Reviews (8)

My 4 year old loves this game.
I bought this game as part of a package that came with a Rescue Heroes game, a Tonka Truck game, and a Lego soccer game (thinking my son would especially love the Rescue Heroes game).My 4 year old had never even heard of Jimmy Neutron.He barely plays the other games, but he absolutely loves this game.He can sit and play it for hours. I like that I can save the game at several different points so that when my son wants to go back and play a different level I just load up what I have already saved. Most of it is not too challenging for him - there are a few parts that he has needed some help. There are lots of new things to explore each time he plays the game.I also like that on most of the levels Jimmy's dog Goddard shows you which way you need to go.My one complaint is that once the program has played the instructions there is no way to go back and review what you are supposed to be doing on that level.A few times my son did not understand the instructions and since I hadn't heard them it was hard for me to figure out what he was supposed to be doing.

Jimmy Neutron vs. Jimmy Negatron
I LOVE Jimmy Neutron vs. Jimmy Negatron SO much!
Especialy The parts where Jimmy chases Jimmy Negatron!

Hours of fun
I bought this for my eight-year-old daughter, and both of us just love playing it.I think the graphics could be better, I would particularly have preferred smoother flowing graphics, but the game itself is great fun.We've played the game over and over, and there are always new little niches to find that we didn't find before.In this game, Jimmy gets to walk, jump, swim, fly, swing, slide, navigate a submarine and a helicopter (thanks Goddard!).The story line is funny, and is very much in keeping with the characters from the show.It's a game my daughter returns to over and over.

Almost excellent!
This game is awesome! It takes a while for the cut scenes to load and some levels were boring but the game is just plain awesome. This game is definetly for 8-12 year olds anyone older could beat the game very easily.

LOVE IT
I got this for my ADHD grandson who is 8 years old. He just loves it. He wants to be smart like Jimmy. This works great on my XP computer but not my windows 98. The game is action packed with no violents. Thanks for a GREAT game. ... 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

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

Amazon.com Product Description

This four-program collection nurtures essential early reading skills through warm, whimsical experiences designed just for younger learners. Explore key topics in the pre-grade school reading and writing curriculum through a series of exciting adventures, engaging stories, and irresistible games. Tackle topics like letter names and sounds, short and long vowels, building simple words, predicting story events, and more. ... 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

Product Description

Join the Power Rangers as they travel through time to battle evil forces, recover ancient treasures and save the universe! ... 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 Product Description

This four-disc set of software titles combines fun with educational principles to provide children access to a world of knowledge. Phonics, Reading & Writing Excelerator will teach children the fundamentals needed to excel at these critical subjects. Packed with more than 30 individual lessons and more than 200 activities, this educational suite delivers hours of exciting learning adventures.

Each program is designed to help first-time readers with basic skill sets, while reinforcing key concepts and providing more advanced creative-writing lessons for intermediate students. Including activities that adjust to your child's current skill level, these lessons will continue to challenge children as they improve. Concepts that are taught include uppercase and lowercase letters, phonics, word formation, sentence structure, and creative composition. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Really helped
This program really helped my daughter learn her letter sounds. It is a bit repetative, but hearing it over and over helped her remember them. We didn't have a microphone to hook up to the computer, but it works well without it anyway. Overall this program really helped my daughter.

Review of customers reviews
there are a couple of you that simply based upon what you have said need to stop trying so hard to sound like you know computers. ljws from Memphis and "annonymous" from San Jose for example. Just a hint, reading PC World does not make you an expert. (I cannot believe I'm defending Windows)

It doesn't work
This is a defective product. I had the same problems as anonymous from San Jose. I bought it for one of my grandchidren who uses XP and gave it to another who has an Apple. I don't know yet if it works on the Apple but it sure doesn't work with XP. It's not so good on 98 either. I hope that useless Via Voice doesn't screw up the machine. It wouldn't delete. What a pain!

What a BAD CHOICE- not even compatible with XP as it claims!
THIS SOFTWARE SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET FOR MISREPRESENTATION. I purchased this software and encountered various problems. For one, the first two discs out of the set will not load correctly. In speaking with TOPICS entertainment's support team, they explained that the problem was due to a temp folder that was over crowded. I resolved the installation problem by following the advice of the tech. It eventually installed, but on to the next problem. These first two discs have a voice recognition feature which was not described on the box itself. I proceeded to set up my Microphone to work with this new found feature only to be LET down. The IBM Via Voice component will not even work with my XP. I was told by TOPICS Tech support that the programs voice recognition feature is only compatible with Win 98. What good is a program if it says on the box that it is compatible with XP and the programs features will not even work on XP. I believe misrepresentation of the programs capabilities is something every consumer ought to be aware of with this software. Now I am stuck with a program that is not 100% capable of performing.

