rmdudley

© Siemens PLM Software

Plantville is a new online game that is designed to simulate the experience of running a manufacturing plant. The game challenges players to optimize operations and production design at three different plants – Bewell Vitamin Company, Hopon Train Co. and Quenchco Bottling Co.

There are several key performance indicators that measure how well players are managing each plant. These include safety, on-time delivery, quality, energy management and employee satisfaction. Every decision a player makes has an associated cost that is deducted from the budget, from hiring additional employees to purchasing new equipment and maintenance services. Ways to increase available capital include accepting new orders as they arrive. Overall, this virtual game very closely simulates the real aspects involved in managing a plant. There is a character called Pete the Plant Manager who helps players by providing guidance on best practices, and the game can be linked to social media accounts as well.

© daveynin

A number of great video games are getting cheaper. A Mario Kart Wii bundle went on sale this week which features Wii hardware, a Wii Wheel and Mario Kart Wii all together for less than $150. This promotion is one of several that the maker of Mario Kart Wii is pushing this season. There is also a discounted Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board which has dropped in price to under $70 in a new sale. The Wii Fit Plus comes with a set of six new strength activities, including yoga, plus 15 more challenging balance games.

Another video game sale which has been going on since May features select game titles for the Wii which are priced at $19.99 each. Wii has proven to be a popular system, selling over 80 million units since its launch in 2006. New Wii titles to look forward to this year include Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident and Wii Play: Motion with Black Wii Remote Plus.

© k0a1a.net

Sokikom a company founded by Snehal Patel has launched a new online game which combines the multiplayer gaming experience with math. This game will target the students in grades 1 to 6 to help them develop an interest for math.
The online game allows an entire class of more than 30 children to play together in the class or outside the class. It currently comprises of three games-the Frachine, Opirate and Treeching. Frachine deals with fractions, decimals and percentage whereas Opirate concerns itself with math operations and algebra. Treeching puts the focus on measurement, algebra, time and money.
Interactive games with different playing modes for single player or multiplayer greet the player when they log in. The players have to create an avatar on the online game and give a test which judges their mathematical ability and customizes the game at their level. Then the player gets to play in riveting games including real life math problems.
In the single player mode, the player can also review the concepts with the "help" button. In the team based games other players can also help in solving the problems. The reward is Soki-coins which may be used to buy items to dress their avatars.
The online game has already received accolades from the Education societies in the form of 2011 Best Education Software, 2011 Most Innovative Internet companies and other awards. A fourth online game targeting geometry is to be released this summer.
The company has put up the game for free basic download for schools and an upgraded version of the online game can be bought at a subscription of $11.95 per month.