Amazon.com Product Description

Learn essential keyboarding skills, such as hand placement, correct posture, letter combinations, number and punctuation keys, and upper and lower case--and have fun at the same time. (Ages 7-10) ... Read more

Reviews (13)

great typing program
My children both think this is a great program. My almost-10 year old daughter likes it much more than Mavis Beacon that they use at school and my 7 year old son can even use it. They both have improved their typing skills enormously while having fun at the same time. I'd recommend this program without reservation!

Disappointed
My seven-year-old was using it and actually improving after just a few screens, although the repetitive "fjfj fjf jf jf" style gets boring for a child with the length of pages required to type (there are typically about four lines per screen of characters like that). I think there should be some extra breaks between long sessions. I think the repetition is necessary for effective learning, but something fun needs to go in between. This is, after all, for kids.

On the positive side, it gives an initial assessment test to determine where your skills are. Then the goals for that user are set based on the assessment. There are a few fun games that use the same skills that are being taught, and the games appear to automatically challenge at a level that matches the skill of the player (again, based on the testing in the lesson part of the program).

My son was a little frustrated early on because the initial assessment test is rather critical to a non-typist. Although the girl in the program says something like "You did great," the low words per minute (WPM) and high number of errors displayed on the screen seem to speak louder than she does and may be somewhat discouraging. But we maintained a positive attitude because I told him it didn't matter how well he did on that test; it only wanted to see his beginning point. It's important for a parent to be involved in order to give encouragement in some places and a push in others. It really enhances the learning and helps to get through the tough spots. And younger kids, of course, enjoy the involvement and interest of their parents.

If the program worked properly, there wouldn't be much of a negative side. The requirement of an older version of Quicktime is a valid concern if you are using a newer version. But I didn't have any version before, so I didn't care whether the game required the current or an older version. But the program does do a system search for other versions before installing Quicktime and tells you that it can't coexist with another version.

I would've probably given the program four stars if not for the fact that it kept crashing when coming out of any of the games. And when it crashes, it forgets the entire session. Which means that any progress gained is lost, and the child must go through the same exercises a second time. The first time this happened, my son begrudgingly went through the beginning lessons AGAIN (I was beside him cheering and encouraging, which helped keep his attitude somewhat positive). But when the program crashed a second time after he had gone through those early lessons the second time, he wasn't the least bit interested in going through them a third time, and I didn't blame him. The crash was effectively punishing him for working hard and doing well.

The bottom line? If you can buy it from someplace where you can return it, take the chance. And if it works on your computer, you've got a good four-start program. If it doesn't work, return it and your losses are minimal. Good luck. But to Knowledge Adventure/Jumpstart: FIVE YEARS is a long time between releases of any program; it's time for a new version, or at least an update.

Comparison to Jumpstart 3rd Grade
Nobody has really compared this program to Jumpstart 3rd Grade, which features the same charactors, so I've decided to do it. Perhaps the best metaphore is that Jumpstart 3rd Grade is like a theatricaly released film and Jumpstart Typing is like a direct-to-video release. For one thing, there is no CGI animation in Jumpstart Typing, like there is in Jumpstart 3rd Grade. For another there is a lote less at stake in the plot. Jumpstart Typing isn't really like a prequel or a sequel, just a different adventure in the same world.

The only recuring charactors are Prof. Spark, Polly and Botley. This is a bit disapointing that we don't see any other charactors from Jumpstart 3rd Grade, especially since we only meet one new charactor. Jumpstart Typing is set at Sparks Stadium like Jumpstart 3rd Grade is set at Mystery Mountain. Mystery Mountain is the Sparks' home. Sparks Stadium is the first stadium for interplanetary keyborad competition, though this seems to contradict with Botley's statement in Jumpstart 3rd Grade that Prof. Spark hasn't ever found any alien transmissions to decode. All the recuring charactors look like they do in Jumpstart 3rd, probably beecause they recycled animations from Jumpstart 3rd Grade, for instance, note that Botley's pose in the main stadium scene is exactly the same seen on the 2nd Floor of Mystery Mountain in Jumpstart 3rd Grade. However, new charactors look true to the animation in Jumpstart 3rd Grade.

Overall, the charactor's personalities are true to Jumpstart 3rd Grade. Botley and Prof. Spark are entirly in charactor, but then again, Prof. Spark hardly appears in either. Polly is a bit out of charactor, she is nicer. One could atribute this to the fact that her father is at Sparks Stadium, though we don't see him 'till the end, rather than far away at some convention. However, she locks Coach Qwerty in the trophy room for the same reason she sends all those robots back in time.

Acadamically, this is sort of Mavis Beacon for Kids and the is the setup is similar to Jumpstart 3rd Grade. However, though Jumpstart 3rd Grade is set rather fluidly, Jumpstart Typing's setup is rather convoluted. We take Lessons and Timed Typing Tests to fine "strength" to play the games, but to win we have take the Timed Typing Tests. Playing the games is useless, unless you want a bunch stupid medals!

In conclution, this is game is fairly effective at teaching keyboarding, though better at teaching speed typing than the basics. However, it fails to capture the fun of Jumpstart 3rd Grade.

Defective Program
This program displayed upside down on all three of our computers. Knowledge Adventure Customer Service was absolutely terrible -- basically nonexistent.

great!
Oh my! I learned to type so fast, it works so well!!! You are in a gym, and you have to rescue the coach. You get cards to unlock him from a little jail, and at the end you get a trophy. I'm about to get my trophy for my 2nd game. It takes a while, you learn to type, and its just lots of fun! You'll love this item! ... Read more

Reviews (436)

"Haunted Carousel" an entertaning ride.
In "The Haunted Carousel," teenage sleuth Nancy Drew is on her eighth case: investigating amusement park "hauntings" in Captains Cove, NJ. One of the park's famed carousel horses has been stolen, and the carousel has been mysteriously starting and stopping on its own. Also, the park's roller coaster stopped suddenly, causing a rider to injure his neck. With the park shut down, Nancy must interview the employees and explore the park to find clues.

"Haunted Carousel" has some nice improvements over past games: the addition of the "to do" list, journal, and cell phone (no more endless running back and forth to Nancy's hotel to call). If Nancy gets stuck, she can call her friends Bess and George and the Hardy Boys. The game has two levels, Junior and Senior Detective, and there are plenty of built-in tips and hints, including a park operating manual with an overview of most puzzle components. "Haunted Carousel" seemed to be one of the easier ND games.

"Haunted Carousel" really draws the player into the park's atmosphere, complete with hotel room service, arcade games, a ride on the carousel (and chance to grab the brass ring), and more. The storyline flowed smoothly, the puzzles were organic (programming an arcade game, switching roller coaster tracks, repairing the carousel's band organ, reading invisible ink), the voice work was above average and the characters had distinct personalities. Music was pronounced, including carnival music for the carousel and ominous creepy tunes for the haunted house.

Nancy must watch her step as always, since someone wants to stop her from finding out the truth behind the hauntings. Along the way she helps someone come to terms with the past, sniffs out an insurance fraud, and digs up long-lost truths and secrets about the park and its employees. This is a lovely adventure with a unique atmosphere that will delight young sleuths.

