Chapter 2. Game Play

Game play is pretty simple. Each game consists of a user settable number of rounds. A round consists of two numbered cards, and a mathematical operation (addition, subtraction, or multiplication). The human player has a predetermined amount of time in which to submit what he or she thinks the answer is. The computer player may or may not take a guess at the answer after some time also. The player who gets the correct answer gets the points for that round. If no one gets the correct answer, no one gets any points for that round. At the end of the game, the player with the highest score wins.

To start a new game, choose File -> New Game from the menu bar. After a couple of seconds, two cards will be displayed as well as a mathematical operator, and the timer will begin to count down. Solve the problem, type your answer, and hit Enter (or click the Submit button). However, you have to answer before the computer player guesses, and before the timer expires. If you guess correctly, you will be told so.

There are several ways for a round to end:

In all cases, there will be some sort of dialog marking the end of the round, and stating the final outcome of that round. After that dialog is closed, there will be a couple of seconds where the cards will be face down. The new round will begin when those cards are flipped face up. Play will continue in that fashion until all of the rounds are complete.

Scoring

There are two different ways to score points. Both of them involve correctly answering the math problem.

Scoring for the computer player is similar, only the computer player never gets a chance to get bonus points. If no one guesses, or no one is correct, no points are awarded.