Stowaway!, a CD-ROM by Dorling Kindersley Multimedia, is a delightful interactive exploration of a British Man O' War. $49.95. ISBN 1-56458-903-X. Highly recommended. Windows.
Content
Dorling Kindersley has produced an "amazing journey of discovery
through an 18th century warship." You will find an
uncensored view of the rough life on the high seas: rat-infested
cargo bays, seamen sick with scurvy, strict
disciplinary measures, a picturesque depiction of the
"head seats", and much more.
By presenting very detailed information in a readily accessible format, this product achieves an informational depth that will keep children of all ages coming back for more. Stowaway! also keeps your attention via a fun game: if you spot the hidden stowaway 10 times (and he is not easy to find!), you will get a special multimedia reward. Animated clips, although short, are plentiful. Narration is available on demand, and is delivered with a charming British accent.
This CD-ROM is a must-have, especially as a complement to the original book version illustrated by Stephen Biesty. Get both, and see for yourself how the presentation of similar information varies between print and compact disk, and how its impact is enhanced by the interactive capabilities of multimedia.[Top of Page]
Stowaway! is easy to use: point and click on the section of the ship that you would like to visit and "navigate" up or down the various decks. You tour the ship at your own pace.
Parents may want to preview the disk and decide if some of the scenes (e.g., floggings, amputations) are not appropriate for their very young children.
Installation, as with other DK multimedia products, was straightforward and painless. The minimum system requirements are: a 386SX or higher PC with 4 MB of RAM, Windows 3.1, a CD-ROM drive, SVGA 256-color display, and a soundcard and speakers or headphones.
Technical Support is readily available through DKMM's 1-(800) number (Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM EST), via Fax, or Email (DKMM@phantom.com). [Top of Page]
CD-ROM Today. By Gary Meredith. January, 1995:
Top ratings (5 out of 5 points) for depth of information, audio,
visuals and interface. "This is a must for the CD-ROM collection
of anyone at any age."
Multimedia World. December, 1994. Page 58:
Awarded 4 1/2 stars out of 5: "... a top-notch multimedia
adventure... If you ever wondered about the bathrooms aboard
a warship, you need look no further than this disc."
"Even the funny scenes have an earthy quality that will
probably delight kids, although adults may wince... you should
not hesitate to climb aboard this spectacular man o' war for
a tour of duty."
Family PC. December, 1994. 4 1/2 stars out of 5:
"Too many scenes feature someone getting stepped on, knocked
about or terrorized by a rat. But even some of the uglier
scenes are more slapstick than horrific."
Reviewed by Grete Pasch,
Guatemalan by birth, Internet-addict by chance,