mps@duke.cs.duke.edu (Michael P. Smith) (10/31/87)
Well, here it is: a slightly edited (for length) listing of the
replies I received to my request for Mac software for my pre-
schoolers. Thanks to all who responded!
* * * * * *
I disagree with whatever previous opinions you've been told about
Pinball Construction Set. [I had expressed reservations due to the
fact that it was originally developed for the Apple II. -- mps] It is
a *very* well done version of of the application and something your
kids will absolutely love playing with.
* * * * * *
Chipwits is a robot building/programming game which is highly
rated by reviewers. It is meant for older children, but I find that an
intelligent ~5 year old can still have lots of fun with it given
initial parental supervision. Sorry, but I have no info on publisher
or price. Also: Math Blaster - $28, Davidson & Assoc. is excellent.
* * * * * *
KidsTime is a lot of fun for kids of the ages you mentioned (this is
a biased opinion, since I wrote the product. Do check it out, though.
I won't say anything else about it.)
My kids love Lode Runner. They can't stand playing against the bad guys
because they're not good enough, but what they really like doing is
creating their own screens with no bad guys (or with the bad guys trapped).
The Amazing game on the Guided Tour disks is fun.
We haven't had much luck with any of Springboard's stuff, but some of
First Byte's things are supposed to be good (no direct experience).
We have Pinball Construction Set. It's not bad, but the kids don't seem
to get too excited about it. They do enjoy playing Shanghai, though, since
they can just ask it for a set of tiles to remove.
Another good one, if you can still find it, is MacEdge by Think Education
(not the THINK who makes Lightspeed C).
StuntCopter is fun. My kids have about 10 different disks they play wiht,
unfortunately, I can't remember what's on them all right now, or what
they use the most (my wife would know best!). MacPaint is still a favorite!
(Great Wave Software's Crystal Paint is also fun for them, but it's a
bit expensive for just that use.) I was actually thinking of making a
similar posting awhile back, so I'd be very interested in the responses
you get. If I remember, I'll take better inventory and send you another
reply.
* * * * * *
As promised (threatened?) I inventoried my kids' disks. Unfortunately,
the results weren't as promising as I had thought. I remembered the most
popular ones correctly and the ones I missed were mostly for the older
kids. Here's what I have, though, that might be suitable for 3 and 4.5
year olds:
Daleks Rascal Billiards Mousing Around (Guided Tour Disk)
Some that might be ok but are used mainly by my older kids are:
Klondike and its cousins (card games) Reversi and cousins, especially
the ones that change the cursor as you move over legal moves
Math Blasters (this probably shouldn't even be here, my 7 year old gets
frustrated with it at times, but you should at least look at it)
Loc (probably hard to find) has some game types in it that are ok
for young kids. And the August '87 MacUser had an article devoted to
"Educational" software for young kids. Unfortunately, I don't have much
direct experience with many of the programs mentioned and the ones that
looked most enticing we already have!
In summary, software for kids on the Mac is hard to find. I think Apple
has been TOO successful in pushing the Mac as a business machine.
...
Unfortunately, I am not sure that the situation will improve much on
the Mac in the short term (long term, maybe -- depends on whether or
not Apple can concede the death of the Apple II). Sales of KidsTime
(which MacWorld claims is the best selling education package on the
Mac) are just not high enough to cause anyone to lust after the
market. In fact, my next project for kids will probably be aimed at
the Junior High level. I desparately want good software for my kids,
but I also have to pay the rent... That's why we're thinking of a
different brand for the kids -- but I sure like the Mac ESPECIALLY for
kids!
* * * * * *
For educational software I would try "Kids Time" by
Great Wave Software.
My son (11) likes Pinball Construction Set--at least
to play the games. There are a number of games that
can be downloaded from Mac BBSs.
The Toy Shop is used to construct models out of paper.
It is more adult-oriented, in my opinion. A better
choice might be Simon and Shuster's Airplane Construction
Set. There are about 15 different planes which can be
made and lots of clip art to decorate them. This
originated from a Scientific American contest about
10 years ago.
* * * * *
Having read your posting on Usenet looking for educational software for
children, allow me to recommend my own product, KIERAN.
KIERAN is designed for children 2-6 years old, is extremely user-friendly,
and uses only the mouse for the child's responses. It comes with a
additional program which allows you to input the child's name, following
which the program refers to the child in it's speech (Macintalk) and in the
pictures. It has five learning games: Counting, Time-Telling, Alphabet,
Upper-Lower Case, and Mystery Door! Artwork was done by a professional artist.
MacUser gave us a four mouse rating, which is the highest rating they gave
to any educational software. Available from:
OHM Software Company
163 Richard Drive
Tiverton, RI 02878
(401) 253-9375
Price: $39.95 Visa/MC accepted.
* * * * * *
The best gift for a child who is comfortable with a Mac is Studio Session:
It is a music system that lets the child enter music from a printed score,
and select from a pallette of 100 recorded instruments to play that music.
The sound quality (particularly when you plug your mac to an extension
speaker) has to be heard to be beilieved. It is a wonderful way to get into
music. (What is the opposite of 'frustrating'?)
For another $100.00 you can get the SoundCap Audio Digitizer, to record
your own intsruments from sound from your home stereo (I have a piece
entirely composed of segments from Star Trek.)
Word Games: consider Fool's Journey from Miles Compiting. It is a collection
of 80 word-game puzzles that can be played in any order. Solve them all,
and it puts on a little show for you. The over-arching metaphor is similar
to the Tarot. The art work is incredible.
You might also consider the Blob Manager demo, it is a public domain collection
of about a dozen simple games. It is a demo for a subroutine package called
'the blob manager'.
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Michael P. Smith mps@cs.duke.edu / {seismo,decvax}!mcnc!duke!mps
"IV. It is well known that love is always increasing or descreasing."
Andreas Cappellanus' "Rules of Love", from THE ART OF COURTLY LOVE
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