Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 40

Monday, June 16, 1997 The Arizona Republic E3 Keep the youngsters 'edutainecf Foxibons for small fry Look for badges of honor. Award-winning titles boast about their accomplishments. Watch for labels indicating the title is recommended by Parent Choice (a nonprofit group) or another respectable group or publication. Scan boxes for "satisfaction guaranteed" notices or "30-day money-back" guarantees. Several software publishers, such as Disney Interactive and Microsoft, offer such promises, which mitigates some of the danger of buying software.

Box covers always include min-" imum system requirements. Check these before buying to make sure -the computer at home can handle the software. You'll get better results if your machine exceeds the minimums listed. Make sure you understand the store's return policy before buying. If possible, take the software home, install it and make sure it area of learning, such as math or reading.

This will help steer you once you reach the software shelves. Know the computer at home. Is it a PC or a Mac? Is it Windows 3.1 or Windows 95? How much RAM, or memory, does it have? How much free space is there on the hard drive? Is there a CD-ROM and sound card? Plan to spend $29 to $59 per title. You get what you pay for when it comes to software. Some of those bargain-bin titles might look good, but if you want your child to use the program more than once, you're better off sticking with the latest products.

You're also more likely to get satisfactory technical support if you pay top dollar for name-brand products. Read the box covers. Don't get convinced by flashy graphics. Quality edutainment will tell would-be buyers the skills it aims to teach, such as word recognition or increased vocabulary. cooperation with the Edutainment Catalog, an independent company that sells software online.

The site, which can be reached via www.familypc.com, includes software reviews and ratings, and a search function that allows titles to be found based on product names, company names, computer platforms, age ranges and broad subject categories. If yu prefer, you can go directly to the Edutainment Catalog's site at www.edutainco.com. The same research can be conducted offline, the old-fashioned way, by visiting the local library. Most facilities carry at least some computer magazines, such as those listed above. Others include Home PC and Computer Life.

If the kids are antsy and there's no time for research, head on over to the local software store w.ith these suggestions in mind: Know the end user (your kid). Keep in mind his or her age, level of computer skills and whether he or she needs help in any particular KEEP, fmm Page El (yes, it really is a game) have plenty to choose from when they hit the stores. And that can be a problem. How do you decide what to spend your money on? If Mom and Dad are Internet savvy, the easiest thing to do is check out any number of edutainment-oriented sites on the World Wide Web. Many are maintained by respectable magazines that test and rate software.

A great site for edutainment information is operated by Newsweek magazine. Parent's Guide to Children's Software 97 is at www.news weekparentsguide.com. The site is extensive, offering reviews of about 600 programs. It features a Nw.wt't-recommends list of 134 top edutainment titles, which can be browsed by category, computer platform or age range. Another helpful site is maintained by Family PC magazine, in By Roy Bassave Miami Herald The children's software market has another player Fox Interactive, which is introducing FoxToons, a scries of titles based on proven characters and bestsetling children's books.

Here's a look at the four debut titles: Baby Felix Creativity Center (ages 3-6): Baby Felix, the fledgling feline, helps children master learning skills in reading, math, art and music in a fun and enticing way. Hello Kitty Creativity Center (ages 3-8): Hello Kitty helps youngsters learn skills in reading, counting and math, each accompanied by a three-level program designed to challenge a child's mind and encourage hours of creativity. Danny and the Dinosaur (ages 3-6): HarperCollins' bestselling book by Syd 1 loll" is converted into a fun-filled activity center, packed mtfermeir-i $9.95 a month! Mention this ad and gat whip FREE X2 56K $19.95 Open 7 day a week Inlemellhvt Unlimited Access Guaranteed No Busy Signals SS 874-2700 Buy 2 Books and Computer games Computer off all O'Reilly's popul.ir tech titles I.ibl'iiry aru enter to win a free copy of WebSite Pro Phoenix 547-0331 Tempe COMPUTER HELP! NOW! MIMOKY, MODIM, CD-ROM, SOFTWARE INSTALL TRAINING, TROUBLE SHOOTING Home Office Business PflPHlPP SVQfPfllQ Network Set-up, Maintenance I Administration lW UlUl 01011111111 Proud Dealer of "Top Rated" DE1I Computer Systems 99 -2020 OXZQ On SheOn CjlII Professionals 14 Hours1 Days A Week Statewide licensed with reading exercises that help children learn to spell, match and pronounce words. Frog and Toad Are Friends (ages 3-6): Based on Arnold Lobel's hftctcMlimt Listc rvwiL- tfiic rfn(cp blends education and entertainment to help children improve reading essentials with five interactive games. For example, kids can learn story- -telling as they help Frog and Toad get their stories in order.