Not worth the price compared to others in series
First of all, I would like to point out that the editorial review above is not for Secrets Can Kill. It is for one of the other games in the series, and is therefore a better review than Secrets Can Kill deserves. It may be confusing to see the editorial review for the Tower mystery right under the title for Secrets Can Kill.
I love the Nancy Drew series, and I am a college-educated woman in my thirties. I have played four out of the first five games in the series (I have not played Stay Tuned for Danger). The other games have wonderful graphics and storylines. Talking to the other characters is enjoyable, and the puzzles are challenging enough for an adult when played on the senior detective level. I played Secrets Can Kill on the Master level (there are three levels for this game instead of two), and I found that my nine-year-old son was not challenged by the puzzles. Most of the puzzles are easily solved word puzzles that have clues as to the items to gather or hints about the character's secrets. However, most of the puzzles have nothing to do with the game play itself. There is one slide puzzle that allows you to find an inventory item; otherwise, the puzzles are just there for hints. As mentioned in other reviews, this game has cartoon-like characters rather than the 3D-type characters in the other games, and it really does make the game less interesting. The dialogue is uninteresting and the characters become hostile and barely speak to Nancy through most of the game. Overall, the game requires only a few answered puzzles to solve the mystery, and the ending is disappointing, to say the least. I gave this two stars instead of one, which was my first inclination, because I feel that it might be interesting for a child to play, especially if the child has not had very much experience with adventure games for the computer; however, a child would probably still at least want to play on the senior detective level. I recommend the other Nancy Drew games that I have played to players of any age for a nice, relaxing mystery, and I especially recommend the Haunted Mansion game. I cannot, however, recommend Secrets Can Kill.

Very interesting --- Another good mystery
I thought it was very good, only it was a little too complicated. I liked the usually good graphics (for Nancy Drew games) but I didn't particularly like the way you couldn't easily get around. Really well done ghost dogs, very scary. The mystery was a creepy one, and the villain was certainly unexpected. That's all I'll say. Anymore would spoil it.

My favorite ND game so far!
Treasure in the Royal Tower is one of the best computer games I ever played. This is a great starter Nancy Drew game for starting off because it's not too hard nor too easy. If you want a really easy game try the Haunted Carousel.
The story goes that you, as Nancy Drew, are snowed in at a ski resort in Wisconsin with an interesting history. In this game you learn about the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette.
"So, what's the mystery?" you ask. I'm getting to that.
There is a tower shipped over from France and was put back together on Wickford Castle, the ski resort you are staying at. The library at Wickford has been vandalized, and it takes a lot more than barging through the front door to investigate. Later, you hear about Marie Antoinette having a crown worth millions and somehow you figure that the library and treasure are connected. Your job is to find out the story behind the treasure and library.
This game took me about four days to beat. It's quite challenging in parts, like the ski lift, but you can get through it. It's also a little frightening, like the banging noises, but not too frightening that you never want to play it again, like the Final Scene. All in all, Treasure in the Royal Tower is a great game and everyone should buy it.

Not the Best
I've played all of the Nancy Drew Games (except the Final Scene) and this one was pretty good. It was well-written, but I didn't think it was as interesting as some of the other games. I would reccomend the Haunted Carousel or Treasure in the Royal Tower instead. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Forget the cat litter, all-hours dog walks, and outrageous vet bills; Barbie Pet Rescue features some of the most realistic, adorable animalswe've ever seen in a computer program--and without all the work involved inowning a real-live pet. Visit Barbie and her kid sister Stacey at the Pet RescueCenter, where you'll wait for rescue missions, explore in the playrooms, or tendto pets in the Care Center.

Rescue missions come in over the phone or via e-mail; after learning which petis missing where, travel with Barbie on her scooter to one of three differentenvironments in which to search for one of eight lost pets. In many missions,you'll have to use your wits to figure out how to entice scared animals to cometo you, or how to retrieve pets trapped in trees or other sticky situations. Ifyou get stuck yourself, Barbie's full of helpful hints to send you on the rightdirection. With each successful mission, you'll receive a printable Paw & PurrAward that hangs on the PRC wall.

Rescued pets come back to the Pet Rescue Center with you and Barbie to wait fortheir owners and receive a little TLC. Nurse them back to health in the Care Center, where you'll give recovered pets water, treats, vitamins--evenbaths and brushings; sometimes you may also need to bandage a hurt leg or pickburrs from ruffled fur. After creating a file for them in the computer andgiving them a name you select from a list of suggestions, the animals go to oneof two playrooms to wait for their owners.

In the meantime, you can play with them, plus all the other pets already in theplayroom--a kitten, bunny, hamster, puppy, and even a turtle--in what is perhapsthe best of the game's activities: petting! Select which animal you'd like topet, then use the cursor to stroke an animal's head or back, or perhaps scratchher under the chin. The animals respond to your attention as they might in reallife, by licking, rolling over, purring, or barking. It's the next-best thing toa romp in the park with a real-live kitten or beagle.

There is a related game for each kind of animal--Kitten Keepaway, Puppy Treat Toss, Hamster Trail, etc.--and if you do well enough, you'll see theanimal do something especially cute. A few of the games test kids' logic andspatial aptitude, but mostly they challenge players' mouse mastery and hand-eyecoordination; a speedy "click" finger yields frequent success.

Our only complaint: once players have completed all eight rescue missions andthe activities in the playrooms, there's not a lot more to do. It's always funto pet the animals, but it's not likely to hold kids' attention for frequentreplay. That said, this graphically rich program is a real treat for any animallover. We plan on keeping this game around for those moments when wereally wish we had a dog around. (Ages 5 and up) --Leah Ball ... Read more

Reviews (41)

ATTENTION ALL KIDS 3-9 YEARS OLD
This is the perfect way for children to help other things like abanded pets,and to adopt pets. It is a very cute game. I really love it. I think it is a great game for girls or some boys that are pretty young. It's great for kid's who love animals or have pet birds, cats, dogs, turtles, and bunnies. It encourages them to start to help out more with their pet (if they have one) I'm not making the choice, you are, I can only recommend you to get it, anyways all I'm saying is it's a wonderful game! To wrap it up(my opinion): my advice is: JUST GET IT ALREADY!

A Nice Game
This game was quiet enjoyable and the graphics were very good. You rescue different animals -- dogs, bunnies, cats ect. -- during the game. After rescuing the animals, you take them back to the 'PRC' (Pet Rescue Center) to give them a check-up and name them.
One of the things that's kind of annoying is that the animals Barbie rescues are always girls. I'm a girl, so it really shouldn't matter, but that makes the game pretty un-realistic.
Also, you'll find the animals in odd places that they couldn't get to or trapped in in real life. The adventures you go on to rescue the animal are always the same. And, Barbie will rescue turtles, which she really shouldn't be able to tell whether they are pets or wild.
Anyway, it was a nice game all around. I recomend it for eight and under. If your son or daughter likes animals, this would be the game for them!

What A good Game
This game is great and I love all the games except the kitten keep away. But otherwise the game is the coolest and I am hoping to by one know and it would be so cool if you could send me one for free. Much love Britney.

