A new online flash-based adventure game, CodeBreaker 2006, sponsored by the Shuttleworth Foundation`s youth brand, HIP2B^2, will be available free-of-charge in March.
The game is designed not only to entertain but also to introduce teenagers to problem-solving skills and "demystify" the stigma attached to mathematics and the sciences, says Patrick Kayton, co-founder of Bright Sparks, which together with Prezence developed the game.
"It takes things commonly regarded [by teenagers] as boring, and shows their application in a world of adventure," he explains.
CodeBreaker 2006 follows on from a similar game that appeared in You, Huisgenoot and Drum magazines in 2004.
"The story is about a great scientist who`s been kidnapped, and a quest to retrieve her safely from the enemies and protect her secret - which is all about extending human longevity through genetic engineering," summarises Kayton.
The vector-based Flash means the game will function on a 56kbps modem, he adds. Kayton hopes it will be used in school computer laboratories and homes.
The game is designed with a 13-year-old in mind, says Kayton, but adds that most people between the age of 11 and 17 will be challenged but not overwhelmed by the game.
CodeBreaker superheroes were developed to provide teens with uniquely South African role models.
Registration for CodeBreaker 2006 will start from 1 March, with the gameplay comprising three stages that will be available from 20 March at http://www.codebreaker.co.za.
Those who complete a particular level will be entered into a weekly draw, and at the end of the game there will also be a grand draw, says Kayton, though he adds that prizes have not yet been finalised.
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