[{"TitleName":"Fun School 4 for the Under-5s","Publisher":"Europress Software","Author":"Christian Pennycate, Kevin Cook, Mark Healey, Mark Stamps, Martin Cook, Mick Garlic, Neil Beresford, Neil English, Steven Nunn, Wendy Mellor","YearOfRelease":"1992","ZxDbId":"0012544","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 74, Feb 1992","Price":"£2.2","ReleaseDate":"1992-01-02","Editor":"Andy Hutchinson","TotalPages":68,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"BACK TO OUR ROOTS\r\n\r\nWe're not talking about the roots in the land, we're talking 'bout the roots in the man!\r\n\r\nEditor: Andy (Manchester) Hutchinson\r\nNew Art Editor: Andy (Bristol) Ounsted\r\nGames Editor: James (Hamelin) Leach\r\nStaff Writer: Linda (Hackney) Barker\r\nArt Assistant: Maryanne (Portsmouth) Booth\r\nAdvertising Manager: Cheryl (Tunbridge Wells) Beesley\r\nProduction Coordinator: Lisa (Bath) Read\r\nPublisher: Jane (Chelmsford) Richardson\r\nPublishing Assistant: Michele (Amersham) Harris\r\nGroup Publisher: Greg (New Forest) Ingham\r\nCirculation Director: Sue (Guildford) Hartley\r\n\r\nYour Sinclair (London), Future (Somerton) Publishing [redacted]\r\n\r\nSubscriptions: The Old Barn [redacted]\r\nDistribution: MMC [redacted]\r\n\r\nCover Illustration: Max (Wokingham) Ellis\r\nISSN 0269 6983\r\nABC Jan-June 1991 65,444\r\n\r\nYour Sinclair canters briskly into the paddock with a whinny and a neigh from the same stable as these fillies: Commodore Format (Bath), Amstrad Action (Somerton), Amiga Format (Bath), PCW Plus (Somerton), Sega Power (Bath), Amiga Power (Bath), Amiga Shopper (Bath), Classic CD (Bath), Needlecraft (Bath), Mountain Biking UK (Faversham), PC Format (Bath), Public Domain (Bath) and ST Format (Bath).\r\n\r\nBut what we really want to know is... who invented liquid soap, and why?"},"MainText":"FUN SCHOOL 4 - UNDER 5'S\r\nEuropress Software\r\n£12.99 cass/£16.99 disk\r\nReviewer: Dave Golder\r\n\r\nThe acclaimed Fun School series teaches kids all about such loathsome things as spelling and maths so painlessly that they hardly notice that it's doing them good. The latest Under 5s package has six games all featuring various members of the Teddy family, who all just happen to be bears.\r\n\r\nApparantly, Addition is set in a nursery school, but it looks suspiciously like a normal school to me. There's a blackboard, a teacher and, worse of all, simple addition sums to be done. Still, if you get them right, you're allowed to go home early, hurrah!\r\n\r\nFun Train is all about matching pictures and words. One of the Teddies drives a train past a poster showing a picture or word. The train carries another picture or word in its tender. If they match, press the space bar and feel very proud of yourself. Nice concept, and nice graphics, even if the same pictures do keep cropping up over and over again.\r\n\r\nTeddy's House is a fun painting program. In the lower levels you just paint the Teddies' house in whatever colour scheme you fancy. On higher levels the computer asks you to paint specific parts of the house in certain colours. It all gets loads more difficult when the names of the colours are taken away - a bit of a toughie.\r\n\r\nTeddy D's Karaoke is a work of sheer genius. MC Teddy struts his funky stuff to the hits of the nursery; The Grand Old Duke Of York, Jack and Jill, they're all here. Your Speccy plays the tune and displays the words so that you can sing while Teddy D grooves. Great stuff. On Level Two you can hit the space bar really fast and watch Teddy D rock.\r\n\r\nThen there's Teddy's Book in which you have to work out which bed-time storybook daddy Teddy is reading to his cubs. Finally, Teddy paint is a not-much-fun paint program that lets the collection down a bit.\r\n\r\nOtherwise it's a brilliant disk with appealing characters, effective use of colour and spiffy sound fx. The only problem'll be prising your kid brother or sister away from the keyboard when you want to get back to Dizzy.