Kids are in Charge in McGraw-Hill Home Interactive's new children software titles; Pony Express Rider, Dr. Sulfur's Night Lab, Pyramid: Challenge of the Pharaoh's Dream and The Fennels Figure Math

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 10, 1996--Kids are in charge as the company debuts its first line of original children's multimedia CD-ROM titles, targeted to kids ages 8 to 14, that equally emphasize both education and entertainment in core subject areas such as science, math, social studies and language arts.

Pony Express Rider, Available 11/96 for Microsoft(r) Windows(r) '95 and Q1/97 for Apple(r) Macintosh(r), -- Developed for kids 9 to 14, Pony Express Rider saddles up kids for a social studies adventure where they experience the Old West as a Pony Express rider galloping through dangerous territories and influencing the outcome of U.S. history. With Buffalo Bill Cody and Calamity Jane, two legendary Pony Express riders as their guides, kids encounter many characters such as spies and roving bandits while crossing swollen rivers, Indian territory and difficult terrain to forge a vital link between St. Joseph, Mo., and San Francisco, in a mission to get the mail West.

Pony Express Rider is based on an original series concept, AMERIKIDS(tm) from Lynn Rogoff and AMERIKIDS(tm) USA, and developed for MHHI in collaboration with Interactive Arts.

Dr. Sulfur's Night Lab, Available 11/96 for Microsoft(r) Windows(r) '95 and Q1/97 for Apple(r) Macintosh(r), -- A science title developed for kids 9 to 14, Dr. Sulfur's Night Lab places kids in the safety of a 3D virtual chemistry lab, where kids conduct experiments, learn the principles of chemistry and dabble with mysterious substances to restore order to the chaotic Sulfur Institute. The title combines a realistic chemistry simulator with unique 3D characters that bring chemistry to life and teach kids how chemistry is used in the real world. As the leader of a science rescue team, kids are sent to save Dr. Sulfur(tm) (who has been transformed into The Flying Nose after one of his experiments has gone awry) and find his missing formulas. Kids join forces with the doctor's specially bred animals, such as Alkaline Alligator, Cruncher and Saltina to explore chemical relationships and principles.

Pyramid: Challenge of the Pharaoh's Dream, Available 11/96 for Microsoft(r) Windows(r) '95 and Q1/97 for Apple(r) Macintosh(r), -- In this social studies title developed for kids 10 and up, children are catapulted back in time to discover and understand the secrets of ancient Egypt. This adventure, based on real world history, provides an accurate depiction of this society and allows kids to explore the technology, culture and secrets of Old Kingdom Egypt. In addition, "virtual flight" technology and sequences allow kids to freely explore how an ancient pyramid might have looked during the reign of the Pharaohs. In this adventure, kids learn about the people and culture of ancient Egypt, the process of building a pyramid, the tools and technologies of the time, and details of daily life along the Nile. Throughout the title, kids are guided by a helpful Scarab that supplies kids with context clues about the different puzzles and adventure.

Pyramid was developed for MHHI in collaboration with Knowledge Adventure Inc. The breathtaking sets and special effects were created by the Academy Award(r)-winning production house Dream Quest Images(r).

The Fennels Figure Math, Available 11/96 for Microsoft(r) Windows(r) '95 and Q1/97 for Apple(r) Macintosh(r), -- Developed for kids 8 to 12, The Fennels is the company's first narrative-based math title and features a humorous story line, outrageous characters, an oddly perfect house and custom Fennel Figuring Machines. Kids need to help Frizzie and her brother Baxter, two members of the outrageous Fennel Family(tm), out of a predicament as five historical guests, such as Einstein, Cleopatra, and Attila the Hun, show up for an impromptu dinner party. Kids assist Frizzie and Baxter with tasks and must use logic, skills and strategies such as trial and error, hypothesis development and testing, estimation, and data analysis to ensure that the party is a success. Applying deductive and inductive reasoning, computation, and measurement (time, linear, capacity, temperature and weight), kids solve problems in the Fennel household, where it seems that anything can happen.

The Fennels Figure Math was developed for MHHI in collaboration with ECC. The story is based upon an original concept and character set by Alan Silberberg, who also wrote the script and has written extensively for Nickelodeon, Disney, The Muppets and The Simpsons, among other projects.

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Editor's Note: To schedule an appointment with MHHI at ABA, please contact Michele Ruegg or Amy Gillespie at Kaufer Miller Communications at 206/450-9965 or micheler(at)kmcomm.com or amyg(at)kmcomm.com.

CONTACT: Kaufer Miller Communications

Michele Ruegg or Amy Gillespie, 206/450-9965

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