Number Munchers

Overview

Number Munchers is an educational computer game released by MECC (Minnesota Educational Computing Corporation) in 1986. Number Munchers was designed to teach basic math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and prime numbers.

In Number Munchers, players control the Muncher (Munchicus digitus) , a green creature with a taste for integers. When players start a new game they will be granted 4 lives. To advance to the next stage, players must devour all of the correct answers to the current question. If players consume an incorrect answer they will lose a life.

Existing only to hinder the player's progress are the Troggles, troll-like creatures that move over the game board changing the numbers as they pass. Safe zones may appear on the board at any time, providing players with a white square that Troggles can not enter. There is no end to Number Munchers; the game will continue to add smarter and faster enemies in increasing abundance until players eventually run out of lives.

Modes of play

1. Multiples - Find multiples of the current number. e.g., if the number is 6, then players would want to eat 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30.
2. Factors - Find factors of the current number. e.g., if the number is 6, then players would want to eat 1, 2, 3 and 6.
3. Primes - Find only prime numbers, such as 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17 and 19.
4. Equality - Find the equations that equal the current number. e.g., if the number is 10, then players would want to eat 5 x 2, 6 plus 4, 8 plus 2, 20 ÷ 2, etc.
5. Inequality - Similar to the Equality mode, except players must find the equations that do not equal the current number.

Types of Troggles

• Reggies (Trogglus normalus) - Troggles that move across the board in a straight line changing numbers as they pass. They are magenta in color.
• Bashfuls (Trogglus timidus) - Green Troggles that will avoid moving near the player as they change the numbers on the board.
• Helpers (Trogglus assistus) - Troggles that only eat correct answers. While this can help players clear the board, this also reduces the amount of points that players can earn. They are also green in color.
• Workers (Trogglus laborus) - A troggle that is purple in color with a white stomach. This Troggle is similar to the Reggie except that its movement is less predictable.
• Smarties (Trogglus smarticus). - A yellow colored Troggle that will deliberately follow the player and attempt to eat them.