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Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster

5 stars ( Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster ) - I wanted a game that helped my 6 year old advance his interest in chess and this did the trick. He learned about how the pieces moved, their names, how to write the codes for the moves and had a great time doing it. If you never played chess or just want a game to learn more about strategies and technique - this is it. 5 stars (Learn to Play Chess!) - I really like this computer game because it uses parts-to-whole instruction - it introduces each chess piece separately with an interesting strategy game that teaches how it moves. Kids have to master the strategy games for each piece before they are given a chance to play with a full board. But more important than MY impressions are those of my kids - 6 and 8, boy and girl, - who just LOVE this game and cheer each other on. I am thrilled to have them captivated by a "thinking" game. They have generalized their interest in chess to a real board too - they do not just play the game on the computer. Another note - while I personally enjoy the graphics, they are not sophisticated or realistic, but more like illustrations in a children's book. Definitely worth the money. 4 stars (A very cool software for kids) - My kids love this program. It's really a fun program. ...
Viva Media :: learn :: to :: play :: chess :: with :: fritz :: and :: chesster :: viva :: media :: business :: finance :: business :: finance :: learntoplaychesswithfritzandchesster 02 july :: 2003 :: Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster

 

Crazy Machines- The Wacky Contraptions Game PC - Mac

5 stars (Super Fun!) - This is an awesome, good, clean game that will provide hours and hours of entertainment. Remember Rube Goldberg? You can build Rube Goldberg-esque machines and put them into motion. You can also "solve" puzzles by figuring out what things to put where to make your crazy machine do something - like lighting a candle or launching a rocket. Our kids also like to work together and also with their friends - not always something we see when they play on the computer - so it's great for families and friends to play all together. I like the way the people who made this smuggled the physics in there with the fun. How nice to see intelligence combined with real fun. (We got this for our kids but we are having fun with it too.) ...
Viva Media- LLC :: crazy :: machines :: the :: wacky :: contraptions :: game :: pc :: mac :: viva :: media :: llc :: home :: education :: kids :: parenting :: crazymachines-thewackycontraptionsgame(pc-mac) 01 octob :: Crazy Machines- The Wacky Contraptions Game (PC - Mac)

 

GTR FIA GT Racing Game

GTR FIA GT Racing Game ...
Viva Media :: Auto car automobile race racing :: Mechanized action :: Adventure :: Computer Games :: :: GTR FIA GT Racing Game

 

Where-s the Blanket- Charlie Brown-

2 stars (Maybe if you have hours to waste...) - This game takes around an hour and a half to complete. It is VERY slow, boring, and any child under 7 will be bored to pieces after the first scenario of trying to get out of Charlie Brown's house. The narration is too long, you can't speed it up, and once you think you've solved the game and it's over, it continues on and on again. The only way I can recommend this is for young kids 3-5, who just want to see the Peanuts characters interact on screen and the opportunity to click on things and see what they do. Once you have finished the game once, it remembers this and you can now play any one of the game/puzzle sections of it again, but if you take it out of your hard drive completely, you will be back to square one. Other than that, it is very frustrating to play the entire thing. 1 stars (Slow, Frustrating, and Negative for young kids) - I bought this game when my son was 4, because he had mastered most of the preschool games but wasn't ready for games that required reading, math, or quick fingers. I thought it would be a good problem-solving mystery game featuring some of his favorite Peanuts characters. After several attempts to help him get Charlie Brown out of the house, I finally got frustrated myself and put the game away so he wouldn't keep pestering me to figure it out (I was stumped, and didn't realize there was a "help" file). He finally dug it out months later and figured it out himself, but I forbid him from playing as Lucy because of the negative language she used towards the other characters. We finally pitched the game and moved on to Putt-Putt, Freddy Fish, and Pajama Sam. Much more positive role models, challenging but not frustrating problem solving games, fun music, and a more kid-friendly pace. Don't waste your money. This game is an insult to Charles Schulz. 4 stars (A good time!) - My son is almost a year old and I bought this software on a whim, to see if I can figure out a kid's game i...
Viva Media :: Action :: Computer Games :: Kids (Children) :: Computer software (programs) :: :: Where-s the Blanket- Charlie Brown-

 

