Amazon.com Review

Pirate's plunder rewards players who discover all of the hidden objects and decipher the riddles in I Spy Treasure Hunt. But there's also a bounty of booty on the path to that treasure as players discover this captivating world where closer inspection invariably reveals a new surprise.

This program is based on the award-winning I Spy books written by Jean Marzollo and photo-illustrated by Walter Wick. From the very beginning, this program immerses players, just as the books do: as a train pulls into the station in the town of Smuggler's Cove, the point-of-view is from inside the passenger car, looking out the window. Once off the train, this quaint seaside town with a secret is yours to explore. Potential riddle spots reveal themselves when a cursor sweep causes an object to respond with movement and sound. A tackle box, a deserted ruin, and a lighthouse are just a few of the 20 spots ripe for discovery. Scenes change swiftly, considering the vast amount of detail each contains. When explorers find a riddle area, a cluttered panorama appears onscreen and a child's voice reads the sentence below that always begins with the phrase "I spy...." Then players must find and click on the objects listed in the sentence. This isn't as easy as it seems; for example, finding three "fours" sounds simple, right? But the task gets complex when one numeral is hidden in the grain of a wooden tabletop, the other is written out in letters on a menu, and the third is a pair of dice showing a three and a one.

Successfully finding all the "I Spy" items in a scene yields a scrap of a treasure map. But building the map doesn't automatically reveal the treasure--that'd be out of keeping with this game's complex character. There are three different treasure-hunting scenarios, and each requires gathering a completely different set of clues around the town of Smuggler's Cove. The attention to detail that the books are famous for is abundantly present here: sound permeates the different "sets," from waves breaking on the shore, to the slow tick of a clock in the general store. Find and click on a skull-and-crossbones--it scowls and growls. Find and click on an oil lamp--it flares up briefly and then goes out with a delicate puff of smoke. And no, you can't cheat by just holding down the mouse button and scanning over a picture hoping to hit a required item. I Spy Treasure Hunt is a wonderfully absorbing program that slyly sneaks in a vast amount of learning. Mapping, reading, rhyming, and problem solving occur incidentally as players are drawn into the mysteries of Smuggler's Cove. And it's the only program we've ever encountered that elegantly illustrates that "four" and "4" and "." + "..." all equal the same thing. (Ages 6 to 10) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A Treasure to Find!
After playing I Spy Haunted Mansion at the Musuem of Science, my nephews and I purchased it at Amazon.com. It was a great game. But the Treasure Hunt is even better, and why....3 games. When you finish the first, you have two more to go. We love the I spy books, and even own a I spy board game. All my nieces and nephews play the PC game. Their ages are from 7-11. All have had fun with it. I've played too!! I love it. None of them have found it too easy. There are just enough complicated hidden treasures to make it the..."Auntie Lynn, can you help me find this?". I would highly recommend this PC game. I can't wait for the next!!

Game play over in 3 days
I am very disappointed in this product, especially after reading all the rave reviews.

My son recieved I Spy Treasure Hunt for Christmas and, within 3 days (one game each day) he played all the game scenarios. I disagree with the reviewers who state that although there are only 3 games, the games are all different. It is true that the clues (riddles) are different, and the player has to find different items to get to the treasure map. However, the pictures are the same in each game and are easily memorized from looking for the hidden objects in a previous game. Once the hidden objects are located, the treasure is easily found because there are only three treasure maps. The child will be able to know exactly where the treasure is depending which map is being constucted as riddles are solved.

Kids love the product theme, and the game has potential for being fun for all ages. I hope Scholastic updates this product to include more scenarios for longer-lasting gameplay.

Bottom line: Boring after 3 games. Not worth the money. However, Scholastic has a good customer satisfaction guarantee!

Great game
This is the best game of the three software titles, very challenging and fun. Both of my daughters love to play it and solve the puzzles. Good value for the money.

Fun Game!
This is a fun game for little kids. My grandchildren (ages 4, 7 and 8) totally enjoy it. Yes, they do eventually play all the games and hear all the clues, but when they've not played it for a while, they enjoy going back to it. It's colorful and a bit challenging when they first get it. It doesn't take long for the older ones to master it, but they still enjoy playing it. I'd recommend this game.

witty, educational and entertaining!
Good visual design, witty writing, well chosen music---a good exercise for the imagination! ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Jumpstart Advanced toddler
We bought this as a Christmas present for our son that just turned 2. We were looking for an educational computer game for him and we already had Reader Rabbit Toddler (which he loves). When I first started Jumpstart Adv. Toddler I thought it was way too simple, then I discovered that most activities have 2 levels. Level 1 is pretty basic and doesn't require the kids to do a whole lot...my son was very bored with this. Level 2 is much better...in fact it is more advanced than Reader Rabbit. Most of the activities do not require toddlers to click on the mouse, but if you can click it goes faster. I was surprised by how fast my son figured out the activities. He can do most everything by himself, but he still needs me to help him navigate some. This package comes with 3 cd's - school time, song time and art time. THe song time cd has several fun songs that he just loves. Overall I really like this game and have found it to be very educational. As soon as my son has mastered clicking the mouse we will be getting the preschool version.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster
Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster... is another real winner for all children in grades 1st-5th - like is partner - Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - this program has cute, fast paced, great music and sound three styles of arcade-like games to teach your children their math facts - no more boring math flash cards - learn math on a fast paced pinball machine, or arrange math facts for the the "burpers" or "smack" space ships and and space rocks to get correct answers to math problems - fast and fun - even for an old Grandma, me - all games are controled using the arrow keys and space bar excep to the outer space game where you shoot with a mouse - like the Spelling Bee it has over 800 pre-programmed math problems - all basic subjects are covered - addition, subtraction, muliplication, division, decimals and percentages in SIX different leveals - will auto advance at your child's own speed - on screen instructions for everything - also, like its partner, Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - you can program your child's "real" weekly math problems in to this program so they can learn their "real" weekly school math lessons in a fun arcade style of learning - you will love it for the small price tag - your children will love it for all of the fun they will have - and you will love it even more when your child brings home a A+ grade on their report card in Math. The [low price] is "right" - please buy it - once again this old Grandma is happy to be able to send my first grader, and my second grader back to school this year with this GREAT study tool. Knowledge Adventure can be very proud of these two programs ther Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster and their Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - buy them both and enjoy!
A very pleased Grandmother,
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

JumpStart Spanish a winner
My 5 year old loves her new JumpStart Spanish program. She has learned to count in spanish and her colors so far. Very fun games and rewards. She is really picking things up fast. We have not had any real computer problems, it has locked up once, but that has happened on other software as well. The sound works well. For the price I would recommend this as a beginning spanish program.

My daughter simply loves it!!!!
My 2 year old loves this set of CDs. I found that it reinforces all the things we are teaching her.... shapes, colors, numbers the ABC. The duck that sings is very sweet to their ear. I found it sooo great I am buying it for my daughter's school so the other kids can benefit as well.

