Nucleus Challenge is a micro-game stack associated with the Cell Saver suite. A micro-game stack is a series of small, focused games designed to each be played in a very short period of time. Because they are fast-paced and cyclical, micro-game mechanics are especially useful for teaching basic concepts and facts, and for providing reinforcement systems that cater to particular student needs.
The micro-game stacks for Cell Saver will be designed to actively engage the player with content related to the cell and cell functions. Some will directly test student knowledge, while others will passively teach a small nugget of content. Some of the micro-games will be closely aligned with the kinds of questions that show up on multiple choice tests, while others will be more "gamey" but still contain important information. The micro-games will vary in mechanics and visual style to help students become familiar with the various representations (3d model, 2d model, actual magnified photo, etc.) of the cell that they are likely to see on standardized tests.
By their very nature, micro-games have instructions built into them. Typically, they ask the player to perform a basic task such as clicking on an area or drawing a circle (selection mechanics), dragging and dropping (matching mechanics), or clicking rapidly to trigger an instructive animation (speed-clicking mechanic).