Shadows are corrupting the land. Restore the balance of nature using number operations and place value. Gate guides students in lowering intimidation about large numbers and decimals.

In this game, use the arrow keys or shortcut letter keys to build numbers that match the numbers above the approaching shadow monsters. Press the space bar to launch a firework and banish the approaching monsters.

My Role / What I Learned

Because the original Flash versions of the Math Snacks games were becoming unusable in most browsers, we decided to begin rebuilding the games using more modern technologies. Furthermore, times had changed and it was becoming expected for educational games, and games in general, to be more accessible. Gate was particularly problematic because the timed elements made it difficult to play for kids with mobility issues.

I was in charge of building the remake as well as designing and implementing some accessibility features. I added a whole new control scheme that uses arrow keys to build numbers and change place values, a slider that changes the speed of the incoming monsters, and a new level select screen with added information about each level.

The biggest hurdle with the game was attempting to maintain the challenge while implementing a feature that essentially removed most of the difficulty. Specifically, granting players the ability to slow down time. Survival used to be the main metric for success, but now it was difficult to actually lose. Because of this, I revamped the scoring system and added additional “bonus” monsters that were optional to defeat but to necessary for the highest score. The result was that the focus became less about twitch reflexes and more about the actual number-building, while no longer alienating players with mobility issues.

Credits: Lead Programmer (Unity version)