Karmel Games Introduces Equalz

Equalz is a challenging new card game that offers great fun for children, adults and teachers too! (No, we haven't forgotten Librarians as well!). In each round, players try to produce as many arithmetic expressions as they can that equal a randomly selected target number. What you end up with is a game that may not designed for the court jester in difficulty, but that is what makes the game so special...it creates a challenge which will stimulate a child to play!

Karmel games has been monumental in the creation of award winning educational games for a good period of time now, but they haven't stopped there. Introducing "EQUALZ™", the latest creation that stimulates the mind in more ways than one. New for 2007, Equalz™ is a challenging card game that offers great fun for children, adults and teachers too! In each round, players try to produce as many arithmetic expressions as they can that equal a randomly selected target number.

The game tests both the mental arithmetic skills and creative abilities of players, as they try to envision how best to combine a collection of numeric cards and operator cards (+ - x ÷) to produce the current target number. An optional buy/sell rule adds an entertaining twist, as players try to win each round by using up all the cards in their hands.

Now I have had unique situations occur when reviewing products in the past, but this one really takes the cake. I took the game to a local Boys & Girls Club here in Las Vegas. I managed to get two of the tweens there to play the game and give me their feedback. When I mentioned it was a math oriented game, the rest of the kids had no interest; but this is where the tables turn.

I left the Boys & Girls Club for a brief period of one hour. When I returned I saw a large group of the kids, all surrounding the table where the two kids were left playing EQUALZ™. Considering the number of kids there and the fact that issues can develop between kids, I quickly made my way through the group of kids to the table to try and end any issues. To my surprise, here was the club director sitting there playing EQUALZ with one of the kids!

It seems that what had happened while I was gone was that the two kids I left playing EQUALZ™, developed a competitive spirit. Of course when things became competitive, it drew the attention of the kids around them; plenty of excitement being generated. Everyone wanted to see what was so great at the table that was causing so much excitement. When the first two kids were done playing, others were quick to take their place.

When the club director saw the group, he too was concerned of a possible issue and went to investigate what was causing the crowd to form. When the director inquired what the problem was, the end result was the director being challenged by one of the kids to play the game. The tween who posed the challenge made a gentlemen's bet that he could beat the director. The club director took on the challenge and began playing.

It was soon afterwards that I returned, coming up on the group of kids, assuming something might be wrong, just as the club director did. I soon discovered what was really occurring, and was quite pleased to see the director playing EQUALZ™ with one of the kids. This situation provided the validation that the game is highly popular with kids, and at the same time can be for adults as well.

Now if the Boys & Girls Club situation wasn't enough of a surprise, what transpired the next day added even more to the value of EQUALZ™. The day following the excitement at the Boys & Girls Club, I received a phone call from the mother of one of the kids who played EQUALZ™ at the Boys & Girls Club. She got my contact info from the director referenced earlier. According to Ms. Thorpe, the mother of the child, "My son is stubborn when it comes to doing his math homework, and even a little slow on his understanding of math." Ms. Thorpe went on to say... "Since my son has played that EQUALZ™ game, he is pestering me to buy that game, or something similar because he had so much fun playing the game." In my reply to Ms. Thorpe, I recommended EQUALZ™ and a couple of other educational math games that I highly recommend. I very seldom have such an incredible chain of events occur which stir such a shift in the behavior pattern of people of all ages. Here we have kids and adults that are not big on math, now playing a highly educational math game and enjoying it! The real-life evidence speaks for itself as to the value of EQUALZ™.

Getting More Specific In The Evaluation

It was clear to see that the level of "FunFactor™", (How appealing the product is for use by a child.), is at the peak of possible levels. EQUALZ™ is quite strong in innovation and creative style that makes a product or service special or unique with stimulation of new play activity. In regard to creative development from playing this game, the game contributes to acquisition of new learning skills, practice, and information.

Now what was even more interesting was the game's fit for adaptation for "Special Needs" children. It is common knowledge that "Special Needs" children gain greater development from math, than many many other developmental solutions used. Obviously, "Special Needs" children are a market segment where EQUALZ™ would undoubtedly shine.

The level of suitability of this game for use in both home and educational environments is high and contributes dramatically to increased productivity in learning and other skills. From our independent evaluation, we determined that EQUALZ™ will hold up to a child's long-term continued use while at the same time providing a level of educational value which is off the scale. EQUALZ™ guarantees productive ends with the purchase and use of it. When you combine all the factors stated earlier, with the simplicity and visual appeal it holds, what you have is a powerful educational game that is a perfect solution. This in turn delivers a message of a strong marketing value that sets this game apart from all of it's competitors.

Keeping Up With Its Companion Products

EQUALZ™ is the third product by Karmel Games which has been inducted into The Toy Man™ Product & Service Guide. That is an excellent accomplishment. Kudos to Karmel Games™ for this! This is a product which we are honored to welcome into our product and service guide.

EVALUATION RESULTS - From evaluation for induction into "Real Gaming™ Product Guide"
Overall Rating: 5	Seal of Approval: Approved	Award of Excellence: Approved

REALGAMING&trade SEAL OF APPROVAL
2007	"RealGaming™ Seal of Approval" represents the very cornerstone of the RealGaming™ Product Guide. When a product bears this highly coveted seal, you know that it has passed our evaluation and been inducted into the RealGaming™ Product Guide

THE REALGAMING™ AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
2007	"The RealGaming™ Award of Excellence" - The products which become recipients of The RealGaming™ "Award of Excellence”, are part of a limited number which rise to the very top in their evaluation. They demonstrate quality in design, safety, and value, and in their evaluation results they receive a rating of “5” which is the highest level available.

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