Okay for a rainy day
My mom got me this game for christmas and I loved it. Now that was two yrs ago. Now I only play it when i'm really bored which is like never. One you get all your paw and purr awards it is just the same rescues over and over again.And also the thing that annoys me the most is that you can never keep any parrots once you rescue them. Also how do you know if the turtles were not wild to begin with? On the positive side the puppie kittens and rabbits were so life like. Overall a good game but play only if you are really bored and you need to pass the time.

from a person that loves animals
I love this game! In it you get emails or telephone calls saying that different people need your help because they saw or lost an animal, and they need you to go help them. You don't have to go on these missions if you don't want to though. The thing that I don't like about it though is that there are only about fifteen missions to go on. Once you rescue an animal, you take them into the vet area to take care of them. You give them a bath, feed them, and do other things with them. There are some great games that you can play, like a turtle obstacle course/race, a game where you try to get the treat into the puppy's mouth, and a hamster maze. Sometimes the hamster gets out and you have to try and find him. Once again, I love this game! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Enter a pharaoh's tomb to solve an ancient Egyptian mystery. Join the ever-adventurous ClueFinders on an archaeological dig in exotic Egypt, and uncover a plot to unleash a sinister, age-old force on the world. Kids will need all their smarts, spunk, and spirit to work their way out of this title's tricky spots. From building a bridge to interpreting mysterious scrolls, every activity brings children closer to unraveling the astounding mystery, while mastering essential fourth grade skills.

Explore 21 interactive games and exercises designed for kids, ages 8 to 10 and older. Build more than 60 key fourth grade skills in math, language, science, geography, and problem solving. Four levels of difficulty and a variety of tricky challenges keep ClueFinders 4th Grade Adventures 2002: Puzzle of the Pyramid 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 (3)

Both kids loved it!
I have twins who just turned 9; I bought the first copy of this through their school about 8 months ago, and the boys were totally hooked. It's entertaining as well as educational. Some of the stuff is repetitive; but I think that helps them learn how to concentrate on completing tasks. I bought the second copy of this game when our CD drive cratered and destoyed the disk. BTW, these games are MUCH cheaper on Amazon and through office supply stores rather than through school!

Pretty Good
This was a great game. The tasks were repetitive like having to collect 12 cairoglyphys five times. The graphics and story lines were really good and I think this would be a great game for kids who already know how to read, so from grades 3-5.

A winner in our household
My third grader just received this. He loves it and has already spent several days solving the puzzles. What a great way to get him ready for 4th grade. This is the second year we have gottne Clue Finders to work on over the summer and both have been a real hit in our household. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Microsoft presents Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body, a fully animated, interactive multimedia science adventure for kids ages 6 to 10. Based on Scholastic's award-winning book series, this CD-ROM software is designed to entertain and encourage a sense of adventure and exploration, especially about science and technology. The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body features the irrepressible science teacher, Ms. Frizzle, and her inquisitive class in a fascinating exploration of the human body. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body
I don't own this product, but I would like to. Why don't you
have in stock anymore? Is it possible to get a hold of it
somewhere else. I think my 5 yr old grandson also find this
one interesting along with the others that I've ordered from
you. Has the company stopped making it? If so, is it possible
to get it somewhere?
Thank You
Joy Phalen
...

Mother of inquisitive 4 year old
As with most MSB CD's, my 4-yr old found this to be a very exciting adventure. The CD takes you through all parts of the body. He has learned about all the parts of the body and the various functions they perform. In fact, as we eat these days he explains to me the whole digestive process. Only negative I, as the parent, found was you have to change the color format on the CD to 256 color in order for it to work at all (thus the 4 stars). Aside from that, I would highly recommend it!

Mom of busy child
My six year old daughter loves Magic school bus human body! She has always been interested in the human body and this is right on target. She got this as a Christmas present and when she work on this she is on the computer for at least 2 hours! I like the fact that it feels like you are traveling through the body yourself and even after you finish it tells you which part of the body you have explored!

Very disappointing
My son loves The Magic School Bus books and videos and is very interested in the human body, so we were very excited to stumble upon this product. Unfortunately, precious little information is actually given about the way the body works. It is mostly about navigating from one place to the other and even in that regard once you get out of the digestive tract, the travel patterns don't really makes sense/provide information. Save your money! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Based on the School Zone workbook series, this program incorporates critical math skills with interactive exercises and fun games. A solid curriculum, audio guidance, and clear examples help your child master addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, story problems, place value, and other skills. The program randomizes problems with each use, providing a different experience each session. Engaging games provide an important break. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fantastic
I teach a first/second combination class and this CD works wonders with my first graders. They love the the updated certificates they get to print out each session. This is a program that I can use on going the whole year. It follows the standards and a child can work independently at it. The best feature is that a student can go back and fix errors they made. There are games that they play after they are down with a lesson. The last feature I was impressed with is the scratch pad. Students can use there mouse to figure out problems on the side of the problem, using a the scratch pad (just like using a pencil and a paper) I am very happy with using this in my classroom and so are the first graders. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Teachers agree: learning is easy when you're having fun. That's the spark behind Math and Science Excelerator Grades 3-6, the four-CD-ROM set of premium software titles combining amusement and education in one motivationally interactive package.

Stuffed with more than 130 individual lessons and over 100 games and activities, this educational suite for pre-teens delivers endless hours of exciting learning adventure, ensuring the acquisition and retention of intermediate, real-world meteorology, astronomy, and mathematics skills. Whether soaring through--and identifying--the clouds with their fearless feathered friend, Mango, or calculating a deep discount while bargain shopping, curious youngsters will grow with confidence as they immerse themselves in these challenging activities, which adjusts to their rising proficiency level.

Specific bundled software titles include: GeoSafari Knowledge Pad Math: Multiplication & Division (where kids master core mathematics operations while playing the colorful array of gently encouraging drag-and-drop learning games overflowing with photos, illustrations, lights, and sounds), GeoSafari Knowledge Pad Math: Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages (which ramps up one's practical skill level while maintaining the drag-and-drop facility of fun-filled, sights-and-sounds learning), Mango Plumo’s Space Adventure (in which kids blast off in a custom-built rocket on a journey through planets, galaxies, asteroids, and comets to gather Cosmic Eggs), and Mango Plumo’s Weather Adventure (in which kids aged 5 to 10 are invited to explore meteorological phenomena as they soar up, up, and away with the help of a brave little red-winged bird and his mentor, the gracious Professor Funnybone).

World Meteorological Organization describes the package as "educative, sound, and very playful," and it bears the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Put your driving skills to the ultimate test in Hot Wheels Velocity X. A criminal gang of racing villains is wreaking havoc in Monument City, and your racing skills are needed to restore order. Suit up for action and then take the wheel in 30 treacherous missions with six huge levels. Choose from more than 45 authentic 3-D Hot Wheels cars to unlock and drive. Do whatever it takes to crush your rivals and complete the mission: combine cool cars, speed through huge loops, catch big air off a jump, find hidden shortcuts, or run 'em off the road--all in a 3-D Hot Wheels world. Blow the enemy away with more than 15 power-ups. Then challenge a friend in one of three different multiplayer modes: head-to-head racing, Hot Wheels battle mode, and stunt challenge. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The best destruction derby of all!
I bought this game because I played it at a friends house. At the time, we never did any more than drag race or battle, so I didn't really enjoy the game. Now, however, I have played every mode and can tell you all about it:

Battle-A fierce destruction derby where you must meet your quota by disabling opponents

Drag Race-Race on a stretch of track and be the first to get to the finish! Note:This is not a "laps" race. It is a "Point A to Point B" type of race if you know what I mean.

