Comet® - Family and Bible Educational Board Games

by:  Rev. James G.W. Fisher - Editor / Product Evaluation Specialist | The Toy Man®

Product Evaluation Summary Date:  02/08/2008

Comet, The Fast Path to Learning board games, are an engaging way to learn and spell and re-defines the definition of Play. Comet - "The fast path to learning" is a fun and stimulating game which turns learning into a fun adventure.

   Evaluation Summary - Category Ratings

	Trade Industry Sales Types Industry Memberships Wholesale  Retail  Reseller  Online

	Safety / Quality Classifications

CE Marked	UL Approved	JPMA Certified
	(Not Applicable)
ASTM Compliant	eco-Friendly	eco-Conscious
(Not Applicable)

CPSIA Compliant	Independent Lab Tested	Independent Lab Name
(Unconfirmed)
LeadSafe™ - Surface Coatings/Paint (Complies with 16 CFR 1303/CPSIA 101)	LeadSafe™ - Content / Substrates (Complies with CPSIA 101)	PhthalatesSafe™ (Complies with CPSIA 108)

BPASafe™ (Complies with CPSI EN71)	Soluble Heavy Metals (Complies with ASTM F963/CPSIA 106)	Mechanical/Physical (Complies with ASTM F963/CPSIA 106)
Flammability - Solids/Textiles (Complies with 16 CFR 1500.44/CFR 1610)	Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials (Complies with ASTM-4236/16 CFR 1500.14(b)(8) )	iWatchDog™ Approved (Complies with ICCS™ Certification Standards)

Manufactured In	Safety Hazard/Warnings
Hong Kong	WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD--Small parts Not for children under 3 yrs.

Active Minds has established a solid and highly recognized name for itself with their first version of Comet®, but that just wasn't good enough. They have taken their first product and expanded to new horizons with a powerful new edition of Comet® - The fast path to learning with the addition of a popular new Bible version and Children's extension pack.

Kids and teachers at public schools, YMCA members, and families across the U.S. have already discovered with the first edition of Comet®, that it is an engaging way to learn and spell. The foundation of the board game is built using dictionary meanings, world facts and legends; the best in knowledge about science, geography, history, and art. Based on multiple choice questions, guess the meaning, spell the word, give the number of vowels, earn a bonus card. The new edition takes the players to an even greater level of learning and comprehension and in more than just one version.

One of the primary features of Comet® that makes it so popular is because EVERYONE has a chance to win. Granted, with any game that is a common factor yet with many of the family games on the market today, one person can often times have an advantage over the rest of the players. With any edition of Comet® and with the Children's expansion pack, the playing field is leveled and kids can learn at the same time. (Even the big kids, ie; adults).

The best part of all about Comet® is that a player gains a tremendous improvement in their understanding of facts they wanted to know, and words they thought they knew how to spell. A player can easily build a stronger vocabulary, reading comprehension, and promote confidence in school, work, or even the job environment from playing this game. Comet®, The Fast Path to Learning is a fun and stimulating game which turns learning into a fun adventure.

Comet®, The Fast Path to Learning, is an engaging way to learn and spell. Using dictionary meanings, world facts and legends. It provides the best in knowledge about science, geography, and history,. Implementing the use of multiple choice questions, you can guess the meaning, spell the word, give the number of vowels, and even earn a bonus card! A player can build a greater vocabulary and develop a greater reading comprehension.

How to Play

All players begin in the tail of the comet. Each player will roll the die, with the player having the lowest number being the first to start. A Word Card is removed from the box by the first player, which is read to the rest of the players then placed in the back of the Word Cards box. Word Cards are based upon dictionary meanings, world facts, and legends. Players must choose the appropriate answer from the multiple choice selections.

The challenge is that each Word Card has three different parts. As stated earlier, the first is to choose the appropriate answer from the multiple choice selections. ( Making a correct choice moves the ahead one space in the game. Making an error end your turn.) The second challenge is to correctly spell the word aloud. The third challenge is state the number of vowels in the word. ( This is where the pencil and tablet come into play to make this task more easily completed. ) Successful answers for all three challenges earns a Bonus Card.

There of course is more to the game than just this, but I will leave that to you to discover when you experience it for yourself. It is simple, you can learn more with every time you play and improve your life while having fun doing it. As a final point in this section, The learning curve with Comet® is minimal and the game play lasts around 45 to 60 minutes per game.

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Independent Evaluator Reports

Obtaining An Independent Perspective...

In this section we will cover "Comet® - The Fast Path to Learning" from the perspectives of qualified individuals in the specific field associated with the product being evaluated. To accomplish that task we have called upon the assistance of two top level industry professionals who know their stuff and have the credentials to prove it.

Our professional and independent evaluator has formed his own opinions from extensive analysis and produced a detailed, in-depth product evaluation report connected with his study and evaluation of the Comet® - The Fast Path to Learning family board games. The information to follow is comprised of excerpts from this same report which have been paraphrased in order to encapsulate the primary points of their reports about the Comet® - The Fast Path to Learning family board games.