Jump Start 4TH GRADE ADVANCED
I rented this software from the Library. It is a 3 disc program. My 3rd grader (almost 4th grader) loves the Ultimate Field Trips and Mystery Club volume 3. The fundamentals disc is a little too hard for her right now, so it is challenging. I played it because it looked fun and it was fun for me to play. I love the "mystery" tone of the software. I like these programs because there are fun games that do not get boring, and while your kids are playing the games, they are also learning a lot. I am going to purchase this software and the 3rd grade ADVANCED program so my child can review through the summer. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Jumpstart Advanced toddler
We bought this as a Christmas present for our son that just turned 2. We were looking for an educational computer game for him and we already had Reader Rabbit Toddler (which he loves). When I first started Jumpstart Adv. Toddler I thought it was way too simple, then I discovered that most activities have 2 levels. Level 1 is pretty basic and doesn't require the kids to do a whole lot...my son was very bored with this. Level 2 is much better...in fact it is more advanced than Reader Rabbit. Most of the activities do not require toddlers to click on the mouse, but if you can click it goes faster. I was surprised by how fast my son figured out the activities. He can do most everything by himself, but he still needs me to help him navigate some. This package comes with 3 cd's - school time, song time and art time. THe song time cd has several fun songs that he just loves. Overall I really like this game and have found it to be very educational. As soon as my son has mastered clicking the mouse we will be getting the preschool version.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster
Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster... is another real winner for all children in grades 1st-5th - like is partner - Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - this program has cute, fast paced, great music and sound three styles of arcade-like games to teach your children their math facts - no more boring math flash cards - learn math on a fast paced pinball machine, or arrange math facts for the the "burpers" or "smack" space ships and and space rocks to get correct answers to math problems - fast and fun - even for an old Grandma, me - all games are controled using the arrow keys and space bar excep to the outer space game where you shoot with a mouse - like the Spelling Bee it has over 800 pre-programmed math problems - all basic subjects are covered - addition, subtraction, muliplication, division, decimals and percentages in SIX different leveals - will auto advance at your child's own speed - on screen instructions for everything - also, like its partner, Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - you can program your child's "real" weekly math problems in to this program so they can learn their "real" weekly school math lessons in a fun arcade style of learning - you will love it for the small price tag - your children will love it for all of the fun they will have - and you will love it even more when your child brings home a A+ grade on their report card in Math. The [low price] is "right" - please buy it - once again this old Grandma is happy to be able to send my first grader, and my second grader back to school this year with this GREAT study tool. Knowledge Adventure can be very proud of these two programs ther Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster and their Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - buy them both and enjoy!
A very pleased Grandmother,
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

JumpStart Spanish a winner
My 5 year old loves her new JumpStart Spanish program. She has learned to count in spanish and her colors so far. Very fun games and rewards. She is really picking things up fast. We have not had any real computer problems, it has locked up once, but that has happened on other software as well. The sound works well. For the price I would recommend this as a beginning spanish program.

My daughter simply loves it!!!!
My 2 year old loves this set of CDs. I found that it reinforces all the things we are teaching her.... shapes, colors, numbers the ABC. The duck that sings is very sweet to their ear. I found it sooo great I am buying it for my daughter's school so the other kids can benefit as well.

Jump Start 4TH GRADE ADVANCED
I rented this software from the Library. It is a 3 disc program. My 3rd grader (almost 4th grader) loves the Ultimate Field Trips and Mystery Club volume 3. The fundamentals disc is a little too hard for her right now, so it is challenging. I played it because it looked fun and it was fun for me to play. I love the "mystery" tone of the software. I like these programs because there are fun games that do not get boring, and while your kids are playing the games, they are also learning a lot. I am going to purchase this software and the 3rd grade ADVANCED program so my child can review through the summer. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The idea behind The Sims is this: the ultimate goal of life is to achieve happiness, and the way to achieve happiness is to satisfy your Sims' needs. That's right, The Sims allows you to create, direct, and manage the lives of SimCity's residents. Each need (Hunger, Comfort, Hygiene, Bladder, Energy, Fun, Social, and Room) can be met by interaction with other Sims or objects: throw a party with the help of a rockin' stereo system, and watch your Sims' Social and Fun ratings improve. Have one of your Sims whip up some food from the refrigerator, and you'll satisfy the Hunger needs of your guests. Or have your Sim engage another Sim in a game of chess: not only will their Fun and Social moods improve, both Sims will gain some points in their Logic skill rating--which might help on the job.

Mismanage your new, simulated family, and you'll be faced with the worst of MTV's The Real World--with a touch of teenage angst drama thrown in for good measure: jealousies will ignite, fights will break out, jobs will be lost, and the house will fall apart. Bringing about such a calamity is almost as much fun as guiding these Sims to material paradise, and takes considerably less time.

A good general rule is that the more expensive the object, the better its ability to satisfy Sim needs. One gameplay goal is to improve your Sim so he or she can climb the career ladder, which nets him or her more money, which allows the purchase of higher quality stuff, which lets you improve your Sim even more. Eventually, your Sim will have a mate, kids, and a mansion with an indoor pool.

Before you decide how to fix your Sims' health and happiness, you need to craft each of your simulated people: pick a name and a gender, decide on personality/astrological sign, and then choose a look from a variety of heads, bodies, and skin tones.After the creation, the next step is to find a place to live. Again, the player can choose from among the empty houses in the neighborhood or decide to buy some land and design a dream house. Building houses is a blast, and the easy-to-use house design interface could almost be its own game: players design the floor plan, put up walls, pick carpet, wallpaper, and siding, and fill the house with furniture, decorations, fixtures, and appliances. You're limited only by your imagination--and your Sims' pocketbook. But the choices you make in designing and decorating your Sims' house are vital.

Triumph or tragedy, each significant event in a Sim's life is captured in a snapshot and saved in a photo album for later viewing. Players can also take photos any time they wish. The photo album feature is cool by itself, but the best part is that you can upload the album to www.thesims.com and share your Sims' sagas with the world. Entire families can also be uploaded and downloaded, as can houses. Want to re-create and manage your own version of Friends? Download the free face and body editor and make Sim clones of Ross, Rachel, and the rest. Want to go really crazy and perfectly re-create the set? Snag the free wall and floor texture editor. With The Sims, you can create whatever--and whomever--you desire.

