Shortcut! Computer Basics
Manufacturer: Shortcut 2 Learning
Recommended Age: 10 years and up
Retail Price: $34.95
Buy it here: www.shortcut2learning.com
On the web: www.shortcut2learning.com

WTS Rating:


(3 out of 5 stars)

SUMMARY

Shortcut! Computer Basics is a board game designed to teach basic computer concepts and terminology.  It intends to teach via questions in five categories - hardware, software, internet, navigation and general.  The goal of Shortcut! is to be the first to finish around the board and have fun learning.

 

To start, players (or teams) select a colored pawn and place them on the Start box.  Players roll the die and place the provided place holder respective number of squares.  A question is drawn and read out loud, matching the category landed on.  If the question is answered correctly, the player moves the pawn to the square of the place holder and removes the place holder.  If incorrect, play advances to the next player and the pawn is not moved.  "Shortcut!" and "error" spaces exist in which players do exactly what is labeled on the square.  The first player to land on finish (by rolling a number greater or equal to the number required to land on finish), and answering a question (category determined by the player whose turn is next) correctly is the winner.

 

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY RATINGS

EASE OF USE
Shortcut! Computer Basics is a very simple game to get started with.  Unpack the game board and questions, place the pawns in position and you are ready to go!  There are no complex or confusing rules - just straightforward game play that guides you across the board.  Our review team had this game playing right out of the box.
DURABILITY
Our review team felt that the game board was fairly well made - and that there were no durability issues there.  There was a cause for concern with the question cards.  Some of the team felt that in order to keep them together and damage free a case would be necessary.  As it is now, the questions are just rubber banded together for each category.  Some sort of box would help keep these in better shape over time.
VISUAL APPEAL
Shortcut! Computer Basics isn't the most visually exciting game our review team had laid there eyes on.  That's not to say that there wasn't thought put in to the look of the game - it just falls a little flat.  This is a game that is both for learning and for fun, and our review team thought a more exciting game board would help with the fun!
FUNCTIONALITY
Shortcut! Computer Basics sets out with the goal of helping game players hone their general knowledge about the computer.  Our review team felt that through their series of questions in a variety of categories, the game does a pretty good job of that.  There are no bells and whistles - just a straightforward game - but it does do a pretty good job of testing general computer knowledge. 
COST EFFICIENCY
In a blind survey the parents on our review team priced this right around $20.  With an actual retail price of $34.95, our parents were definitely taken back.  There are a lot of classic board games out there, proven with a test of time, that aren't even close to a $35 retail.  Shortcut! definitely hits the expensive side of the cost meter.

ORIGINALITY
No one on our review team had played a board game testing general computer knowledge (although some had played games with a similar goal on the computer itself).  The board and gameplay itself isn't exactly groundbreaking - and as such - our review team only saw fit to award 3 starts in this category.
OVERALL RATING
If your intention is to learn and test yourself on all sorts of general computer knowledge, Shortcut! Computer Basics has what you are looking for.  Gameplay is straight forward - and easy to get started.  Plus there are more than enough questions to play plenty of times before you start repeating.  Shortcut! isn't the most visually stimulating game out there, but it certainly has what it takes for an enjoyable play that will teach you a thing or two along the way.