Invention Points

Invention Points are a type of object that appears in JumpStart Adventures 3rd Grade: Mystery Mountain.

Description
Invention Points are used the measure the player's score throughout the game. The number of invention points that the player currently has is displayed on the toolbar. They are earned from playing activities, and are one of the requirements for entering the Time Machine in Mystery Mountain.

Invention Points can be earned from playing any of the activities at any time. When earned from an activity that doesn't reward the player with a Mission Clue, they take on the appearance of a copper-colored coin with a picture of a brain on it.

Dialogue

 * On the first floor
 * Botley: "My sensors indicate that Polly hasn't left any mission clues on this floor. I suggest we go check out another floor."
 * Botley: "Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm not getting any clue leadings here. Let's check out another floor!"
 * Botley: "Nuts! No mission clues here. Let's try another floor!"
 * Botley: "This floor's empty! Let's try another one!"
 * Botley: "Okay, there aren't any mission clues on this floor. Let's go searching on another floor."
 * Botley: "No mission clues here! Let's try another floor!"
 * Robot Kitchen
 * Polly: (starting the activity for the first time) "That's not all you lose if you don't get this show on the road, Dotley! I have to warn you though, they're aren't any mission clues in here! But if you really want to play in the kitchen, I left some spare Invention Points for you."
 * Polly: "Ha! There's no mission clue in here, Potley! But Mort looks hungry, and you look stupid! I bet if you feed Mort, he'll give you some invention points he need."
 * Polly: "Listen, there's no mission clue in here, Botley! But why don't you make yourself useful and feed Mort. He's got some invention points, and we all know that you need some of those."
 * Polly: "Too bad, there's no mission clue in here, Notley! But give Mort what he wants to eat and he'll tip you generously with Invention Points!"
 * Art Gallery
 * Botley: "I'm not picking up any of the occasion that Polly hasn't left any mission clues here. Maybe we think we should move on?"
 * Botley: "Polly hasn't left any clues here! But you sure you want to stay?"
 * Botley: "There's no mission clue in there. Stay if you want! But I suggest returning to the first floor to look for more Polly's clues."
 * Professor's Virtual Collection
 * Polly: "I didn't hide any clues in the collection. But if your friend really wants to browse through daddy's art, there's some invention points to make it worth their time. Just figure out which of his great works I hid them in."
 * Polly: "No, no, Botley, there's no clue here! Just some old invention points! If you can figure out which work of art I'm thinking about."
 * Polly: "What's the matter? Your sensors need tuning? There's no clue in here! But if you insist on browsing the collection, I did hide some invention points in one of the works."
 * Painting Gallery
 * Polly: (starting the activity for the first time) "There's no mission clue here, Rotley, so I guess that means you're clueless! [Laughs] But if you want to earn some extra Invention Points, you or your friend can paint me a picture."
 * Polly: "I know art, and I know what I like! So you better paint exactly where I tell you to paint if you want to earn some extra invention points."
 * Polly: "That's right! It's time once again to paint Polly a picture!"
 * Polly: "If you want any extra invention points, you've gotta paint me a picture."
 * Music Hall
 * Polly: (starting the activity for the first time) "Yeah, yeah, I got quality to burn. Pitty Notley doesn't have any musical skill. 'Cuz he'll need it if he wants me to give him some extra Invention Points. You see, I wanted him to play me this song."
 * Polly: "I'm no savage beast, but I am a savage kid. So if you want some more Invention Points, you'll have to play this piece of music."
 * Polly: "Alright, Botley, time to sing for your supper!"
 * Polly: "Okay? For that little insult, I'll give you Invention Points only if you can play this piece."
 * On the second floor
 * Botley: "Nope, nothing here! We need to look on the other floors."
 * Botley: "Huh, I'm not getting any leading on this floor! Let's check out another floor."
 * Botley: "Out of luck! There are no mission clues here! Let's try another floor."
 * Botley: "I think we should go to another floor, there are no mission clues here."
 * Botley: "There are no mission clues on this floor. Let's go to another floor!"
 * Botley: "Let's move on! There's no mission clue here!"
 * Biosphere
 * Polly: (starting the activity for the first time) "Don't scoff! It just so happens that I've recently planted some Invention Points inside the biosphere. I'm not gonna tell you where though. Uh-huh, No! You'll have to find them on your own."
 * Botley: "My sensors are not picking up any signals from the mission clue in the biosphere! You sure we should stay here?"
 * Polly: "Hey, Rustley, not so fast! There's no mission clue here! But we all know you can use more invention points. So I've hidden them where... well, that's for you to find out."
 * Botley: "Huh? I'm not picking up a mission clue by from the biosphere! You still want to go exploring?"
 * Polly: "Poor little Gutley, no mission clue inside! Boo-hoo-hoo! If it makes you feel any better, I have hidden some invention points here. So why don't you look for them!"
 * Botley: "I'm not detecting a hidden mission clue anywhere near here! Maybe we should we go hunting somewhere else."
 * Polly: "No, Botley, you took all the fun away from your friend! There's no mission clue, but there are some invention points I've hidden. You just have to figure out where!"
 * Shrinking Machine Room
 * Polly: (starting the activity for the first time) "Well, too bad, there's no clue here, Grotley, but I guess that will come in handy if you need some extra invention points. Because I miniaturized a few and hid it inside one of those specimens. It's almost too easy!"
 * Polly: "I didn't hide a mission clue in here, just some spare invention points. If you can figure out which specimen they're in, they're yours! So, your hint is."
 * Polly: "Look, I didn't hide a mission clue in there, okay? So don't bug me, unless you need some invention points. In that case, have I got a hint for you."
 * Polly: "Don't bother looking for a mission clue, cause I didn't hide one here. But if you want some invention points. Try to make sense of this hint."
 * On the third floor
 * Botley: "Nope! Out of Luck! We should search for clues on the other floors."
 * Botley: "No clues on this floor! Let's go search the lower floors."
 * Botley: "What a drag! This floor is clueless. Let's go search somewhere else."
 * Botley: "Nothing here! Let's check out another floor!"
 * Botley: "We need to check out another floor for mission clues. There aren't any here!"
 * Botley: "This floor's empty! No mission clues! Let's go to another floor!"
 * Observatory
 * Polly: (starting the activity for the first time) "Well, there's no mission clue in here! But if you want, there's a pack of Invention Points available."
 * Botley: "Polly didn't hide a mission clue here, but the professor's spaceship is missing! Maybe she launched it with some spare invention points."
 * Botley: "There's no mission clue here, and notice the missing spaceship? I wouldn't be surprise if Polly launched it with some spare invention points."
 * Botley: "Well, since there's no mission clue to be found here, we can always try to track down the missing spaceship, to see if maybe Polly launched some invention points."
 * Robot Maze
 * Polly: (starting the activity for the first time) "Too bad, Spotley, I didn't hide a mission clue down there. I did put a few spare Invention Points inside that box. I programmed that stupid robot to put the box where you wouldn't be able to reached it. Then I scrambled up the commands. Not that you'll be able to put them back in the right order."
 * Botley: "Hey! We're back at the maze, and look, there's another box down there! Should we investigate to see if Polly left a mission clue here?"
 * Polly: "Sorry, Botley, that box doesn't have one of your precious mission clues. Just a few invention points I had lying around at my room. I've got loads of invention points because I'm so smart. But maybe you and your friend should just leave while the leaving's good."
 * Botley: "Good thing I'm programmed to put up with her, otherwise it just might explode! Huh? But we have to ignore her. Just program the robot so he makes it safely to the box."

