Contact: Steve Crawford

Tel: 01442 251 091 or 07740 777 364

E-mail: sales@azabat.co.uk

Azabat Software have developed 6 volumes of games, plus a volume of educational games for young children, and two touch-typing tutors - for beginners and advanced. The programmes are supplied on CD-Rom and are incredibly easy to use. You don't need a screen reader or any special software and there is no installation required, as they run from the CD. You simply put the disk in the PC and let the games begin.

UK postage is free and there's no VAT.

Azabat Games Collection: Volume 1

This collection of 4 easy to play games costs 40 pounds. The games are called Yacht, Blackjack, Klodike and Connect 4.

Yacht

In the game of Yacht you have five dice and a score card. There are 13 categories on the score card and in each round you can throw the dice up to 3 times. At the end of each round you have to choose which category you want to score your points against. You can choose any available category but once you've used a category you cannot use it again or change your mind. Thus, there are 13 rounds and the overall aim is to score the highest number of points.

Blackjack

This is the classic casino game of Blackjack. The aim is to score as close to 21 without going over. You play against the dealer and bet an amount of chips for each hand. If you go over 21 you automatically lose but if you score more than the dealer you win.

A standard pack of 52 cards is used and the pack is shuffled before each hand. Jacks, Queens and Kings are all worth 10 points, an Ace can count as either 1 or 11, and the other cards are worth their own value.

Klondike (Solitaire)

Klondike is the most popular version of Solitaire, and is played with a standard pack of 52 cards. At the start of the game, 28 cards are dealt incrementally into 7 columns. Column 1 contains one card, column 2 has two cards, column 3 has 3 cards and so on. The cards are all face down, except the top card in each column is turned face upward.

The remaining 24 cards are kept, face down, in a pile called the stock, and the top card is turned over.

There are four foundation piles, one for each suit, and the aim of the game is to build the foundations up from ace through to king until all the foundation piles are complete. You can only move the top card from each column, or the top card from the stock, on to the foundation piles, and provided, of course, that the move is legal.

Connect 4

Connect 4 uses a board with 7 columns and 6 rows. Each player starts with 21 counters of their own colour and they take turns to place a counter in one of the 7 columns. The board is vertical so the counters build from the bottom upwards. The aim of the game is to get a line of 4 counters the same colour in any direction, vertically, horizontally or diagonally.

In this version, you play against the computer. Your counters are red and the computer plays blue and you always get the first move.

Azabat Games Collection: Volume 2

There are five word games and one number game on this CD, which costs 40 pounds. The games are called Hangman, Kount-down, Anagrams, Number Crunch, Target and Link-Words.

Hangman

At the start of the game, the computer selects a common word at random and tells you how many letters it contains. You then guess, letter by letter, and are told if the letter you chose is contained in the word. For each incorrect guess, a piece of the hang man picture is drawn. There are 10 pieces to the drawing and you have to get all the letters in the word before the picture is complete.

Kount-down

This game is based on the popular TV programme but has no affiliation with it.

At the start of the game, use the cursor right and cursor left keys to alternate between the choice of vowels and consonants, then press the enter key to pick a random letter from the chosen set.

When you have chosen 9 letters the computer will automatically begin a 30 second timer. The idea of the game is to rearrange the letters to find the longest possible word in the allocated time.

However, the timer is only there as a guide, and you do not have to type in the word you have found. Thus, you are not competing against anyone except yourself. You can take as long as you like and you can choose to play with fewer than 9 letters if you wish.

Anagrams

Anagrams is similar to the Kount-Down game except the letters are jumbled from an existing word, so you know there is a solution which uses all the letters.

At the start of the game, use the cursor right and cursor left keys to choose the length of the anagram. You can choose any length between 4 and 9 letters, then press the enter key to make your selection. The computer will choose a word, of the length you have chosen, and scramble the letters to form an anagram.

Number Crunch

This game is also taken from the popular TV show. The idea is to take 6 randomly generated numbers and try to get as close as possible to a target number by using a combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

At the start of the game, use the cursor right and cursor left keys to choose how many of the 6 numbers should be large. Large numbers are 25, 50, 75 and 100, and you can choose one, two or three large numbers. The remaining numbers will be small, meaning between 1 and 10.

Target

This game is similar to anagrams, except the aim is to make as many words as you can from the randomly chosen anagram. The words must be at least 3 letters long, you can only use the letters given, and each word must contain the middle letter.

At the start of the game the computer picks 9 letters and reads them out. It then suggests a target for the number of words, based on the difficulty.

To help you keep track of the game, you can type in each word as you spot it. Remember to press the enter key at the end of each word to submit it. The computer will say each letter as you type it and if you make a mistake just press the backspace key.

