Amazon.com Product Description

Kids sharpen their math skills as they trek high in the Himalayas with the ClueFinders. Join the ever-adventurous ClueFinders on a quest to find missing ancient treasures. Kids will need all their wits to hunt for clues. From purchasing supplies in the village store to building a yak corral, every activity integrates a math learning challenge. Solve the mystery and kids will bring home the greatest treasure of all--math confidence.

Explore 15 interactive games and exercises designed for kids ages 9 to 12 and older. Build more than 25 key math skills, including number computation, fractions and decimals, tables and graphs, and early geometry. Ten levels of difficulty and a variety of tricky challenges keep Mystery of the Himalayas fun and fresh. Detailed help features guide kids throughout, and built-in progress reports help parents navigate their child's math accomplishments.

A bonus CD-ROM doubles the mystery and clue-finding fun. In ClueFinders: Mystery Mansion Arcade our adventurers are lured into a spooky mansion by an ingenious mastermind and his four villainous henchmen. Kids help the ClueFinders escape by choosing the best ClueFinder for each arcade-style hazard. Speed through the Ultimate Deep-Dish Pizza Skate Park, stay cool through the High-Voltage Circuit Zone, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

cheap disks, cheap software
1) Broderbund appears to use consistently cheap disks: there appear to be visible defects on the surface. My cd-rom drive (which is finicky) does not like their disks.

2) My eight-year old did not find the game challenging.

3) The software did not interact well with other hardware and software on my system. CleanSweep thinks that the software is installing when trying to play the game; after changing my cd-rom drive, this program no longer starts up on my computer.

Great Game For Math Lovers
Nice game but the bad guy gets away. I would have rated it 5 stars if the avalanche had destroyed the guy in the yeti suit or at least been arrested. This is the only complaint I have, the math is challenging and it is fun to solve the mystery.

Excellent help fot math
Is a very good game that help the children to make mental calculations and solve very differente puzzles.

They can practice with decimal numbers, and fractions and they use logical thinking to solve the clues and find the suspects.

I really recommend this software that will work for at least three years. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I love Donald
I met a boy named donald and I really like him and I hope to stay with him as long as I die. I would like to die in his arms and be with him all day he likes me and I like him

Read this before Buying
If you are a beginner, DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. I recommend, TypingMaster.

Using this software, You can only go at a default pace set in the software. You cannot change the lesson time or repeat lesson rate. Forget about practice an extra set of keys.

The one nice thing for advanced users : You can make your own lessons (even a simple *.txt will work). But as a beginner, I don't have the time to do it.

XP System users Caution
Each user of this program must have administrator rights on an XP computer for the program to run. I returned the program rather than give my 9 and 11 year olds administrator rights. Otherwise a wonderful program.

my review
my personal opinion of this computer package is it is excellent! it teaches childrean and indeed adults to type properly using all ten fingers on the keyboard! it teaches you to type slowly and lets you excell at a pace that suits you you continue to be tested and you improve with the more you use it! it provides many benificial tips and it progresses in accordance with you! many children also find that the games the programme provides are fun! after you are tested and have done a sufficiant amount of work you are rewarded with being allowed to play a game! i highly recomend this package for anyone interested in learning how to type!

Do not buy this software
If you are a beginning typist (or a proficient hunt and pecker) this software is absolutely terrible. There is no direct access to the lessons and practices so you can only go at a predetermined pace that is somehow built into the software. And if due to some glitch in the software, the program loses the level to which you have achieved, then it starts you all over again at the very beginning and there is nothing you can do about this. ... Read more

Features

• Test-prep software for TOEFL standard exam
• 4 full-length practice tests; hundreds of sample test questions
• Powerful study tools; tips, hints, and self-assessments
• Get step-by-step guidance on TOEFL test-taking strategies
• Complete score analysis; tests and tutorial with dynamic audio features

Features

• Become a better speaker and writer with full presentations and exercises with Literature, Composition and Grammar
• This 15-CD suite covers 27 important subjects that high-schoolers will have to master for better grades
• Complete coverage of high-school level math, with lessons on Algebra I & II, Geometry and Trigonometry
• Advanced science topics are no longer a mystery, thanks to these in-depth guides to Biology, Astronomy, Chemistry and Physics
• Learn basic vocabulary in 8 languages -Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian and Portuguese

Reviews (10)

Not impress with its presentation and graphic
I brought this software for my six-grader. I always like the learning company's product but this one does not impress me at all. The graphic is primitive and the presentation is boring. There is no extra practice or test you can do. My son ran through all the CD's but he really does not enjoy it. I just brought Math Advantage 2004. I have problem running the problem on a computer with 1GB of memory. But I install it on another machine and it works. I like the presentation much better and my son seems to like it too. It has an examination area where you can test your understanding and a game area to make it more fun.

My son loves it!
My son is in fifth grade and loves it, he is working on the first disk (4 disk set) and is very excited with the program. I don't remember being excited about learning math when I was his age.
I had a problem when the program was first installed, the splash screen came up and when you clicked on the start button, the window opened up in Internet Explorer and was just a blank screen with a blue background (never loaded the Flash menu). I went to Macromedia's web site and reinstalled Flash Viewer and the program loaded correctly. I am running a PII 450 with Windows XP, I have not had any other concerns with the software and would recommend the program.

