What are the best software games based on what people are buying? According to PC Data's end of November hit list they are:
1. Riven: the sequel to Myst ($41)2. Myst ($18)
3. Tomb Raider II ($46)
4. Barbie Magic Hair Styler ($36)
5. Microsoft Flight Simulator ($42)
6. Lego Island ($33)
7. Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II ($35)
8. Barbie Fashion Designer ($41)
9. Tonka Search & Rescue ($29)
10. Diablo: Hellfire Expansion Pack ($32)
Maybe Santa plans to plunk a new computer under your Christmas tree. Or you're looking for ideas to keep the family computer buffs plugged in. Either way, you'll want to consider some of these software programs as gifts:
Animaniacs Game Pack: Let me imitate Tony the Tiger here and say this program is GGG-R-E-A-T! It has the look, feel and sound of a feature film cartoon blended with an arcade-style video game. The animations are awesome, the humor delightfully ticklish and the games captivating and challenging enough to keep kids entranced for hours.
The program features Yakko, Wakko and Dot, three lovable characters who entertain and guide players through five multilevel arcade games.
The five games on the program are: Tee Off, a nine-hole miniature golf course; Smoocher, a multilevel maze that kids try to move through while warding off intruders with kisses; Baloney's Balloon Bop, in which kids try to pop balloons and avoid falling objects; Prop Shop Drop, in which players maneuver a race car through an obstacle course picking up props for a movie; and Belchinator Too! the game that is sure to be a kid hit. Players move through a maze while using burps to dissolve robots that try to get in the way.
This is one of the best kids' games I've seen. For ages 8 and up. From Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment and FunnyBone Interactive (www.funnybone.davd.com) or 800-5457677. $25
FairyTale: A True Story: If your little pixies were enchanted by the movie of the same name, they'll probably enjoy this program. Its best feature is 17 movie clips, which play at a larger-than-typical size and are quite long. Kids can explore the Beck, a 3D interactive glen where fairies hide; browse through a guide to fairy literature; and record their thoughts in a secret journal. They can create and print theater sets with fairy themes, play word and puzzle games and even try to photograph fairies they discover in the Beck. The fairies proved much too elusive for me, which would be my only criticism of the program. The fairies I found flitted away much too quickly.
For ages 7-11. From Knowledge Adventure (www.adventure.com) or 800-542-4240. $30.
Spy Fox in `Dry Cereal': Got milk? Not if William the Kid has his way. He's wiping out the milk reserves everywhere. Your task? Stop him and save the world from Dry Cereal Syndrome. Yeck! Spy Fox sleuths out William the Kid with the help of his sidekick Monkey-Penny, and if you recognize a Maxwell Smart-style story line - tada! - pat yourself on the back.
This program is packed with puns and lots of creative problem-solving puzzles. The dialogue and direction of the game change based on choices players make. Kids have to listen and watch carefully to pick up the verbal and visual clues that will help them outfox William the Kid.
And they get to use lots of nifty gadgets to solve logic, memory and coordination puzzles. Plus, the clues change every time you play.
Spy Fox features the high-quality animations that have made Humongous Entertainment a leader in edutainment software. For ages 5 to 10 (may be too tough for kids at the younger end of the range). From Humongous Entertainment (www.humongous.com) or 800-499-8386. $40.
Backyard Baseball is also from Humongous Entertainment. It's a sports game for the peewee league set, featuring cartoon characters. Create a team, choose one of 10 playing fields (from a vacant lot to a championship park) and play ball! You get to select pitching and batting styles. There's also a T-ball mode and a batting practice session. Players can check out team standings, player statistics and player cards. The graphics are great, but the game doesn't offer many verbal instructions.
Parents may need to go over the game guide first with younger players. A good mouse is important, too, to make sure your ballplayer can maneuver around the field and pick up the fly balls. And I found it really tough to connect with pitches - which won't surprise anyone who's seen me play on the Deseret News softball team. But Little Leaguers may find that frustrating.
Overall, I didn't think the game was on par with most offerings from Humongous, but you may want to give it a look if you've got a baseball lover in the house.
For ages 5-10. From Humongous Entertainment (www.humongous.com) or 800-499-8386. $40.
I looked at two Big Thinkers! programs, one for kindergarten and the other for first grade. The formats are similar. Both feature Ben and Becky Brightly, two animated characters who lead kids through 16 learning activities.
Only Ben and Becky aren't always people: they transform into lots of other things like animals and shapes and objects while they help kids stretch their brains.
For kindergartners, the activities include letter identification, spelling, counting, art and music.
First-graders will try basic math, problem solving, reading as well as art and music. The learning activities are blended in with other clickable surprises hidden in the scenes, which means your kid will think he or she has stumbled across more game-like fun, not brain-work.
I loved the storybook read-along activities in both games. Kids can change selected words, watch as the illustration changes and listen to Becky or Ben read aloud the silly stories that result.
For ages 4 to 8. From Humongous Entertainment (www.humongous.com) or 800-4998386. $20 each.