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Software and Games : Software Categories : Children's Fun & Learning : Ages 11-14
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Focus Multimedia Ltd
The Dogz of Dogz 5 are virtual pets and they live on your PC. They can run across your desktop, travel and explore faraway Playscenes, (a Canadian snow scene, a Big Top in a European Circus, a Wild West Town or an Arabian Palace); they can play in their Home Playscenes (Kitchen, Backyard or Salon) and have loads of fun in tailor-made Playscenes. Feed them and love them, breed them and play with them. You can adopt as many Dogz as you want, but you must remember to take care of them all.Did you know that Dogz have a tail to keep them balanced? That they have a keen sense of smell, and that their paws are padded and fuzzy, and that they use them to run, dig and scratch? Did you also know that you can get a good idea of how your pet is feeling if you look into its alert and expressive eyes? Best of all, Dogz love to be fussed and petted. Watch them grow from little baby puppies into adult Dogz.
Although aimed at young children, this package will be much more enjoyable for a child who can read and follow instructions, as it is necessary to follow onscreen directions. The program is therefore most suitable for a minimum age of 7-8 years old. The installation takes quite a while (information is on the CD-ROM sleeve) and help may be needed as monitor settings may need to be adjusted and it may also be necessary to ascertain if Acrobat Reader 5.0 is installed (the user manual cannot be accessed without this software). It is absolutely essential to study the manual closely before adopting any Dogz and it is a good idea to print it off for easy and quick reference. It is an excellent manual that is well set out, and it explains everything in simple, straightforward language, making it accessible to children.
Now for the fun! Choose from one of 15 breeds of Dogz, from Bulldogs to Sheepdogs, from Muts to Chihuahuas, with all their different personalities, likes and dislikes, but don't adopt too many--they must all be cared for. Love them and remember to feed them. Give them water, medicine when they're sick and don't forget to brush them. Exercise and play regularly with your Dogz; reward them for good behaviour and squirt them with water if they misbehave. Train them to do tricks. There are more than 100 toys to play with--lucky Dogz find some and there are more to be earned when you play the five mini games. Collect wonderful gifts with them during their doggy travels, such as exotic jewels. Treat your Dogz well and earn yourself a happy-pet certificate. Choose items of clothing and accessories to dress them; watch your Dogz fall in love and have puppies, and access their family trees as far back as eight generations.
A Web Fun Pack is included, which contains Petz clipart, animations and backgrounds, all Internet-ready to enable you to create your own Web pages. Particularly helpful are the tips on day and night cycles, how Petz grow, what happens when you cheat, how you can acquire new toys, and what to do if your pet runs away. Dogz 5 contains new features, but owners of previous Dogz can bring their adopted pets into this new version. Compatible with Catz 5, put the two programs together to create more breeds, fun and Petz. --Susan Naylor
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Avanquest Software
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Britannica
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Focus Multimedia Ltd
Make way for Babyz! Adopt an adorable virtual kid in this amazing, playful CD-ROM simulation of child rearing from the company that brought you Catz and Dogz. Each Babyz (that's singular, too) is darling and unique--choose one of 15 to adopt or, if none of them is just right, check out their Web site with plenty more to pick from, changing every day.You can have up to three in one house, and then the fun begins. Name your Babyz, clothe them, give them toys, feed them, watch them play in the backyard, or just give them a tickle when they look bored. The software runs both like a normally selected program and as a screensaver--if you're not careful, the Babyz will take over your screen when you're not looking!