Challenge-Test your skills on a challenge. Earn Cars, Tracks, amd Weapons!

Joyride-Drive around the big city and collect gears or the golden key to earn new cars!

Adventure-Complete tasks in the correct order to win cars and even new joyride levels!

Howheels > Not Matchbox <
Here is a game for the what remains of that elusive spark left in all of us, known as childhood, that will satisfy, at the same time, even the most avid/hardcore fan of the genre. This tripe with the missions, however, I personally find to be somewhat lacking -- I mean, who cares about a storyline when there are vehicles to blow up -- the explosions are truly killer diller by the way -- several choices regarding automobile make-overs, paint-jobs, and other items with which to accesserize -- leave the average player wondering why his or her coin-purse is now somewhat lighter ... Maybe you should buy another game instead.
All in all a fun spree, I must say, but not enough action. Pocket Toys, anyone ??

super
Hot wheels are the answer to chlidren who love excitement and fast moving action in the viedo's. I can't pull them away. Keep up the great work. This is a huge jump from a parent who use to play with the race tracks 30 years ago as a kid in the dirt.

Thank-you
Tom Bailey ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Love, love, love this game...
I was introduced to this game while helping out in an elementary school computer class (yeah, I'm technically a grown-up). It's an engaging way to teach logic skills, and the puzzles are a lot of fun. I agree that there are a LOT of Zoombinis to save (the purpose of the game)and that once you've mastered the higher levels it's a bit tedious to keep playing the harder versions of the puzzles, especially if there are any you don't like to begin with.

On the other hand, this game is wonderful for a variety of age groups (some of the younger kids may need some help figuring out the logic behind the puzzles), for different ethnicities (the Zoombinis are blue), and genders (most of the characters are somewhat ambiguous on gender, and the Zoombinis are all equal). I've seen it played solo, and in groups, with equally enjoyable results. And there are a number of resources available for educators, parents, etc. to help your kids make meaning from the games they are playing.

All in all, this is a must for any elementary/middle school computer educator, and a highly recommended for parents who want their kids to use computers as a tool as well as a toy.

One of the best logic games, all in a fun package
I'm a 13-year-old boy, I loved Zoombinis ever since it came out about 7 years ago, and I still love it now. Zoombinis is a great education game, it teaches logic and mathematical skills essential to learn, and also lets children (and adults) have fun while doing it.

Zoombinis is set apart from so many other logic games by adding characters that are enjoyable and funny to a 2nd grader, while not being so annoying or childish that a 7th grader cannot enjoy or laugh at them as well.

Another way Zoombinis excels is in the way it adjusts to the user's ability. The game will start out easy and teach more simplistic concepts, and after the user is comfortable with that, it will move on to more complex problems.

A nice thing about this game is that it will encourage someone to learn and keep going. It can all happen because the game is both educational and fun, and the child will get a sort of self-satisfaction when they accomplish something. Whenever a puzzle is completed, the user gets a little bit closer to the goal of saving all the Zoombinis, and this gives them something to work for.

Zoombinis consists of 12 different puzzles for the user to go thru, and one of the factors that have made it so successful is how it makes the user actually think. Instead of letting you just guess the answers, Zoombinis has you think about why a certain answer does or doesn't work, then lets you come up with some sort of practical method to solve such problems, which can later be applied to more advanced levels of education (I am currently taking geometry, and I still use many of the methods I learned here to help me solve problems).

In all, Zoombinis is one of the most valuable and fun game (educational or not) that I have ever used. It is a great product, and I would certainly recommend it.

Nice Game, but just a little hard
I got this game with a multipack and it rocks!!! But just kind of a little hard but I like it.

My kids loved it!
Not only fun but a great logic builder! The best peice of software I've bought for my kids!

What a great surprise!
We love this game! When I was searching for new games for my girls, 8 & 11, I came across this game, but made the mistake of not ordering it. One day, my daughter came home from her computer class and raved about this game - I ordered the Logical Journey and Mountain Rescue...I am so glad that I did. My 8 year old and I enjoy playing Logical Journey together - its a little more basic and easier for her to understand. My older daughter prefers the Mountain Rescue - the graphics are a little more advanced and she enjoys the games more. I would recommend these games to anyone looking for fun, safe, and mentally challenging entertainment! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Create the soccer team of your dreams with the Backyard Kids and the pros as kids. Backyard Soccer 2004 teams up with Major League Soccer to bring you kid versions of goal-scoring, hard-kicking, tough-running players, and puts you in control of the nonstop action. Create team lineups, customize teams, then take the field to play quick games, single games, or a whole season. Junior versions of pro players include Landon Donovan, Clint Mathis, Cobi Jones, and Brandi Chastain. It's the chance of a lifetime to play with the pros in your own backyard. ... Read more

Features

• Play soccer with the pros as kids, including Landon Donovan and Cobi Jones
• Choose from all 10 Major League Soccer teams
• Play quick games, single games, or a whole season
• Includes 4 new fields
• Track player and team stats

Reviews (65)

Another awesome upgrade to the already great series!
I have seen and played many demos and have read tons of reviews on this product.

I have been a fan of this Junior Sports series since the very first original Backyard Baseball came out. I own 2 of the 3 baseball editions, both of the football versions, my brothers have both of the soccer editions, and we also have Backyard Basketball.

From what I've seen and read this is another great additon to any of your collections of these games. The gameplay is smooth, the graphics are stunning, there are EVEN MORE gamplay options than in BYB 2001, the MLB kids faces are very believable, the players ability to play is slightly exaggerated but hey, that's what makes it so fun.

Being a big fan and player of baseball I follow the majors like nothing else. For that reason I noticed the ratings (Running, Pitching, Fielding, and Hitting) on the players to be slightly off. But if that's the only problem, that's an extremely small sacrifice to make when buying this game.

This game is worth every penny you spend on it. I recommend this game for fans and non-fans of all ages.

The levels of difficulty are set very well for people that play it. I do wish though that they would add an extra "Major League" level of play for us older guys that are looking for some challenging opponents.

I haven't tried online play yet but I'm sure you would find some more challenging people to play against.

This series is getting better with every game and should soon become one of the top sports games on the market. I hope that soon they will expand their games and come out with Backyard Baseball Pennent Race Edition Expansion Pack that will include the new hot rookies in the majors. Who knows? Maybe it's not that far off from now.

In closing I want you to know that this game does not have the new backyard kid design. The new Backyard Hockey has new kids to chose from and absolutely stunning visual effects. I recommend that game also for the Backyard Series fans.

Oh yeah, one more thing, HAVE FUN!!!

Sincerely,
Ian Badeer
A True Backyard Series Fan

Baackyard basketball 2004
I think this game is really good. People say this is too easy but i am 11 and I play on hard mode and I lose sometimes It is deffinetly better then the first backyard basketball because the originial only had two pros and this has ten. This game has good pros and good pro selections but they could have had better people as well like Steve Francis, Baron Davis and Kobe Bryant. Some of the people in there have not very good attributes like Tim Duncan has no outside shot but in real life he is a good outside shooter and Pau Gasol has no outside shot but can make all of the three pointers he shoots. Making a shot is very easy from outside but inside shots are kinda difficult. This game has the same graphics and gameplay as Backyard Hockey which I like the gameplay but the graphics i don't like. I would reccomend this game for 5-12 year olds and if you want the ultimate team I would pick Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan as starters and reserves Yao Ming and Paul Peirce. Other than the bad graphics and the choosing of the pros and pro's attributes this is a very fun and good game.

forced to do setups
From the makers of putt-putt,freddi fish,spy fox and pajama sam comes backyard sports.It's fun but you buy it on software,that's where it gets **** instead of *****.Humongous FORCES you to do their setups BEFORe you can play your game.

