Buying and Selling

Crash

Rosetta McLeod

CRASH COURSE By Rosetta McLeod HAVING FUN WITH EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE A recent survey undertaken for the Independent Broadcasting Authority shows that a third of all households in Britain with children, now own a home computer. On the surface this seems encouraging, but the question has to be asked, To what use are these computers being put? The vast majority of home computer users may do little more than play arcade and adventure games, and it is a pity that the enjoyable educational software on offer does not reach a bigger audience. The programs from AVP Computing reviewed this month are good examples of software which can be of use both in the home and in schools, because of their relevance to the learning process. AVP have long been known to teachers as publishers of excellent audio-visual materials, and now they have turned their attention towards educational software. Over a hundred of their own programs are described in their Primary and Secondary catalogues, together with a wide selection of titles from other educational publishers of quality. Teachers will welcome the fact that, if official requisition forms are used for ordering, titles may be obtained on a fortnight's approval. Certainly the catalogues are well worth obtaining, and the programs I've looked at provide a useful cross-section of the wares AVP have to offer. The programs for Secondary schools cover Science, Mathematics, languages, social subjects, Economics, Computer Studies, Music, Art, careers guidance and administration, while those available for younger children represent all ages of the Primary curriculum. For more information, get in touch with AVP Computing, [redacted]. BUYING AND SELLING This program is a shop simulation which may be used to provide dynamic illustrations of a wide range of processes including price setting, profit and loss, stock organisation, customer reaction and so on. At the beginning, there is a choice between playing the game and the study option. The program displays all aspects of trading in both tabulated and graphic formats, and the arm, of course, is to work towards a profit making business over the number of weeks - a period of up to twenty weeks may be selected. At the start of trading, the stock in hand consists of 25 Mars bars, 25 Kit-Kats, 18 bottles of Pepsi and 15 of lemonade, together with £3 of cash. The player then has to set prices for this initial stock to produce an income which will enable replacement stock to be purchased, cover overheads and losses, and also generate some profit. The accompanying booklet gives helpful information and advice essential for succeeding in the task, while the screen displays show the trade details for each week of business, which can be sub-divided into weekly charts for each of the food items. Up to two assistants may be hired, a move which has the advantage of improving service and thus generating more potential customers, but of course staff cost money, and may prove to be dishonest! The number of factors to be borne in mind while running the business makes this game interesting and absorbing. Prices have to be set each week, staff fired or hired, goods re-ordered, overheads paid, and all the while the graphic and tabulated information must be read and understood. The study option simulates a typical trading pattern with realistic fluctuations within an acceptable range, but the game eliminates random factors and produces exact relationships. The cassette costs £10, and on Microdrive it sells for £12. COMMENTS Control keys: kept simple and clearly described on the screen Keyboard play: very fast Use of colour: black and white only Graphics: very good

Our Cameron tries his hand at a bit of BUYING AND SELLING - it looks like he's flogging off lots of lemonade to make ends meet. It's be the CRASH Camera next!