Dialogue after capturing 25 robots

 * On the first floor
 * Robot Kitchen
 * Polly: Even when the world's not being threatened by yours truly, Mort is still very hungry! Feed him and I'll make sure he gives you some invention points!
 * Art Gallery
 * Professor's Virtual Collection
 * Polly: "Let's see Plotley, if you can figure out which work of art I'm thinking about, I'll give you some Invention Points."
 * Painting Gallery
 * Polly: "Can't get enough, huh?"
 * Music Hall
 * Botley: "Okay, Polly, we're ready for another round!"
 * Polly: "Nothing left for a prize but some more Invention Points. Just play this little ditty!"
 * On the second floor
 * Biosphere
 * Botley: "So, you still wanna go exploring in the Biosphere? Maybe Polly can make it worth our time."
 * Polly: "Sure, Crotley, just figure out where I hid the Invention Points and they're all yours."
 * Shrinking Machine Room
 * Polly: "Can't get enough, can you, Snotley? Well here's a hint if you're looking for more Invention Points."
 * On the third floor
 * Observatory
 * Botley: "I gotta say this is one of my favorite rooms in this place."
 * Robot Maze
 * Botley: "Back at the robot obstacle course!"
 * Polly: "And the only thing for you are a few Invention Points down there. Think you can handle that? Okay! Just count to ten, then concentrate on programming that robot."

Trivia
In the game's original release, the number of invention points required to gain entry to the time machine starts at 1,000 and increases by 500 for every five missions. In later releases, the required amount is kept at 1,000 for all 25 missions.