The graphics are playful and imaginative, the costumes are cute, and the house itself is full of stuff for the Babyz to explore. The package comes with voice-recognition software so you can even talk to your Babyz--or teach them to speak. Short, simple words will start yammering back at you before long, and you'll wonder how you ever lived without a babbling Babyz in your computer. --Rob Lightner
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Alternative Software
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Avanquest Software
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Avanquest Software
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Focus Multimedia Ltd
If you're not able to own a real pet, especially a Cat or a Dog then Catz 5 could be the answer! Adopt a virtual pet, let it live in your PC, run across your Desktop, let it visit faraway Playscenes or play at home in the kitchen, backyard or salon, or create your own tailor-made Playscenes.You can feed it, play with it, love it and breed it. Adopt as many as you like, but you must take care of them all--neglected Catz run away and then you're in trouble. Did you know Catz have tails to help them balance? That their fur is soft to keep them warm and encourage owners to pet them? They have large, expressive eyes, twitching whiskers and they have agile paws for jumping, climbing, stalking and running. Catz are little kittens when you first adopt them and then they grow up over time into adult Catz.
Although aimed at young children, this package is most beneficial if they can read, in order for them to follow on-screen directions. This program is therefore most suitable for a minimum age of 7-8 years. Installation takes a while, and help may be needed from adults as monitor settings may need to be adjusted, and it's necessary to make sure Acrobat Reader 5.0 is installed so that the excellent User Guide can be accessed. It is absolutely essential to study this before playing with Catz 5 and it is a good idea to print it out for easy access. The excellent manual makes it easy for children to understand the package.
Now comes the fun! Choose from one of 15 breeds of Catz, from Alley Catz to Tabbies, from Persians to Siamese, with all their different personalities, likes and dislikes--but don't adopt too many, as they all have to be exercised, fed, loved, medicated when sick, brushed, played with, rewarded for good behaviour and squirted with water when they misbehave. Train them to do tricks, and allow them to earn toys as rewards (balls, pillows, stuffed parrots and so on). If you become confused remember to click on the Help Menu Bar.
Included is a Web Fun Pack, containing Petz clipart, animations and backgrounds, all Internet-ready to enable you to create your own Web pages. This particular version contains new features, but owners of previous Catz can bring their adopted Petz into Catz 5. This is compatible with Dogz 5, allowing your Dogz and Catz to play together, to create more breeds, win more toys and, ultimately, have more fun. --Susan Naylor
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VU Games
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Inspiration Software Inc
For visual mapping, outlining, report and essay writing and making presentations, use Inspiration 9: the ultimate thinking and learning tool for ages 7 upwards. Used extensively in UK schools and businesses. Brainstorm ideas, structure your thoughts and visually communicate concepts with the Diagram and Map Views. Organise information and structure writing for plans, essays and reports, using the integrated Outline View. With Inspiration's Presentation Manager transform your diagrams, mind maps and outlines into polished, clear presentations. Inspiration makes it easy to create webs, idea maps, mind maps, concept maps, graphic organisers, process flows, and other diagrams for thinking, organising and writing. Get organised and think through projects and assignments using the Inspiration Outline View. Structure and organise your work for planning and writing. Expand your work into presentations and final projects. The Inspiration Presentation Manager provides all the tools you need for organised, polished presentations. Visually represent concepts with new symbol libraries. Develop slides from your content using a variety of different slide layouts and themes. Quickly create, duplicate, reorder and delete slides. Use Word Count to meet word and page count requirements. Combine/separate multiple topics using Combine Topics/Break Apart. Make visual connections in Outline View by showing symbols and link text . Label concept map links using common Linking Phrases to explain relationships easily. Add visual images with the Snapshot tool. Link to and access online resources directly from your presentation with hyperlinks. Utilise speaker notes with each slide to add detail and tips for effective presentation delivery . Use Slide Transitions and Reveal Talking Points to engage your audience . Print your slides in various handout formats including 3x5 and 4x6 cards
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Alternative Software
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Universal
A terrible storm has knocked out power in Jurassic Park and the huge dinosaurs are on the rampage. As a member of the elite Dino Defender squadron, it's your job to capture as many dinosaurs as possible while you try to restore power in this dramatic and exciting CD-ROM game.The adventure starts once you type your name and accept the mission, and then you must climb, leap, run and jump using your keyboard or game pad control. Be aware that the big dinosaurs take a while to emerge--at first you're followed by a few small ones that make strange squeaking noises. But on the way you can stop and look for supply boxes of gear such as tranquilliser canisters and distractor flares.