hooked
My daughter found this software to be very helpful in learning to better understand what she is reading. She spends countless hours wrapped up in all the different activites. This was a great investment for the price and has proved to be hours of fun. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Help SPY Fox foil William the Kid's dastardly plans of dairy destruction in SPY Fox: Dry Cereal. What will children do if Kid succeeds in cow-napping all the world's milk makers? Who is capable of stopping such a ghastly goat? Only SPY Fox, the super-smooth secret agent who finesses his way through SPY Corps' toughest assignments. This adventure tests kids' wits as they help SPY Fox use a host of slick gadgets, including a Laser Toothbrush and Suction Cufflinks. Monkey Penny provides clues from the Mobile Command Center as our hero takes on Kid's cast of animal adversaries. It's an udderly exhilarating world of cartoon espionage. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The first and the best
Don't let the new Atari packaging fool you - this game is a few years old. But it is an excellent game and well worth buying. Aside from offending goat's milk afficianados, this is a clean, kid-friendly game - which there are not nearly enough of in the world. If you thought it was too short or easy, play it again - there are several variations to get through, some more challenging than others. If you get stuck, there is a very complete help file included on the CD, or you can go to the website and get all the free hints you want. My daughter never seems to tire of it and has gone back to it again and again. There are a couple of places that require reading, so that a five or six year old might need some help, but be careful - you might end up staying up after their bedtime to play it yourself!

Here's hoping Atari decides to make Spy Fox 4, and soon (before my kid is too old to give me an excuse to buy it! ;-).

One of the few (very few) games I'd recommend
It has action without inappropriate violence, amusing one-liners, one very cool star and plenty of opportunity for kids to think a little.

6-year old kids can go through this one on their own, but it's funny enough for parents to watch over their shoulder.

In a market filled with brainless violent games aimed at a young audience and saccharine-sweet "educational" programs no one wants to play, I found that the three Spy Fox adventures struck a nice balance.

I, for one, would love to see a fourth Spy Fox adventure.

terrible game
My 5 year old got it as a gift and popped it in. After endless listening to the slow talking fox (you could actually spend 20 minutes without more than two mouse clicks), we got nowhere. I don't have hours on end to sit with him while looking on-line for every stupid click sequence to get to the next step. After an hour we gave up and I was so ticked off I had to pen this review.

Fun for all - while it lasts
Spy Fox has a better stock of one-liners than his human role model, James Bond. My 6 year old daughter had a great time working her way through the mystery, although some of the leaps in logic required a little help - which is fine, because I enjoyed playing along. The characters are interesting and funny, and it's clear that a lot more development work went into this than many kids games. Be aware, though: unlike arcade style games, once you're done, you're done. Still a great investment, though!

BORING
My 6-year old finished this entire game in the first day he had it. He said it does the same old things that all prevous ones did. He doesn't want any future Spy Fox games unless they find away to make their games more challenging and interesting. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

When the Rugrats set sail on the trip of a lifetime but end up on Island Uninhabited, there's only one family that can help them out: the Wild Thornberrys. Based on the upcoming Rugrats Go Wild feature film, this thrilling adventure has the babies trekking treacherous rainforest paths, taking on bug-eating plants, and staring down dangerous animals while solving "wild" puzzles to salvage their family vacation. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Kids jump on board The Magic School Bus for another one of Ms. Frizzle's interactive field trips--this time to explore the Costa Rican rain forest. You'll explore seven ecological zones in the rain forest as you collect samples for the class science project. Watch videos, play games, check out multimedia reports, and hear fun facts about the rainforest. (Ages 6-10) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest
I really like all of the Magic School Bus series. Kids can learn a lot about a subject and the dialog is very amusing.

Games have proved particularly entertaining
The magic school bus series is a great series. Once again Ms. Fizzle takes the children on a fun packed adventure.

We have never been to a rain forest, but my five year old found the games on this Microsoft School Bus product particularly entertaining.

A great CD from a great series. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

FUN FUN FUN!!!
This is a great game for young kids and adults alike. The player gets to control SpongeBob as he travels through various locations on his way to Neptune's Paradise Amusement Park. The player collects all kinds of inventory objects and must figure out how and where they need to use them. You can also select your own dialogue choices creating some hilarious conversations with other characters during the game.