Horrible
This package appears ideal: it covers a lot of Middle School math subjects, over 4 CDs. The problem is, the creators of this software (which runs very slowly in your web browser!) have been a little too cute -- instead of just presenting the material, they run you through these elaborate scenarios requiring that you keep track of an entire fictional situation, and in using this with kids, they lose interest immediately because they're expending far too much time and mental energy just trying to figure out either what the question is, or trying to whittle down the real math problem inside of some elaborate story. It's a huge time waster and is monumentally frustrating. For example, one such headache, the 'Estimating Quotients" lessons, revolve around a story about connecting the intercontinental railroad, measuring the railroad ties, space between, etc., etc., with lots of other information that confuses the child. This is the common theme. I run the software, and the kids can't figue out what the h&ll the question is!
It might not be so bad if these 'mathematical problem scenarios' were used after the basics had been covered, but instead are the norm in presenting the material for the first time. The result is that the kids are totally lost and just don't get it.

Also, this software takes an extraodinarilly long time to cover a miniscule amount of mathematics. They could have easily fit the entire course on one CD, with plenty of room to spare, had they simply covered the basics, instead of making everything a 'challenging problem, or game, or complicated scanario. I can see where they might have thought that this would make learning math enjoyable, but in practice the kids are lost half way through each lesson.

This program is revolutionary, avoid its competitor
This is an ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT PROGRAM, so much so that easily threatens the job security of a better than average math teacher.
The presentation relative to the rest of the field is revolutionary. I really don't see how a teacher scribbling on a chalk board or even trying to answer questions in a class room session would be as effective as this program. Every presentation is perfectly clear and the explanations are driven by the amount of information the user needs.

The comments about the graphics are irrelevant, the graphics do exactly what they are supposed to, which in part involves not distracting the user...

The only thing I could recommend to the Learning company about this product is that spice up the packaging a little, because that is all their competitor really has.

EXCELLENT and engaging...after fixing installation problems.
I bought this software because I love The Learning Company's (TLC)software. You won't believe the difficulties that I've gone through in installing this software in my new Computer (Windows ME). I have fixed the problem by going to the Macromedia website and downloaded "Macromedia Flash Player". Afterwards this software (Mind Power Math Middle School) run perfectly. My son enjoyed its delightful graphics and excellent mathematics presentation. It's worth all its troubles, it is just EXCELLENT!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

A classic and much-loved children's story is given a vivid interactive finish in The Little Prince, a CD-ROM that will thrill young readers and their parents. With elegant animations and a low-key, whimsical delivery, this CD-ROM tells the tale of a stranded pilot and his friendship with a strange young man who lives alone on a small asteroid with only a rose for company.

As an interactive storybook, The Little Prince is absolutely gorgeous. Antoine de Saint Exupéry's story is ideal for a multimedia format, since much of the tale centers around the act of drawing pictures. Kenneth Branagh's cheerful and appealing reading of the text is enhanced with sketches that not only appear on narrative cue, but interact with users--changing colors at the click of a mouse or sweeping the book's text aside to highlight the simple, but beautiful illustrations.

The Little Prince offers an intriguing mix of the simple and the sophisticated. While the humor in the story will be more appealing to older players, the games and activities in the program are extremely simple; for the most part, they are composed of animations that come alive at a single click. One game involves maintaining the ecosphere of the Little Prince's home, asteroid B-612, by destroying young baobab plants and watering his rose. Another involves making regular visits to see a wild fox, which will eventually become tame enough to play hide-and-seek with players. Little is required in either of these games except diligence and patience. The animations are simple and repetitive, and many players will tire of them quickly. However, this may only serve to refocus their attention where it deserves to be: on the story itself.

The Little Prince does justice to the original book, adding motion to the illustrations while remaining faithful to the creator's original vision. It also adds an audience-participation element that a simple home-video rendition could not provide. Though it is neither a traditional CD-ROM nor a video game, this presentation will delight its users thoroughly. --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Awesome story.
Although it isn't very user-friendly, this software is very good.

"If you don't get it, you DON'T GET IT !"
This book was known by every child in my country. I was suspicious about its computer version, but was delighted with what Tivola did. They fully preserved the spirit of this masterpiece and offered something that stands way out from any other children's products that I've seen and that money can buy. The only thing I don't understand (in fact I do...) is why Amazon dares to put this book/CD in the same ballpark with Dr.Seuss!!! They could afford hiring those who feel the difference. Anyway, if you don't find this book/CD a jewel, you must be either a real "sad old man" or one of the characters described in the Little Prince. I truly hope you are not either one of those!

"The Little Prince" finally came to life for me
I had read "Le Petit Prince" many years ago when I was a child. It was given to me as a gift, and at the time I put it away. A few years later I dusted it off and gave it another try. Then, in a literature class we read the book again. Many of my friends loved "Le Petit Prince." Our campus in Québec even had a showcase window with all of the "Little Prince" merchandise you could want. But somehow the story was lost on me.

Along came this marvellous software from German publisher Tivola. Contrary to what some reviewers have said, I found that installing and using the software to be very easy. Once I opened the box there was a small manual that covered the interface, gameplay and troubleshooting that got me started on my way.

The game interface on "The Little Prince" is the coolest interactive menu I have ever seen. You start out floating through the universe, past stars, the moon, spinning planets populated by characters from the book...you can move in any direction, accompanied by soothing spacemusic.

There are several different options with the software. You can have the story narrated and click on interactive illustrations, care for the Little Prince's home and rose on Asteroid B-612, explore an interactive biography of the author Antoine de Saint-Éxupéry, play the Fox Taming game on Earth that, when you tame him, you are given access to personalized stationary and a diary. All of the animations and music are top-notch. This is a labour of love that finally breathed life into "Le Petit Prince" for me. I entered his world and saw things through his eyes. Perfect for children of all ages (including grown-up ones).

