TOS Review: Roman Town

Every now and again the Review Crew gets to review a really fun product.   Roman Town from Dig It Games is one such product.  This is a computer game but lest you think it’s all fun and games let me reassure you this product is designed to educate. With Roman Town you will learn while you play.

Before I share some details of how the game works, I’d  like to share my thoughts and I have a CODE to share with you for a really great deal on this game.

The current retail price of Roman Town By Dig-It Games is $39.95 but if you enter the code TOS2011 you will get a discount that brings the game price to $19.95!  This offer is valid until February 21st. Click here to purchase.

 

All four of my girls have really enjoyed Roman Town  from Dig-It Games. My 15 year old, is interested in setting up her own player  but hasn’t gotten around to it yet (She’s been playing with Supergirl doing the reading for her) I would like to point out a couple of things I noticed about the game and then I’ll share how the game works.

1. I wish that you could skip the intro and go straight to the sign in screen but you must click through all of the Intro storyline first. 
2. I wish there was an option for the game to read the text to the student.  Supergirl loves Roman Town but she must have someone read all the text to her.  She can play many parts of it independently but she would miss out on the educational pieces.
3. Once you have completed a level you can not go back into that level.  (You can however, access the mini-games for those levels through the mini-game button on the sign in screen)
4. I found it a little boring after a while to click on the diggers and then uncover the artifacts but my archeology loving 13 year old did not and my Supergirl loved doing that part. 
5. My 11 year didn’t mind the digger part but she said she found it boring when some of the LEARN pages were exactly the same.
6. You can only have up to 5 player names at a time.  You can delete players so that new players can be added.

I know I just wrote some things that appear rather negative, but I really do love this game.  We are planning to study Ancient Rome sometime springish 2012 and I plan on using this game as a supplement to our Ancient Roman studies.    I’ll be using the text that I read to Supergirl as part of her history studies.   If you are studying Ancient Rome and looking for a supplement, I recommend Roman Town. 

Let me take you on a tour of the game. Roman Town explores ancient Italy through an archeology  expedition.  As soon as the game loads, you are taken to the Professor’s office to discover that a new site has been found and that the Professor needs some help.  You are the new applicant hired to help the Professor.  Once you meet the Professor in Italy, the screen takes you the Main Menu.  This where you can choose Mini-Games (which are also scattered throughout the levels) or Let’s Dig which takes you to the site.  There are six levels numbered using Roman Numerals.  Once you complete each level (each level is a room in a Roman house) a picture of the room with the Latin name for the room appears..  Click on the Let’s Dig! button to start.

Each of the 6 levels starts at the Excavation Site.   This is where you get to dig for artifacts.  When an artifact is discovered, you are given the opportunity to L.E.A.R.N. more.  (Locate Engrossing And Remarkable kNowledge)

Once you have uncovered all the artifacts you must sort them and then analyze them.  Each level has 3 to 4 mini-games that you play to analyze the artifact.

There are 6 types of mini games:

1. 2D Reconstruction--- reconstruct a 2D object such as a mosaic or fresco.
2. 3D Reconstruction--- reconstruct a 3D objects such as a jar or vase
3. Calculi--- a board game similar to connect-4
4. Doesn’t Belong--- find the objects in the room that would NOT be part of a Roman room
5. Memory Match--- exactly what says!  You must use your memory to match objects to where they were in the room
6. Old & New--- Match the modern day item with the Roman item such as a stuffed Bear to a wooden toy

Here’s a screen shot of one of the 3D Reconstruction Games:

Click on the fragment on the left and drag it to the object outline in the center. You rotate the object by clicking on it.  I like this one because I enjoy solving puzzles and both of the reconstruction mini-game types are puzzles.

As you analyze the object you can L.E.A.R.N. more and you can use that information to complete the “quizzes” and reports.  I’d like to point out that the artifacts and the order the artifacts are found does vary so you can delete your completed game and play again and have a slightly different experience.  I would be playing and I would hear “hey I haven’t found that yet!”.   I never did find some of the objects that Supergirl did so I’m motivated to start over as new player and see if I get to uncover that artifact.

I enjoyed playing the game and my children have enjoyed playing the game.  I am looking forward to more Archeology games from Dig-It! Games.

Remember that until February 21, 2011 you  can use the code TOS2011 to get a discount on the Roman Town Game.   Be sure and check out the website for more valuable resources such as a Teacher Manual and some online games!

Click on the banner below to read what my fellow Crewmates had to say about Roman Town from Dig-It! Games. 

Disclaimer: As a TOS Crew member, I received this product free of charge to review. This review is my honest opinion with, hopefully, enough detail as to why I liked or did not like a product so that my readers can make an informed decision. I received no compensation.