Spongebob is great!
I HIGHLY recomend this item.IF u want to know if it's good, well, it isn't good. IT'S GREAT! Trust me! This is the funnest game ever! I Love Patrick Star! HE's the best one in the game!

very fun, yet disappointing
This was so fun, but the worst part was the fact that it ended so quickly! I would have enjoyed it more if the game were longer, however it was exciting while it lasted! The characters' dialogue is witty just like the television show, however the graphics are strange if you care about that sort of thing.

Engaging challenge for 7 or 8 year olds
My 7 year old stuck with and solved this game in about 4 hours with minimal help. The game rewards perseverance and requires some thought. Observing my child play, I thought it was a well designed game. If scenarios varied each time the game were played, it would be even better.

This game is really cool!
In this game you have to beat four chapters and you have to pick up things and drop them off for people. Sometimes it's hard, but it's fun. Buy the game--you will have fun with it! It's a game for all ages. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Can you help Fred, Velma, and the gang solve the mystery behind thePhantom Knight and his dragon? Scooby-Doo: Phantom of the Knight offerslaughs, pretty good animation, and a series of challenging puzzles to entertainyoung children for hours. Since the villain and clues change with each newadventure, replay is just as much fun as the very first game. Set up much likean episode of the classic television series, the program puts players in an old,castle-themed amusement park to explore for clues to its haunting. Some of thescarier areas will require feeding Scooby or Shaggy to coax them in; snacks canbe obtained by several tests of skill along the way.

Once enough clues have been collected, players decide who's to blame, then checkto see if the guess is right in an action sequence that closes play. Threelevels of difficulty are available, and each offers increasing pressure in theform of red-herring clues and harder challenges to acquire Scooby Snacks.Installation is very simple, and the CD-ROM comes with several Scooby-relatedgoodies like a printable poster and online previews of upcoming movies. (Ages 5to 10) --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (16)

hard but no replayability
I brought this for my daughter and played it myself first. I enjoyed the difficulty that the game play provided but was extremely dissappointed to find that the second time I played was exactly the same, all the items in the same place, the game play the same, it was easy. The only thing that really changes is the villan and the clues.
The kids have played once, with helpful hints from me to get them going when they got stuck. They havent been back which dosent surprise me as they tend not to replay games that do not have some varability.
It could have been a great game as it has the difficulty but without varibility it is not as good as it could be.
Solving the villian and clues does not play a big enough part in the game to make it replayable.

Great fun & learning
My 5-yr-old LOVES this game! With an age range being 5-10 I thought it'd be too hard for her, but after I showed her how to play, she can solve the mystery with her favorite characters. Yes, it is basically the same mystery over & over, but that's what she likes about it (It's like reading a favorite book again & again). There's alot of logic & sequencing needed & builds memory skills. You have to remember how to get to all the different rooms through many secret passages and find the clues in a certain order. This is loads of fun. We will be getting the rest of these mystery adventures.

Parents Cheapsheet for this potential Frustrating game.
It took me an hour to realize that to get past the first suspect and clue, you needed to give the "feather duster" to the old lady. That opens the locked door and makes the most of the other suspects appear. For the other locked door in the town, listen carefully to the Jester's rhyme after you give him the first ball.

With these two hints, the game is just like the "Jinx at the Sphinx". Without them, you will want to throttle the programmers. I played the game myself before I let my 5 yr old play. Since I knew the tricks, he enjoyed it completely.

Good Luck.

Disappointing Waste of Money
Bought this program for my 7 year old son. (The product says ages 5-10). What a piece of [...] this is! I have had other programs from the Learning Company that perform rather well. While installing this program you are forced to install lots of other junk "tag-a-long" programs (AOL, Quick time etc.)just to complete the install. Finally getting the program to run I, the 36 year old adult could not figure out how to make any progress in the game at all. How can I expect my son to figure it out? It was Impossible to even get to the games in which you earn "Scooby Snacks" that are needed to get around in the Castle. Printed out the entire "Book" of instructions and still could not get anywhere. I wish I would have read the other reviews first, I would not have bought it. My son doesn't even want to try it anymore since it's so frustrating.

Not for Little Ones
I bought this for my 5 year old and were BOTH stuck! He has played it several times and can't get past the first clue. He became frustrated with this game and stopped playing it. I too thought maybe it was me, but I am apparently not the only one out there who wasted their money on this game. I can only hope the other games for Scooby fans are better, as my son now wants a new one since "this one won't work". ... 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

Reviews (7)

My 8 yr old loves I spy!
For those who say this is boring, maybe your kids should just stick to video games. My son is loving the books and the computer games. He conquers them pretty quickly and we have to buy more but hey, it's getting his mind working looking for hidden items. We went for an open house at his school a few months ago and the teacher picked up an I Spy book and said that it was the main thing all the kids fought over in class. We love all the books, computer games and the gameboy game that is out. Good investment for little thinkers out there!