Toying with the lives, successes, and emotional states of dozens of little Sims is undeniably fun. In the same way that SimCity players develop a condescending attitude toward real-world city planners, The Sims players will begin to see life as a series of needs-satisfying challenges; the game gets in your head. But that's OK: limitless gameplay, endless variety, cool Internet features, and the ability to play matchmaker/landlord/counselor/God makes The Sims a great way to increase your own Fun score. --Mike Fehlauer

Pros:

• Unique, addictive, fun gameplay
• Included photo album feature records triumphs and tragedies
• Free uploads and downloads expand the game and allow swapping with other players
• Sims are smart--it's sometimes best to just let them act on their own

• Addictive gameplay may cause loss of sleep, job
• Complex behavioral modeling program--requires serious computing power
• No pets other than fish

Reviews (91)

Addictive fun for a wide range of ages
I bought the Sims for my 16-year-old daughter for Christmas. Both she and my 20-year-old son home from college for the holidays have had a blast with it. They've both played it individually for so many hours that it's already paid for itself. When they sit down together with it, the comments and laughter that flow from them are a delight. I have spent a bit of time with it, mostly creating and recreating a house (I made it so big the first time that I had no money left over to buy a toilet - my Sim would not have lasted long, I think....). You buy or create your own house and furnish it; create your character(s) [physical aspects, personality]; see to their needs, have them do all sorts of things from dance to tickle to take a shower and get a job. In addition, the computer generates random events (burglars, for example, and visits by other Sim characters). It's a pretty complex and involving game. In fact, be sure that you have enough RAM to play it properly (it works smoothly on my PowerPC 8600 and my son's G3 powerbook, but I'm having to buy additional memory for my daughter's iMac). My one complaint is that you have to have the CD in your machine in order to play, which means only one person can use the game at a time; I assume this is essesntially copy-protection, but does the manufacturer really expect you to buy the game separately for eachperson in a single family? I do highly recommend the game.

No Downloads Available
This game has been a hit seller with the PC and it is a truely fun game for all ages. Ive been playing the PC version and there are a lot of fan sites/third party sites where you can download new clothing for your sims, new furniture, new floors and wall paper designs all created by people and third parties. Its amazing what people can come up with! The only downside to this Mac version is that all these things you can download for your game, are only available for the PC version. I tried downloading some on my iMac, but they are simply PC files and will not work with the Mac version. Because of this you are stuck with the clothes and floors that come with the game. Im not saying there is anything wrong with the games included furniture, clothes and wallpaper, its just that you could expand the games possibilities more with these downloads. Even the "official" downloadable objects from Maxis are not even available yet. Maxis and Aspyr are currently working on this.

So this is not to stop you from buying the game, it is just to inform you that the Mac version of the Sims may not be as expandible as the PC version.

Depressing game
Yes, the Sims can be pretty addictive. You're trapped in suburbia, with all the daily concerns that go with that: you have to remember to take the trash out, go to work, clear up, take a shower, network with the neighbours, and pee. It's impossible, once you've created these people, not to mind what happens to them -- I felt pretty awful when they threatened to take my Sims baby into care. But on another level, it all seems deeply trivial. In that sense, it's like the worst of real life -- not really what I want from a fantasy game. I like games which have a bit of glamour, and which offer me the chance of something I don't have in real life -- like World Domination, for instance. I'm also too ambitious for the purposelessness of the Sims: I want to be able to make progress and eventually win -- there's no such thing as winning in this game. If the idea of controlling people on the most microscopic level is enough for you, you may find the Sims fun. If you want to control people, but you also want to dream of a different kind of life, and if you're interested in politics and town planning as well as the domestic/suburban idyll, you're better off with Age of Empires, Caesar III (if only they made Caesar IV), Tropico, or Civilization.

The sims is an excellent game
The sims is a unique and fun game which you would probanly love.You can create a person and move them into a house.This game allows you to control the lives of a number of Sims and direct their daily interactions down to very minute detail.This is a really great game and you'll have hours and hours of fun.I have some other sim games and I love them all! The sims is such a fun game to play. You can't lose or win. It's like real life. You get to choose what your sims moods are and what they're appearance will look like. You can even create a sim that looks like yourself and control your own life in the sims. This game is the coolest game I have ever boughten.

A Great Computer Game
The Sims is a great computer game, but it does not suffice for all your computer-gaming needs. You'll need another game to switch off with it when it gets old. I have Age of Empires II to play when I get sick of it, and then when I'm sick of Age of Empires I switch back to The Sims! ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Jumpstart Advanced toddler
We bought this as a Christmas present for our son that just turned 2. We were looking for an educational computer game for him and we already had Reader Rabbit Toddler (which he loves). When I first started Jumpstart Adv. Toddler I thought it was way too simple, then I discovered that most activities have 2 levels. Level 1 is pretty basic and doesn't require the kids to do a whole lot...my son was very bored with this. Level 2 is much better...in fact it is more advanced than Reader Rabbit. Most of the activities do not require toddlers to click on the mouse, but if you can click it goes faster. I was surprised by how fast my son figured out the activities. He can do most everything by himself, but he still needs me to help him navigate some. This package comes with 3 cd's - school time, song time and art time. THe song time cd has several fun songs that he just loves. Overall I really like this game and have found it to be very educational. As soon as my son has mastered clicking the mouse we will be getting the preschool version.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster
Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster... is another real winner for all children in grades 1st-5th - like is partner - Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - this program has cute, fast paced, great music and sound three styles of arcade-like games to teach your children their math facts - no more boring math flash cards - learn math on a fast paced pinball machine, or arrange math facts for the the "burpers" or "smack" space ships and and space rocks to get correct answers to math problems - fast and fun - even for an old Grandma, me - all games are controled using the arrow keys and space bar excep to the outer space game where you shoot with a mouse - like the Spelling Bee it has over 800 pre-programmed math problems - all basic subjects are covered - addition, subtraction, muliplication, division, decimals and percentages in SIX different leveals - will auto advance at your child's own speed - on screen instructions for everything - also, like its partner, Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - you can program your child's "real" weekly math problems in to this program so they can learn their "real" weekly school math lessons in a fun arcade style of learning - you will love it for the small price tag - your children will love it for all of the fun they will have - and you will love it even more when your child brings home a A+ grade on their report card in Math. The [low price] is "right" - please buy it - once again this old Grandma is happy to be able to send my first grader, and my second grader back to school this year with this GREAT study tool. Knowledge Adventure can be very proud of these two programs ther Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster and their Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - buy them both and enjoy!
A very pleased Grandmother,
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

JumpStart Spanish a winner
My 5 year old loves her new JumpStart Spanish program. She has learned to count in spanish and her colors so far. Very fun games and rewards. She is really picking things up fast. We have not had any real computer problems, it has locked up once, but that has happened on other software as well. The sound works well. For the price I would recommend this as a beginning spanish program.

My daughter simply loves it!!!!
My 2 year old loves this set of CDs. I found that it reinforces all the things we are teaching her.... shapes, colors, numbers the ABC. The duck that sings is very sweet to their ear. I found it sooo great I am buying it for my daughter's school so the other kids can benefit as well.