PLEASE NOTE: The names of our independent evaluators are not disclosed to protect the privacy of these individuals upon their request. Their labors are provided at no charge to assist us in providing a well-balanced and qualified product evaluation summary. Their title is provided to clarify for our readers the specific type of specialist from which the information provided has been included in each product evaluation summary.

PRODUCT: Comet® - "The fast path to learning" - Family & Bible additions | Children Expansion Pack MEDIA PLATFORM: Board Game MEDIA CONTENT: Recreational Learning Strategy PLAY TIME: 45-60 minutes Comet® - "The fast path to learning" board games, are an engaging way to learn and spell and re-defines the definition of Play. It is a fun and stimulating game which turns learning into a fun adventure.

"The Comet® board games have a game core which allows for a diverse number of future game versions to be developed with a much shorter term of development on each. The board game is well designed with its variegated narrative which influences the players in their development of competitive prediction strategies. These games evoke an instinctual urge to make extensive use of short and long term recollection in the game Play. The creative agenda you find in the game core encourages the development of a narrative which demonstrates recognition of the perspicuity in the game play, active thought processing, and psycho-social interaction."

"Repetitive play is an elemental factor of learning. The creative agenda for a player with this game represents a clear cut exploration pattern of every facet of the board game which in turn tends to encourage enjoyment for a player and a desire for repetitive play. The variety of task options, independent choice selection, and completions of tasks with the Comet games demonstrates the astounding learning potential. Players are learning at an accelerated rate, stimulating developmental skills, and high level of merriment without even realizing the benefit to their physical and psychological growth."

"The game boards were a contradiction of a quite striking yet subtle color scheme and layout. The colors on the game boards were eye-catching yet the gradient shades of colors merging from one end to another bestowed a pleasant and subtle calming effect. A good color scheme and layout of a game board serve important parts in the orchestration of the creation of a board game which will have the proper elements in the right balance to be seen as a must-have game. The Comet board games undoubtedly were in sync in this aspect of their design."

"The learning curve of the Comet board games was short and simple to grasp which makes the games more enjoyable due to no extended period of learning to play. They are an excellent combination of the elements I look for in my definition of an excellent educational group of board games. Altogether, I would venture to say that the Comet family board games are a superb combination of learning and improvement of psycho-social behavioral improvement which I feel is a great addition to the game industry at large."

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Consumer Hands-On Evaluation

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A Sampling Of Category Ratings

A small sampling of the individual category titles & rating scores from the complete product review itself for this product are featured here. The categories which have been selected to be featured in this product evaluation summary for public view, specify some of the primary points of how and why that specific rating score was reached.

• If a product is inducted, a product evaluation summary of the complete review is published for public view.
• When a score has been assigned to a category rating, it has been through a thorough validation process to ensure accuracy and no inflection of bias.
• If a product scores an overall category evaluation rating average of [2] Two Stars or lower from the complete review results, it fails the evaluation and is not inducted.
• Information for products which do not pass our evaluation is confidential and is shared only with the company submitting the product.
  

The Featured Category Ratings for this Product Evaluation Summary are listed below.

Comet® is a masterpiece of a game for development of critical skills in a child. At the same time, it serves a perfect tool for brushing the dust off of the brain cells in adults who more often than not tend to get a case of "Lazy Brain". Adults tend to lose their desire to stimulate the brain with games which task their intellect like back in the day.

The approach of the game structure used has a strong influence with the players having an enormous level of fun while learning simultaneously. This is a fast paced game that stimulates the attention of the players and keeps them riveted into the game play, resulting a much higher probability of repeated play than many other games. Very well structured in content and playability. Comet® fits the target age group of the game quite accurately while at the same time providing a substantial contribution to essential critical skill development.

Comet® has proven without a doubt that it is an excellent learning tool that is purely astounding. It provides stimulation to multiple critical skills, in a substantial manner in this category. Primary behavior, intellectual thought, and stimulation of the five senses. These are primary elements which serve as the foundation in our evaluation of a game. The game content was well researched, structured with a smooth flow, and provides positive quantitative results while creating an atmosphere of fun and competitive spirit. Comet® scores a perfect score of "5" in this category.

The FunFactor™ for Comet® was absolutely the very best. It holds a very strong influence in development of a fun and exciting atmosphere during game play while at the same time being very well structured with a logical flow for maximum educational potential for children and adults. Comet® combines the right factors needed to deliver a game that players will have nothing but the very best of fun in their play. Comet pulled a average score of [5] stars in this category for INNOVATION LEVEL.

EVALUATION RESULTS - From evaluation for induction into "The Toy Man® Product Guide"
Overall Rating:  5	Seal of Approval: Approved	eco-Recognition™ Seal: Not Eligible	Award of Excellence: Approved	eChoice™ Award: Selected

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