Description

"Fun With Numbers," also known as "Basic Math," is an educational video game designed for the Atari 2600/VCS console. This game was released in 1977 as part of Atari's attempt to break into the burgeoning field of video game-based education. Geared toward young children learning basic arithmetic, "Fun With Numbers" offers a simple, interactive way to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The game consists of multiple difficulty levels, adjusting the complexity of the math problems according to the player's input. Visually, it features basic graphics typical of early Atari games, with numbers and mathematical symbols displayed in a straightforward, easy-to-read manner on the console's screen.

In terms of gameplay, "Fun With Numbers" allows players to choose a specific type of mathematical operation they wish to practice. The game then prompts the player with a numerical question related to the selected operation, requiring the user to input the correct answer using the Atari joystick. The simplicity of the navigation and interaction makes it particularly suitable for its target audience of young children. Although not one of the more popular or critically acclaimed titles in the Atari 2600 catalog, "Fun With Numbers" represents an early example of educational video games and reflects Atari's pioneering role in combining education with interactive entertainment, a concept that would expand significantly in the decades following the game's release.