The CD-ROMs work on both Windows and Macintosh machines. PC minimum system requirements: 486DX or better, 8MB of RAM, VGA card with 256 colors, color monitor, 2X CD-ROM drive, sound card and speakers, Windows 3.1 or Windows 95. Macintosh system requirements: Performa or better33Mh, 8MB of RAM, color monitor with 256 col-' ors, 2X CD-ROM drive, QuickTime 1.6.1 or higher, System 7.0.1 or higher. Frt IX CDR0M drivt, Carrying Cat, I MaIMn Coupon lor a trea 33.6K Modem with: Apple Macintosh 1400cs11712750Meg 1699 16 Uag mmcf mo ta AppW MtcrtotPowl1400iy j'W Free Ext. 100MB Zip Drive when you buy: Apple Pw Micintosri' 44OOT00 322Ci912XCDModtni $1799 AppjM MKtnlotir IM0Q2S JWGbyi 2XCW3 Motfmfl MTH (Ml MOTWKK4 Motorota StivMii 4000 SQKCOSIW VRAM Molordt SteriUi 3000-240 322 ittyttlOiiW 0ttM2H 8 ModOT 20W For PC Mac 1 100 MB iomeqi Zip Ext.drive (or PC 4 i lOOMBZip Cartndgai, lOMckiHw $20 Iomega I 111 CTXIfVUOO Multiacan 199 CTX IS" Vl-500 MullraojtlJ vim our lilora for aortwarti ana Mac- wfwa.

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14" Mon, WIN95, Mouse Web-site of the week Doc Shop Mall www.DocShop.com TZeefuMf people in toucA KtA tftefo works before telling the kids. That way, little hopes don't get dashed if there a problem. kids play Made by: Little Ark Interactive Platform: Windows 3.1, 95 or Macintosh For ages: 3-7 Price: $17 Rating: Comments: This software aims to teach word recognition, vocabulary and other skills through a colorful, graphical and animated presentation of the creation of the world. It does so, but in a very basic way. Kids can have the story read to them, or they can have the story read with pauses that allow them to click on things such as a saguaro that shaves and an owl that gets mad at a noisy woodpecker.

The Story of Creation is OK. But don expect to be dazzled. One last note: It ran fine on a Windows 3.1 machine, but we couldn't get it to work on a Windows 95 computer. Title: The Great Reading Adventure Made by: Kid's World Inc. Platform: Windows 3.1 or 95 For ages: 6-9 Price: $16 Rating: Comments: The Great Reading Adventure is an elaborate effort to keep a child's interest while he or she learns a bit of phonics, the alphabet, comprehension and lots more.

Players can adjust the game based on their age, and learn by traveling around through different worlds with a cartoon bear cub and skunk. In the Mushroom Underworld, players have to shoot goop at the correct letter to score points. At the Morning Stink, players have to finish sentences and make headlines for a cartoon newspaper. If you haven't guessed by now, the Adventure has a bit of an attitude that might work well with kids, but probably will annoy some adults. We also thought that, at least in a few spots, Adventure has too much fooling around and not enough learning.

little ones The Arizona Department of Transportation operates an Internet site where a lot of answers to those kinds of questions can be found. One of the latest features is a Valley-wide map of the freeway system, featuring route numbers, costs and completion dates for unfinished portions, and lots more. The map is clickable, so you can get information on specific stretches of roadway. You can find the site at www.dot.state.az.us. To find the click on Roads Freeways, then Valley Transportation.

COMPUTER, fmm Page El Platform: Windows 3.1, 95 and Macintosh For ages: 3-8 Price: $49.99 Rating: Comments: This is the latest adventure involving the lovable purple roadster named Putt-Putt. And it's the best yet. A time machine goes haywire, and Putt-Putt has to explore many different worlds to set things straight. Along the way, the roadster encounters dinosaurs, the Wild West, castles, special activities and lots more. The game scored high with us because it changes each time you play it.