Jump Start 4TH GRADE ADVANCED
I rented this software from the Library. It is a 3 disc program. My 3rd grader (almost 4th grader) loves the Ultimate Field Trips and Mystery Club volume 3. The fundamentals disc is a little too hard for her right now, so it is challenging. I played it because it looked fun and it was fun for me to play. I love the "mystery" tone of the software. I like these programs because there are fun games that do not get boring, and while your kids are playing the games, they are also learning a lot. I am going to purchase this software and the 3rd grade ADVANCED program so my child can review through the summer. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Jumpstart Advanced toddler
We bought this as a Christmas present for our son that just turned 2. We were looking for an educational computer game for him and we already had Reader Rabbit Toddler (which he loves). When I first started Jumpstart Adv. Toddler I thought it was way too simple, then I discovered that most activities have 2 levels. Level 1 is pretty basic and doesn't require the kids to do a whole lot...my son was very bored with this. Level 2 is much better...in fact it is more advanced than Reader Rabbit. Most of the activities do not require toddlers to click on the mouse, but if you can click it goes faster. I was surprised by how fast my son figured out the activities. He can do most everything by himself, but he still needs me to help him navigate some. This package comes with 3 cd's - school time, song time and art time. THe song time cd has several fun songs that he just loves. Overall I really like this game and have found it to be very educational. As soon as my son has mastered clicking the mouse we will be getting the preschool version.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster
Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster... is another real winner for all children in grades 1st-5th - like is partner - Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - this program has cute, fast paced, great music and sound three styles of arcade-like games to teach your children their math facts - no more boring math flash cards - learn math on a fast paced pinball machine, or arrange math facts for the the "burpers" or "smack" space ships and and space rocks to get correct answers to math problems - fast and fun - even for an old Grandma, me - all games are controled using the arrow keys and space bar excep to the outer space game where you shoot with a mouse - like the Spelling Bee it has over 800 pre-programmed math problems - all basic subjects are covered - addition, subtraction, muliplication, division, decimals and percentages in SIX different leveals - will auto advance at your child's own speed - on screen instructions for everything - also, like its partner, Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - you can program your child's "real" weekly math problems in to this program so they can learn their "real" weekly school math lessons in a fun arcade style of learning - you will love it for the small price tag - your children will love it for all of the fun they will have - and you will love it even more when your child brings home a A+ grade on their report card in Math. The [low price] is "right" - please buy it - once again this old Grandma is happy to be able to send my first grader, and my second grader back to school this year with this GREAT study tool. Knowledge Adventure can be very proud of these two programs ther Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster and their Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - buy them both and enjoy!
A very pleased Grandmother,
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

JumpStart Spanish a winner
My 5 year old loves her new JumpStart Spanish program. She has learned to count in spanish and her colors so far. Very fun games and rewards. She is really picking things up fast. We have not had any real computer problems, it has locked up once, but that has happened on other software as well. The sound works well. For the price I would recommend this as a beginning spanish program.

My daughter simply loves it!!!!
My 2 year old loves this set of CDs. I found that it reinforces all the things we are teaching her.... shapes, colors, numbers the ABC. The duck that sings is very sweet to their ear. I found it sooo great I am buying it for my daughter's school so the other kids can benefit as well.

Jump Start 4TH GRADE ADVANCED
I rented this software from the Library. It is a 3 disc program. My 3rd grader (almost 4th grader) loves the Ultimate Field Trips and Mystery Club volume 3. The fundamentals disc is a little too hard for her right now, so it is challenging. I played it because it looked fun and it was fun for me to play. I love the "mystery" tone of the software. I like these programs because there are fun games that do not get boring, and while your kids are playing the games, they are also learning a lot. I am going to purchase this software and the 3rd grade ADVANCED program so my child can review through the summer. ... Read more

Features

• It has many different options that will appeal to players of all skill levels
• For the novice, it has a tutorial that covers every aspect of the game
• They can also use the Hand Editor features to practice bidding with specific hands
• Deal yourself millions of hands for practice or just for fun
• If you're ever confused about what to bid, check out the Hint Mode to help you decide

Reviews (44)

Jumpstart Advanced toddler
We bought this as a Christmas present for our son that just turned 2. We were looking for an educational computer game for him and we already had Reader Rabbit Toddler (which he loves). When I first started Jumpstart Adv. Toddler I thought it was way too simple, then I discovered that most activities have 2 levels. Level 1 is pretty basic and doesn't require the kids to do a whole lot...my son was very bored with this. Level 2 is much better...in fact it is more advanced than Reader Rabbit. Most of the activities do not require toddlers to click on the mouse, but if you can click it goes faster. I was surprised by how fast my son figured out the activities. He can do most everything by himself, but he still needs me to help him navigate some. This package comes with 3 cd's - school time, song time and art time. THe song time cd has several fun songs that he just loves. Overall I really like this game and have found it to be very educational. As soon as my son has mastered clicking the mouse we will be getting the preschool version.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster
Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster... is another real winner for all children in grades 1st-5th - like is partner - Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - this program has cute, fast paced, great music and sound three styles of arcade-like games to teach your children their math facts - no more boring math flash cards - learn math on a fast paced pinball machine, or arrange math facts for the the "burpers" or "smack" space ships and and space rocks to get correct answers to math problems - fast and fun - even for an old Grandma, me - all games are controled using the arrow keys and space bar excep to the outer space game where you shoot with a mouse - like the Spelling Bee it has over 800 pre-programmed math problems - all basic subjects are covered - addition, subtraction, muliplication, division, decimals and percentages in SIX different leveals - will auto advance at your child's own speed - on screen instructions for everything - also, like its partner, Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - you can program your child's "real" weekly math problems in to this program so they can learn their "real" weekly school math lessons in a fun arcade style of learning - you will love it for the small price tag - your children will love it for all of the fun they will have - and you will love it even more when your child brings home a A+ grade on their report card in Math. The [low price] is "right" - please buy it - once again this old Grandma is happy to be able to send my first grader, and my second grader back to school this year with this GREAT study tool. Knowledge Adventure can be very proud of these two programs ther Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster and their Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - buy them both and enjoy!
A very pleased Grandmother,
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

JumpStart Spanish a winner
My 5 year old loves her new JumpStart Spanish program. She has learned to count in spanish and her colors so far. Very fun games and rewards. She is really picking things up fast. We have not had any real computer problems, it has locked up once, but that has happened on other software as well. The sound works well. For the price I would recommend this as a beginning spanish program.

My daughter simply loves it!!!!
My 2 year old loves this set of CDs. I found that it reinforces all the things we are teaching her.... shapes, colors, numbers the ABC. The duck that sings is very sweet to their ear. I found it sooo great I am buying it for my daughter's school so the other kids can benefit as well.

Jump Start 4TH GRADE ADVANCED
I rented this software from the Library. It is a 3 disc program. My 3rd grader (almost 4th grader) loves the Ultimate Field Trips and Mystery Club volume 3. The fundamentals disc is a little too hard for her right now, so it is challenging. I played it because it looked fun and it was fun for me to play. I love the "mystery" tone of the software. I like these programs because there are fun games that do not get boring, and while your kids are playing the games, they are also learning a lot. I am going to purchase this software and the 3rd grade ADVANCED program so my child can review through the summer. ... Read more

Features

• An award-winning, twisted, sci-fi story, filled with complex characters and cunning enemies
• Fight on foot, in vehicles, in the air, and beneath the surface of an orbiting alien ring
• Intense 16-player, online PC/Mac battles; new weapons, maps, and vehicles
• Increased precision of obliterating the Covenant swarms with a mouse and keyboard
• Play as a single-player or take the battle online with gamers all over the world

Reviews (27)

Mediocre
With all the praise that preceded the Mac release of Halo, and having only very briefly played with the Xbox version, I eagerly awaited my chance to see what all the fuss was about. Sadly, my only reaction has been one of disappointment.