The Best Baseball Game Ever!
This game is great and a little challanging! The menus are very simple. There are 2 modes that you can play on. A single game mode and season play mode. In single game mode, if you want certain players on your team you have to get them quickly because your opponent can get them before you do. A cool part of single game mode is that you can play tee-ball and watch a demo! On season mode you pick your players first so you have all the players that you want. Each player has four ratings, Batting, Running, Pitching and Fielding. There are three game levels. (Excluding tee-ball mode) A way that makes the game challanging is that there is pluses and minus'. Pluses make them stronger in a rating and minus' make them lower in a rating.If you want to play season mode I reccomend you first play some single games and watch some demos. Also you should start at easy level and work your way up to medium then hard. Heres a tip. Never get Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds! They get tired to easily and get lots of minus'. A very fun game!

Great game and to me fun to play!
This Backyard Soccer 2004 has my favorite players here.Like Brandi Chastain,Tiffity Milbrett,and Cobi Jones.This is a fun game to play,but the hard level still a piece of cake.You can make your color of your team,but the promblem is you have to choose from some choices instead of naming your team.That's my kinda suggestion.I won the game a hundred times already,but I love it and I keep on playing it!I think this is a 4 star rating for one reason why 4 stars,Way too easy! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Infogrames has improved upon an already excellent franchise with Backyard Baseball 2003. We hope this software doesn't become a victim of its own success: the Backyard Kids are getting so good, it's only a matter of time before they start demanding astronomical salaries and brand-new stadiums.

The pace, strategy, and statistics involved in baseball make it a sport that translates easily to the computer screen. In Backyard Baseball, players can play pickup games, launch a tournament, have batting practice, or just watch the computer play its own game. Options are initially overwhelming, but add longevity to the game as well. Twelve different game fields each exert their own unique influence over play--balls bounce crazily on the gravel lot, while homers are rare in the fenceless field. Games can be tweaked to add errors or include a visible strike zone; even field chatter can be added or eliminated. A wide selection of hits, pitches, and stance possibilities at the plate keep players strategizing, while the occasional power-up or wild pitch serves as a reminder of baseball's unpredictability.

The creative team outdid themselves with character development in this software. The Backyard Kids are quirky and three-dimensional--the research done on the real players was exemplary as well. For example, did you know Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks listens to Rush in his spare time? Go figure.

Backyard Baseball 2003 will keep both young and old baseball fans engaged for a good long time. Consider it a way to fill that long wintry gap between baseball seasons. (Ages 7 and older) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Another awesome upgrade to the already great series!
I have seen and played many demos and have read tons of reviews on this product.

I have been a fan of this Junior Sports series since the very first original Backyard Baseball came out. I own 2 of the 3 baseball editions, both of the football versions, my brothers have both of the soccer editions, and we also have Backyard Basketball.

From what I've seen and read this is another great additon to any of your collections of these games. The gameplay is smooth, the graphics are stunning, there are EVEN MORE gamplay options than in BYB 2001, the MLB kids faces are very believable, the players ability to play is slightly exaggerated but hey, that's what makes it so fun.

Being a big fan and player of baseball I follow the majors like nothing else. For that reason I noticed the ratings (Running, Pitching, Fielding, and Hitting) on the players to be slightly off. But if that's the only problem, that's an extremely small sacrifice to make when buying this game.

This game is worth every penny you spend on it. I recommend this game for fans and non-fans of all ages.

The levels of difficulty are set very well for people that play it. I do wish though that they would add an extra "Major League" level of play for us older guys that are looking for some challenging opponents.

I haven't tried online play yet but I'm sure you would find some more challenging people to play against.

This series is getting better with every game and should soon become one of the top sports games on the market. I hope that soon they will expand their games and come out with Backyard Baseball Pennent Race Edition Expansion Pack that will include the new hot rookies in the majors. Who knows? Maybe it's not that far off from now.

In closing I want you to know that this game does not have the new backyard kid design. The new Backyard Hockey has new kids to chose from and absolutely stunning visual effects. I recommend that game also for the Backyard Series fans.

Oh yeah, one more thing, HAVE FUN!!!

Sincerely,
Ian Badeer
A True Backyard Series Fan

Baackyard basketball 2004
I think this game is really good. People say this is too easy but i am 11 and I play on hard mode and I lose sometimes It is deffinetly better then the first backyard basketball because the originial only had two pros and this has ten. This game has good pros and good pro selections but they could have had better people as well like Steve Francis, Baron Davis and Kobe Bryant. Some of the people in there have not very good attributes like Tim Duncan has no outside shot but in real life he is a good outside shooter and Pau Gasol has no outside shot but can make all of the three pointers he shoots. Making a shot is very easy from outside but inside shots are kinda difficult. This game has the same graphics and gameplay as Backyard Hockey which I like the gameplay but the graphics i don't like. I would reccomend this game for 5-12 year olds and if you want the ultimate team I would pick Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan as starters and reserves Yao Ming and Paul Peirce. Other than the bad graphics and the choosing of the pros and pro's attributes this is a very fun and good game.

forced to do setups
From the makers of putt-putt,freddi fish,spy fox and pajama sam comes backyard sports.It's fun but you buy it on software,that's where it gets **** instead of *****.Humongous FORCES you to do their setups BEFORe you can play your game.

The Best Baseball Game Ever!
This game is great and a little challanging! The menus are very simple. There are 2 modes that you can play on. A single game mode and season play mode. In single game mode, if you want certain players on your team you have to get them quickly because your opponent can get them before you do. A cool part of single game mode is that you can play tee-ball and watch a demo! On season mode you pick your players first so you have all the players that you want. Each player has four ratings, Batting, Running, Pitching and Fielding. There are three game levels. (Excluding tee-ball mode) A way that makes the game challanging is that there is pluses and minus'. Pluses make them stronger in a rating and minus' make them lower in a rating.If you want to play season mode I reccomend you first play some single games and watch some demos. Also you should start at easy level and work your way up to medium then hard. Heres a tip. Never get Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds! They get tired to easily and get lots of minus'. A very fun game!

Great game and to me fun to play!
This Backyard Soccer 2004 has my favorite players here.Like Brandi Chastain,Tiffity Milbrett,and Cobi Jones.This is a fun game to play,but the hard level still a piece of cake.You can make your color of your team,but the promblem is you have to choose from some choices instead of naming your team.That's my kinda suggestion.I won the game a hundred times already,but I love it and I keep on playing it!I think this is a 4 star rating for one reason why 4 stars,Way too easy! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Droid building
You get to build droids even ones in existence like artoo-detoo and c-3po. It uses the Jediknight Dark Forces II engine. The real object for missions is to test your droids on sandy surfaces. The whole game takes place on Tatoonie and it has many dangerous parts. Like falling off a fifty foot drop might explode the droid. I say its great for all ages.

