Review Fix Exclusive: Inside ‘STEM Lab: Little Engineer’

Review Fix chats with Shawn Sheng, Chief Product Officer, STEM Lab Games who discusses the company’s new “STEM Lab: Little Engineer” system for iPad, breaking down its creation, development and goals for the future.

About “Stem Lab: Little Engineer”:

STEM Lab: Little Engineer allows children to build maps and passages that help the main character, Q, fix robots. The process demonstrates oft-used programming instructions such as sequential, looping and conditional statements. The Little Engineer package includes the Explorer X system (iPad stand and front-facing camera attachment), a downloadable app and 15 child-friendly coding blocks constructed of silicone and plastic that complies with all food safety standards. The software stimulates kids’ problem-solving abilities and hones important STEM skills. The Explorer X is compatible with iPad2 and later.

Review Fix: Why was this game created?

Shawn Sheng: We value how important STEM education is to our children’s future. AR, VR and AI are shaping our day to day life. We see coding/programming as one of the most important skills for our kids to learn and we want our kids to start early. However, at the same time, we don’t want learning to be a burden for our kids. That’s why we created a game that is easy, fun and educational.

We want to use interactive games to lower the entry point for coding. Even younger kids can learn coding, problem solving and logical thinking without feeling like they’re learning. This will prepare them for future coding classes.

Review Fix: How easy is it to get into?

Sheng: We used toy blocks for Little Engineer because we want to make coding as easy as playing with building blocks. Every command is presented by a command block. By combining these blocks, kids can control the characters in the game. Using fun and beautiful 3D animation as a hook, kids will get drawn into it easily.

Review Fix: What do you think makes it special?

Sheng: First, we combine the virtual and the physical in a compelling way. In the game, kids have to use traditional toys to solve the games puzzles and scenes, linking the traditional, physical blocks to the virtual world. It brings our kids a fun and interactive experience. Meanwhile, we encourage kids to use the right posture to play while they simultaneously train their left and right brains.

Second, we added a creative mode for our kids to create their own puzzles. Kids can mix the knowledge they’ve learned from the game with their own creativity to create something no one has ever thought of before. Through the interaction with other kids, the game gets bigger and has more potential.

Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy it the most?

Sheng: Boys and girls ages 5-8 will really enjoy this game because they are curious and adventurous. They also like to explore. This game has a unique yet simple game mechanic that is in line with the development stages of kids in this age range. We actually see lots of parents enjoying this game too, because they love playing with their kids.

Review Fix: Bottom line, why should someone play it?

Sheng: Kids need this game not just to learn coding, but also to train their logic ability, creativity and problem solving skills. Kids will want to play this game for the same reason they play many games: it’s fun!

Review Fix: What’s next from the company?

Sheng: From the STEM side, we will keep exploring and making more products to cover more age groups. For example, we’re currently developing a coding robot. We are also concerned with our children’s health and fitness, so we are launching Paiband, a smart kids bracelet that promotes a healthier lifestyle for children. We are also working on a revolutionary kids AI tablet that will change the way they interact with screens. This product will also promote premium content and a safer internet environment.

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Sheng: Coding is not just a skill, it’s a way to think and explore the world. We want kids to learn and understand it in their early stages so they have a solid foundation of knowledge going forward as they use these skills to help shape the world into a better place.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13819 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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