
Writing Blaster: Ages 6–9 Windows, Macintosh (1998)

Compilations

Year Title Games
Math Blaster Anniversary
  • Math Blaster: Ages 6–9
  • Spelling Blaster: Ages 6–9
Blaster Learning System 3R's: Ages 4–6
  • Reading Blaster: Ages 4–6
  • KidWorks Deluxe
  • Math Blaster: Ages 4–6
Blaster Learning System 3R's: Ages 6–9
  • Reading Blaster: Ages 6–9
  • Writing Blaster: Ages 6–9
  • Math Blaster: Ages 6–9
Blaster Learning System 3R's: Ages 9–12
  • Reading Blaster: Ages 9–12
  • Multimedia Workshop
  • Math Blaster: Ages 9–12
2005 Math Blaster Game Pack: Ages 6–12
  • Math Blaster: Ages 6–9
  • Math Blaster: Ages 9–12
  • Math Blaster: Pre-Algebra
  • Math Blaster: Algebra

Other languages

Math:

  • Swedish (titled "Matte Raketen")
  • Finnish (titled "Matikkaraketti")
  • Japanese (titled "算数戦士ブラスター(Sansū Senshi Burasutā)")

Reception

II Computing listed Math Blaster second on the magazine's list of top Apple II education software as of late 1985, based on sales and market-share data.[12]

References

  1. "Adaptive Curriculum Games for Kids - Activities & Worksheets - JumpStart". www.jumpstart.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  2. Oppenheim, Joanne and Stephanie (1993). "Computer Software/CD-ROM – Drill and Review Software: 'New Math Blaster Plus'". The Best Toys, Books & Videos for Kids. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Guide Book. Vol. 1 (1st ed.). New York: Harper Perennial. p. 275. ISBN 0-06-273196-3.
  3. "✳️Works VTG 1980s Coleco Lil Genius Kids Calculator Math Toy Electronic Game".
  4. "Compute! Specific: Apple II". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  5. "GEOMETRY BLASTER". School Library Journal. 43 (8). August 1997. ISSN 0362-8930.
  6. "Davidson's next step in math education: Geometry...". Curriculum Administrator. 31 (7). March 1997. ISSN 1082-5495.
  7. "ST Report: Newswire / Tech News / Sun Ripens Java / Jaguar Dazzles Developers / Wired World: The Big Idea / A.T.A.C. & Wargods!". Atari Explorer Online.
  8. Willis, Jerry (July 28, 1996). "Technology, reading, and language arts". Boston : Allyn and Bacon via Internet Archive.
  9. "Nintendo Wii Nerf Switch Shot EX-3 Blaster Attachment Only".
  10. Ciraolo, Michael (Oct–Nov 1985). "Top Software / A List of Favorites". II Computing. p. 51. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
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