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"Top of the class. One gold star!","Page":"53","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Dave Golder","Score":"9","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Teddy's house looks stunning (what was that about my colour coordination?)"}],"BlurbText":[{"Text":"TEN THINGS THEY DON'T TEACH YOU AT SCHOOL\r\n\r\nHow to be a millionaire pop star.\r\n\r\nAdvanced cheese and onion crisp appreciation.\r\n\r\nWhat to tell your mum when she catches behind the bikeshed with Susie Barnes.\r\n\r\nHow to eat three shredded wheat.\r\n\r\nHow to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time.\r\n\r\nWhere to buy peanut butter, candyfloss and banana milkshake-flavoured toast toppers.\r\n\r\nWho won the FA cup in 1962.\r\n\r\nHow to stop all the little scaley bits from the kettle getting into your tea when you don't have a tea-strainer.\r\n\r\nHow Extreme manage to make such crap records.\r\n\r\nWhy Spiderman's face goes absolutely smooth when he puts his mask on."}],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Life Expectancy","Score":"8/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"9/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictiveness","Score":"9/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Instant Appeal","Score":"9/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"9/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 122, Apr 1992","Price":"£2.1","ReleaseDate":"1992-03-18","Editor":"Alan Dykes","TotalPages":52,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Alan 'Jaws' Dykes\r\nDesign: Yvette 'Wish I was in Africa' Nicholls\r\nSU Crew: Garth 'Ancient Beard' Sumpter, Pete 'Tartar Sauce' Gerrard, Phillip 'Killer Whale' Fisch, Graham 'I was upstairs, honest' Mason\r\nAd Manager: Tina 'I'm not a Goth!' Zanelli\r\nAd Production: Matthew 'What film?' Walker\r\nMarketing Man.: Mark 'Speech, speech' Swallow\r\nMarketing Women: Sarah 'Pink room' Ewing, Sarah 'Where is it Al?' Hilliard\r\nPublisher: Graham 'Dad' Taylor\r\nManaging Director: Terry 'Good morning' Pratt\r\n\r\n(c)1992 EMAP IMAGES\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nColour by Proprint\r\nPrinted by Kingfisher\r\nTypeset by Altyp Inc\r\n\r\nAbsolutely no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in an electronic retrieval system or used to pad out wet or undersized footwear without the express permission of the Publisher. On a lighter note I really hope that Garth can be found again. I hate to think of the poor chap wandering aimlessly aroudnd the world, searching for Spectrum user groups. I hope Puff is feeling much better too! Incidentally, anyone writing to Suck Up For Software had better be nice to Al from now on 'cos otherwise they won't get any software."},"MainText":"FUN SCHOOL 4 UNDER FIVES\r\n\r\nThis package gives a run down of the very basics of learning ie. What you need to get started. Addition is first up and so we join Teddy in the nursery helping him decide how many objects Teacher Ted is showing on the board. If you can work everything out you're then allowed into the playground, hurrah!\r\n\r\nLevel two is similar to level one, but now you have to actually add the numbers together (oh crikey!) Each number is represented by an object, such as a car, so this level gets the kiddies familiar with every day things too.\r\n\r\nOn level three you're no longer aided by objects, just numbers - though if it gets too had you can borrow some bricks from teacher to help out. After all that hard work you now have the opportunity to get messy in the painting room. Basically this involves going mad and spraying the screen with imaginative splats and creating mini masterpieces. Then, after you've stood back and admired your artwork, it's time to go on the fun train! There are many more recognition games and puzzles over the next few levels, you even get to do some computer karaoke and help Teddy sort out Daddy Ted's books by examining his book shelf and the secret book hiding place under Ted's bed (nightmare city!) - a lot of guesswork is involved here.