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Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
New York, NY (November 3, 2010) – Leading game publisher Aspyr Media and world test prep leader Kaplan Test Prep today announced that futureU™, one of the industry’s first SAT test prep videogames, is now available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. futureU, originally developed in 2008 with version for Nintendo DS, PC and Mac, is based on proven Kaplan Test Prep content and methodologies. The game is designed to provide a fun, interactive and engaging supplemental test prep resource for students preparing for the SAT.
“As the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch play an increasing role in how students receive their information, it made sense for us to expand the futureU SAT test prep game to this mobile platform,” said Kristen Campbell, Executive Director of Pre-College Programs for Kaplan Test Prep. “Aspyr’s ability to deliver engaging games to students across multiple-platforms has enabled us to bring futureU to a new audience of SAT preppers.”
Utilizing the mobile and touch screen capabilities of Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod devices, futureU is now more convenient than ever, making a fun SAT test prep option available whenever and wherever users are, enabling them to play and learn at their own pace. The game offers a unique interactive experience with actual gameplay that engages users to sharpen critical thinking skills, build relevant knowledge and reduce test anxiety. futureU is made up of six individual games and three quiz types divided into three main categories – Reading, Writing and Math.
Developed as a complement to traditional SAT study methods, futureU is grounded in Kaplan curriculum and features hundreds of questions and a scoring system to track players’ progress. It incorporates a wealth of in-game content to challenge and sharpen skills within the three main study areas of the SAT:
- Reading Games: Focuses on refining players’ reading skills, vocabulary, main idea identification, themes and arguments, technique, and recognizing word meanings based on context.
- Writing Games: Concentrates on improving players’ writing skills by covering topics such as passive voice, run-on sentences, misplaced modifiers, parallelism, conjunctions, fragments, coordination and subordination, pronouns, subject-verb agreement, tenses, adverbs and adjectives, gerunds, idioms, wrong words, and double negatives.
- Math Games: Enables players to practice critical math areas of the SAT such as algebra, geometry, data, statistics, probability, polynomials and sequences.
“futureU provides an outstanding complement to students’ traditional preparation for the SAT. Harnessing clever, interactive elements on the iPad touch screen interface, this first class app gives high school students an engaging, game-like experience, while focusing on developing the strong underlying knowledge and skills to succeed in the college admission process,” said Dr. David Palumbo, Chief Information Officer of National Heritage Academies, a leading charter school management company.
“Students are always on the go and busier than ever. So for us to work with Kaplan to develop a mobile version of futureU for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices that allows students to study – even when they might only have a few extra minutes here and there – just made sense,” said Michael Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspyr Media. “And with more schools checking out iPads to students, the game will be available to offer a growing number of students a unique and entertaining way to study without really feeling like they’re studying.”
futureU for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices is free to download at the iTunes Apple App Store or at www.futureugame.com, with up to four extended levels available for $1.99 each. futureU is also available for the Nintendo DS, Mac and PC.
Through November, the company is making a special offer to teachers and tutors in the U.S. Aspyr is giving away a free, full-length PC or Mac version of the futureU SAT prep game for their classroom or school library so all of their students can benefit. Simply email schools@aspyr.com from your school email and pay a minimal shipping and handling fee of $9.95.
About Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.
About Aspyr Media
Aspyr Media, Inc. is a leading video game publisher that creates, packages and delivers fun to millions around the world. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Aspyr strives relentlessly to ensure a quality experience for consumers and industry partners. Titles include Call of Duty®, Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock, Harry Potter™ Deluxe Edition , Spider-Man 2™ The Game, Star Wars: Empire at War, Treasure World™ and many more. To fall more deeply in love with Aspyr and its amazing line of products, visit www.aspyr.com and see just how much fun you can legally have. More information on futureU can be found at www.futureugame.com.
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