Invasion of the Cow Snatchers

Invasion of the Cow Snatchers

I'm going to blog about this game while I have it. However, I must tell you that I bought this game once and the magnet was not strong enough to pick up the pieces. I asked for a replacement and it was the same, unplayable. So I don't know if I just got unlucky twice, or if it is a flaw with the game. I'll let you decide.

You are an alien who has been sent to earth to study the most bizarre of all earth creatures - the cow. Invasion of the Cow Snatchers is a 1-person logic game with 60 challenges that fall into categories from easy to genius (think of the bragging rights - "I'm a genius!"). Using your magnetic UFO, hover over the farm and beam up unsuspecting cows while dodging obstacles. Grab the red bull last and exit the field to complete each challenge and head for home.

Above is an image of the game. It will be easier to describe if you have something to look at. The green base, the pasture, measures about 8.75" square. There is a clear plastic, removable cover that sits on top. The colored discs you see are the cows. Each disc has a cow head embossed on the top. There are five different color discs - 4 cows and a red bull. Each of the cows has a metal disc inside and the spaceship is a magnet. There are numerous other pieces of different heights that will be placed in your field before you begin each challenge. They include red barns, green crop rows, white fences, yellow hay bales, 1 silo and 5 crop circles.

After placing your cows and obstacles in the field, per the the challenge card, place the clear plastic on top. Then move your silver spaceship over the clear top and as you pass above cows they will jump up to meet your spaceship. The order that you pick up the cows will be important. As they jump up to meet your spaceship, the stack you will be carrying around will get taller. You will have to consider how many cows you can be holding to clear the different obstacles of different heights. No cows can be carried over the red barn, only 1 cow can be carried over the green crop row, two can be carried over the white fences and three over the hay bales. At no time may you ever pass over the silo, even if you are not carrying any cows. You cannot move diagonally.

Each challenge card will show one challenge on the front and the solution on the back. There are 10 each in the first four levels and 20 in the last level, genius. At the genius level you will always pick up the cows in a certain color order. At the genius level you will be using the crop circles in your field. You will end up needing to pick up a cow(s), drop it onto a crop circle, and then come back later for it to get the right color order. Here are the first and last challenges and solutions, plus one from medium and one from super hard.

Challenges

Solutions

If you are interested in reading more about games like these, check out my post on logic games.  

Try this:

• Stress that this can be a process of trial and error. Model thoughtful perseverance.
• Complete a challenge as the player looks on. Talk out loud as your solve the puzzle so the player can see how to apply logic and solve problems that arise. 
• Then set the game up again and ask the player to complete the challenge.
• Work the first few by giving the player the color order. Then let them repeat the games on their own.
• Set up a challenge and then complete it by following the directions on the solution side. 
• Set up a challenge card and give the instructions verbally, one step at a time, for completing the challenge. Use directional terms consistently. 
• Work on logic, problem solving, visualization, spatial relations, planning, process skills, executive functioning skills, play and leisure exploration and participation
  

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.