Once the technical novelty wore off, the single player missions quickly became tedious and repetitive, the plot - supposedly a highlight - unengaging and banal (even by game standards). I could barely bring myself to finish the game once, let alone consider playing it over again.

Multiplayer fares slightly better - vehicles in particular are a novel and welcome addition, creating an interesting multiplayer dynamic. However, at the time of writing I've stuggled to find a decent server playing something other than boring 'Slayer' deathmatches.

Performance wise, Halo is reasonably playable at 896x600 with medium detail on my 1.25GHz PowerBook G4 (1GB RAM, Radeon 9600), but is nevertheless somewhat sluggish compared to other similar Mac games such as UT2K3 and America's Army.

Good and Bad
Well, I was quite honestly expecting more. But then again, it is Microsoft... The story mode is fun for awhile, but the multiplayer never gets old, that is if you actually find a good server that does lag too much and doesn't have too many 13-year-old kids shooting teammates. On my dual 1.42GHz MDD G4 with 512 and an ATI Radeon 9000 Pro card, the framerate still dips down to unplayable levels. Unreal 2003 looks much more detailed and I have never had the framerate slow down, even online. It's still fun to play though. If you're a Halo fan and don't have an XBOX, think about the purchase, but only if you have a FAST Mac.

I can run it on my iBook
I don't get why everyone can't seem to run Halo very well on all these high end machines. I can run the single player without lag on low/medium graphics on my 800MHz G3 640MB RAM. I can even run the multiplayer on medium/high graphics. I can run it better than my roomates 2GHz pc. I guess you just have to fool around with the settings and find the one that works.

You do need a fast connection to play the multiplayer though.

One if the Best
When I heard Halo was coming out for Mac i was syched, this was going to be one of the biggest releases for the Mac ever,and i was right Halo is One of the best Mac titles ever released. Story plot is excellent graphics are great the game is fun the multiplayer is good but there is a lot of lag. I run it on a G4 1.25 GHZ 140 gb HD with a ATI Radeon 9200 and it works fine. And i dont know what some people are talking about with problems with game requirments..i just bought a 1.25GHz PowerPC G4 256MB DDR333 SDRAM 80GB Ultra ATA driveSuperDrive ATI Radeon 9200 i souped it up thought with a 140 GB HD and 1 GB DDR333 SDRAM. I already had halo before i got my computer...i popped that game in before any thing else and it worked smoother that any game before. I'v used about 40 gb of psace on my hd and it still runs like magic. The person with the G5 2 ghz i dont no what the problem is.

whoops...
In reference to my review posted earlier today: That's a 1.25GHz G4 processor, folks. The "1.25MHz" spec that I gave for my computer was, obviously, a typo. My apologies... ... Read more

Features

• You are the commanding general in this strategic realtime game of modern day warfare
• 3 sides to choose from: USA, China, or the GLA terrorist group
• Tons of modern warfare vehicles, equipment and weapons
• Each side has unique characters, weapons, and vehicles
• For 1 player, or multi-player over Internet

Reviews (5)

runs ok for me
Bought it after playing the demo. it runs well even on my eMac 700, but i do have it maxed out. 160GB Hard Drive and a Gig of memory. note to anyone with same type of machine/processor who wants to buy this game, set all the graphics to the lowest settings. you still get decent eye candy, but i did notice that with the factory setting, the building construction seems cooler on highest and lowest settings. also, when you use the ultimate weapon for either team, you don't see the Big explosion, but for me on loss. I bought it for the amount of thinking you need to do.

Way too High!
Well... while C&CG is a solid game... it has major faults, the first being the requirments being far too high. My 800 Mhz can barely run it (yes, technicly the game needs 1 Ghz.. but that is insane, as the 800 i have is still a top notch machine), and my dads 1 Ghz machine is not much better (and is less than a month or two old).
As for the game itself... while the graphics are nice, gameplay solid, the AI sucks... not even providing a challange for me on the highest settings. However, multiplayer is a redeming factor, saving the game.

Demo review, be warned
Might be slow. Be warned, I played the Demo on my Power book G4 12 inch (with 1Ghz processor and 1.25GB RAM). It ran fine, just slow. Also, the graphics aren't as good as Warcraft III. I think you would need a G5 to play this and enjoy it, so perhaps this is one for the Hard Core C&C fans out there.

"The Best Game Ever"
This game is the best game I have ever played. I played it on the PC and It is great. I can't wait for this game to come to the mac. I love war games and I played a lot of war games and this is my favorite war game ever.

Should be called "Age of Generals"
First off, the reason it should be called "Age Of Generals". The older Command and Conquer games, for the PC, had a very unique gameplay type and interface that is hard to explain, while Generals is more like your average strategy game, such as Age Of Empires or Warcraft. Also, the money system has changed from the older games.

Now, to the reviewing. WHile it is different from the older Command and COnquers which i lvoe so much, IT IS BETTER THAN ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've played it for PC and it may turn out a bit different for the Mac, but it would probably only be visually different. Choose form 3 unigue armies; The United States of America, The People's Republic of China, and, my favorite, The Global Liberation Army.
the GLA is my fav because I love their cheap disposable units ((i like big armies :) )) and the fact that they don't need power for the buildings.
Another new feature introduced in Command and Conquer: Generals; general abilities. Similar to the God Powers in Age of Mythology, each army has a different set of unique abilities; these abilities can upgrade or battle-harden units,give you new types of units, give you special super weapons, and special sneaky attacks((like China's artillery strike or GLA's Ambush)). Here is 1 example of a General ability from each army:
-USA: A-10 Strike; Up to 3 A-10 THunderbolt II fighters unload their air-to-ground missiles on a target area, devastating everything in that area.
-China: The Red Guard veteran ability gives all Red Guard units battle-hardeness, making all of those units produced start out with Veteran status.
-GLA: The Anthrax Bomb ability lets you send an old bomber to drop an anthrax-filled bomb on a large target area every 4 minutes. The bom does virtually nothing to medium-to-heavy armoured units, but instantly destroys and infanry units. It also leaves behind some disease for awhile.

Another new thing introduced is the Super weapons each side owns.
Multiple ones can be built and each fires the weapon in different amounts of time
USA: The Ion cannon is a classic of the Command and COnquer series. It is a concentrated laser beam that does damage to a small area and you can move around. Takes 2 minutes to charge.
CHINA: A nuclear missile. Thats all you need to know. Decimates everything in a large area and leaves behind a bit of radiation. Takes 5:00 to load a new missile
GLA: The SCUD storm. Fires several anthrax-loaded SCUD missiles at a target area and does medium damage to structures, kills most armoured units and all infantry. Leaves behind anthrax for a long time.
Takes 4 minutes to charge.