Creative and Unique
I originally was disappointed with this software but my son finally figured out how to use it. It's not as user-friendly as the software we're used to buying but your patience is worth it. The reading of the story, along with the pictures and music, is superb. It allows the reader to imagine with the story, unlike much American software which turns reading into a video-watching experience. The story has over 20 chapters, and has kept my 8-year old's attention. I highly recommend this software.

Save your money - buyer beware!
This may be creative with pretty graphics and pictures but is probably the worst software I've ever bought. Neither myself nor my two very computer-literate children could figure out how to get the interactive story to run. I called the support line in Europe and they also did not know. The instructions that accompany it were also not helpful. I finally sent email to the support group and they never answered my email. I'm very disappointed with this software. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Can't run software on a computer with 1GB memory
I have the same problem on a computer running Windows 2000 with 1GB memory. The software won't start and gives me the error message "Director Player 6.0 - This program requires at least 3MB of free virtual memory to run". I know there is more than 3MB of free virtual memory on my computer. I tried different virtual memory setting and found that setting virtual memory to 128MB would cause the software to run. It is obvious that the software has mis-calculated the available virtual memory. It interprets virtual memory > 1GB as less than 3MB virtual memory. I have sent email to the technical support at Encore and are waiting for their reply. I share the previous reader's opinion that setting the virtual memory to a lower setting is not an acceptable solution.

However, after I started the program, I like the interface and graphic. The software is better than "Mind Power Math Middle School" from the Learning Company. I also like that it has a game where you can test your skill.

I will write an update after I receive a reply from Encore.

Way around memory problem
Haven't tried this software but had same problem with some other software, the error message: "Director Player 6.0 - This program requires at least 3MB of free virtual memory to run". The only fix is to change your virtual memory settings to something below 500mb or to exactly 4000mb. Of course, I chose 4000mb since I have a large hard drive and almost 1 gig of memory on this pc.

So the full fix is:
From the Windows XP desktop, select the Start button, right-click on the My Computer icon, and select Properties from the resulting menu.

Click on the Advanced tab to bring it forward, and then select the Settings button within the Performance section.

In the Performance Options window, click on the Advanced tab to bring it forward, and then select the Change button in the Virtual Memory section.

Click the Custom size button...
Change the Initial size (MB) setting to 4000
Change the Maximum size (MB) setting to 4000

Select SET to accept the change, which will close the Virtual Memory window. Select OK to close the Performance Options window. And select OK to exit the System Properties window.

$40 + junk = angry customer
This is a faulty and buggy piece of software. It will not run on my PC (XP Home)without me changing my Virtual Memory from 1000 mb to 200 mb...what an absurdity! The developer offers no solution other than to change my VM everytime I want to use their software.

Well, forget it. They're not the only game in town.

It's Great!!
I have the Elementary Advantage, and I'm about to go into Middle School Advantage. I find these programs are excellent. I am a homeschooling parent, and the Elementary Advantage suite have done a great job in assisting me with teaching my child. I've learned a lot myself. My son is about to enter middle school grades, and as I explore the the Middle School Advantage suite, I marvel at how well its put together. I have not run into answers that are wrong as was the claim of one reviewer. But, that does not bother me because you will find wrong answers in educational books written by the best educators. I focus on the how well I am taught the subject. If I can catch the wrong answers then I was taught well. I paid only $24.99 for each suite. I also have a Dell Dimension 4600, and the programs run fine. For all those having a problem running the program. You better get a Dell, Dude! For the money, IT'S GREAT!

Not Recommended
If this program can confuse X and Y intercepts I can only imagine what else may be wrong with it. I just purchased this for my son today, but will be returning it tomorrow. He has a placement test in 2 weeks and I don't want him to blow it because of this faulty software. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Middle School Excelerator is top-of-the-line software with which students can learn at their own pace, a broad-based instructional suite that effectively targets the intermediate curriculum and provides real-world skills in six subjects: algebra I and II (including 52 topics and 837 problems), geometry (33 topics and 403 problems), typing (including eight game themes and animated ergonomics instruction), Spanish (including more than 20 lesson topics), and American history (including 1,600 A-to-Z entries, more than 250 primary sources, and 75 maps).

Whether emphasizing core mathematical study areas, key historical events, or keyboard skills to last a lifetime, the five CD-ROMs that make up Middle School Excelerator provide a tightly focused, step-by-step format that gives students the quickest route to higher grades and heightened abilities. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good value for the money
My daughter enjoyed this program. She learned a lot of different words. The animations are clever and she enjoyed completing the spaceship to get Quixel home.
This is a good program to build a foreign language vocabulary.

Beware!
I thought this would be good for my students until I tried it out myself. First I tried the Italian. When I discovered that they translated "potato chips" as "microchips", I was surprised. In telling time, they expressed the correct feminine plural but displayed the incorrect masculine singular "il due" for 2:00. Now for the French...I learned that "potato chips" were "eclats" as in "paint chips". Wrong chips both times folks - and good luck in a restaurant! I stopped there. It's a shame they never got a native speaker to check it before releasing this as an educational item. They did get native speakers to read aloud the vocab lists however. That's the one-star part. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

You haven't forgotten Myst, have you? It's time for a new look, and the Myst Masterpiece Edition won't disappoint. Both newcomers and old hands will appreciate the improved graphics and sounds in this imaginative and popular game.

