Scripture Memory Software with a difference

A number of scripture memory programs have come and gone over the years. I started looking at them back in 1992 and have seen most of them. I offer the following discussion especially to those who might be thinking of making scripture memory software. Most developers keep making the same mistakes over and over again, and that's not good.

Here are the main mistakes which most scripture memory software games make:

1. They don't come with a VERSE EDITOR.
This means you have to select what someone ELSE thinks are the verses to memorize.

2. They come with limited TRANSLATION options. ie... all the verses are in the KJV or NIV, but you might prefer the NLT or NRSV. This means you have to memorize verses in the translation the publisher could afford to include (KJV is free, so most of them use that).

3. Most of these programs can FAIL you. You play against a clock that counts down. Unfortunately this means that a 3rd grader and a 12th grader and a pastor have the same amount of time to learn a verse. Or it means time can run out on you. 'Presure' is not conducive to memory.

4. Most of these memory verse programs have been BORING to play.


Sunday Software to the rescue!

In 2002, my friend Mike Gale and I set out make a scripture memory game that didn't make the same mistakes others had made. Using some our classroom experience, a sense of humor, and some very cool "biovirtual" technology, we created "Cal and Marty's Scripture Memory Game CD" ... You can learn more about it at www.sundaysoftware.com/luther-calvin


Verse Editor
Cal and Marty comes with a a built-in verse editor. YOU put in the scripture verses YOU want to learn. (You can cut and paste them from a Bible program if you like.) Better still... what we realized years ago was that kids love to type, and love to type-in their own verses. This starts the memorization process even before the game is started! And you can type verses in any translation you please.

A Clock that Counts UP
Rather than counting down, we simply reversed the clock. This allows younger or less experienced students to take all the time they need and not feel like a loser. Of course, the shorter time you take, the better your score.

Add Comments and Add a Quiz
Along with each verse, you or your students can add a detailed 'comment' to each verse that pops up after it has been played. You can also add a 3 question quiz to each verse. Once again, that's a way to encourage students to engage the verse and add their own content to it.

"BioVirtual" Fun
We used an application from biovirtual.com that animated the famous portraits of John Calvin and Martin Luther to make them "the hosts" of the "Cal and Marty Show" (the scripture memory game). They appear on screen with very bad french and german accents, telling jokes, and encouraging students. More interestingly, the biovirtual software makes their eyes and head FOLLOW your mouse cursor. It's eerie, and eye-catching, --and makes the kids want to play it again and again. And THAT is the name of the memorization game, because "repetition is the cornerstone of all learning."

We also have Cal & Marty briefly introduce themselves and present some brief details about the Reformation in a special section tucked-away in the program.

Neil MacQueen

www.sundaysoftware.com/luther-calvin

List of Christian Software I don't like

Over the years, I've taken some heat for maintaining a list of Christian software & Christian computer games that I DO NOT recommend. I've called it "The No Shelf" because we used to keep samples of all the games people sent us on a shelf in our stockroom.

You can view that 'NO' list by clicking this link: www.sundaysoftware.com/noshelf.htm

Some developers who's CDs are on my "No" list have called it "un-Christian." But here's my theory: if they are giving it away, then I'll take it off my "no" list. But as long as they are asking for your money, then an opinion and recommendation is legit. Paul would have called it "discernment."

Is it a conflict of interest to make our own software and then say "no" to other people's software? No, and here's why: we carry many other people's titles! If we like a program, you can get in our catalog. We're 'picky,' not stinky. The "No" list also contains some "Maybe" recommendations.

For a list of the Christian software and computer games we DO recommend... go to www.sundaysoftware.com/software.htm

Note to developers:
Want to know how to AVOID getting "no" listed? Talk to me about your program before you are finished with it. Not only will I give you free advice, but some of it might even be GREAT advice! ...based on having seen many CDs and their developers come and go, and based on knowing at least what OUR customer tell us they like.

Might some of our software be on someone else's "no" list? I suppose! I guess it depends on your criteria. We're up front about ours.