Infogrames Inc. and Nickelodeon have announced the availability of four new PC/MAC CD-ROM games based on top-rated preschool programs. Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventure, Dora the Explorer: Lost City Adventure, Blue’s Clues Preschool and Blue’s Clues Kindergarten offer kids opportunity to interact with their favorite characters and learn by taking part in the stories.
While the new Blue’s Clues games are only the latest installments to an award-winning line from Infogrames, Dora the Explorer made her CD-ROM debut with Backpack Adventure only few weeks ago. The title has been one of the top two best-selling educational titles each week since its launch, according to market information provider NPD Techworld.
Since Dora’s TV world exists inside a computer, CD-ROM games are a natural extension. The interactive experience allows kids to direct the on-screen actions of Dora and her friends Boots, Backpack, Map, Tico and others as they sing along to songs, solve problems, figure out puzzles and learn words and phrases in Spanish.
Backpack Adventure is aimed at helping players enhance core age-appropriate skills like color and shape recognition, pattern completion and problem solving skills all while discovering and learning basic mouse skills. Lost City Adventure features color matching and math-related activities.
In addition to reinforcing core preschool concepts like colors, shapes, listening and memory skills, both Blue’s Clues games include a “Parents Area” which contains information about the educational curriculum goals associated with each activity. There are also “Beyond the Computer” activities that parents can play with their child in their own home.
Dora the Explorer: Backpack Adventure and Dora the Explorer: Lost City Adventure for Win/Mac are appropriate for kids 3-5 and were developed by Stunt Puppy Entertainment. Each game retails for approximately $19.95.
Developed by ImagineEngine, Blue’s Clues Preschool (3-5) and Blue’s Clues Kindergarten (4-6) for Win/Mac retail for approximately $19.95 each.
