GENERAL QUESTIONS

How do you pronounce Qoheleth and what does it mean?

Why did you choose Qoheleth as the name of this game?

What kind of game is Qoheleth?

Do kids really like Qoheleth?

COMPUTER QUESTIONS

What kind of computer is needed to run Qoheleth?

What operating systems can run Qoheleth?

Will Qoheleth run on a Macintosh?

GAME PLAY QUESTIONS

How do you play Qoheleth?

Is there violence and gore in the game?

Do kids really like Qoheleth?

How does Qoheleth teach about the Bible?

How do you pronounce Qoheleth and what does it mean?
Qoheleth can be pronounced koh-HEL-leth or KOH-hel-leth. We use the first pronunciation. Qoheleth is the Hebrew name (and therefore the original name) for the Biblical book Ecclesiastes. While Ecclesiastes is a Greek word for 'preacher', Qoheleth can be translated 'teacher' as well as 'preacher' or 'leader of the assembly.'

Why did you choose Qoheleth as the name of this game?
Our foremost goal in creating Qoheleth was to teach key truths from all 66 books of the Bible. Since Qoheleth means 'teacher', we felt the name was appropriate. It also gives everyone a chance to learn one more thing about the Bible--Qoheleth is the Hebrew name for the Bible book we know as Ecclesiastes!

What kind of game is Qoheleth?
Qoheleth (koh HEL leth) is a "side-scrolling" action game. You, as the player, walk and jump across the screen as the scenery "scrolls" with you. Many other games use this concept, such as the famous Mario Brothers games from Nintendo. Is game play difficult? If you are an adult, yes. If you are a child or young person, not at all :-).

What kind of computer is needed to run Qoheleth?
The DOS version of Qoheleth will run adequately on any IBM-compatible computer with a 386DX-40 or better processor. You also need 2MB of RAM and 4MB of hard disk space. The Windows95 version of Qoheleth can run on a 486DX2-66, but we recommend a Pentium or higher, with 16MB or more of RAM. A SoundBlaster or compatible sound card is needed to play the music and sound effects with the DOS version.

What operating systems can run Qoheleth?
Qoheleth was originally written as a MS-DOS program, but it runs fine under Windows95 and Windows 3.x. If you have Windows95, Qoheleth will install an icon on your desktop. When you click the icon to start the game, Qoheleth will re-boot your machine in MS-DOS mode, and return you to Windows95 when you exit the game. We now have a "pure" Windows95 version of Qoheleth, which is available in both the shareware demo version and as an update patch for owners of the full game in DOS.

Will Qoheleth run on a Macintosh?
Unfortunately, no. However, if you have a dual-platform (MAC/IBM) computer, you have a pretty good chance. We're not so sure about the IBM-compatibility software for the Macintosh. If you wish to experiment, we recommend downloading the demo version from our web site and trying to make that run.

How do you play Qoheleth?
The basic idea of game play is to collect all the little Bible books in each of the 20 playing levels and put them in the right order. To do this, you walk and jump through each maze-like playing level (20 different large levels using 10 different themes). You try to avoid getting hurt by the wild animals, and you eat fruit to restore your health if you have been hurt. In the medium and hard difficulty modes, you must answer a question about each book before you can pick it up and place it in order.

Is there violence and gore in the game?
Qoheleth has lots of action but no blood or other gruesome sound or visual effects. This is not a "zero-sum" game, where one player's success means another player's failure, either. Qoheleth is a "win-win" game, where players compete only against themselves. The only item of concern might be the wild animals which can hurt you, but the game options allow you to turn them off if you wish. (The game manual explains that these animals are trapped in the game, and when you jump on them, they disappear and happily go back to where they belong.)

Do kids really like Qoheleth?
A fair question. We recently attended a Christian convention as vendors. Daniel and Elizabeth, both Rothware team members, were there to demonstrate the game on the computer to passers-by. As it turned out, they didn't get a chance to do that, because the kids at the convention played the game non-stop for the 2 1/2 days we were there! These kids ranged from about 6 to 20 years old. We were truly amazed and heartened by the enthusiastic reception we received.

How does Qoheleth teach about the Bible?
At the easiest level of play, Qoheleth teaches the correct order of the books of the Bible. The medium and hard difficulty levels of play require the player to answer a question about each book before they can pick it up. These questions are carefully designed to teach key truths about each Bible book. The questions are rephrased and repeated throughout the game to reinforce learning. The complete Qoheleth package also comes with a comprehensive Study Guide to expand upon what is learned in the game. Please visit our page How Qoheleth Teaches for the full story on all the ways this game can teach.