Command and COnquer will be the greatest thing to happen to Mac gaming ever. You guys won't know whats about to hit you. Can't wait until April 22. Peace out. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

One of the most heavily modified games around.
This game, along with being one of the greatest FPS death match games is also one of the most heavily modified games I have ever heard of. Not only is there about a billion new characters and such that have been made by various artists around the web but there are also dozens of total conversions, now if your not familiar with game modification let me explain it for you; People out there have great talent and abundant skill and make now characters for you to play as, and in most cases, play againts in bot matches. Now these people make anything from a giant snake creature to Zorak from Space Ghost: Ghost To Coast. Total conversions are completley new games that just use Quake 3 as a base to run off of. So basically you get this game and 20 others if you feel like downloading them. All mods (modifications) are free of charge, my personal fav is Bid For Power.

This bundle also includes the Q3 team arena game witch is pretty fun with multiplayer.

However, if you're looking for a really great bot match game then you would be better to get Unreal Tournament.

The multiplayer for this game is one of the most heavily populated around and you would look forward to a very long and healthy life of online fraging with this game.

Quake III Arena: AN Extreme Deathmatch
By JLOVE

When true gamers think of first-person shooters, id Software should immediately spring to mind. Who can forget classics like Castle Wolfenstein or Doom? Quake III is mainly a multiplayer deathmatch game like Unreal Tournament, but it still has a single-player mode. The single-player mode is entertaining for a little while, but the multiplayer mode is really what the game is all about. Quake III stands out from other deathmatch games for several reasons. For starters, the bots all have unique AI characteristics that cause the bots (computer players) to all behave differently. For example some bots will have better control over specific weapons or be prone to different defensive moves like ducking a lot. Another cool feature of Quake III Arena is the detailed textures of the level design. Simply put, the textures just look good. Especially outstanding are the animated curved surfaces. But this artwork is just eye candy for the careful planning that went into each level design. You'll probably develop your own favorite level that will eat hours away from your life (Deck 16 from Unreal Tournament is my weakness), but each level is fun to play. If you love deathmatch and have played Unreal Tournament one too many times, Quake III is the game for you...

The BEST FPS game EVER!!
I've played lots of FPS games: Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Quake I & II, the DOOM series, Unreal, the AvP series(which is awesome), Wolfenstein, Deus Ex(also awesome), etc. You name it, I've probably played it...but QUAKE III wears the crown for most badass straight-up FPS game. Very intense and lots of fun. And the online Capture the Flag games are highly addicting. This game is about 3 years old and I'm still waiting for someone to top it! DEFINATELY WORTH THE MONEY!!

plz ship one game to germany!!!
Hi,
I know this game and I'm 25 years old. It is not offered at german amazon or ebay. So, I even will fax a copy of my pass and drivers license if its necessary. Above that I will pay the full according shipping taxes of course. My E-Mail-Adress is A.Paus@gmx.de. Please contace me !!
mfG Alexander Paus

Quake 3 is still the best!
Quake 3's DeathMatch and CTF cannot be compared. It's got the best graphics and physics of any FPS - much better than recent games like UT2K3 and BF:1942. If you want extremely intense action with superb physics and perfectly balanced weapons, Quake 3 is for you. It has tons of mods, tons of servers, and a huge community. It's easily the best first person shooter in the history of gaming and still remains the king.

Read the FiringSquad review - which covers the game best - in summary:

"So what does Quake 3 give you? It's quite simple: the utter refinement of deathmatch, and the ultimate multiplayer shooter experience - nothing more, nothing less. " -- Dennis "Thresh" Fong

... ... Read more

Features

• Explore the kingdom and discover 7 arcade-style games
• Explanations on everything from chess basics to master strategies
• Experience the Intelligym, a training ground for future chess pros
• Designed with highly-rated chess software
• Suitable for players of all levels

Product Description

Homeworld 2 ... Read more

Features

• Online and LAN multiplayer option for up to 6 players
• Sequel to the groundbreaking 3-D real-time space strategy game Homeworld
• Enhanced visuals, richer tactics and strategic gameplay
• Fight amongst nebulas, dust clouds, drifting space hulks, asteroids, and debris
• Build your fleet and engage in 3-D space combat

Reviews (4)

Plot is Weak, But Gameplay Is Unique
I'm an RTS (Real-Time-Strategy) fan, and am quickly getting bored of the same old games being rehashed as either a StarCraft or Age of Empires clone.But to my delight I found Homeworld 2 a very unique gaming experience: 3-D!I downloaded the anemic demo, and was surprised to find that the game is more extensive, although not extremely hard.The hot-key and mouse (my best purchase for my Mac was a two key mouse--you should get one anyway!) input has a high learning curve, but once you get it, you'll find it was worth the wait.
The disadvantage is that there are few HW2 games posted on GameRanger...I hope to see that change once the word gets out that Homeworld 2 is a refreshing game in a genre that is full of "copycats."

Does not work on Mac OS X 10.4
Great game! Unfortunately it does not work on Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and there are no patches available from Aspyr yet (as of May 2005). I had to set up a second partition on which I installed Mac OS X 10.3 just to play this game. However, HW2 is totally worth it. I played the original Homeworld back in 1999 and also Homeworld Catalyst. Homeworld 2 boasts a new in-game menu interface which does not look as nice as I would have expected from Relic but is easier to use and more effective than the menus in the original Homeworld. Missions are more difficult now. This can be frustrating at times but also makes sure you play the game for a long time.

Good Port Solid Game
I would first like to commend ASPYR for their awsome port over to Mac, with some of their games I find they didn't do a good jo or left things out, not in this case. The graphics are top notch and the enviroments are absolutly gourgeous. As for the story it could do better and the gameplay does get a little repetetive but the way the engine works is absolutley awsome. Another problem with the gameplay is(and I know making a 3D universe for a RTS is difficult) I found the camera angles to sometimes get a bit annoying and often made me use the sensors to play the game (sensors are kinda like the mega map). Overall though it's a top notch title and a top notch port.

Review for the Alaska Apple Users Group
Homeworld 2 is sequel to PC Gamer's 1999 Game of the Year, which was never officially released on the Macintosh (...). Like it's predecessor, Homeworld 2 is a stunningly beautiful strategy game driven by an enthralling and moving story. The innovative 3D approach inspired a series of similar games for Windows, but this is, fittingly, the first to make it to the Mac.

Long after the events of the first game, the Hiigaran people find themselves once again in a prophetic war of galactic-scale. The plot is captivating and does a phenomenal job of tying the individual missions together. The story unfolds through smoothly integrated scripted action with in-game dialog and complementary cut scenes between missions. The latter do not detract from the atmosphere either - they are uniquely artistic with simply animated grayscale visuals.