For those who haven't heard, Myst is an interactive game world set on a lush island that poses problems to solve; as you learn more about the world you're in, more locations open up to you, and ultimately, exploration becomes an end in itself. Imagine that--a wildly fun, addictive computer game without killing or tedious competition.

Millions of people snapped up the original Myst and spent hours discovering the intricate secrets of this new world, and the update will appeal to them as much as to the first-timer. Besides the improvements to the look and feel of the game, there is a new DigitalGuide that provides hints to the terminally stuck--very nice for that one puzzle that refuses to bow to your superior mind.

Completing the package is Myst: The Book of Atrus, a "prequel" novel to the game written by designers Rand and Robyn Miller with David Wingrove. This fascinating fantasy explores and explains much of the background underlying the world they created, and will appeal most to those who have played for a few hours. Whether you've never experienced the richness of Myst or you want to dive back in, the Masterpiece Edition will take you somewhere new. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Best game ever!
I first bought Riven, and I started to play fine. Then I noticed that there was Myst, where everything began. It is not that you must buy Myst first, however you enjoy Riven and Myst 3 ( which I did not buy yet) much better if you follow the sequence.

I was surprised and very pleased with the puzzles. It was very hard to stop playing, since you really enter the atmosphere of the island. This version has a help system that give tips for the puzzles, which is very useful for first-time gamers and makes you understand the spirit of the game.

But don't use it too much, otherwise you loose part of the thrill..

For the game I can finally say, take your time, don't rush, enjoy every mystery and every sight, make your personal notes for the puzzles and play it. It does worthy it!

Learn and be rewarded
First of all to those who do not have the patience to play a true strategy game without stuff blowing up every second and a half don't bother.

You will need to set the Windows compatibility mode up to handle this game if you have anything other than Win 95 or 98. I have played this and Riven without an issue on an XP Pro machine after setting up the mode and have had no issues at all.

Comments by those that call this game boring are in need of Ritalin and/or an addtional few years of true life experience aside from hanging out at the drug store threatening the elderly and practicing their graffiti skills.

The Myst trilogy is a set of classic games that require a skill that seems to be severely lacking these days, independent thought. So, if you would like to be challenged with something other than a grumbling alien shooting snot colored laser beams or the cliched wizard mumbling poorly written text then this is your game.

Now if URU could have held up it's end of the bargain I would be happy, but all good things....

Classic
I've been playing the Myst games for years, they never get old. I left a review for the DVD Trilogy Box-set for the Myst series, so I thought I should review each individual game as well.
First off, Myst is a classic. Of course, even with revisions, it is completely outdated. But the intrique and spark is still there. Beautiful scenery and lush sound. I wouldn't recommend this to first person shooter fans. But I'm a big first person shooter fan I still find Myst to be an excellent adventure.

Dig in and enjoy.

Masterpiece is right
When I picked up Myst III (to be played who knows when - I have a five-year backlog) the package also contained Myst and Riven. I first play Myst about 10 years ago, so I decided to load up and play it. The Masterpiece Edition is updated with better graphics and some hints but no new content and ran in Windows 2000 with the Windows98 compatibility mode with no problems. Because I replayed the game in about ten hours or so it is difficult to meaningfully comment on gameplay. Secret doors and the infamous underground railway give most players the hardest time and I will admit having problems on the railway. Anyone having problems can google for hints and tips.

Regardless of difficulties, Myst is one of best games ever made especially for casual players. I rarely give five stars.

Good but Confusing!
I can't really figure out the spaceship on the main island, which means I can't go any further! It's very frustrating. Don't buy it if you don't have the logic of Spock. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Achieve! Writing & Language Arts brings four award-winning educational titles in one to your child's desktop. Designed for younger learners, a combination of memorable music, appealing characters, intriguing environments, and clever word games build language and grammar skills. Tackle sentence structure, learn about synonyms and antonyms, explore language concepts, and more. Featured titles include: Word Munchers Deluxe, Schoolhouse Rock! Grammar Rock, The Writing Trek, and Strategy Challenges 2: In the Wild. When grammar and vocabulary are made this much fun, young learners achieve at learning. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful resource for the serious homeschooler!!
We have been proud owners of this package for two years and have used it diligently to supplement skills and concepts introduced throughout the year for first and second grade. It has been a WONDERFUL supplemental resource. Unlike a lot other educational software packages that claim to cover a wide range of ages, this one means it when they say "First through Third grade". It is simple to use: After a concept (example: 2 digit addition) has been introduced to the student, you specifically set up games to reinforce those particular skills. After those skills have been mastered you then go back in (with a simple click of the mouse and check-mark skills you want to reinforce from a large pre-set list) It is honestly very simple to do. Explaining the process actually takes far more time that it does to actually do it. Although the games are very "friendly", with engaging characters and settings, the software is not meant to "entertain" as much as it is to teach. I would not at all be surprised to find this package in a lot of school computer rooms for kids to reinforce their skills on. If you are looking for a true educational software package that would be appropriate for (no younger than)first through third grade, this would be perfect for you and your child.

I would give it ZERO stars if I could!
I completely agree with what everyone else has said. This was a total waste of money. The other reviewer was right when he said the extra software included (for us it was Star Flyers) was the ONLY good thing!

How can they market programs that were designed for 3-5 year olds for Grades 1-3? Its ludicrous!

DO NOT waste your money! The whole thing is unprofessional. There are no guides and even the paper inside the CD looks like it was BADLY photocopied.

Again, if I could give it ZERO stars I would!