Learn To Play Chess With Fritz - Chesster 2 Mac

Learn To Play Chess With Fritz & Chesster 2 (Mac)...
Viva Media :: Kids (Children) :: Computer software (programs) :: Computer Role Playing Games (Game :: crpg :: crpgs :: rpg :: rpgs) :: Adventure :: Retro Arcade :: Classics (Classic :: :: Learn To Play Chess With Fritz - Chesster 2 (Mac)

 

Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2- Chess in the Black Castle

3 stars (Good software) - Nice software for kids. Not sure how much this will help their chess though. More for entertainment than chess improvement. 5 stars (What a find!) - My kids loved the first Fritz and Chesster chess CD. They were just as pleased with the second. Although they're recommended for ages 8 and up, there is minimal reading involved, making it appropriate for even our 5 year old. I know nothing about chess, but this works to make it accessible to my kids, despite my ignorance. Highly recommend! 5 stars (Fun and Challenging Chess Drills) - When you practice basketball, you practice one specific skill at a time. Repetition of fundamental movements leads to mastery. Chess, of course, is the same, but I have never really seen a book or program that uses this fundamental method of practice as an approach to learning the game. What is even more special is that the drills are FUN! My son (a precocious seven years old) will practice one drill for up to an hour, trying to reach the next level in the Black Castle. My wife looks at the "video game" he is playing and asks, "Where is the Chess?" But the Chess is definitely there. I play it myself to beef up my skills. Sure I know what a discovered check is, but I've probably only used it a half dozen times in an actual game. This lets me identify the move in dozens of different tactical situations - outstanding practice. Same for forks, pins, double checks, and lots of other really good tactical plays. I have heard the first version is great at teaching the game. My son already knew the basics quite well, so I got the second version. I think that was the right move. But for a beginner I think the first version has got to be great too after seeing how well this one works. ...
Viva Media- LLC :: learn :: to :: play :: chess :: with :: fritz :: and :: chesster :: 2 :: chess :: in :: the :: black :: castle :: viva :: media :: llc :: home :: education :: kids :: parenting :: learntoplaychesswithfritzandchess :: Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2- Chess in the Black Castle

 

Physicus Jewel Case

5 stars (Works fine on XP) - This is an enjoyable game, & educational as well. For the price, it's worth buying. The puzzles aren't difficult, but challenging enough to keep it interesting. The game reminded me of an easier version of Myst. You don't need to have prior knowledge of physics - a handy reference guide is available as part of the gameplay. The only drawback was that the screen was small. Maybe that could have been fixed, but I didn't want to mess with the setup since some games can be finicky on XP. 5 stars (physicus) - it is a pretty fun game with a few quirks here and there. Some of them include the anoying "click button" interface, and a few problems that are just a random guess to solve. Other than that, it has very good graphics and a very addictive storyline. 4 stars (Educational fun if there be such a thing) - This is a fantastic Myst clone that, on top of everything, is "gladdened" with a load of physical minutiae which, naturally, lends the game its name. Now I find all matter of educational things to be a compelling incentive to wanting to solve the puzzle. This does not move me to finish the game, however. This, perhaps, is the greatest shortcoming for an adventure game. There is no plot as you know it. Yes, you need to achieve a goal and save the world from a global cataclysm. We've saved the world before, and it has been none too grateful getting into some sticky predicament time and time again. But WHO are you saving? Is it the disembodied voice in the introductory video? This is where the plot begins and ends. There are some marginal hints at a story involving a telescope lens thief, but these are clearly there to facilitate the puzzles. Yet, for a game that makes clear its ambition to create a giant puzzle, Physicus superbly succeeds to render the puzzles built on physical laws maximally enjoyable. The physics information, like in all the games of this series, is presented in a kind of a very pretty virtual textbook which offers extensi...
Viva Media :: Adventure :: Computer Games :: Science (Sciences) :: Reference :: Education (Educational) :: Computer software (programs) :: :: Physicus (Jewel Case)

 

Max and the Magician

5 stars (A magical treat) - This is one of the most imaginative and entertaining cd roms we found for our 4 year old. The cd would be suitable for 3 and up, and provides varying levels of difficulty for the flying broom stick game. Now that he is almost five, and I am trying to teach him how to read, he can also read along with max and his uncle pong as they try to find the secret formula that will help break the evil spell and restore Mervin the magician back to himself. It's loaded with all kinds of surprises and is a great indoor activity that can easily fill up an afternoon. ...
Viva Media :: Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple :: Action :: Computer Games :: Kids (Children) :: Computer software (programs) :: :: Max and the Magician