There is no overstating it: this game is stunning. The nebular backgrounds are lit by nearby stars, fighters leave elegant trails as they maneuver, engines glow ominously, and stylish ship hulls are dramatically lit. Even the violence of weapons, fire, and explosions are stunning.

It even sounds as good as it looks. Homeworld had an award-winning soundtrack and the sequel has a great one too. Sound effects are high quality and active stereo makes you really feel a part of the action. Orders from fleet intelligence and fleet command are well acted and the responses from your ships are varied enough to prevent annoyance.

You command the fleet to victory from the mothership with few allies and a determined foe. The basic mechanics of the game are like most strategy games. You have to harvest resources in order to research new technologies and build more ships to help you achieve victory. The sci-fi environment and plot tie-ins even make that model seem more natural and less tedious than in most strategy titles.

Unlike other games in the genre, the action unfolds in true 3D space. You can - and must - maneuver vertically as well as laterally. This makes battles much more interesting. There is still "terrain" to be exploited in the form meteors that can provide cover and clouds that can be harmful or hide from the enemy. All of this makes the tactical play very unique.

As difficult as the number of units and 3D environment could be to control, Homeworld's approach made it pretty simple and the sequel is even more so. By automatically forming squadrons of fighters, for example, you don't have to worry about banding dozens of individual units. The interface makes selecting ships, assigning formations, and issuing move and attack orders easy. A tactical view makes seeing the big picture a snap and moving vertically is as simple as holding a single key.

There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get started you're likely to be hooked for a while. Even after completing the single player missions (which should take some time) you can replay them to improve your fleet or try a different tactic.

Though multiplayer games are a lot of fun, they are restricted to other Mac users only, since the Windows version uses GameSpy. That also leaves the Mac version without a built-in game browser. Though supported by GameRanger (...), not a lot of people are playing online yet. You also have the option of playing multiplayer games against one or several computer controlled fleets just to test yourself. Realistically though, most of the replay value comes from repeating the campaign missions.

Homeworld 2 is an impressive game. Missions load very quickly and performance is great even near the low-end. Despite it's level of detail I was able to turn the graphics all the way up on a machine that drags Halo and Battlefield 1942 through the dirt without suffering a performance hit until literally hundreds of spacecraft were visible.

Homeworld 2 is a must have for any strategy gamers out there. I highly recommend it for anyone with an attention span longer than ten minutes and an interest in space, science fiction, or who just wants to see something beautiful on their screen. But as Lavar Burton says, "you don't have to take my word for it." (...) ... Read more

Features

• Smart, popular chess software
• Learn how to play like a master
• Incredible 3-D sets, boards, and backgrounds
• Tons of features to improve learning
• For 1 or 2 players

Book Description

What's been missing in your Sims' family life? Pets of course! For the first time ever, The Sims Unleashed will give your Sims the chance to add a furry friend to the family. Visit the pet store to pick a dog or cat for your Sims. Then run their pet lives and fulfill their pet needs as you increase the fun and social life of the whole Sim household. Housebreak your pets; train them to do tricks; play with them; buy them toys, treats, and accessories; and do your best to keep them from destroying the whole house! Your Sims will have plenty to do while taking care of their pets. An expanded neighborhood with 30 additional residential lots and five community lots featuring parks, cafés, and a vegetable market will give your Sims and their pets a variety of places to meet their neighbors.

Note: This is an expansion for The Sims, and requires a copy of The Sims to play. ... Read more

Features

• Add a pet to your Sims family: visit the pet store and adopt a dog, a cat or another pet
• Expanded neighborhood with 30 new residential lots and five community lots featuring parks, a cafe, shops and market
• Fifty new jobs in five new careers: Animal Care, Culinary, Circus, Fashion, or Education
• 125+ new items: grow a harvest of vegetables in the Vegetable Garden or get soaked trying to wash your pet in the Pet Bath
• This expansion pack requires full The Sims game to play

Reviews (20)

The sims in New Orleans?
I won't waste your time by re-stating what was already said in the review below mine, which gives a run down of everything in the game. Instead, I will tell you what I enjoyed the most out of this expansion pack.

After examining screenshots and playing Unleashed on a PC, I must tell you that in my opinion, Unleashed is the best expansion yet! I was not looking foreward to having pets, the whole idea seemed silly to me, but I enjoyed the furry little things after a while, even though they can be a little annoying.

So, with Unleashed comes all the objects I have been needing to make grand houses, spiral staircases (in metal and wood) new windows and doors, shutters, new decor and some really nice wrought iron fencing. However, all of these things have a touch of the New Orleans style to them, and the wrought iron fencing, that looks like it just came out of the French Quarter! Not that I object since I spend most of my time making grand plantation style mansions for my sims to live in.

Not only is there just decor to make me think that this expansion is based off of the dark and mysterious streets of New Orleans, in Olde Town you can find a fortune teller who will read tarot cards, masks, to make a Mardi Gras celebration perhaps??, and a charming cafe scene.

I also must say that having a HUGE new neighborhood is a perk. I was getting a bit sick of the old lots, and now I have a chance to explore totally new house lots and community lots, which is like getting a new version of the Sims!

If you haven't already ordered this expansion, I highly reccomend it, if only to give your sims pets, gardening and beautiful new objects. Maxis and Aspyr have really outdone themselves on this one!

Wahoo! Pets? Who would belive it?
Ok. Bad things first. NO LARGE PETS! I personaly love horses so that is a downside. But........... The animals are adorable. what sim could live without PETS? What I think is although it is slow to start with, you redownload it, its lightning quick, and you love the game. ahh well. on a scale of 1-10, 10 being best, here are a few things that I think are significant:
graphics-10_same as usual, love the same
speed-9_slow at first. speedy later

ok... that's it. I know I wasn't very helpful on what you do in the game.. it's just... almost every other one does. well.... not really but there are a few. Please get it....... its worth every penny.
cuteness-10+
nessecity for you to buy it-10
price-10

ps only get it if you are a sims fan

The Sim's Unleashed
Tataly Awsome game dude.
My sims liked the cats and birds best. The dogs kept trying to bite their shoes.
Totaly Radical. Dude.

The Sims Unleashed
I loved this game.
I thought that the fish were boring but, I liked the rest.