This is going back
I was looking for some software to help my fourth grader with math facts, computations, etc. (He's an Everyday Math victim.) The activites, even at the most advanced level, are much too easy for him. Pointing and clicking at different piles of cookies is not division. This is a complete waste.

This is being returned to The Learning Company
I just purchased this today, and it is extremely disappointing. I was looking for a software package that would help my 2nd grader learn his math facts, and this certainly isn't it, as far as I can tell. There is zero documentation included, so there is no way to steer your child towards games that would help his or her weak areas. I couldn't find a game that drilled them on anything, just a lot of pointless point and click activities.

Product is not very good
I got this product for my 5 year old, and it is about right,
any 3-6th grade would not like it at all. The best thing in the game is the free cluefinders monkey adventure in my costco box.
Most of the games look like they were designed for windows 95.

I liked the clips from grammar rock, I remember these as a kid, but you could by the DVD of Schoolhouse rock and get better versions of those. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

In The New Way Things Work, The Great Woolly Mammoth, the inventor's hapless assistant, returns, and this time you can help him improve his inventor's skills in the Mammoth School House. Play the challenging quiz and increase or decrease the mammoth's intelligence, depending on how well you do. The special tracking feature monitors the Mammoth's progress (and yours) throughout. Keep him well fed with knowledge and he'll be the perfect companion for your scientific discoveries. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

excellent for any age
This program is perfect for the child who is always asking Why? or How? As an educator this is an excellent tool for my kids to learn how things work,why they work, and also learn about different inventors at the same time. The program includes everything from machines to digital technology. I also found this program very useful for myself. ENJOY! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must have
The games are so much fun.I am making better grades at school on my spelling test.The arcade games are my favorite.I enjoy reading the fun stories.I hope you have your parents go buy it for you. ... Read more

Features

• Through colorful presentations and easy-to-folow examples, you'll understand a number of key mathematical concepts
• Math activities and real-world applications prepares you to tackle the most challenging math problems
• Interesting learning exercises that reward your effort with understanding and results
• Subjects covered include -Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Trigonomtery, Pre-Calculus, Statistics, Business Math, and Calculus 1 & 2

Reviews (1)

Good but not the best
I like the item it is eazy to use well programed and you will like it ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Become a master builder and construct the Notre Dame piece by piece, inside and out. Puzz3-D Notre Dame Cathedral surrounds you with historical fact and fantasy as you erect this famous cathedral, from the most minute details of the rose windows to the more obvious external walls. Once finished, enter with your own personal key--your reward for a job well done--and discover the hidden secrets of Notre Dame.Four difficulty levels in this program provide progressively higher rewards for completion of the puzzle. The Easy level offers a 138-piece puzzle and a bronze key providing access to the first floor of the cathedral; the Super Challenging level presents 919 pieces and a platinum reward--the key to the most deeply hidden secrets of Notre Dame.At each level, after completing certain portions of the puzzle, you can view educational text and videos. Learn about many historical and architectural details of building the grand cathedral, such as constructing the flying buttresses, the challenge of incorporating so much glass into the design, and other trials of architect Maurice de Sully. Once you solve the 3-D puzzle, you take a similar tour of the inside of Notre Dame--with a twist. Within the historical explanation are not-so-hidden clues to a fictitious mystery involving the "spirits" of Notre Dame.The greatest enjoyment of the Puzz3-D Notre Dame Cathedral is the puzzle itself. Less successful is the attempt to creatively reveal the architectural and constructive history of the cathedral. The quality of the videos and sound clips is poor (even with a high-quality sound card, the ends of the last sentences in the sound bites are cut off, so that much of the historical information is lost). The reward of exploring the cathedral when you've completed the puzzle is inadequate, with inferior graphics and awkward directional controls. Stick to the puzzle challenge and you won't be disappointed. --Madeleine Miller ... Read more

Reviews (41)

If You Love Jigsaw Puzzles...
I have always loved jigsaw puzzles. But this is the first time I have ever put one together on a computer. Puzz 3D Orient Express has 4 difficulty levels, from easy to super-challenging. I started off on the third level which is the challenging level. That level is just as challenging as the 1000-peice puzzles you buy in the store. The only difference is this: once you put the puzzle together, the fun doesn't stop. The difficulty level you choose determines how much of the Orient Express you can explore. You get to meet all kinds of different people as well as learn about the history of the train. Plus, during the exploration phase, there are other games along the way as well as clues to a mystery guest who is supposed to board the train. I haven't finished the exploration portion yet, but I am already thinking about going back to rebuild the train at the super-challenging level. This way, I will have unlimited access to the entire train. This Puzzle is very addictive and fun.

Real Challenger of a Jigsaw
The Bavarian Castle puzzle, at the "beginner" level, was the most difficult jigsaw puzzle that I've ever attempted--but I had never constructed a 3D puzzle before. Once I got familiar with the program design and controls (pieces can be rotated in two and three dimensions, construction lines help snap completed sections into place, sorting trays can be labeled and made "recloseable"), the jigsaw became deliciously challenging. I could barely tear myself away from the computer, once I got going.

As of now, I've completed the castle at the bronze and silver stages, and have enough understanding and memory of how the pieces fit together to consider skipping to the platinum level on my next attempt, to get full access to the castle interiors and puzzles. Despite having considerable experience with challenger jigsaws (both real and virtual), I doubt that I could have put the Bavarian Castle puzzle together if I had begun at the highest level, which offers no construction helps like architectural guides. (The Victorian Mansion puzzle was much easier, by comparison.)