A five-star game!
Star Wars Droidworks has been one of the most addictive games I have ever played. The plot goes like this: The Empire has started the prodution of assassin droids. Assassin droid are tough droids armed with huge blasters and a taste for torture. However, they are dim-witted. Your job is to build a droid to reprogram the assassins into harmless droids. Before doing this, you must build droids to complete eight training missions three times to prove you're worthy and to be rewarded with droid parts. These missions are also to teach you about the science concepts used in the missions. Once all are completed, you get access to the four secret missions. In three of them, you must collect the three Information Crystals, one in each mission. In these three missions, assassin droids are lurking, so you must be careful. After that, you must activate them in the Data Information Facility to get the Data Disk, as well as the location of the Hidden Droid Factory that is producing the assassins. With the Data Disk, you must enter the Hidden Droid Factory, and insert it into the reprogramming slot to reprogram the assassins into harmless dancing droids.

the game is awesome
this game is great you get to build your own droids from star wars and then battle them.

Great game!
This is a great game! A lot of people make the sound mean by talking about the "asassin droids", well all they do is walk up and try to break your droid, there is no shooting or anything in it. First you only have a little bit of droid parts to build with. But first thing's first, you need to go in the Jawa Training thing first. In the Jawa training thing you will learn how to control your droid and make your droid do cool things, you also learn how your droid reacts with the things around it. After you have learned the basics test your skill at the training missions, when you win a traingng mission you get a new droid part. You need to complete each training missions ( I think there are 8) 3 times to get all the droid parts you will need. After you have completed each training mission at least 1 time you will get secret missions (But you should complete all the training missions 3 times so you will get all of the parts you need), you will need to complete all of the secret missions aleasts 1 time to get all the infomation crystals, after you have done that you will need to go to a place were you can seek the infomation inside the infomation crystals by reflecting light into them, after you have done that you will need to go thru the hidden droid factory and reporgram the assassin droids, in the Secret Misions you will find Assassin droids that you will need to outsmart.

Cool things:
1) This is good for education, did I talk about the index? There is a Index thing that is like a cool sceince book! It's really cool!

2)There are really funny jokes in this! Why do Jawas live in the dessert? Because they were looking for a hot spot!

3) There are really great suprizes, Do you know what you can reprogram the assasin droids to do? I am not telling! Your just have to find out for yourself!

4) When you bump into Assasin droids you don't destroy them, you outsmart them!

5) Much much more!

Thinking and fun for boys and girls
Our 8 year old son is the one who wanted it, but we all play with it. The child is the designer of "droids" that he sends on missions. Each droid must meet special mission criteria specifided by the program, but there is plenty of room for innovation, and if the mission fails, well, he can re-design and try again. When he successfully completes a mission, he is rewarded with more and better parts to include in his future droids. As he propgresses, the missions get harder. Unknowingly he is learning about physics, how machines works and about material properties while improving his problem solving skills.

It is fun to be a droid designer and to see one's creations put to work. Kids like it, and we, parents, like it for the creative thinking and learning. So, let them fight over the computer! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Join Scooby-Doo and the gang in Egypt as they visit Velma's Egyptologist cousin, Thelma. While visiting the pyramids in Giza, they find Thelma is missing and a mysterious mummy is frightening all the tourists away. It's up to the gang to find Thelma and wrap up the mummy for good. Kids help Scooby-Doo and his friends by telling them what to do and who to talk to. Along the way, they'll encounter ghosts, puzzles, and hair-raising adventure.

Kids must solve more than 10 different puzzles and activities to solve each mystery. The adventure is never the same. The mystery changes each time you play, with new clues and a different villain and outcome. Turn up the gameplay and the challenge with three levels of difficulty: Spooky! for ages 5 and 6; Spookier! for ages 7 and 8; and Spooktacular! for ages 9 and 10. The game builds thinking and problem-solving skills by utilizing research skills, deductive reasoning, and logical analysis. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Zoiks!
My kids ages 5 and 8 loved this game. It flows just like the cartoon show on TV, as we follow Scooby and the gang as they search for clues to solve the mystery. My kids had it completely solved in an hour or so, then played it a few more times to see the different clues and villains, and now they're done with it--not 24 hours since we brought it home! They want to play the next two Scooby games now. "If it hadn't been for those meddling kids..."

Not as good as I expected.
As crazy as my children are about Scooby Doo, I expected this game to be exceptional. Although my 7 year old has played it quite a bit [and I probably got my money's worth] he quickly leaves it to go back to other software games like: Train Simulator, Oregon Trail, Lionel's Trans Con, and Mission THINK. The game advances slowly and the graphics are flat like watching the cartoon. Guess I was expecting more educational basis to this software, but find it's really more like watching the show on TV.

Thank goodness it was a gift!
I wouldn't buy this for my kids. Thankfully it was a gift for my 8-year old daughter. She tried to play it on her own at first and couldn't really figure out what to do, I guess she didn't read or listen to the instructions. The instruction file was enormous and complicated to follow for the specified age group. I played it on my own later to see what in fact this was all about. I solved the mystery and actually enjoyed myself, then my daughters(4&8) played it and the mystery was exactly the same for the next 3 times they used it. Maybe I haven't found how to change the level of difficulty, but I felt that everything was too obvious and not really a "mystery". I felt the kids were being humored and this game was really dumbed down. We haven't picked it up again since then, it has been a couple of weeks now. They'd much rather stick to "Clue Finders" and other such programs or the written word than play this game. They may give it another shot soon. Bottom line, this game just doesn't suit our tastes.

Not as good as I suspected.
This game is rather easy an does not contain many challenges for my 4-year old. The game was very easy to complete. The game becomes boring rather quickly at times because you had to keep going back and forth from place to place to solve the game. Sometimes you get stuck and am not sure where to go next until you explore some of the places again because the scenes change as the game progresses. The game has excellent graphics and sound but a mediocre story. The game needed more action.

OOOOOOO IS THIS BAD! RATHER EAT DOG FOOD
AWFUL AND NO EDUCATIONAL VALUE FOR YOUR CHILDREN ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Catch the crooks and bag the books. There's trouble on planet Islandia, where pesky Mumblers are stealing all the books. Join the Blaster gang to crack the mystery as you race down ski slopes, escape a volcano before it blows, and steady your aim to plug steaming geysers. Make it past all these obstacles, and you can solve the case of "whodunit." Get ready, get set, and start clicking.

Reading Blaster is part of the Blaster Learning System, an integrated line of game-based learning software. Blaster Learning System missions use gameplay to teach fundamental math and reading skills to kids ages 5 to 9. After mastering the essentials, kids move on to Cross Terrain Challenge, created to sharpen critical-thinking skills through extreme game adventures.

Reading Blaster's unique motivational learning system recognizes each child's achievement with points that can be redeemed for rewards. The Blaster Learning System goes the extra step with SmartPoints to provide an incentive to play, practice, and learn. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

READING IS A BLAST
ANYTHING TO GET CHILDREN TO READ IS WONDERFUL, AND THSES ARE THE TOP OF THE LINE ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Kinda boring...
I bought this game because I love the Little Mermaid and seeing Ariel on the box made me very happy. Sadly, there is not much Ariel in the game. The most you can do is put your princess model into Ariel scenes. I was hoping to put my model into Ariel's mermaid costume, but sadly, there are not many Ariel costume options (just the wedding dress and a pink one that she wears when she is human). All the costume are the classic 'ballgown' princess style, and most of them are ugly, as a matter of fact. I enjoyed putting my face onto these models, but I was disappointed that there were no costumes I really liked to put myself in. A waste of time; if buying this, like me, because you are a fan of Ariel, don't waste your money. Buy 'Ariel's Story Studio' or 'Little Mermaid 2 Activity Centre' instead.

