Riverdeep Interactive Learning subsidiary The Learning Company announced its 2002 product lineup this morning, at E3 in Los Angeles. Most of the titles emerging from The Learning Company this year are hybrid CD-ROMs compatible with both Windows and Mac OS systems.
New titles in this year’s arsenal include:
StarFlyers Alien Space Chase and Royal Jewel Rescue — kids exercise critical thinking and problem solving skills with star pilot Katie Cadet, navigator AJ, dragon-dog Io and Klanker the super-robot as they solve puzzles and play games in “a fantasy universe with real-world connections.” The title features dozens of paths that encourage open-ended exploration. For ages 5-8, coming in June.
Jay Jay The Jet Plane Sky Heroes to the Rescue! and Jay Jay Earns His Wings — two titles based on the popular PBS Kids television show based on the anthropomorphic jet plane named Jay Jay. For kids ages 3 – 7, the titles emphasize “important life lessons” along with language arts and mathematics. Coming this month.
Mind Power Math Middle School and Mind Power Math High School — for ages 10 to Adult, these products cover algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus with information graphics, audio explanations, and step-by-step animations. Students also learn how to apply what they learn in the real world. Coming in June.
ClueFinders Mystery Mansion Arcade — The ClueFinders have to make their way through a sinister-looking house where four villains and a mastermind intend to keep them trapped. The title features a variety of arcade-style challenges to help the ClueFinders escape. Coming in June, for ages 7-12.
Reader Rabbit Learn to Read With Phonics — 1st Grade & 2nd Grade — Builds on skills kids learn with the Preschool & Kindergarten product. Balances Phonics and whole language learning, and comes with a second CD-ROM called Reader Rabbit Dreamship Tales, which includes more than one hundred printable activities. For ages 5-8, coming this fall.
Zoombinis Science Journey: Save the Zerbles — Kids team up with Zoombinis to save the Zerbles and help restore Zoombini Isle. Billed as a “scientific-thinking adventure,” this game helps kids learn about ecology, astronomy, mechanics, cryptography and more while they develop scientific thinking skills, learn who to collect data and observe patterns, develop reasoning skills, form and test hypotheses, and decode processes — putting the scientific method to work. The game features seven puzzles with multiple difficulty levels. For ages 8 and up, coming this fall.