"Title: Marble Drop Made by: Maxis Platform: Windows 3.1, 95 For ages: 5-adult Price: $29.99 Rating: Comments: The box describes it as "mesmerizing" and That it js, This puzzle game is designed like something out of Leonardo da Vinci's long-lost notes. Players must send colored marbles through winding, maze-like paths to their correct resting places to score points. The game offers endless levels of play, each more difficult than the previous. Younger players can have fun just sending marbles through the mazes and watching as flames burn, levers trip, sparks fly and chain saws rip. Title: Highlights Puzzlemania Made by: Sony Imagesoft Platform: Windows 3.i, 95 and Macintosh For ages: 5-10 Price: $39.95 Rating: Comments: With such a big name behind Puzzlemania, we expected a lot more than we got.

The game aims to teach kids about reading, math, music and Candlelight CANDLELIGHT, Page El are annoyed with the operating system from Microsoft. Case in point: Windows 95 Annoyances, a World Wide Web site at www.creativelement.com win95ann. This site, passed on by Arizona Republic business columnist Naa-man Nickell, is packed with useful tips to make Windows 95 less annoying. And, the site is splashed with a sense of humor that most will find amusing. The subjects include "What to do if you hate the Start menu," other skills using a variety of colorful games and challenges.

Sadly, its methods are not all that exciting. One challenge has kids find bad guys hiding behind disguises in a crowd of people. OK. But play it once, and it's never a challenge again. Title: Frog and Toad Are Friends Made by: Fox Interactive Platform: Windows 3.1, 95 and Macintosh For ages: 4-8 Price: $14.98 Rating: Comments: We were attracted to this title because it's designed around the popular children's book and videotape of the same name.

Frog and Toad is supposed to teach about shapes and colors, reading and other useful things. But we were disappointed by the low-rent graphics and audio and the uninteresting games. In "Silly Swimsuits," for example, players choose which word out of a group doesn't belong. The prize? You get to see which bathing suit Frog is wearing. Yahoo.

You can't beat the price. But it still might not be worth the expense if it doesn't hold your child's interest. Title: Magic Artist Made by: Disney Interactive Platform: Windows 95 and Macintosh For ages: 3-adult Price: $43.95 Rating: Comments: This program has the same high quality that we've come to expect from Disney films. On a basic level, it enlivens the standard painting program by building it around a cool interface and adding sound effects. Draw with chalk, and it sounds as though you're really scratching away on a chalkboard.

But this title goes well beyond that. There are stamps and backgrounds to play with. And if that's not enough, Magic Artist will tell offers great "Rename files without being hassled by the and "Windows 95 keeps making useless directories." Here are a few other sites worth checking out this week: Charlie Leight, a Republic de-signer who makes this section nice to look at and easy to read, ran across a great kids site he thought others would enjoy. It's called Candlelight Stories, and it can be found at www.candlelightstories.com. The site features a lot of child-friendly stuff, including illustrated bedtime stories that Mom or Dad at to of teach as you a bit of history about Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, then tetch you how to draw them.

Title: Encarta 97 Made by: Microsoft Platform: Windows 95 For ages: 7-adult Price: $79.95 Rating: Comments: What's there to say? Encarta has led the way among electronic encyclopedias since it debuted several years ago. The program, which is updated annually, began more as a reference title than an edutainment program. But, over the years, it's come to be both. This year's addition has the typical encyclopedic references, the audio and visual files and the other features you'd expect. But it also offers interactive learning adventures and a game that will test your knowledge in any category of study.

Title: Typing Instructor Deluxe Made by: Individual Platform: Windows 3.1 or 95 For ages: 5-adult Price: $40 Rating: Comments: Teaching someone to type is difficult enough, without trying to make it interesting. But Typing Instructor accomplishes that goal. The software, which can be used by anyone from ultra-beginners to veterans just looking to hone their skills, is like an arcade game package built around typing lessons and tests. There are cool sound effects and background music, interesting scenes and graphics and gpmes that almost make the user forget the task hand learning to type, or typing better. If you've always wanted the kids learn touch-typing, toss Typing Instructor on the family PC and let them loose.

If they stick to it, they should at least know the basics by September. Title: The Story of Creation stories for can read to Junior. Some of them are automated, so the pictures and words scroll on their own after so many seconds. Visitors also can view a gallery artwork created for the stories, play with a flashcard-like spelling machine (which requires the ActiveX plugin). Or check out the lengthy list of electronic links to other children-related Web sites.

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