ItzaBitza blog has a new home
Moving day has arrived! I convinced the team that we needed to integrate this blog into the main site! OK, OK…it took alot of cookies, lunches, and such….(they kept bringing up good points like my writing isn’t all that great, yah but…) but YIPPEEE!!!!!!
ItzaBitza’s new blog location (sung to the tune of “Movin’ on up..”) is: http://www.itzabitza.com/blog/
January 14, 2009 at 11:35 am
I recently bought the game and tried it out before I let my kids have a go at it. I thought it was a fun and engaging way for my child to learn and have fun at the same time. The only problem I see and I don’t know if it’s a problem with my settings, but I find the mouse control is over sensitive. It takes deliberate control and concentration to draw something and I can see my child getting frustrated from repeated attempts to get it right. Is there a way to adjust the mouse settings to make it more forgiving and easier for a child who has less motor control?
Thanks
Marcelo laboy
January 14, 2009 at 11:49 am
Hey Marcelo,
ItzaBitza does not do anything directly to affect the sensitivity of the mouse. Perhaps some “tweaks” in either the software for the mouse of hardware can help. For example, I went to my control panel in Windows XP and clicked on the Mouse control application, which brings up the mouse properties. One of the tabs is “Pointer Options” and within there is a slider to make the mouse less sensitive.
I have found in my own use of the mouse, the surface the mouse is on can make a big difference. The nicest surface for most mice is a mouse pad.
Finally, not all mice are the same. I am by no means an expert, but perhaps someone could recommend a less sensitive mouse (again I don’t know much about the hardware of mice!).
I got a note from another customer whose child originally was having challenges drawing. However, after practice he had no problem. Perhaps if your child gets more practice?
Some children at a very young age just don’t have the motor skills developed yet. It can vary. I’ve watch three year olds who are amazing with a mouse, others that are very challenged using it.
Keep me posted!
January 19, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I had a few comments and questions myself but wanted to say something about the mouse issue mentioned above. You can purchase a smaller mouse made specifically for children. Also, the newer optical “mice” are more sensitive as well.
I tried this game on a laptop and had no problems using the touch pad. I’m even going to try using a stylus either from my smartphone or from my daughter’s handheld video game to see if that makes drawing even easier.
My question is about instructions. Will there be a game guide available for download if the game is purchased online? I was trying to find out if there are a certain number of stars to be earned on each level because we found 13 on some levels, 12 on another, 15 on another, etc. and we wanted to see if we were getting them all. Having some sort of PDF file to go along with the game would be nice.
I absolutely love this game. I played it while my 6 yr old was sleeping so I could really test it out and I’m impressed. I love how it teaches reading, math, problem solving and offers something for both younger kids as well as older kids.
January 20, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Hey April,
).
Thanks for your comment (especially the part about loving the game
On the stars, we don’t “say” how many stars are at a each level. They are for the children to find. The child has “hunted all the stars down” when they get a gold star.
You know what I’d like even BETTER than a PDF? A forum where folks that played the game (both parents, kids) gave each other guidance. I’d rather go that route.
And please share any advice on what we (Sabi) can do or more details about ItzaBitza. We have a passion to provide gaming for children that is REALLY FUN and delightful NOT at the expense of learning key skills – like reading.