‘CD-ROM Roundup’ is a regular KidScreen feature that profiles CD-ROMs aimed at children anywhere from preschool to late teen that will be hitting retail stores in the coming months. By Andrea Haman (416-408-2300 (phone), 416-408-0870 (fax) or haman@brunico.com)
| Name, Publisher & Developer | Release Date & Markets | Storyline | Platform | Target Audience | Promotion | Partial List of Retail Outlets & Estimated Street Price (US$) |
| Curious George Learns Phonics Houghton Mifflin Interactive, Somerville, Massachusetts Vipah Interactive, Wellesley, Massachusetts | October U.S., Canada at launch; will follow in other English-speaking countries | Kids travel through a busy circus environment with the inquisitive monkey. Along the way, they participate in six activities based on letter combinations, word sounds and associations. This is the third title in the Curious George Young Readers’ Series. | Windows 95, Windows 3.1, Macintosh | 4 to 6 | * public relations | CompUSA, Wal-Mart, other major retailers (U.S.); Future Shop, Chapters, RadioShack (Canada) $44.95 |
| Chaos Island: The Lost World DreamWorks Interactive, Los Angeles, California | October distributed internationally by Microsoft Corporation | In this real-time strategy game, players lead a team of scientists and ally dinosaurs through 12 mission scenarios to protect their island and research from a band of hunters and rogue dinosaurs. The product features the characters and voices from the movie The Lost World: Jurassic Park. | Windows 95 | 8 to 14 | * coupon for US$5 mail-in rebate bundled with the video The Lost World: Jurassic Park ¥ nationwide TV advertising and promotional campaign with Fox Television in the U.S. ¥ full-page ad in Fox Kids Magazine ¥ Internet campaign using banner ads linked to the DreamWorks Interactive Web site (www.dreamworksgames.com), which offers a downloadable demo of the game | Best Buy, CompUSA, Egghead Software, Kids’ Universe Toys and Software $39.95 |
| Search for the Black Rhino APTE, Evanston, Illinois | January 1998 U.S., Canada, England, Singapore, Australia | This fifth product in the companyÕs Internet Coach line challenges players to rescue a rare black rhino from a team of poachers. To track the animalÕs whereabouts, they must use the Internet to search, analyze and compile information about Enki Isle. | Windows 95, Macintosh | children age 9-plus, as well as adults | ¥ public relations | not available; can be ordered directly from APTE by toll-free phone number, mail or on-line (www.apte.com) $38.95 |
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