Cool!
I love this game every time i get a chance I get on the computer and play it but it has two bad parts about it 1)you have to wait until every memeber of the house gets back from either work or school and 2) you can't control the pets at all but u can get them to move. I would of gave this game a 4.2 but that doesn't exist on Amazon so I gave it a 5 ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Go on an epic adventure of math and logic with the Zoombinis Logical Journey and Zoombinis Mountain Rescue educational software titles. Embark on a dangerous quest to a new Zoombini homeland and learn critical logic and mathematical thinking skills. Trek across treacherous terrain strewn with perilous mind-bending puzzles. Learn important life skills such as deductive reasoning, pattern recognition, hypothesis testing, and more, while leading the Zoombinis to freedom. These entertaining adventures are a journey into the math of the information age. Develop the cognitive mathematical thinking skills used in writing computer programs, organizing spreadsheet data, and searching for information on computer networks. ... 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

Features

• Teaches essentials skills like arithmetic and logic
• 11 engaging activities and 3 unique adventures
• 3 levels of play automatically adjust to child¿s progress
• Starring popular characters and voices from hit TV show
• Automatic help allows for independent play; for ages 3 and up

Features

• Expansion to Sims 4 allows god-like control over city infrastructure
• Players take complete individual control of roads, rail, air, waterways, and even vehicles
• Choose from modern European or three historical architectural eras
• Introduce new disasters into your city
• For 1 player

Amazon.com Product Description

Toddlers ages 1 to 3 experience the joy of learning with Reader Rabbit and friends. From hide-and-seek to peek-a-boo games or playing with onscreen blocks, drawing crayons, and more, this title's delightful characters come to life onscreen and create an enchanting learning environment for toddlers. No mouse clicking or other computer skills are required; toddlers strike any key to move the activities along. Plus, a new Dreamship activity filled with funny sounds and silly animations promises to amuse even the tiniest of tots.

Reader Rabbit Toddler 2002 is part of the award-winning Reader Rabbit children's educational software series. Toddlers discover a world of fun characters, interesting shapes, and colorful graphics in the CD-ROM's 20 interactive play areas. They'll also delight in this title's memorable sing-along tunes and fun printable activities.

To ensure that you're never without Reader Rabbit, Reader Rabbit Toddler 2002 comes with a special bonus CD-ROM, Reader Rabbit's Dreamship Tales. Bursting with added activities, videos, tunes, and more than 100 printable games and activities, it's a great way to keep the fun going after you've turned off the computer. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

No regrets on this purchase!
I bought this software based on others' reviews here. What a great buy! Our son turned 2 last month. We have an old iMac we gave him, and we thought we'd buy him Reader Rabbit to introduce him to computer use since he's taken an unhealthy interest in ours. The software installed easily, and by default makes itself start up when the computer turns on to save children from having to navigate program menus. The first time we sat our son in front of it he laughed and squealed and couldn't get enough of it. Since the software can be operated without a keyboard, we removed it (he was banging on it pretty hard), and he just navigates his way through everything with just the mouse. His favorite games are the Bubble Castle and the Fingerplay Theatre. Our son is behind in his language skills, and at the end of the first day (thanks to bubble castle) he could count to five! The best part though is the overwhelming cuteness of Fingerplay Theatre. He clicks a song, such as Twinkle-twinkle, and follows the rabbit's hand motions on the screen and then goes wild at the end clapping his hands and screaming YAY. I really could go on and on here, but let me summarize by saying after one week of Reader Rabbit, he knows more about colors, counting, alphabet and songs than he's learned in months of baby einstein videos. Best twenty bucks I've ever spent. Two technical shortcomings, but I'm reaching: There should be a "sleep" mode when he walks away from it and leaves it on, and possibly a way to disable the exit star (he sometimes clicks it by accident and inadvertently leaves the program).

Best toddler software I've found
We've tried Pooh Toddler, Little Bear, JumpStart and a handful of other toddler geared software and Reader Rabbit has been the favorite of both myself and my son. It's easy to skip the intros (which are short anyway) and get straight to the game; it works for a wide range of toddler skills; and it has activities appropriate to a toddler's attention span, namely short and colorful without being overly abrasive. Some of the games have more of a point than others ("can you find three matching animals?" vs. "pick a song!") but they can all be triggered by 1) point and click 2) mouse over or 3) random key pounding. This has been great for my son (who didn't get the whole mouse thing until he was 2 1/2) and means that no game is too advanced to key pound your way through. There are about eight different games on the main disc; you can pick a song to sing, match animal babies to their parents, place shapes to complete a picture, and match letter sounds to pictures -- among other things. I really like that a lot of the short tasks are rewarded with a *short* song and animation piece -- not great art, but not annoying, either. And my son loves them.

I will warn that the alphabet and the shape game can be frustrating if they accidently pick up a letter/shape on mouse over because it then has to be placed with the mouse -- random key pounding won't unstick it. Also, my son was prone to accidently bringing up the menu through key pounding and I'd have to come and fix it.

Finally, I've had the old and new versions of RR Toddler; the new one has a second disc which my son had zero interest in. On the main disc there are a few asthetic changes and a dreamship game in a completely different section, which my son loves but which has no real education value and is a little harder to access. On the good side, the new Reader Rabbit *seems* to run just fine on Mac OS X so I don't have to run 9 to get it to work. Hooray! (BTW, Little Bear Toddler has the same point and click/mouse over/random keys function, but I don't think it's as fun. The games that *require* mouse skills in toddlers have gotten shoved in the closet.)

The BEST first software program
After trying several different software programs for toddlers (including JumpStart Toddlers), I really believe this is the only way to go for the first program. The games are controlled by keyboard and mouse, so children who don't yet understand mouse movement can make the game work. When using the mouse, simply rolling over the correct part of the screen will activate the game. There are a variety of games that will improve computer skills gradually. Even after learning to point, click, and drag, my son still loves this game. My only complaint about the game is that I wish the star "button" which takes you back to the main menu is at the bottom right corner of the screen and too close to other pieces on many games. The fact that you only have to pause over the star, not click it, to return to the main menu meant that, until his mouse skills improved, my son was constantly accidently exiting a game in progress. I'd move the star to the upper right or left corner. But that is my only complaint. This is a fantastic product.

Reader Rabbit Toddler
After a bit of research, we bought this as the first computer software for our 1 year old daughter, and she just loves it. It keeps her occupied and laughing for long periods. First she was fascinated by the keyboard banging and the reactions she could cause. By 16 months she had mastered the concepts of mouse clicking and dragging objects and moving around. By 20 months she was an expert in all the games, starts and stops the program herself, and navigates to where she wants to play. This program is also educational as well as fun. She learned her numbers, colors, shapes, animal sounds, songs in large part through this software. While she is now 22 months and has moved on to a bit more advanced programs, she still goes back and enjoys playing these games quite frequently. This was a most excellent purchase. It was a very positive experience for her, not much frustration, in fact she kept pushing us away when we tried to help and show her things, she wanted to figure them out on her own. The computer has easily become her favorite toy, and the family has to fight with her just to get time of their own. I recommend this without hesitation, it is better by far than anything else I've seen for a baby/toddler starter program.

Too easy!
We bought this game for our 2-1/2 yr old last week and found that the games are too simple, the long instructions are annoying and can't be turned off, and you can't operate it without the CD. All the games are very easy, more geared towards 1-1/2 to 2 yr olds. Activities include matching letters, popping bubbles, matching animals. Although they are good for teaching mouse control, they are not intellectually challenging and our daughter is already bored with them. ... Read more