The scenes are very atmospheric and the tension builds quickly as you're never sure when the dinosaurs are going to put in an appearance. When they do, it's quick and you have to be fast with your controls to survive. The accompanying booklet is well-designed and points out all the navigation and movement skills required to take on the dinosaurs. However it's worthwhile spending time in the game's excellent interactive training academy.
Quick to install and well-explained by the narrator this is a first class adventure game which will keep children and adults alike occupied for hours. --Justin Hunt
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Play Zone
Sabrina SpellboundHelp your favourite teenage witch recover the Beanie of Ultimate Power in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, a magical adventure game. It all starts with a package that should have been delivered to someone else. In it is the all-powerful propeller beanie, and Sabrina's cat, Salem, gets locked in a cage when her cousin Amanda decides she simply must have that hat. It's Sabrina's job to recover the cat and the hat from the Other Realm and defeat Amanda and her brat pack.
The "Labtop" contains all of Sabrina's spells, and throughout the game, you can store new magical ingredients and spells for later use. Also, make sure to stock up on plenty of energy along the way or you could get sent back to Limbo in the linen closet!
There's five different worlds to explore: Sabrina's house, the Spelleria, Amanda's Arena, Mars, and Sabrina's high school. If your own teenage (or preteen) witch enjoys the television show and has fun solving mysteries, this game should be right up her alley. It's not every day a girl gets to blast her enemies away merely by pointing a finger. With Sabrina at her side, we bet she'll find this problem-solving adventure game truly... spellbinding.
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The Times
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Electronic Arts
Combining imagination, creativity and the enduring appeal of LEGO building bricks, LEGO Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is an exciting CD-ROM that allows Muggles to create and build their own magical Harry Potter universe.Explore the world of Harry Potter and master the advanced building techniques, and you can create, progress and ultimately control your adventures. Accompanying the CD-ROM is an excellent black-and-white pamphlet that should be read and fully absorbed before playing. Because of this, and the need for computer literacy, this reviewer thought the package suitable for children aged 8 years and above, though help may be needed for the less PC literate even at this age, or younger players who can't wait to get going.
Welcome to the second year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Set in three different environments--the world, the workshop and the mini-figure builder--the first things to be mastered are the gameplay controls that allow players to control the characters and the camera the game is viewed through. Next, discover portals, (magical LEGO archways that transport you to other areas of the game), collect chocolate frogs, find LEGO treasure chests, cast spells, (remember: you must have a wand) control your characters and make them fly, change the weather, create other pupils to attend Hogwarts, take snapshots--the list seems endless, but continue and complete exciting challenges and open even more play worlds.
Graphically superb, the package flows easily and is of the high quality anyone has played LEGO Creator games before would expect. With all the fun of a PC Game, and the educational content of a software package, parents should be as comfortable buying this as their children are playing it. In fact, children--beware of parental Muggles who love Harry Potter and also remember the joy and pleasure of building with LEGO, for you may have to work hard to keep them away from the controls. --Susan Naylor
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Mindscape
Zoombinis are little blue guys and gals that inhabit a kingdom reminiscent of JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth, and ingeniously teach maths principals using puzzles instead of numbers. In the Zoombinis Mountain Rescue CD-ROM a group Zoombinis gets trapped in a cave, and it's up to players to organise a search party that can withstand the logical travails of a journey through this perilous and quirky terrain. There are nine "obstacles" along the rescue route. Players cross a bridge of turtles by sorting Zoombini search-party members by nose colour, hairstyle or other characteristics. Deducing (again based on features) which Zoombini can snowboard down which path furthers the mission as well. The search party is held up briefly in a cafeteria where it must use logic to wait on Norfs who drop oblique hints about what they want, or don't want to order. Each game will stretch your child's ability to use forethought and analysis to assess a situation. Even the easiest of the three levels is designed to be challenging, so be prepared to help out along this creative and strenuous path.The genius of this Windows-only program is that it turns sophisticated mathematical concepts into engrossing activities. We played a game called "Boolie Boggle" endlessly--Boolies either smile or frown, and in this game, the object is to change frowns into smiles by bumping Boolies with pinballs. Pretty easy until you start getting chains of Boolies and chains of pinballs. Soon your mind is throbbing as you try to figure out what a sequence of three pinballs will do to two frowning Boolies. "Binary addition" sounds pretty intimidating, but that's exactly what "Boolie Boggle" is teaching. "Algebraic thinking" and "information-age maths" are among the other things this program teaches--mercifully, it manages it with little creatures and 3-D mazes instead of formulas and numbers.