 

Chemicus

3 stars ( Chemicus ) - While the game is not one of my favorites it is not bad. You definitely need a guide to play this. (In today's games, who wouldn't?) There is a lot of inventory and it is sometimes cumbersome to perform a task. I would recommend this to anyone who likes science or just for relaxation. Ed 4 stars (Much Better Than Physicus, But...) - My wife and I are avid adventure gamers and, to help pass the time until "URU: Ages Beyond Myst" is released later this year, we decided to try " Chemicus ". We played "Physicus" a couple years ago and, while we enjoyed it, we both thought that it could have been a much better game if it had tied into Physics a little deeper and if more effort was put into the adventure game design (look for my earlier review). We just completed " Chemicus " and I can honestly say that this was a MUCH better overall attempt. Nearly all of the puzzles of the game are chemistry-related ranging from the fairly easy and logical to the pretty hard and requiring a hint or two (we peeked into the included walkthrough only a couple of times to get us unstuck). The greatest improvement over "Physicus", however, was on the game design side. Like "Physicus" the graphics and music are lush and inviting. But, the scope of the game is where " Chemicus " shines over its predecessor. "Physicus" was just a singular environment or location to explore with very few cut-scenes and conveyances to enjoy along the way; both popular elements to a successful adventure game. In " Chemicus ", even though the "subway" system was a little on the cheesy and repetitive side, at least it felt like we were transporting between unique locations (thank goodness the space bar forwards you through the animations). Plus, after solving some particularly difficult puzzles, we were rewarded with some nice cut-scenes; the balloon ride over the city being the best one. It wasn't on the same level as the bigger games like Riven and Schizm, but still an improvement. One thing...
Viva Media :: Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple :: Puzzle (Puzzles) :: Board :: Adventure :: Computer Games :: Science (Sciences) :: Reference :: Education (Educational) :: Computer s :: Chemicus

 

My Horse Farm

5 stars (Horse Farm Review) - My daughter has enjoyed this game very much and finds it be very realistic. 4 stars (Love Horses? Then you'll love " My Horse Farm ".) - My daughter loves " My Horse Farm ". She spends hours playing, her fingers literally fly as she goes through the daily process of caring for her horses -- feeding, watering, pasturing, and all. The program does have some minor bugs, (when she rides her horse is often invisible for example) but they don't seem to affect her enjoyment of the program. 4 stars (Horse Farm is a hit!) - My 8-year old daughter has been crazy about horses for about a year now. We gave her this game because it's about as close to owning a horse as she is likely to get! She's having a ball with it, but I don't really know much about the quality of the game myself as I haven't played it. I've seen her playing it though, and the only reason I don't give it 5 stars is I think the graphics might have been better, but they are pretty good anyway, plenty good enough for an 8-year old to enjoy. What matters is SHE loves it! ...
Viva Media- LLC :: my :: horse :: farm :: viva :: media :: llc :: business :: finance :: business :: finance :: myhorsefarm 10 august :: 2004 :: My Horse Farm

 

Fritz GrandMaster Challenge

5 stars (This is Fritz 6) - The Fritz 6 engine and current interface with a database of mates in 1, 2, & 3. 300,000+ game database as well. This is a great trainer and sparring partner for less than $10. It will crush anyone including GMs. The current version is Fritz 8. ...
Viva Media :: Sports Simulators (Simulation) :: Chess :: Computer Games :: Kids (Children) :: Computer software (programs) :: :: Fritz GrandMaster Challenge

 

