When we first started Tux of Math Command, our goal was to create a cross-platform educational game that teaches math skills. There was a great deal of initial planning and design. On September 7th, and 10th, 2001 we released the first developmental snapshots of our game. The game was warmly received both by the Open-Source and Education communities.

The goal of the game is to protect cities from comets which drop from space. These comets have math problems on them. When the player types the correct answer to a problem, they destroy the comet and save a city. If the player does not type the correct answer in time, the comet will crash into the city. When a comet crashes, the cartoon cities explode.

In light of the horrible events of September 11th, 2001, we have been wondering if we should change this animation. Before September 11th, the animation seemed innocent, but now we are not certain if it is as innocent anymore. We are worried that the animation may now be a little "too close" to real life and might be disturbing to the children who have witnessed the events of September 11th again and again on the countless TV broadcasts.

So we would like to find out what the community feels we should do to resolve this concern.

We could keep the animation as is, or we currently have three possible alternatives in mind:

• Make the comets "Goop", so that they splat on the cities without destroying them
• Make the comets ice, so that they freeze the cities
• Change the cities to Igloos so that they do not resemble city buildings

Please download the game and try it out, then take following poll to help us decide what we should do.