“How do Pizza Pursuits™ 10 and the Advanced cards compare?”
Pizza Pursuits™ 10 is intended for beginners and the Advanced cards for more advanced players. There are many design differences. However both decks use the same basic principles and anyone can play with either deck. Each has four 13-card suits and two jokers. 

Pizza Pursuits™ 10 is based on number 10 only. "If you can count to 10, you can play Pizza Pursuits™ 10 and win!" Ten equal-sized slices make one whole pizza. Slice size = 1/10, 36°, 10% and 0.1. Pizza suits are aligned with measurements. Cheese slices are measured in fractions (1/10, 2/10, 3/10), pepperoni slices are measured in decimals (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3), etc.

The Advanced deck is more complex. Cards are marked by divisor, not by portion size. A #5 card is 1/5, 72°, 20% or 0.2 of a whole pizza. There are six divisors: 3, 4, 5, 6, 12 and 20. Six slice sizes vary from 1/3 (120°, 33.33% and 0.3333) down to 1/20 (18°, 5% and 0.05). This allows for more complex melds. For example 1/3 + 1/6 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/20 = 1/1.

Also Advance cards are not aligned with any one measurement system. Each card has all four measurement systems, one on each card edge. So a #4 card has 1/4, 90°, 25% and 0.25 size-coded edge tags. Players work with the measurement system of their choice.

“What does 'size-coded edge tag technology' mean?”
Each edge of the card face has a size-coded tag. The tag length is directly proportional to the face value of the card. For example, a number-3 card tag (1/3) is twice as long as a number-6 card tag (1/6).

Each tag aligns with the zero position on its measure. There are four measures, one on each card edge, calibrated in four different measurement systems -- decimals, degrees, percentages and fractions. Players may add or subtract cards, or card groups, just by aligning card tags.   

“Is this really ‘Revolutionary’ or just more marketing hype?”
A sighted child, without any math training, could play with and even beat a University Professor in this math game! I'd say that's quite revolutionary, wouldn't you? Pizza Pursuits™ is the first product covered by my US patent application filed in April 2006.

“Why use an Educational Card Game for learning?”
Pizza Pursuits™ is intended to supplement formal education and not replace it. The goal is fun in learning. There are no textbooks.

Students play with specially designed playing cards instead. The emphasis is on play. Learning occurs naturally -- visually and by association –- just as we all learned when we were young. Players graduate to numbers later at their own pace.

“Surely you don't need to add and subtract anymore, you can just use a calculator?”
You could use a calculator -- if you can convert fractions to decimals in your head first -- can you? However the real objective here is to develop brain power and numeracy. Pizza Pursuits™ could expand and develop your child's brain much more than a simple calculator.

As you know a good physical workout builds physical fitness. Similarly, a good mental math workout stretches, exercises and builds brain power. Game strategies and play can develop intellectual power also.

Pizza Pursuits™ offers a powerful fun-filled mental workout for your entire family. It could help develop your children and give them a competitive advantage in life.

“What is the target audience?”
The cards are designed primarily for grades 4 through 8. However they may be used productively by any player or any age group and math ability or educational level. For example, several teachers think the cards are appropriate for use even in high school.

Remember that millions of children collect baseball cards. These show Batting Averages expressed to three places of decimals! Young children memorize and compare these stats. with ease. Even pre-school kids do this, though they won't study decimals until 3rd grade typically.  

Pizza Pursuits™ is a game system and not just an individual game. So younger players who can handle playing or baseball cards can start by playing matching games. Math buffs may devise their own complex math games and scoring systems also.

“But isn't the card design too complex for kids?”
The cards may seem overwhelming a first. They are packed with info. purposefully, front and back. I'd rather provide too much, than too little.

Don't worry about your kids. They're often much brighter and quicker than we give then credit for. Have you ever watched a kid play a new computer game? Often they don't read instructions -- they just play. Kids can be truly amazing if you just let them!

Children don't need to understand all the information on the cards to play. They can choose what to use (just pictures, say) and what to ignore when they start. Again note the baseball card analogy.

“Why call this a 'Game System', rather than a 'card game'?”
This card deck is not limited to just one game like most other card games. Instead you can play many new math or non-math games, including variants of many existing card games. You can play alone, in a group and in teams also. You decide. Play is limited only by your imagination.

“Why Kid and Teacher Tested and Approved?”
My wife Chantal is a teacher. Our four children have been involved with the development and design of Pizza Pursuits™ throughout. It was because of them that I first came up with the idea.

'Teaching' them fractions and decimals was not very productive, either for me or them. It was very frustrating for us all. So I thought that there must be a better way. 

I've reviewed every idea, feature and design aspect with them. I've listened to their comments and critiques and made changes. Sometimes their input is not too helpful though: "Dad, leave me alone, I've already told you..."

Pizza Pursuits™ has been used by other groups outside our family too. It has been reviewed by different teachers from Public and Private Schools, and by home school families too. All feedback has been very positive.

Three different schools are testing the playing cards with children. I'll post the results of these field trials here as soon as they're available.

“What size are the cards?"
The Pizza Pursuit cards are poker-sized and measure 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches (62mm × 88mm / ISO 216 B8).

“What is the card stock?”
The Pizza Pursuits™ playing cards are printed on a high quality card stock manufactured under the strictest supervision to meet the highest standards established by the casino industry and regulatory agencies in Nevada, New Jersey, and other states. The cards have a plastic coating.

“Okay, and why 'Pizza Pursuits™'?”
Most of us can relate to slice of pizza. So I use pizza slices to illustrate different sized portions. You can play many different pizza games in 'pursuit' of your perfect pizza.

Incidentally there's absolutely no connection with Trivial Pursuit^®. the popular trivia game. Also the potential benefits of Pizza Pursuits™ are far from trivial, and could even be life changing!  

Here's how to order:

Select one version of the Pizza Pursuits Cards from the drop-down menu on the right before clicking the Buy Now button.

Pizza Pursuits 10 is the right choice for beginners. There are just three slice sizes (1/10^th, 2/10^th and 3/10^th) and only one measurement system (fraction, decimal, percentage or degree) per card.  

Pizza Pursuits Advanced is designed for more experienced players. There are six different slice sizes ranging from 1/20^th (5%, 0.05, 18°) to 1/3^rd (33.3%, 0.333, 120°). Each card uses all four measurement systems, one on each card edge. 

PS: If your kids master fractions and decimals, it could expand their horizons and choices dramatically! Order now, you'll be glad you did.