Broderbund's Carmen Sandiego series stands out among children's computer games. Not only has Broderbund sold 3.5 million copies since 1985, but kids don't shoot at anything when they play the game, they learn a little bit about geography, and they really have to think to solve some of the clues.
The games are particularly fun for groups to play together. I got a kick out of watching my 9-year-old sister Alicia excitedly point at a page and shout," I found it! I found it!" That's not the way she usually reacts to reference books.
Broderbund's new CD-ROM editions of Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? win over the old diskette versions. The company added maps, graphics, characters with foreign accents, and regional music. And perhaps more importantly, the CD versions don't take forever to install, nor do they consume as many megabytes on your hard drive. But long-time Carmen fans should beware: these aren't new games; they're new editions of the same games. So, they're not worth buying if you already own their diskette predecessors.
Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? CD-ROMs for the Mac and Windows: approximately US$50. Broderbund Software, Inc.: (800) 521 6263, +1 (415) 382 4600, fax +1 (415) 382 4419.
STREET CRED
Kid Vid LabPDAs Cut the Cord
Carmen Goes CD-ROM