Can't find 12th ladybug!
I really like this game but I am annoyed that I can't find the last ladybug in the find me game. I can find no game hint support sites either. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it a bug (ha ha) in the program? I have spent weeks looking but always find the ones I've already found. Can anyone out there help me? I am not a child, but my daughter can't find it either. Apparantly the game will not finish until all bugs are found because I have found all the treasures. Does this game not have more than one complete game to play? I thought it had 3 like treasure hunt.
Thanks,

Will Keep You Thinking....
My 6 year old daughter loves this game. It is not easy and keeps her thinking. I some times find some of the items hard to find but with persistance you will find them. It is never boring. The whole family enjoys this software.

Elementary Kids Love It!
I am a computer lab teacher in an elementary school. Last year, I used this software for quite a few weeks when my Kindergarten through Grade 3 students came in for activity period. Students in grades 4-6 would beg to get a chance to use the software when their assignment for the day was completed.

It was a stretch for Kindergarten to find some of the items, because they did not recognize some of the items in the riddles, but I made sure to point these out in lessons and then circulated to help them more.

It was exciting to watch as students became absorbed in this activity, and most of them grew in their visual and verbal awareness. Children in grades 1-3 could either click to hear the descriptions or read for themselves.

Yes, it is on the shelf this year, but will taken out to be used in two years. This year I bought I Spy Spooky Mansion for use, and next year hope to get the Î Spy Treasure software if I can find the funding.

I Spy School Days-big bore
My six year old great nephew completed all of the activities within two hours. He was moderately interested in the beginning and bored by the time he finished. I watched as he played, and thought they were boring, too. ... 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

Features

• Team up with detective Barbie to solve the carnival mystery
• Crack the case of the carnival caper by searching for clues
• New clues and suspects every time you play
• For kids ages 5 and up

Reviews (6)

Hot CD for my boys!!!
My boys who are 5 and 7 love this CD. The CD calls them by name which is really cool. The action scenes capture their attention. I bought this CD despite having no girls to share it with. Yes, there is a lot of pink, but the fun is worth it!!! My son who says he "hates girls" still loves this CD. We have had fun with it for 8 months straight. Ton o' fun for the money!!! Monika

BEWARE OF WRONG MERCHANDISE!
This is NOT the Detective Barbie described. Instead of the carnival mystery, it is actually the VACATION mystery.. entirely different!!!
Even the wrong photo is displayed for sale. VERY DISAPPOINTING!

not just for girls
My three older children have enjoyed the Mystry of the carnival caper, They like riding the rides and being the first to win a prize at the sideshow as several children can join in.
The game play is fairly basic once you realise that you find a clue and go to the place the clue describes and you will find the next clue or you will see the suspect and have to catch him. You sometimes find keys which you will need to rescue ken. The magifiying glass is often nessecary to find the hand print that leads you to the clue. You can talk to the other characters. Catching the suspect is not always easy but if you do loose him you get another chance by following his footprints to more clues.
The good points are riding the rides is fun, there are three suspects all which are randomly chosen as the criminal and you dont know until the end which one it is, so the end is always a surprise. No two games are the same as the order of the clues is very random. The place where ken is hidden changes each time. There is plenty of replayability.
The bad points, character control is very clumsey, you use the mouse but must place the arrow at the edge of the screen to get the barbie to walk where you want her too, my younger children found this quite frustrating as the position of the mouse does not relate well to where the character is.
You must pick a name from the list and although it is a large list with a good variety of common and uncommon names your childs name may not be there particulary if it is a boy, then you have to pick something that is close in sound or an acceptable substitute, Barbie requently refers to your child by name so if the names not there it makes it difficult.
Overall it is a fun game, just remember to follow the clues as one clue leads to the next and finally the suspect and if you get stuck use the magnifying glass and follow the footprints. The clue computer does show the hot clue, the one you havent followed and the cold clues the ones that have already led you to a clue, and remember there may also be a key or tool you need hidden in the same place as a clue so look around with the magnifying glass even after you have found the clue.

Dust collector
My girls, ages 7 and 5, love Barbies but hate this game. They found it hard to use and not very interesting. It doesn't do much but collect dust at my house. They prefer Reader Rabbit and Jump Start games.

Great game!
I love this game! It's always fun because the calprit is someone different every time! I have played it a lot, and I would reccomend it to anyone who loves a good mystery! ... Read more