PUZZLE ME THIS
A Review of Strategy Games of the World
by William T. Yates
Playing board games can be more than fun for you and your kids - it can be a
learning experience also! Edmark has packaged three classic games from around
the world: Nine-Man's-Morris, Go-Moku, and Mancala, in an attractive package
designed to teach strategy development in real-world problem solving. 
Some of
these strategies are Model Building, Analysis, Pattern Recognition, Attention
Focussing, Elimination, and Reconsideration of Assumptions. A Dear Parents
file with a QuickTime video by Donna Stanger, Designer and Executive Producer
of this CD-ROM, presents valuable information on these games, strategies, and
how to help your child develop these skills. The accompanying User's Guide
provides a good written explanation of the games and even provides a useful
troubleshooting guide (which proved unnecessary - I had no problems at all).
The games are playable on ten different skill levels and each have an
animated strategy coach who makes comments and suggestions during the course
of play. Occasionally, at an appropriate point in the game, a Real-Life
Strategy QuickTime movie is available in which someone (in one case, a stunt
man) explains the importance of a particular strategy in their real life
work. If you just want to play the games, the extra narration can be turned
off. You can play the computer or another player.
The screen opponents are
animated and show appropriate reactions to good and bad moves. There are
three different game environments for each game, depending upon the skill
level chosen. The higher skill level environments are more abstract, while
the lower level environments display animated people opponents. An
informative and interesting history of each game and background on the
environment in which that game is presented is available at a mouse click.
The animation and graphics are very well-done and the sound is very good. If
you are just interested in playing the games, you can find numerous freeware
and shareware versions of theses games available from various sources;
however, they operate at a basic level not always appropriate for young
children.
The animation and dialog in this package help to teach your child
to not only play the games, but also how to think about what is happening in
the games and how to develop and employ strategies to succeed.
Gamer's Zone Scorecard
| Product: |
Strategy Games of the World |
| Company: |
Edmark Corporation
|
| Cost: |
$40 |
System Requirements:
Macintosh:
System 7.0.1 or higher; 8 MB RAM;
256-color, 13"- monitor;2x-speed
or higher CD-ROM
PC:
Windows 3.1 (enhanced mode),
Windows 95, or later; 486/33MHz or better;
8 MB RAM; Super VGA,
640x480 (256 color) monitor; Hard disk with 2 MB free;
mouse; Windows-compatible sound output device
Breakdown:
Ease Of Use 5
Learning Value 4
Entertainment Value 4
Graphics 5
Sound 4
Overall Score:
Copyright © 1997 InfoMedia, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.