Making Music- Create- Play- Experience-

5 stars (An old favorite remains the best of its kind!) - As a third grade teacher, I had this product in my classroom for years, until one day it inevitably got lost. I have been looking for a new copy for a while, and was glad to find it available on Amazon. It is, in my opinion, the best program of its type. The concept is very easy, children paint in a KID PIX type of format onto a white board, and that painting is then translated into music. If you draw at the top of the screen you will have a high note, at the bottom a low note. The longer you draw the same pitch horizontally the longer the note will be held. The simplicity makes it accessible to kids as young as kindergarten, but there's lots of features that make it riveting for older kids and adults as well. You have a wide variety of instrument to "draw" your music with, and there are lots of options that allow kids to experience their compositions in different ways. Hear your opus backwards or learn what it sounds like if it were flipped upside down. This is a program that people of all ages will enjoy (it was one of everyone's favorites on parent night). Sometimes simpler really is superior, and this program is a perfect example. ...
Viva Media :: Sequencing :: Creation :: audio :: Music :: Social Science (Studies) :: Culture (Cultural) :: Art (Arts) :: Reference :: Education (Educational) :: Kids (Children) :: Com :: Making Music- Create- Play- Experience-

 

Oscar the Balloonist Discovers the Farm

4 stars (A little difficult for our 4 year old) - The game has lovely graphics, and creative-educational games. My son enjoys matching the poop with the correct farm animal. However, it is a little difficult for him to understand what the directions are or what he's supposed to be doing in the game. It's a bit "word heavy" for a boy who has an auditory processing disorder, but he does enjoy clicking on the animals to see if they'll poop. In fact, anything to do with poop will entertain him. It's really better geared towards older kids and younger children who can handle higher level learning. ...
Viva Media :: Science (Sciences) :: Reference :: Education (Educational) :: Kids (Children) :: Computer software (programs) :: :: Oscar the Balloonist Discovers the Farm

 

Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster Mac

Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster (Mac) ...
Viva Media :: learn :: to :: play :: chess :: with :: fritz :: and :: chesster :: mac :: viva :: media :: home :: education :: kids :: parenting :: learntoplaychesswithfritzandchesster(mac) 03 november :: 20 :: Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster (Mac)

 

Fritz 8 Deluxe

Fritz 8 Deluxe ...
Viva Media :: Chess :: Board :: Computer Games :: :: Fritz 8 Deluxe

 

The Number Devil

5 stars (Math is easy now) - This is even better than the book and really helped my son, age 9 understand math relationships. With all the "new" math around, it's a great tool to help kids understand why rather than method when it comes to getting it. ...
Viva Media- LLC :: the :: number :: devil :: viva :: media :: llc :: business :: finance :: business :: finance :: thenumberdevil 10 august :: 2004 :: The Number Devil

 

Riding Academy- Jump - Ride

5 stars (If Horse Back Riding is your thing...) - then, this is the game for you. You can ride in all different locations around the world - which is fun. For example, in Holland you go past windmills, and in Switzerland you ride past mountain top huts. Since the controls are uncomplicated, you can enjoy the game right away. In order to win races, you need to be strategic with the horse you choose for the track and conditions. Also, my daughter and I race against each other, which is why I have to practice. I am having fun with this and I am the grown up in the family! Even better, she's only 8 and she's doing just fine with it. She's even better at it than me! ...
Viva Media- LLC :: riding :: academy :: jump :: ride :: viva :: media :: llc :: home :: education :: kids :: parenting :: ridingacademy-jump-ride 01 october :: 200 :: Riding Academy- Jump - Ride

 

Making Music- Create- Play- Experience- Win-Mac

5 stars (An old favorite remains the best of its kind!) - As a third grade teacher, I had this product in my classroom for years, until one day it inevitably got lost. I have been looking for a new copy for a while, and was glad to find it available on Amazon. It is, in my opinion, the best program of its type. The concept is very easy, children paint in a KID PIX type of format onto a white board, and that painting is then translated into music. If you draw at the top of the screen you will have a high note, at the bottom a low note. The longer you draw the same pitch horizontally the longer the note will be held. The simplicity makes it accessible to kids as young as kindergarten, but there's lots of features that make it riveting for older kids and adults as well. You have a wide variety of instrument to "draw" your music with, and there are lots of options that allow kids to experience their compositions in different ways. Hear your opus backwards or learn what it sounds like if it were flipped upside down. This is a program that people of all ages will enjoy (it was one of everyone's favorites on parent night). Sometimes simpler really is superior, and this program is a perfect example. ...
Viva Media :: making :: music :: create :: play :: experience :: win-mac :: viva :: media :: home :: education :: kids :: parenting :: makingmusic-create-play-experience-win-mac 02 january :: 200 :: Making Music- Create- Play- Experience- Win-Mac