The video clips of King Ludwig annoyed me, because of the actor's condescending approach to his character. However, the sound clips of selections from Wagner's operas are very nice.

The puzzle ran beautifully on my Pentium-100 machine with 128megs of RAM. The only problem with using this slow machine was that the movie clips ran with the audio and video slightly out of sync. In fact, I was totally impressed with the program's design and freedom from bugs, at least on my equipment.

Highly recommended challenge, but frustrating
The idea here is to give the user a virtual jigsaw puzzle building experience. The puzzle, when completed, is a three-dimensional reconstruction of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

In the beginning, the user chooses a difficulty level, which determines how many pieces the puzzle is broken into, as well as how the pieces are laid out on a semi-circular virtual table. Using the cursor and mouse, the user brings the pieces together, sorts them in areas of the table, and gradually constructs the cathedral. Visual clues are available, as well as views of the completed puzzle, from any angle.

The level of difficulty chosen has another effect, in the type of payoff at the end. When the puzzle is completed, the user gets a tour of the cathedral, including historical trivia, on virtual placques, and ghosts, surprises, and a guide. However, the higher the level of difficulty chosen, the more access the user gets in the completed cathedral. More difficulty = more rooms, more secrets, more trivia.

Oh, and by the way, the graphics are truly great here including clarity, color, and resolution, and the sound effects are pretty good, too.

Puzz 3D: The Orient Express
you have to like putting puzzles together or you won't like this game But if you do then its a great game but not for a 128.00 thats way to much for this game i didn't pay that much for my.

Have patience!
I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle and gradually increased the difficulty as I grew accustomed to manipulating the pieces and connecting the sides. Having recently visited Notre Dame, I had a ball putting together this puzzle and look forward to trying the others by Wrebbit. Working this puzzle requires a good computer and, as another on-line reviewer noted, frequent saves to prevent lost work. The software taxes the computer memory and sometimes causes crashes. I've updated my machine since playing Notre Dame, so, now that I've ordered Bavarian Castle from Amazon, I'm hoping the new puzzle will be better tolerated by my hardware.

Good luck to all who love a challenge! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Join your favorite learning pals for hours of exciting game play in this fun-filled, three-in-one learning software collection. Adventure Workshop 4th-6th Grade, 4th Edition features three award-winning educational titles for ages eight to 12. Your child will love playing, learning, and just spending time with his or her favorite characters, and you'll love watching your child laugh and learn through colorful and clever activities that build valuable skills in history, geography, algebraic thinking, logical reasoning, science, and language arts.

The software bundle contains Zoombinis Mountain Rescue (where kids will face nine perplexing puzzles with three levels of difficulty to rescue a small band of Zoombinis from a severe storm), Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge (in which kids will outwit Carmen and her cohorts in a series of fast-paced challenges that test knowledge in a variety of subjects), and The Yukon Trail (in which kids will relive the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897, learn the history and geography of Alaska, build problem-solving skills, and meet Jack London and other figures). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

wow
Learn and play with Reader Rabbit,Paddington Bear,and Millie and Bailey with this award-winning compilation.Make learning basic skills a fun adventure with colorful,creative activities that strengthen reading,math,art,music and more. Includes Reader Rabbit. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Saving San Francisco from a powerful shrink-ray is the order of the day for Owen, Joni, Santiago, and Leslie in Cluefinders: The Incredible Toystore Adventure, an educational role-playing game for third- and fourth-grade students. When two of the Cluefinders themselves are shrunk, they are beset by mice, spiders, and other suddenly giant monsters as they try to assemble the parts necessary to build a machine that will reverse the process. Meanwhile, the other members of the team must work out who built the malevolent device...and why?

The Incredible Toystore Adventure has a better mix of story and educational content than most games of its type, offering smart, resourceful characters and a mystery engaging enough to make the study component worthwhile. And make no mistake--this game drives young players hard. Wide-ranging drills in math, language arts, science, and other academic subjects are presented in a cheerful and interesting fashion. Drills come with four levels of difficulty and, if players want to build the anti-shrinking device, cannot be skipped.

This game also comes with a bonus CD containing an entirely separate game: Mystery of the Missing Amulet. This game carries the detectives across the galaxy on a quest to save a dying planet. Where The Incredible Toystore Adventure has a generalized focus on many areas of academic development, this second game is more narrowly focused, offering a tough workout for a child's language skills.

All in all, Cluefinders: The Incredible Toystore Adventure is a pleasant surprise--an educational game that can meet the high expectations of both parents and young players. (Ages 7 to 10) --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Seems to be a good game..
I bought this game as a part of a three pack for Cluefinders. AFterwards I read a review where a person had trouble installing this on an XP system. That was one reason why I bought this game as the box states "Now Featuring XP compatibility.". With a bit of trepidation, I installed it in my computer, and then let my 8 year old have at it. I must say installation on the XP system went fine and after only about 3 hours of play we haven't noticed any strange glitches. This is definitely more of a learning game as opposed to a more fun style of game like Pajama Sam or Spy Fox. I saw that my child had to fill in the blanks of sentences, using words provided, and then arrange those sentences into a sensible paragraph. That provided a bit of frustration, and even the proper arrangement wasn't obvious to me. Still, by randomly moving the sentences around, you can eventually get the answer they are looking for. Same with the math questions. You will get an equation to solve and about 25 different answers are on the screen, and you click on the right one. I have no doubt my child just clicks till she gets the right one if she doesn't know how to do the equation. For less then ten dollars I got 3 Cluefinders games, and with only trying this one game, I am satisfied with the purchase. It seems perfect for this age group of 7-12 years where Reader Rabbit and cutesy games are too easy for them, and they want to feel like they are solving a mystery but also practicing school skills.