\r\n\r\nThis is a fine software package with plenty of activity. It might seem too much like work to retain the interest of some under five year olds for very long but overall it provides a good introduction, not just to colours, numbers and recognition but also to computers.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"34","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Julian Watsham","Score":"78","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"\"Listen up little Teddys\", said Techer Teddy, \"time for lessons\""},{"Text":"Hmm, confusion on the Fun Train. How do I figure this out?"}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"78%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 128, Oct 1992","Price":"£2.2","ReleaseDate":"1992-09-18","Editor":"Alan Dykes","TotalPages":52,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Alan 'Paint Psycho' Dykes\r\nDesign: Yvette 'Easel' Nicholls\r\nSU Crew: Graham 'Brush' Mason, Steve 'Palette Knife' Keen, Pete 'Water Colour' Gerrard, Garth 'Silk Screen' Sumpter, Marc 'Detail' Richards, Gaz 'Squaddie' Harrod\r\nAd Manager: Tina 'Broad Stroke' Zanelli\r\nAd Production: Tina 'Potty' Gynn\r\nMr Marketing: Mark '18th Century' Swallow\r\nMarketing Ladies: Sarah 'Impressionist' Ewing, Sarah 'Madonna' Hilliard\r\nPublisher: Mike 'Modernist' Frey\r\nManaging Director: Terry 'Old Master' Pratt\r\n\r\n(c)1992 EMAP IMAGES\r\nPart of EMAP PLC\r\nTel: [redacted]\r\nFax: [redacted]\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nColour by Colourtech\r\nPrinted by Kingfisher\r\nTypeset by Altyp Inc\r\nSubs [redacted]\r\nBack Issues [redacted]\r\n\r\nAbsolutely no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in an electronic retrieval system or copied without the express permission of the publisher. So there! And believe me, this Mike Frey guy is a really nasty piece of work so watch out. Many thanks to Messrs Hals, Gogh, Holbien, Da Vinci and Dobson. Please don't turn in your graves as it's only a joke, honest. Many thanks to Rudi who came all the way from Slovakia to show us the Brava demo. Always wear your head in the right place and keep your toes warm."},"MainText":"FUN SCHOOL (Unders 5's)\r\n\r\nEuropress Software\r\nPhone: (0625) 859 333\r\nTape: £12.99\r\nDisk: £16.99\r\n\r\nFun School 4, Under Fives provides a basic grounding in reading skills, numerical skills, simple painting and, of course an introduction to using a computer keyboard for the young 'uns. This is a relatively simple piece of software that'll it's user glued to the monitor with a the help of (as in all the Fun School series) an interactive character. This time it's a Teddy - ideally suited for the relevant age group. Although children of this age generally have a short attention span and will need supervision if they're not to rip the Spectrum apart (or kill the cat with it) FS4 Under Fives will give your children an early start, supplementing their first year or two at school.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"21","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"80%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 96, Feb 1992","Price":"£2.2","ReleaseDate":"1992-01-16","Editor":"Lucy Hickman","TotalPages":68,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Coming to you live from CRASH Towers are:\r\n\r\nEditor: Lucy 'Hot Lips' Hickman\r\nDeputy Editor: Nick 'Get Yer Kit Off' Roberts\r\nStaff Writer: Mark 'Gas Mark 6' Caswell\r\nProduction Editor: Warren 'Technicolour Neck' Lapworth\r\nAdventures: Ian 'Gerald Kaufman' Osborne\r\nArt & Design: Charlie 'De-cherried' Chubb, Mark 'Newt' Kendrick\r\nSystems Manager: Ian 'Modest Bast' Chubb\r\nScreenshots: Michael 'Anorexic' Parkinson\r\nPublisher: Roger 'Milton' Kean\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Sheila 'Omni-present' Jarvis\r\nAdvertisement Sales Executive: George 'Cassanova' Keenan\r\nAdvertisement Production: Jo '0898' Lewis\r\nProduction: Jackie 'Memo' Morris\r\nReprographics: Rob 'I've got a brand new shower' Millichamp\r\nManaging Director: Jonathan 'Liquid Lunch' Rignall\r\nCirculation Manager: David 'Birdie-dick' Wren\r\nAccounts: Sheila 'Morticia' Adams\r\nSubscriptions: David 'Bradford and Bingley' Bingle(y)\r\n\r\nTypesetting