My daughter likes it - I don't
We checked this software out of the library, thank goodness. I'd be unhappy if we'd spent money on it.

My five year old enjoys playing with it but I suspect she will tire of it before it's due back at the library as there is really nothing to do. You can decorate your horse, decorate the show ring, and run around a track. That's about it.

There does not seem to be any educational value whatsoever unless you're trying to teach a child how to click a mouse.

Very Disappointed Royal Horse Show
Don't give your money to Disney for the Royal Horse Show. I'd hardly call this a game, more precise it is a vehicle to promote Disney princess characters. And even the promotion gained from this was probably a waste for them as my daughter's interest in the limited activities wained quickly.

There are only 4 options to choose from.
1-decorate your horse (this is probably the most engaging feature for my daughter but she lost interest quickly as there seem to be dead end options - you are told that you can show your horse in the ring but no path to do so is ever provided)
2-decorate the royal horse ring (my daughter had no interest in this)
3-ride your horse around the ring (the view is awkward - the top of the horse's head blocks most of the picture)
4-in the craft cottage there are the most awkward features of all (an empty scrapbook which you fill with your escapades - this never caught on with my daughter, a growth chart [what this has to do with the game I have no idea and because her computer is not hooked up to a printer the option just caused the game to hang], a box for horse cards to collect [we are still not sure what this is] and the value of any of this is lost on me).

Cute
My 4 yo can operate much of this game. I'd rate it more for a 6 yo though... not any older. It's fun to dress up the horses. Not really a learning game, just for fun.

Perfect for my little Princess
I got this for my preschooler for Christmas and she is loving it! I love the fact that she can design the princess to look like herself or a friend or just about anyone! Designing the dress and jewelry is her favorite part, but she could go all day if I let her! This is definitely a gift that won't lose its appeal soon and also one that will grow with her!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hours of fun with this game!!
I did Where in the USA .. Carmen Sandiego at school and it's way way better than this one!! But this one is fun too. Since this is a two pack, I like the Where in the World .. Carmen Sandiego better than the Carmen Sandiego Chase Through time. In the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, you get to go like every country!! At first, I thought it would be hard that you have to find her somewhere in the "world", but after the first case, I got used to it and it was very fun. My brother was watching, he's only five and he caught on to it!! AMAZING!! This game is for ages 8-12, and the Where in the World one is for windows:95/98/XP, was I glad that they had it for XP!! Oh and this is for macintosh too. Except, the Great Chase through Time one doesn't work well for windows XP. I didn't buy this at Toysrus though, I got it from CompUSA check their website and see if this is available in your nearest CompUSA!! They usually tell you if it's in stock or not, the one where I went to, I got the last copy!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The stronger and more interesting of two games based on the movie, the eponymous Finding Nemo lets kids reunite father and son deep off the reef in Australia's waters. The game opens with Nemo and Marlin in their respective environments, the dentist's fish tank and the wild waters of the open sea. The two fish are linked by a small button at the bottom of the screen, and players can toggle between them as they complete various puzzles.

The game features all the original cast members, and in addition to classic lines from the film, they improvise new lines. Dory, voiced byEllen DeGeneres, is hilarious, and smaller characters--like Nemo's friends in the tank--get more time to show players their individual, funny personalities: clicking on each fish kicks off a short conversation. Although there's more watching than doing in the early stages of the games, Nemo fans will be enthralled. Later stages involve memory games, like following patterns while jumping on the backs of jellyfish. All the characters, including sharks and sea turtles, make extended appearances in Finding Nemo.

Like Nemo's Underwater World of Fun, this game has two primary issues: computer owners must pay close attention to system requirements (otherwise, movie scenes in playback stutter significantly) and gameplay itself lasts little more than an hour, if kids ace the tasks. Also, one caveat for education-minded parents: this game is clearly only for fun, not for--pardon the pun--schooling. But kids will need to look beyond the obvious to complete the tasks in this game, and it's the possibility for discovery that makes Finding Nemo well worth exploring.--Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (30)

The other version? Poor Quality Control Problem....
This is yet another pc game that could have been so good...The problem? Like the other 3 disney pc games we have, we had to go on-line to reconfigure our computer!!! It seems to be the SOUND that creates problems.

We bought the version for older kids, after reading the reviews here. Guess what? The voices for Nemo and others cannot be understood. It's as if someone put an old record on the wrong speed...high speed....everyone talks like the chipmunks! What we heard of the music and graphics however looked real good.

We're running these programs on windows XP and unable to get the program to work right out of the package, which is a real drag to an intelligent 5 year old and his mom! Bottom line, you probably have to go on line and get help to make the program work. OR you may have luck calling them...

With the exception of MULAN (has a great majonng game for kids...but you have to go on-line and learn HOW TO MAKE THE program work and reconfigure/disable a sound card or something like that....)We've sworn off of Disney pc games, at least for now....they're not worth the trouble.

Misleading, disappointing, irritating waste of time!
The Nemo's Underwater World of Fun game disk enclosed in with the movie DVD, was a big disappointment. My young kids were very excited then very upset. Until I read user reviews here on AMAZON, I thought I had a malfunctioning game rather than a DEMO disk on which only 2 of the 6 activities were accessible, rendering the prizes unwinable and the main games unplayable. And one of the 2 accessible activities, the Tank Gang music maker, seems buggy! Neither the disk, its sleeve, nor the read-me file indicated that it was only a demo, so my exercise in futility began: I installed and reinstalled it. I called the Disney phone number only to find the voice menu options to be misdirected, and at Disney Interactive on-line found no help nor mention of the demo version. FINE DISNEY, so you don't want to give away a free game, but why waste your ad dollars on such a stunt? Guess what, I've not been enticed into buying the real game, just irritated into a resolution to spend NO money on Disney computer games! (It's not your fault THQ (the game designer) we still love you.) I'm Sooooo glad that wonderful PIXAR's contract with Disney is ending!!!

My son likes it, I can't stand it
We bought this for our five-year-old, who loved the movie. Why is it that all Disney games turn into annoying (and cloying) lead-ins or promos for the movie? Why do we have to watch endless clips of it? The games seem kind of uneven (some way too hard, others too easy), and sometimes the software seems to get 'stuck' (we need to back out and repeat the objective to get it to work). I like THQ and their software in general, I've just noticed that anything Disney-related gets bogged down in their desire to "Plug the movie! Plug the products!" My son does like it when he plays it, but it's been used a LOT less than I had anticipated. Gets 3 stars for good graphic and audio quality, but I'd give the game itself a two.

terrible
I bought the finding nemo software for my daughter today and I sincerely regret it. It is one of the worst games I have ever purchased. The games dont work. You get nowhere. I would advise everyone considering this game to just save your money. My daughter was excited to get it until we installed it and tryed playing it only to find out it is a lemon.

