Brain Age FAQ's

• What do I need to purchase to play Brain Age?
• What is the game based on?
• Are there any benefits of playing Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day?
• I'm left-handed. Can I still play this game?
• Brain Age Handwriting Recognition Tips
• Brain Age Voice Recognition Tips

• What do I need to purchase to play Brain Age?
  In order to play Brain Age, you will need to have a copy of the game, and a Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS Lite system. Brain Age is designed exclusively for use on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite. The Nintendo DS's touchscreen, dual-screen layout, and built-in microphone are uniquely suited for such an innovative title. For more information on the Nintendo DS, please click here.

  If you would like tips on where to purchase these products, please click here.

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• What is the game based on?
  Brain Age is inspired by the research of Dr. Kawashima, a neuroscientist whose studies evaluated the impact of performing certain reading and mathematic exercises to help stimulate the brain.
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• Are there any benefits of playing Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day?
  • You can use the game to exercise and stimulate your brain with your Nintendo DS.
  • It presents quick mental activities that help keep your DS brain in shape.
  • The longer you play, the sharper you get at the game.

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• I'm left-handed. Can I still play this game?
  Yes. You will be prompted to enter your hand preference at the beginning of the training mode. You can also change it in the Settings, and the game will orient itself accordingly.
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• Brain Age Handwriting Recognition Tips

  As with all handwriting recognition software, effectiveness may vary from person to person. Since software cannot account for every possible way a player may write a letter, you may need to experiment with different letter and number stroke formations until you find one that works for you. If you feel that Brain Age is having difficulty recognizing your letters or numbers, try some of the tips below.

  General Tips:

  1. Whenever possible, form letters and numbers with single strokes. A “w” made with one continuous zigzag line, for example, is much more likely to be recognized than one made with four separate strokes.
  2. Write letters and numbers from the top down. This will affect certain letters and numbers more than others.
  3. Write quickly. If you write too slowly, the handwriting recognition system may think you are trying to start a new letter instead of finishing an existing one.
  4. Write your letters and numbers as large as possible. While you dont need to fill the entire screen, very small handwriting will be more difficult to pick up.
  5. You can use a mixture of lower and uppercase letters in a word and still have it count as a correct answer. If you are having constant trouble with a specific letter, try either capitalizing or lowercasing it.
  6. You don’t have to stay inside the dotted lines during Word Memory. You can write outside the lines and still have an answer recognized. It’s even possible to write overlapping letters in the center of the screen, although you won’t be able to read the finished product!

  Specific Tips

  "K": Make Ks as quickly as possible. If you take too long between strokes, the DS may think you are starting a new letter.

  "E": Use lowercase Es as much as possible. Make the e by starting at the middle part and drawing from left to right, then up and around. Don’t start the e from the bottom.

  "1": Write the number 1 as a straight line. Do not add a hook at the top or a line across the bottom.

  "7": Write the number 7 left to right to form the top hook, then down. Do not add a slash across the center or an up-and-down hook at the front end of the top hook.

  "8": Make your 8 as one continuous line. Do not write a zero and then write another zero on top of it.

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• Brain Age Voice Recognition Tips

  As with all voice recognition software, effectiveness may vary from person to person. If you feel that Brain Age is not effectively recognizing your voice, try the methods listed below.

  1. Hold the DS about a foot from your mouth.
  2. Make sure that you are in a quiet environment. Ambient background noise will make the voice recognition system less effective.
  3. If you aren't getting any response at all, the DS may not be picking up your voice. Try speaking in a slightly louder tone, but do not yell. Yelling may produce distortion and interfere with the voice recognition system.
  4. If the DS does not recognize a word, say the word again in a clear tone. Be sure to say only that particular word.
  5. If you are having trouble with a particular word, try experimenting with alternate pronunciations until you find one that works for you.

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