National Semiconductor Quiz Kid Racer, Electronic Game

Quiz Kid Racer is an arithmetic quiz game for one or more children, introduced by National Semiconductor in 1978. According to a Montgomery Ward advertisement published that year, the game was designed for children six years old and up. It presented problems in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division at different levels of difficulty. Questions at the “PRO” level are more difficult than those at the “AMATEUR” level. At the “COMPLEX” level, one number, an operation, and the answer are given – the child provides the other number. Problems also can appear as tables. Pressing the correct answer causes a green light to the right of the display to light up. After an incorrect answer, a child was allowed another try, after this the correct answer appears in the display. Two children also could play the game competitively using two copies of the game.

The object has a white plastic case with a brightly colored sticker as the keyboard. The game has twenty rectangular plastic keys. These include ten digit keys, four operation keys, four keys for setting the level of the game, a “SLOW” key, and a “FAST” key. The on/off switch is above the keys. A mark above it reads: National (/) Semiconductor. A mark right of the keys reads: Racer. A mark above the display reads: QuizKid.

The battery compartment is at the top of the back, and a power adapter can plug into the back edge. A mark stamped on the back reads: MADE IN HONG KONG. Prices ranged from $19.99 down to $9.99.

Compare the Little Professor made by Texas Instruments (see 1986.0988.197), as well as the Whiz Kid (1986.0988.307), the Quiz Kid Speller (1986.0988.235) and the Quiz Kid (1988.0988.237).

References:

Montgomery Ward, Christmas Catalog, 1978, p. 290. The Quiz Kid Racer was offered for a price of $19.99 plus extra for a case.

Montgomery Ward, Christmas Catalog, 1981, p. 479. The Quiz Kid Racer was offered for a price of $9.99.

Kris Jensen, “New 1978 Electronic Games,” Popular Electronics, January, 1978, pp. 33–43. The article mentions Quiz Kid Racer as one of three electronic games (along with Quiz Kid and Quiz Kid Speller) released by National Semiconductor.

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