Each word that you submit is carefully checked and must conform to the rules, as mentioned earlier. The computer has a basic dictionary of 30,000 words and an extended dictionary of 100,000 words.

Link Words

There are 3 variations to this game. Use the cursor up and cursor down keys to change the game.

In link words, the aim is to find a word which completes the first word and starts the second. To give you an example, the computer might say, V, I, L, L, 3 letters, N, C, Y. The link word in this case is "age". It completes the first word, making it into, "village", and begins the second word, which is, "agency".

In lost words, the aim is to find a 3 letter word which sits in the middle of a 9 letter word. To give you an example, the computer might say, B, A, R, 3 letters, D, E, R. The lost word in this case is TEN, making the word, BARTENDER.

"All scrambled up" is the same as lost words except the 3 letter word in the middle has been scrambled. So, to give you an example, the computer might say, B, A, R, N, E, T, D, E, R. The middle three letters should be rearranged to spell TEN, making the word into BARTENDER.

Azabat Games Collection: Volume 3

This is a collection of 4 popular "grid" games and costs 40 pounds. The games are called Sudoku, Battleships, UXB and Memory.

Sudoku

Within a 9 x 9 grid, place the digits 1 to 9 in such a way that each row, column and box contains each digit - once, and only once.

These puzzles are not easy, but not impossible, and can be solved logically. You can select by square, row, column or box and hints are available throughout.

The programme has an auto-resume feature, which automatically saves the current game when you quit and continues from the point you left off when you start again. Or you can just start a new game.

You can also enter your own puzzles, perhaps from a newspaper or book, and save and play them whenever you wish.

Battleships

Battleships is believed to have been devised by British prisoners of war during World War 1. There have been many variations over the years but this version sticks closely to the original.

Each player has a square grid, measuring 10 by 10, into which the computer has randomly positioned a number of ships. The positions are different for each player. With each turn you make 3 guesses. There are four types of ship placed within the grid, each of varying size.

This game can be played against the computer or against another player.

UXB

UXB is short for unexploded bomb. You have a square grid containing a number of hidden bombs and your task is to work out where the bombs are without getting blown up. This is done by performing controlled explosions on selected squares.

This is a logic puzzle, based on Windows™ Minesweeper. The programme has an auto-resume feature, which automatically saves the current game when you quit and continues from the point you left off when you start again. Or you can just start a new game.

Memory

In this game, the computer takes a pack of 52 cards plus two jokers, shuffles them and lays them out face down. Players take turns to choose two cards, which are revealed. If they match in value the cards are removed. If they do not match, they are placed face down again. The player with the most pairs at the end of the game is the winner.

You can either practise on your own, play against the computer or play against another person.

Azabat Games Collection: Volume 4

This volume contains 4 popular "strategy" games and costs 40 pounds. The games are called Backgammon, Dominoes, Draughts and Scrazabat.

Backgammon

Ancient board game, over 5000 years old. Players take turns to roll a pair of dice and move their pieces around a board, trying to be the first to remove them from the board. Uses a combination of skill and chance. Play against the computer or against another person.

Dominoes

From a standard set of 28 dominoes, players take turns to place a piece at either end of the domino chain, or draw a piece from the boneyard if they cannot play. You can play against the computer or with a second player, which could be quite interesting as, unlike the conventional game, each player would know the other player's pieces.

Draughts (Checkers)

The classic game of Draughts, which is also known as Checkers, is played on a standard chess board. Players move their pieces diagonally, jumping over the opponent's pieces to take them. Play against the computer or against a second player.

Scrazabat

An accessible clone of a famous letters game in which letters are placed on a 15x15 board to form words, horizontally and vertically in crossword-fashion. You can play against the computer or with a second player. You can play with either a standard or an advanced dictionary and you can ask the computer for hints.

Azabat Games Collection: Volume 5

This volume is a collection of 4 word puzzle games and costs 40 pounds. All the puzzles on this CD can be printed out in very large type so that a person with some vision could complete them on paper. The games are called Word Search, Code Words, Word Tower and Word Ladder.

Word Search

Popular word search puzzle. 15 sizes (from 6x6 up to 20x20), 3 levels of play (easy, medium, hard) and 60 different categories of words (eg books, capital cities, dogs, food, etc). Unlimited number of games and puzzles can be printed out if you prefer.

Code Words

Designed like a crossword puzzle but without the clues. Instead, each letter has been substituted with a number (from 1 to 26) and you have to decypher the puzzle. 5 different sizes (7x7, 9x9, 11x11, 13x13, 15x15) and 60 categories of words. Hints available if you get stuck.

Word Tower

Similar to Target in volume 2 but more tricky. You are given 6 letters and have to make a certain number of 3, 4, 5 and 6 letter words. The challenge is that you have to find almost every possible word. Hints available if you get stuck.