Europress Impact, using Apple Macintosh II computers, running Quark Express and Adobe Illustrator 3.0. Printing BPCC Business Magazines (Carlisle) Ltd. Distribution COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nCOMPETITION RULES\r\nThe Editor's decision is final in all matters relating to adjudication and while we offer prizes in good faith, believing them to be available; If something untoward happens we reserve the right to substitute prizes of comparable value. We'll do our very best to despatch prizes as soon as possible after the published closing date. Winners names will appear in a later issue of CRASH. No correspondence can be entered into regarding the competitions (unless we've written to you stating that you have won a prize and it doesn't turn up, in which case write to us at the address below). No person who has any relationship, no matter how remote, to anyone who works for either EUROPRESS IMPACT or any of the companies offering prizes, may enter one of our competitions. No material may be reproduced whole or in part without the written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return anything sent into CRASH - including written and photographic material, hardware or software - unless it is accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material is welcome, and if used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates. Copy published in CRASH will be edited as seen fit and payment will be calculated by the printed word rate. The views expressed in CRASH are not necessarily those of the publishers.\r\n\r\nEuropress Impact Ltd, CRASH [redacted]\r\n\r\nThis month's cover: Never Ending Story II. Cover design by Oliver Frey. Powertape inlay by Mark Kendrick."},"MainText":"Europress Software\r\n£12.99 cass (each)\r\n\r\nTwo plus two equals... erm, seven. Oh dear, readers, I think the Crash team need to return to the classroom for a couple of days. Or alternatively, play the latest range of educational games released by our parent company (grovel, smarm). Mark 'Swotty Git' Caswell dons a mortar board and arms himself with a can to review the Fun School 4 packs...\r\n\r\nThere are three game packs on offer, each containing six games. These are for under-fives, five to seven-year-olds and seven to eleven-year-olds. Quite why the Ed asked me to review these game I don't know, at 27 I'm an old crusty (I reckon its punishment for deserting CRASH). But with the Ed's stiletto heel two inches away from my groin, I'll start with the under-fives pack:\r\n\r\nFirst off we have 'Addition', where Teddy and five of his pals are sitting in front of a blackboard. Teacher Ted shows pictures and you press the corresponding number on the keyboard. Get it right and Teddy and his classmates are allowed out to play.\r\n\r\n'Teddy Paint' allows you to become an Oli Frey acolyte for the day. By pressing different keys choose a variety of shapes and colours, so let your imagination run wild.\r\n\r\nIn 'Fun Train', Teddy takes a train ride. All you do is match the picture on the Fun Train carriage to the one in the middle of the Fun Train ride.\r\n\r\nA bit of DIY (destroy it yourself) comes next as you help the decorators paint Teddy's house. Different parts of the house are highlighted and a range of colours are offered - if you want to paint the chimney yellow, go ahead.\r\n\r\nIn 'Teddy's Karaoke', you help him pick, play and sing a selection of songs for his party. Finally, Teddy's Books'sees Daddy Bear reading a story to Teddy and his friends. All you have to do is identify the book Daddy Bear's reading.\r\n\r\nFIVE TO SEVENS\r\n\r\nThe five to seven pack kicks off with 'Library', where Freddy The Frog offers to help out with a bit of book tidying. So you're presented with a pile of books that need sorting into alphabetical order.\r\n\r\n'Basketball'sees Freddy join the Harlem Globetrotters (the first person in the office to whistle 'Sweet Georgia Brown' will be punched). Out on the basketball court you identify the missing letter; a correct answer lets Freddy lob a ball into the basket.