Reviewed by AMANDA MARCOU
SCHOOL SUBJECTS: math, problem solving, economics
GRADE LEVEL: 6-12
PLATFORM USED FOR EVALUATION: Mac PowerPC
HARD DISK OR CD-ROM?: disk
TIME TO PLAY: ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO COMPLETE ONE SCHEDULE OF THE GAME WITHIN THE PROGRAM
RATING: 8 1/2
Before each game, you are first told what the expected weather forecast is going to be for the day of the game. You are also given your bank account amount and your current inventory; how many of each item you already have in stock. Both of these features are to help you to determine how much food you will purchase on that specific day.
You have the opportunity to buy your necessities for each game, before the game. You can buy hot dogs, hot dog buns, bags of chips, soda, and courtesy kits. (Courtesy kits include such things as mustard, relish, and napkins.) This is when you are on the "purchase screen", where you have the chance to actually purchase your supplies. You can buy however many dozens of each thing you would like, and can afford to buy. There is also a choice of what quality of hot dogs and buns that you can order. Higher qualities do pay off. An abundance of people will pay more for the better hot dogs. For your personal information, hot dogs cannot be sold without a bun, and a bun may not be sold without a hot dog. Also, hot dogs and hot dog buns cannot be saved for the next game(s). They will spoil over the week of time between games. Fortunately and conveniently, bags of chips and soda can be saved and sold at various other games.
The next screen gives you the opportunity to set the prices for the items you are going to sell. You can choose any amount that you want. When choosing a price, you should always keep into consideration about how many people would actually buy that item set at that price. Also, keep in mind the amount of money you have the ability to earn at your prices.
Before going back to the first screen again, to start another round for the next football game, you are given one final screen. This screen tells you how many of each item you sold at the football game. It also tells you gives you the dollar amounts of what you sold, what you already earned, and what your total bank balance is. Having your bank balance lets you constantly know where you stand in the in the money department and how much more you have to earn to reach your team goal of $2,500.
One minor/major (however you look at it) set back of Hot Dog Stand is that is lacks graphics. There are very few, but they aren't eye catching or fun to look at. They are all black and white in color and don't include that much detail. However, not being a major factor in the run of the stand, the few graphics that are involved in the program do move and are relevant to the scenario of the game. Overall, I enjoyed playing this game. It challenges you to use your smarts and act as if you were actually the manager of a business. Although I suggest not playing Hot Dog Stand too many times in a row, for lack of enthusiasm, it is definitely a game that can keep you challenging yourself and your students to beat the system and make as much money as possible.