Word Ladder

In this game you are given a word and have to change one letter at a time to make another word, with each step giving you another word. For example, you may be asked to change DOG into CAT and one solution is to change DOG into DOT, then DOT into COT, then COT into CAT. 3 different sizes - 3 letters, 4 letters and 5 letters.

Azabat Games Collection: Volume 6

This volume is a collection of 5 games which use Latin Squares and are, thus, similar to Sudoku, and costs 40 pounds. Many of the puzzles use much smaller grids, so there are far fewer cells to deal with (and less to remember). Each game has 3 levels of difficulty and hints are available if you get stuck. You can also insert pencil marks to help work out the solution. You can print out the puzzle and solve it on paper if you prefer. The games are called Fubuki, Futoshiki, Greater Than Sudoku, Jigsaw Sudoku and Killer Sudoku.

Fubuki

The idea is simple enough - arrange the digits 1 to 9 in a 3x3 grid so that they add up to the specified row and column totals - but it's a lot trickier than it looks.

Futoshiki

The puzzle size can be 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 or 7x7 and consists of a Latin Square, where the digits for each row and each column can only be used once. At the start of the game, some of the cells are filled in and, in addition, some of the "less than" and "greater than" relationships between neighbouring cells are shown.

Greater Than Sudoku

This puzzle is similar to Futoshiki except that at the beginning of the game there are no values in the cells but all the "less than" and "greater than" relationships are shown. Puzzle sizes can be 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 or 7x7.

Jigsaw Sudoku

Jigsaw Sudoku puzzles follow the same basic rules as regular Sudoku puzzles but they have a range of sizes (6x6, 7x7, 8x8 or 9x9) and use irregular shaped groups instead of boxes. For example, A1, A2, B1, B2, B3 and C3 make up a group in the 6x6 puzzle.

Killer Sudoku

Killer Sudoku puzzles follow the same basic rules as regular Sudoku puzzles and are always 9x9. However, at the start of the game there are no squares filled in, so the puzzle is completely blank, and there are groups of adjoining cells, of various shapes and sizes, with a total given for each group. For example, A1 and B1 may form a group where the total is 17.

Azabat Educational Games Collection

This is a collection of 4 educational games which have been designed specifically for blind and visually impaired children and costs only 30 pounds. Each game starts with the option to choose one of 5 levels: Reception Year, Years 1 and 2, Years 3 and 4, Years 5 and 6, Year 7 and above.

Hangman

Classic game of hangman in which you have to guess the letters of a word and try to discover it. But, for each incorrect guess, a piece of the hangman picture is drawn. Your task is to find all the letters without making too many incorrect guesses. You can make your guess either by pressing the letter on the keyboard, or using the cursor keys to scroll through the letters of the alphabet and pressing enter. It also works with the mouse, if you prefer to click on the letter, and, of course, it would also work this way on a touch screen.

Anagrams

The letters of a word are jumbled and your task is to put them in order to spell out a word. You can make your guess either by pressing the letter on the keyboard, or using the cursor keys to scroll through the letters of the anagram and pressing enter. It also works with the mouse, if you prefer to click on the letter, and, of course, it would also work really well with a touch screen.

Word Search

Popular word search program with different sizes to choose from, 3 levels of difficulty and many different categories of words. You can operate the program using the cursor keys but it also works with a mouse and works really well with a touch screen.

Spelling Tests

This is a collection of 3 types of spelling test. In "Right or wrong" a word is presented and you have to decide whether it is right or wrong. In "Multiple choice" you are given two spellings of a word and have to pick the correct one. In "Straight spelling" a word is spoken and you have to type it in, either by pressing letters on the keyboard or using the cursor keys to scroll through the alphabet. You can also use a mouse, or a touch screen.

Touch-Typing

Azabat have two touch-typing tutors, one for beginners and one for advanced, and they cost 30 pounds each. There are discounts for site-licensing as follows: a 4 user pack costs 89 pounds and a 10 user pack costs 199 pounds. There is also the Azabat Touch-Typing Tutor Collection, which is a 2 disk set, containing one disk of each version, and this costs 50 pounds.

The beginner's touch-typing tutor has 7 lessons and 7 exercises, starting with A, S, D and F and working up to using all the letter and number keys.

The advanced touch-typing tutor starts from where the beginner's ends. It has 5 sections which deal with the letters, capitals and punctuation, shortcuts and combinations, an introduction to Braille and even a collection of spelling tests.

All the Azabat products can be ordered online from this website or from a number of resellers around the globe. In the UK these include the RNIB, Computer Room Services, SW Retail, Adapt-IT, Hagger Electronics and TechReady. In the USA, Azabat products are available from Independent Living Aids and in Ireland they are available from the NCBI. Volumes 1 and 3 have been translated into German and are available from Marland in Germany and Caretec in Austria.