Disappointed again
I bought this software specifically because it said it would run on Windows XP. I had tried other Cluefinders on an older computer and was very happy with it. But since buying the XP, it's been a nightmare to get them to work. Despite it's claim that it's compatible with XP, (my system more than meets the system requirements), there were still technical errors. I tried the Program Compatibility Wizard and changing resolutions to no avail. Trying to contact their email support system has been unsuccessful so far - something about no being able to access it at this time. All in all, frustrating and discouraging. Cluefinders is off my list of educational games for now.

works right, and my daughter likes it
This is the first "edutainment" software that I've been able to install without a hitch on our Windows 2000 system. We don't give normal accounts "Administrator" or "Power User" privileges, and it worked fine. Kudos to The Learning Company for finally updating their game engines to work cleanly (and securely) on operating systems newer than Windows 3.1!

It also properly adjusts and restores screen resolution, and with far more than VGA resolution.

My daughter enjoys it, and has played each disk several times.

I'll agree with the other review that the map section required some help at first. But she's been able to stretch her mind to understand all aspects of it, which is great.

A 9 yr. old
This game is totally cheap (price wise) because you get one regular game and one bounus game... It is very educational and also is fun. This is a really, really great game!!!

Education vs. Fun
As I sat down with my niece to "play" this game I was struck by how interesting it was that software manufacturers could actually use games that are fun to help teach kids (and I dare say adults) and add to the education that children are receiving. This game was fun for us both because it helped my niece to recognize patterns, follow sentence structure, taught general mathematics in the elevator and showed that in the end you can have fun while learning.

I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who has a child in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade. However, you will need to sit down with them to help them figure out what exactly they need to do. The only reason I gave this product a 4 star rating instead of a 5 is that in one part of the game, the player is required to map out routes on a computer screen and it was very difficult for my niece to grasp. I believe that they set out to teach the player something they hadn't covered in school and it went above my niece's knowledge level.

Otherwise, this game is a very good educational tool and yes, we "both" had fun playing it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Pit Droids poses the age-old math question: "If a droid traveling five miles per hour leaves Mos Espa at dawn, how long will it take to get to the Arena Gate?" Watto, Tatooine's notorious junk dealer, has purchased a large pit-droids shipment to help with the pod races. Naturally, the droids don't know the way, leaving you to direct the capering mechanoids to their goals by placing various arrows in their path.

Right from the slick panoramic interface, Pit Droids is a blast. C-3PO's thorough tutorials (featuring the inimitable Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2's chirpy in-game help will have you herding the hordes of droids in no time. Not only do you need to avoid collisions, you need to change droids' attributes, sort them, and adjust the timing of their patterns. While holding your attention with the frenetic puzzle-solving fun, Pit Droids quietly refines your logical-thinking and problem-solving skills, making it a great game for older children as well as adults.

Pit Droids rewards progress with comic short films of the clowning droids in action. Eight locations offer more than 300 puzzles spanning three levels of difficulty, and the Puzzle Editor lets you build your own devices. It's enough to keep you interested for as long as the droids keep you scrambling. --Jack Gardiner ... Read more

Features

• 8 challenging game levels
• 300+ puzzles
• Create your own custom-made puzzles
• 6 unique Star Wars game environments
• For 1 player

Reviews (6)

Great Fun Game!!
Almost endless amount of pre-created puzzle But then! You can creat your own! Loads of fun!

This is not good
YO people, dont waste money on this. Trust me! It is boring. i mean, it takes forever to just beat one!

Challenging, Graphic, and Limitless
Star Wars Pit Droids is not exclusively for Star Wars fans, and is an excellent puzzle game if you want one. It has three levels of play for all people. The goal is to use the arrows provided to literally point the different pit droids in the right direction. However, they have different colors, helmets, and tools, so you have to guide each type to their destintation. It's 3-D and has pretty good graphics. There's an online exchange for puzzles that you make, which has some EXTREMELY difficult puzzles, much harder than the game provides. Making a game in this is pretty easy, but picky. It doesn't agree with the standard Microsoft interface, and forces you to use buttons for cut-and-paste. The major downside to this game is that you can only save after completing a level, not during one. Overall, I suggest this for people who want to be challenged or to challenge others.

This is hard,escpecially Hard Mode,but fun
This game is fun.You work on many puzzles to get your pit droids to the Podrace Arena.I won a T-shirt for a 13 year olds contest on this game,I had to get 144 pit droids to the Podrace Arena before too many other opponents did the same.I would recommend this game to any one who isn't too (not smart) as I wouldn't want to insult you readers! And also,if you want a cool pit droids T-Shirt,you can buy it now and practice until sometime in Year 2001.Then you can sign up for a totally cool contest!

The "H-bomb" since Droidworks!
Pit Droids is the #1 maze/puzzle game! If you're a big fan of Star Wars or strategy, you should definitally buy this game! What I specifically like about Pit Droids is the great 3-D graphics, the challenge of the puzzles, and the hilarious slapstick "reward" cutscenes! But sometimes you may go crazy when you get to a frustrating part in a level, but don't worry about that little comment. Yep, it's another one of those Lucasarts/Learning masterpieces that quite often happen. I betcha when you pop this CD in your PC, you're going to think, "I didn't waste a dime on this thing!" ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Exotic animals disappear. A world-famous scientist vanishes. Something fishy is afoot! Join the ClueFinders on a clue-searching trek into the depths of the rain forest. From reading maps to building bridges, every activity brings kids closer to unraveling this astounding mystery, while mastering essential third grade skills.

