The first software tthat the educational/interactive fiction/adventure game publisher Topologika released – way back in 1987 – was Peter Killworth’s classic text-only Maths game GIANTKILLER. The BBC Micro version sold in thousands to teachers and parents who wanted youngsters like me (er, 8 to 14-ish) to think about Maths in a picture-free, problem-solving environment. It was rapidly followed by Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and PCW, Atari and PC incarnations.

GIANTKILLER is just what young mathematicians need in today’s over-structured and often demoralising National Curriculum. Rather than leave it on a shelf now that Peter has sadly passed away, Topologika have made it available as a FREE download – see ‘Windows Freebies’ on Topologika’s website.

Peter would be thrilled that GIANTKILLER – like all the other games he wrote – is still giving pleasure in the 21st century.

I’d love to hear what you think about GIANTKILLER. I’ve played it thousands of times – because I’m in it – but I won’t be telling you how to win. A complete ‘cheats’ solution comes with the download.

If you enjoy the game, you could make a donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association which researches the condition that ‘got’ Peter – oceanographer, adventure game author and social network pioneer.

Yours, JACK

How to play this text-based Maths adventure