JumpStart Preschool 99

PC version requires:
Windows 95/98, 486DX2 66 or higher, 4x CD-ROM drive, 16 MB RAM, 15 MB HD, 256 colors

Mac version requires:
PowerPC, System 7.1, 4x CD-ROM drive, 8 MB RAM, 15 MB HD, 256 colors

Description:

Oh my gosh! Is it almost 1999 already? Well here is another reminder, the all-new-for-1999 version of one of the classic Jumpstart series fromKnowledge Adventure. This title, Jumpstart Preschool, has been redone to take advantage of the enhanced performance available in today's machines and the improved audio/visual capabilities in Windows 95/98.

Here's what the box says: Jumpstart Preschool presents lessons in colorful and imaginative settings. Children will practice skills in phonics, numbers, letters, and more as they join Pierre Bear, Eleanor Elephant, Kisha Koala, Casey Cat, and Cecil Mouse on a fun-filled exploration of the world from a preschooler's viewpoint.

Here's what I say: This is a very well rounded set of activities that cover the basics of language development and of color/shape/size/number concepts.

Here's what the kids say: "Is it my turn yet?"

Features:

• Help mommy bird feed her babies (counting/quantities)
• Pick up the blocks (colors, shapes, sizes)
• Connect the dots (alphabetic/numerical order)
• Kisha at the easel (letter, numeral, and shape recognition)
• Cooking recipes (quantities, recipes)
• Hide-and-seek (listening skills)
• Toy box cleanup with the gang (phonics)
• 3 adustable difficulty levels, assessment test, and tutor mode
• Progress reports and resource center for the parents

Technical Aspects:

Report and Conclusions:

As far as the subject matter, the activities are well designed and can be supplemented with the materials from the parents resource center. Knowledge Adventure always seems to come up with clever variations of the "reward" incentive program to keep the kids working on the activities. In this title, each activity successfully completed results in the awarding of a train ticket. Earn four train tickets and it's "the fast track" to Music Land, Color Land, or one of the other special locations for a musical treat.

The one weakness to their implementation of this incentive program is that the kids can master an easy activity and rack up the tickets. The program should challenge them to move on by limiting the number of times they can "win" a ticket in a particular activity. I've seen this done in other Knowledge Adventure titles; perhaps they only implement the limit for the titles targeted at older children.

My only other criticism is that the program makes the player wait at the start of each activity while the character explains *at length* what is to be done. This is great the first few times, but once the kids know what's up, they get impatient and start clicking. Unfortunately the program doesn't allow them to "click through" the chatty explanation, and so the result is a bit of frustration for the younger ones who haven't quite mastered that "patience is a virtue" thing.

All things considered, this is a great addition to a software library for anyone with children who are just learning the basics. You might even find your older ones or yourself wanting the next turn to answer the call of "All Aboard!!" to the land of Jumpstart Preschool!