Explore 30 interactive games and exercises designed for kids, ages 7 to 9 and older. Build more than 75 key third grade skills in math, language, science, geography, and problem solving. Four levels of difficulty and a variety of tricky challenges keep ClueFinders 3rd Grade Adventures 2002: Mystery of Mathra fun and fresh. Detailed help features guide kids throughout, and built-in progress reports help parents navigate their child's learning fun.

In addition, an all-new for 2002 bonus CD-ROM doubles the mystery and clue-finding fun. In ClueFinders: Mystery Mansion Arcade, our adventurers are lured into a spooky mansion by an ingenious mastermind and his four villainous henchmen. Kids help the ClueFinders escape by choosing the best ClueFinder for each arcade-style hazard. Speed through the Ultimate Deep-Dish Pizza Skate Park, stay cool through the High-Voltage Circuit Zone, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Clue to Making Learning Fun
I purchased Cluefindes 3rd Grade Adventures about 6 weeks ago, and since have watched my child use it to completion. She has played it 4 times and will probably play it again in the future. In the meantime, she has moved onto the 4th grade game.

Setting up the game is pretty easy, and the directions are clear. Starting up is a cinch as well. You have the options of taking the test drive which is a placement test. It is not as much fun as the actual game, but it is not too boring either and it gets the child started at a challenging level. The first time my child "played" it she started at the beginners level, and finished it in two days. The second time, I set it to level two and it took her a week to complete. The third time I had her do the test drive. This is where the real value came in.

When she started the game on the lowest levels she was basically reviewing what she had learned the previous year, which is a good thing. But, when she played the game after the placement test, she was truly challenged to learn more. I never imagined in a million years that a child would follow me around begging to be taught long division. She could not cross a bridge in the game without being able to divide. So I taught her and she practiced and cemented the skill by playing the game.

As a homeschooler leaning towards self directed learning, I found this game to be invaluable. It gives me the freedom to wait for a child to be ready to learn a skill while at the same time ensuring that such comes quickly through constant challenges. After all, the best time to teach a child a skill is when they want to learn it. This game provided that want for me.

This game does not teach skills your child must know, but provides challenges. The way I use it is to wait for a challenge to be presented, and then teach that child whatever they need to succeed and overcome that challenge.

The only problems I had with this software is that each time the child finished the game, they had to start again with a new member name, it would not let us back into the game as the same person. This did allow me to compare the membernames records to check for progress which was evident.

If you purchase the 2 cdrom version of this game, with the personalized learning center, you will be able to print worksheets according to your childs strengths and weaknesses and to see where the child needs more practice. You will also be able to spot where your child may be gifted.

The personalized learning center disc, however is not formulated to give a child a "grade" based on how well the child did in the program, but to show progress over time. Therefore, If you are a homeschooler and grades are important to you, you will want to "test" the child separately perhaps using the worksheets or making up your own exams.

Great teaching game
We are a homeschooling family. I bought this game along with the fourth grade and fifth grade versions for my nine year old. She sailed through the other two, but found this one challenging. It is great for reinforcing math, introduces chemistry, addresses the pollution problem, history, spelling, vocabulary and reading comprehension. There is a level selection area in which you can choose how hard or easy the game is, but this is also handy for letting parents know where your child may need some help in or where they excel. It has a practice mode where the child can just do the activities without having to play the game. I found this great for reinforcing some of those areas my daughter needed more help in.
Even though my daughter has finished all three games, she still plays these.

Never Too Old To Play!!
It's great I'm 14 going on 15 in a month but I don't care
because that doesn't stop me from having fun. It's the greatest game. I've only played the 3rd and 4th grade one but they're still and always be my favorite software. If you've never played any of these games and you love computer games; buy this then even if you're older then me. Who cares? Just remember HAVE FUN!!! You won't regret it!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Could you make one for 10th graders or do you already?

Thank You

Cluefinders 6th Grade Adventures
This product provides an excellent source for preparation or reinforcement of what a 6th grader is expected to know. Players are put into a mystery situation where they have to solve clues in order to figure out the answers. Various aspects of the 6th grade curriculum are covered, and the computer adjusts for the skill level of the player, making the games increasingly more challenging. Areas covered include logical thinking, mathematics, science, geography, social science, and language arts. The games are fun, and since they get progressively harder as the student masters a skill, they do not get boring. At times the transition time from one activity to the next can be a bit long, and instructions are repetitive, but this seemed to bother adults more than children; this should not deter the buyer, however, as the positive aspects of this game far outweigh the negatives. Graphics and sound are excellent, and help includes a map and a reference section. Levels can be set manually, or the program can be adjusted to automatically determine when to advance to the next level as a skill is mastered. On the whole this is an excellent product, and a great way to make learning fun. Highly Recommended. Reviewer is a teacher and a librarian.

Cool
This game is fun and VERY educational... I even forgot I was
learning while playing it! The games are fun and have different levels, so if one level is too easy you may make is
harder and more challenging. It explains the mini-game
and how to play. The charactors are click-able and they seem to talk and help you throughout the whole game.
You meet cool alien type things, and in order to survive, you must figure out the answer to the mini-games.
The backround music is pretty cool, but it may get annoying
you can turn off the music, too! before you begin the game, it shows a mini movie of what's happening and it tells about
your mission.I love this game! ... Read more