\r\n\r\nFreddy goes to the supermarket next in 'Shopkeeper', our froggy hero tells you what he needs from the shop and you decide how much it costs (the price of milk these days, mutter, moan, whinge).\r\n\r\nHelp Freddy build his log cabin in the game (unsurprisingly) titled 'Log Cabin'. Simple sums appear on the screen; if you provide the correct answer Freddy adds another log to his home (get it wrong and he dies of hypothermia).\r\n\r\nIn 'Opposites', Freddy's wife wants to dive into a pond, but she can't until you answer some 'opposite' questions. Finally, Freddy wants to cross the pond, too, so answer questions to help him escape the crocodile.\r\n\r\nSEVEN TO ELEVENS\r\n\r\nLast but by no means least, we have the seven to elevens pack. In 'Proportions' you help Sammy The Spy work out decimals, fractions and percentages.\r\n\r\nYour general knowledge is tested in 'Spy Quiz'; if you succeed Sammy can carry out his mission. Next Sammy finds himself abroad, so in 'Exchange Rates' buy (and identity) five major currencies.\r\n\r\nIn 'Spy Travels', help Sammy find the secret spy base. He travels across the world in various vehicles but can't navigate to save his life (thicky!). And in 'Desert Dates' help Sammy answer historical questions and discover the secret of the pyramids.\r\n\r\nDespite the fact I left school a decade or so ago, I greatly enjoyed playing Fun School 4. I was impressed with the presentation of all the games. The graphics are especially noteworthy - some are monochrome but others contain all the colours of the rainbow!\r\n\r\nThese packs are excellent value for money. Parents and teachers alike could do far worse than look at the Fun School range of games (phew, I think my job is safe) (bloody creep - Ed).\r\n\r\nMARK 83%","ReviewerComments":["Ooo, little teddies everywhere! I like a challenging game to play now and then, something to test my skills to the full. That's why I got lumbered with Fun School 4! The three packs cater for different age groups and all are full of fun, informative graphics and brilliant animated sequences. The Fun School series has all the educational value you need but presents it in such a way to keep the child interested. A favourite game of mine is Teddy D's Karaoke, where you select the nursery rhyme to bop along to and the words come up on screen. We've been playing it constantly in the office - it's driving everyone around the bend! I recommend Fun School 4 to anyone wanting to continue their child's education at home. I wish I'd had such great games to play in my early learning years (whadda ya mean, I'm still only little!).\r\nNick Roberts\r\n90%","Ooo, little teddies everywhere! I like a challenging game to play now and then, something to test my skills to the full. That's why I got lumbered with Fun School 4! The three packs cater for different age groups and all are full of fun, informative graphics and brilliant animated sequences. The Fun School series has all the educational value you need but presents it in such a way to keep the child interested. A favourite game of mine is Teddy D's Karaoke, where you select the nursery rhyme to bop along to and the words come up on screen. We've been playing it constantly in the office - it's driving everyone around the bend! I recommend Fun School 4 to anyone wanting to continue their child's education at home. I wish I'd had such great games to play in my early learning years (whadda ya mean, I'm still only little!).\r\nNick Roberts\r\n90%"],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"56","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Nick Roberts","Score":"90","ScoreSuffix":"%"},{"Name":"Nick Roberts","Score":"90","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Down at the basketball court. What a nicely drawn Europress logo!"},{"Text":"What a strange bunch of geezers!"}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Under 5's","Score":"86%","Text":""},{"Header":"5-7 Yrs","Score":"86%","Text":""},{"Header":"7-11 Yrs","Score":"85%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"87%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]