Get on Board These Games

The kitchen table used to be the main arena for family games. But the home computer is gaining popularity. “Hoyle Board Games 2002” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Kids Edition” demonstrate why.

“Hoyle Board Games 2002”

A single CD-ROM contains 16 board games, many of which allow up to four players to compete at the same time. “Hoyle Board Games 2002” combines classics with new diversions.

Games include checkers, chess, backgammon, Battling Ships (like Battleship), Chinese checkers, dominoes, Mahjong Tiles, pachisi, Reversi (like Othello), Rummy Tiles, Snakes & Ladders and Yacht (like Yahtzee).

Players can compete against family members on the same computer, friends on the Internet or any of 10 entertaining computer opponents. Players choose the skill levels of these animated players and can determine how much attitude they exude. It’s hilarious when an animated player starts to talk trash.

Many of the games offer variations; Mahjong Tiles has 17. The software also includes a version of backgammon that can be downloaded to Palm-powered hand-held computers.

Testers were particularly drawn to the fast-paced Placer Racer. Players shoot colored balls that stick to the ceiling or to the first stationary ball encountered. When three or more balls of the same color touch, they disappear. The object is to clear all the balls from the ceiling to the shooting station.

Because of the simple interface and helpful instructions, it is easy to jump in and play most of the games. The program tracks players’ wins and losses, so competitions are easy to set up.

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“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Kids Edition”

The popular “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” television game show is now available in a special “Kids Edition” for computer.

The game parallels the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” TV show in many ways. Families can compete in a Fastest Finger competition to see who gets to take the hot seat across from host Regis Philbin. Philbin asks a series of 15 progressively more challenging questions, each with four possible answers.

When unsure how to answer, contestants have the three traditional lifelines--50/50, Ask the Audience and Phone a Friend. Unique to this version is the ability to obtain special codes, which can extend the player’s ability to use lifelines. Point browsers to www .millionairekidsgame.com for access to the cheats.

Unlike the television show, where many of the questions are beyond the knowledge base of youngsters, the computerized questions focus on topics such as Dr. Seuss, “The Simpsons” and the Seven Wonders of the World.

Philbin’s pre-recorded dialogue tries to appeal to younger players, but it can be downright weird to hear him quip, “So you’re down with Answer A?”

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Jinny Gudmundsen is editor of Choosing Children’s Software magazine. She can be reached at jinny@choosingchildrenssoftware.com.

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The Skinny

“Hoyle Board Games 2002”

Price: $30

Ages: 5 years and up

Platform: PC/Mac

System requirements: On the PC, a Pentium 133 with 16 MB of RAM and 90 MB of available hard disk space. On the Mac, a Power PC or G3 with 32 MB of RAM and 90 MB of available hard disk space.

Publisher: Sierra

The good: 16 multi-player board games

The bad: Hard on the ego to get beat by a virtual player

Bottom line: Great compilation

“Who Wants

to Be a Millionaire:

Kids Edition”

Price: $20

Ages: 8 years and up

Platform: PC/Mac

System requirements: On the PC, a Pentium 200 with 32 MB of RAM and 200 MB of available hard disk space. On the Mac, a G3 233 with 32 MB of RAM and 200 MB of available disk space.

Publisher: Buena Vista Interactive

The good: Kid-oriented questions

The bad: Regis’ banter

Bottom line: A nice kid-oriented variation