 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Geared 2!
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Price: $2.99
- Category: Puzzle Games
Common Sense Media says
Solve puzzles by connecting parts to make them all spin.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Geared 2! is a strategy game of connecting gears to make them all spin. A hamster in the main gear supplies the power. Players need to connect both the loose and fixed gears to the hamster gear to make them all spin. The hamster is flung into the air at the end of a level; this may be disturbing to some children. Players can arrange and rearrange the loose gears as much as they need, and they can also start the level over again. When players solve a level, they'll get statistics such as how long the level took to solve, the distance the gears were moved, and other details. In addition to the included levels, players can design their own levels in the level editor, or play those that have been created by others.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn about physics and simple machines in this engaging puzzler. Kids see, somewhat graphically, how gears change the speed of the source. Here, the speed of the hamster wheel rotates so much faster once the gears are in place that the hamster flies right off! As kids guide each gear into position, the gear's color changes to let the player know if it can be placed there or not. Each level gets a bit more difficult, and kids can create their own challenges using the level editor. The silly fun and challenging physics of Geared 2! encourage kids to use logic and strategy to solve each puzzle.
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoningproblem solving, strategy
- Creativitymaking new creations
- Self-Direction
- Emotional Development
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Tech Skills
- Health & Fitness
What's it about?
Kids explore the power of simple machines –- gears -– as they fling a hamster right off its hamster wheel. In this physics puzzler, kids place gears around the wheel, making connections that turn the wheel faster. Once the gears are in place and all spinning, the hamster flies away and kids have completed the level. Each level gets a bit more difficult, and kids can create their own challenges using the level editor.
Is it any good?
GEARED 2! is an excellent and challenging puzzle and strategy game. It includes dozens of levels to solve, the ability to download levels created by others, and an option to edit your own levels. Difficulty ramps up gradually, just fast enough to keep you challenged with the new game features. There is enough to Geared 2! to keep players engaged for a long time. One negative is that one of the advertised options is to be able to ask for a hint if you haven't solved a level after a certain amount of time. No hint button shows up, but the publisher knows about this error and is working on a solution.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn about physics and simple machines in this engaging puzzler. Kids see, somewhat graphically, how gears change the speed of the source. Here, the speed of the hamster wheel rotates so much faster once the gears are in place that the hamster flies right off! As kids guide each gear into position, the gear's color changes to let the player know if it can be placed there or not. Each level gets a bit more difficult, and kids can create their own challenges using the level editor. The silly fun and challenging physics of Geared 2! encourage kids to use logic and strategy to solve each puzzle.
Subjects
- Language & Reading:
- Math:
- Science: engineering, physics
- Social Studies:
- Arts:
- Hobbies:
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoning: problem solving, strategy
- Creativity: making new creations
- Self-Direction:
- Emotional Development:
- Communication:
- Collaboration:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Tech Skills:
- Health & Fitness:
How kids will learn
The levels start out easy, giving kids an idea how gears and the app work, but the challenge slowly builds, adding obstacles and requiring some trial and error. Kids must position the gears so the teeth meet and the gears rotate, how gears work in real life. The challenge is limitless since kids can create their own levels of play using the level editor or play levels created by others. After completing each level, kids will see data evaluating the difficulty of the level, how long it took them to solve it, and how many moves they made.
How parents can help
- Let your kid explore gears hands-on. Spiral art sets are a fun way to explore gears while creating fantastic designs.
- Discuss places kids encounter gears. Take a look at a bicycle or an old clock to see gears in action.
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 13 years old
February 22, 2011
AGE
Geared #1
I absolutely LOVE this app. It is so addictive and fun that I can't put it down! There are so many puzzles to solve and it boggles the mind for it be so educational, yet fun! If you're looking for an app the boggles the mind and is fun at the same time, I suggest, no, I COMMAND you to download the demo, and if you like it, download the whole game!
What other families should know:
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| Category: | Puzzle Games |
| Platforms: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Price: | $2.99 |
| Size: | 16.50 MB |
| Publisher: | Bryan Mitchell |
| Version: | 1.0 |
| Release date: | December 16, 2010 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 3.0 or later |
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