How to play Eli’s Ladder online
The left joystick is for the parent and the right one for the child. Simage gave the console switches new jobs in this game.
- Child (right joystick): F and H move the pointer under the answers, A picks an answer and returns to the title page after a game
- Parent (left joystick): Space starts a game, moves on to the next problem and counts out the apples
- Start the game: F12 (the console’s Reset switch)
- Choose the game number (1–30): F11 (the Select switch)
- Addition or subtraction: F9 (the right difficulty switch)
- One or two players: F4 (the left difficulty switch)
- Pacer speed / apple counting: F2 (the TV type switch)
Gameplay
Each problem appears on a chalkboard with four possible answers underneath. The child slides the pointer to one and presses fire. A right answer sends Eli one rung up his ladder; a wrong one makes the correct answer flash dimly on the board. After 20 problems Eli jumps into his spaceship and the score is shown. Get 18 or more right and a flashing “WOW” appears while Eli jumps for joy.
For help with a sum, flip the Count switch (F2) and the problem is shown as red and green apples, which the parent counts out with the fire button. In addition they appear one by one; in subtraction they are taken away one by one.
Levels and game types
There are ten difficulty levels for addition and ten for subtraction, each with three types of play, making 30 games of each. Practice has no time limit. Pacer sends a plus or minus sign across the bottom of the screen, and the problem counts as wrong if it reaches the right-hand side first; the speed runs from 2 to 16 seconds. Phantom works like Pacer, but only the answer above the pointer is visible, so the child has to work out the sum before looking for it.
Tips
- Start with Practice and the apples. Counting the apples out loud together is the heart of the early levels.
- Park the pointer at the edge. In fast Pacer and Phantom games, move the pointer to the far left or right before the next problem appears, so it is never far from any answer.
History
Eli’s Ladder was sold by mail order rather than in shops. It came with an award chart and Eli stickers for parents to hand out for good work.