Very cute
I just loved the movie, so naturally I bought the game. My sis and I have had these little, ummm...."problems" with games for kids 4+. We can't win them!! The older kid's games are easier. But that's what makes this game fun. I still can't win the "Surfin' With Crush" level though. "Nemo's Underwater World of Fun" actually has a story to it. Nemo wants to prove to his dad that he can move around just as well as any other fish. So Marlin sets up a "Super Swim Challenge" game, that will test Nemo's swimming skills. It goes from there in that you have to help Nemo win a certain number of "trophies" in each game in order to get up to level 5 in the Super Swim Challenge. After that, you can help Nemo prove to Marlin how good a swimmer he is. I love the games you can play. "Dory's Memory Match", "Surfin' With Crush", and "Tank Gang Sing-alongs" are just a few. Hope you have fun playing! I'm sure the kids will. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Math skills come in handy when playing this mystical, mathematicalAladdin adventure. By solving math problems that test skills ranging fromaddition and subtraction to patterns, estimation, and logic, children can savethe day and rescue Aladdin and his friends from the forces of evil. A wickedgenie named Bizarrah has escaped from her lamp and has captured Jasmine, Abu, and Aladdin in Agrabah. Players must do the math to put an end to Bizarrah,once and for all.

Movie-quality animation and an astounding number of multilevel, age-appropriatemath games make this software a classic. Whether kids are playing the DungeonGames, Agrabah Games, Magical Carnival Games, or Pyramid Games, they'll love thechallenging gameplay and adventure this unique software offers.

Games range from Yazoul's Number Wall, which has kids making mental computationsby using addition and subtraction skills, to a fast-paced virtual marble game,Square Up, where geometry and logical reasoning rule as kids race the carnivalbarker by being the first to create squares in a challenging grid screen.Noflying carpet required, just bring along your math skills for hours ofchallenging math fun. (Ages 6 to 9) --Tina Velgos ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent math practice
My son received this when he was 6 years old. He played with it constantly. He helped his 5 year old sister play with him. Today he is 8 and still loves playing at a higher skill level. The attraction for my kids is that their goal is to get the pieces of the magic lamp from which Bizarra escaped. Once they get the pieces, they can capture her. To accomplish this, they have to play various math games to free their friends and get the pieces. They get basic math skill practice and have fun doing it. Even after they've accomplished their goal, they can come back and play any game they want or start a new game. They get practice in basic addition, geometric shapes, sequences, matching patterns, etc.

Pretty but limited
I bought this for my almost 7 year old and played it a little alone first. I thought the graphics were great, and the games seemed interesting enough... BUT.... I didnt realize there was so little to the game. My quick peek at it actually was almost to the end of it. Basically there are only 14 games (I think that's right) and once you've played them... its over. It took my son less than 2 hours to play this game (would have been faster but it was sometimes a bit slow changing screens, and we have a 1gig/Athalon pc.) He liked it cuz he's goal oriented, and solving the story makes it more interesting to him than the ones where you do tasks for no particular reason. But ... what now? A few more hours at different levels and we'll be done with this game....

Does run under NT 4.0
While the package says it is for Win 95/98, it does install and run under NT 4.0 (saying its NT 3.0 and I might have problems with NT) on my Dell 7500 laptop. The installer does want you to change to 256 color mode, but runs okay in 65,536 (16-bit) color mode.

My 8 year old son loves this program.

Do math in Aggrabh
I am horrid at math, and still enjoy this game. While it can be hard, once you get used to it you won't want to quit. You'll want to keep going so you can save Aggrabah from the evil genie who has been unleashed. The only problem is that there is no refrense whatsoever in the plot here to the plot of the movie.

Great thinking skills!
This CD helps kids build a variety of math skills, including addition and logical thinking. The different levels are good, but what I really love is how you can move around and play your favorite games again and again. The only negative is there is no subtraction practice. But kids learn without even realizing it. This is great. I wish there were more like it! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Make way for Babyz! Adopt an adorable virtual kid in this amazing, playful simulation of child rearing from the company that brought you Catz and Dogz. Each Babyz (that's singular, too) is darling and unique--choose one of fifteen to adopt or, if none of them is just right, check out their Web site with plenty more to pick from, changing every day.

You can have up to three in one house, and then the fun begins. Name your Babyz, clothe them, give them toys, feed them, watch them play in the backyard, or just give them a tickle when they look bored. The software runs both like a normally selected program and as a screensaver--if you're not careful, the Babyz will take over your screen when you're not looking!

The graphics are playful and imaginative, the costumes are cute, and the house itself is full of stuff for the Babyz to explore. The package comes with a headset microphone and voice-recognition software so you can even talk to your Babyz--or teach them to speak. Short, simple words will start yammering back at you before long, and you'll wonder how you ever lived without a babbling Babyz in your computer. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Good, yet bad
This game is okay, I suppose. You basically adopt cute little babyz and take care of them. You change their diapers, feed them, put them to sleep, etc. You can dress up your babyz in all kinds of clothing too. As time passes the babies will grow older, and learn to walk and talk. You can talk to them using a microphone and the software included in the game. They will recognize your voice and will learn from you speaking. The babyz also have their own personalities... some like mushed peas for food, others like mushed carrots. The babyz will cry if you ignore them, and believe me, you don't want them crying!

It is fun... for a while. When I first played it took me a while to get the microphone software to actually work. The game will freeze too. My game used to work fine, but now it won't work if I try to go to the kitchen. It will then shut down. Since the kitchen is where all the food is, that's a problem. Finally, after a while, the games gets really dull.

Cute idea, fun for a while, but it eventually gets boring.

The best game!
This game is a lot of fun! You can take care of virtual babyz! You can feed them, bathe them, diaper them and rock them to sleep. You can also talk to them by using a microphone attached to the computer! I love this game! I play it all the time! It is very fun, especially for kids, like me, ages 6-12! You won't be bored with this game!

Wonderfull SoftWare Game I every played
Me and my sister have had this game for 2 years.Its very fun and you can go other websits to get more food,clothes,toys,ect.When I read some of the reviews about no being able to get back into the kitchen and your babyz get sick,I decdei that when i get the game I will use the toybox as a first aid kit.It work until my counis came over and starter to take everything out.then one day something happen and we could not get in the kitchen.It took six month's just for us to get back in to the kitchen.Our older couis show:This is what you do first if you want to keep the babyz that you have save them on a disk than exit babyz.Second go to my computer,programs files,mindscape.Three go to babyz and delete EVERYTHING ON BABYZ than go all the back until you reach babyz and delete than reinstalle it.Or u could unstalle than reinstalle.It work for us and our babyz are not sick again what a relife

YOU SHOULD BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE BEST GAME EVER.THE BABYS R SO CUTE.U CAN ADOPTED UP 2 3 BABYS.I PLAY THE GAME ALL DAY.THE BABYS GET SICK.THERE LIKE REAL BABYS.I RECCOMEND THIS GAME FOR AGES 7 AND UP

Just as good as Dogz or Catz!
This game is bascilly just taking care of your baby!You can eiter adopt a boy or girl,and you can have as many as you want!You can name them,and dress them up,feed them,bathe them,play with them(Like outside,or playroom)and etc.I think this is a fun and cool game to play,like the microphone you can use to talk to the babies.You can teach them words!My babies know how to say mommy and ball so far,Hey it took awhile.So get this game!It's fun for everyone. ... Read more