As this journey unfolds, members of the search party drop off due to mismatched noses, wrong path choices and other errors. Fortunately, there is a practice mode where kids can play the games without sacrificing their Zoombini friends. Puzzles change elements, so there's no way to "learn" a level then repeat it by rote. There is also a very thorough parents' guide, which is helpful for parents who have, err, forgotten about binary numbers. Zoombinis Mountain Rescue is a gentle, yet challenging program that will probably even work its subtle magic on maths-phobes. --Anne Erickson
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Softkey
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Guildhall
Please note this product is not compatible with Windows Vista/ Windows 7
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Vivendi Universal
Help your favourite teenage witch recover the Beanie of Ultimate Power in Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Brat Attack, a magical adventure game. It all starts with a package that should have been delivered to someone else. In it is the all-powerful propeller beanie, and Sabrina's cat, Salem, gets locked in a cage when her cousin Amanda decides she simply must have that hat. It's Sabrina's job to recover the cat and the hat from the Other Realm and defeat Amanda and her brat pack.The "Labtop" contains all of Sabrina's spells, and throughout the game, you can store new magical ingredients and spells for later use. Also, make sure to stock up on plenty of energy along the way or you could get sent back to Limbo in the laundry cupboard!
There's five different worlds to explore: Sabrina's house, the Spelleria, Amanda's Arena, Mars, and Sabrina's high school. If your own teenage (or preteen) witch enjoys the television show and has fun solving mysteries, this game should be right up her alley. It's not every day a girl gets to blast her enemies away merely by pointing a finger. With Sabrina at her side, we bet she'll find this problem-solving adventure game truly... spellbinding. --Jill Lightner
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Disney Interactive
Disney's Magic Artist Deluxe is one of a new generation of programs designed for users who enjoy creating art with computer assistance. In addition to the standard-issue graphic tools, this package makes artwork into a game, with moving animations, sound effects, and some very thoughtful design features. While earlier graphics programs often resembled scaled-down versions of adult packages, this one is entirely bent on entertaining children and encouraging sprees of creative electronic drawing. Its kit is full of brightly coloured, genuinely wacky tools, including robots that run around the screen drawing patterns on your page and a sprayer that drops animations into the page. Imagine watching cookies bake onscreen, spreading a line of crawling spiders across a page, or planting roses along the bottom of the screen. Just watching these images mutate to their finalised form is delightful--and they come with top-notch sound effects and a good dollop of humour, too.Another area where older graphics programs broke down was in their reusability factor. Once a child had seen and used all of a package's available images, it was often time to move on to the next contender. However, Disney's Magic Artist Deluxe offers regular updates. Users can download new graphics and animations from the program's Web site, including packages designed particularly for a coming holiday or event.
For users uninterested in using prepackaged art, Disney's Magic Artist Deluxe also offers a full set of tools to allow children to import pictures of themselves and their friends, and then to decorate, alter, and distort them to their heart's content. Whether they want to build static scenes with Disney characters, construct animated tableaus, or digitally bend an existing favourite photograph, this is a graphics program certain to please artistically minded kids and their parents through project after project. --Alyx Dellamonica, Amazon.com