[{"TitleName":"Punctuation Pete + Word Finder","Publisher":"Heinemann","Author":"Five Ways Software Ltd","YearOfRelease":"1983","ZxDbId":"0015077","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 5, Jun 1984","Price":"£0.75","ReleaseDate":"1984-05-24","Editor":"Roger Kean","TotalPages":126,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Kean\r\nConsultant Editor: Franco Frey\r\nProduction Designer: David Western\r\nArt Editor: Oliver Frey\r\nClient Liaison: John Edwards\r\nStaff Writer: Lloyd Mangram\r\nContributing Writers: Matthew Uffindel, Chris Passey\r\nSubscription Manager: Denise Roberts\r\n\r\nTelephone numbers\r\nEditorial/office [redacted]\r\nAdvertising [redacted]\r\nHot Line [redacted]\r\n\r\n©1984 Newsfield Ltd.\r\nCrash Micro is published monthly by Newsfield Ltd. [redacted]\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent from the copyright holders.\r\n\r\nPhotosetting by SIOS [redacted]\r\nColour origination by Scan Studio, [redacted]\r\nPrinted in England by Carlisle Web Offset Ltd, [redacted].\r\nDistribution by Comag, [redacted]\r\n\r\nSubscriptions: 12 issues £9.00 UK Mainland (post free)\r\nEurope: 12 issues £15 (post free).\r\n\r\nWe cannot undertake to return any written or photographic material sent to CRASH MICRO unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.\r\n\r\nCover by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Producer: Heinemann\r\nMemory Required: 48K\r\nRetail Price: £9.95\r\nAuthor: Five Ways Software\r\n\r\nThis package contains two games, Punctuation Pete and Word finder. Wordfinder provides three separate smaller programs, the first being the wordfinder itself, a sort of mini-Thesaurus with about 1,000 words in it. The theme is travel and the screen presents you with a list of words related to various forms of travel. From this list it is possible to investigate similar words, find similar words and make connections between words. The wordfinder is then incorporated in the following two games, Anagrams and Hangman. Anagrams mixes up the letters of the words in wordfinder and asks you to unscramble them. It is possible to interrupt, go to the wordinder and search for the word if you get stuck. Amazingly, even the most obvious of words can cause confusion. What would you make of C-C-L-E-Y? It took ages to discover CYCLE. Hangman is a guessing game where you must create the chosen word from nothing, with the computer placing correctly guessed letters in the right place, or drawing one more line of a hanged man for incorrect ones. This guides children to the use of vowels as major building blocks. It is possible to give up and see the correct answer.\r\n\r\nPunctuation Pete presents the problem of punctuating quite long pieces of prose. Seven lines are displayed on screen, usually a very short story. Punctuation Pete can be made to walk along the lines, and by using the punctuation keys of the Spectrum, the correct punctuation may be added where it should be. On the higher of the three skill levels, this will include quotes for speech with all the attendant problems of whether full stops or commas come before or after the quotes. When a piece is completed, Pete will return to the top of the screen and point out any mistakes, which may then be corrected. Afterwards, he will return to the top and check every line, jumping for joy if everything is correct.\r\n\r\nThe game contains many neat touches; Pete is very well animated for instance. It is essential to change lower case letters into capitals where required, and when this operation is carried out, Pete gives the offending letter a casual kick with his foot to alter it.\r\n\r\nCRITICISM\r\n\r\nWordfinder presents some tough problems and looks like being a real aid to learning the meaning and association of certain types of word. Punctuation Pete is just marvellous. The polish on this piece of software is evident, and the animation of Pete himself should delight younger children, and amuse adults. In fact the exercises provided should prove valuable to adults as well, and this is not a patronising game at all. The back-up booklet provided in with the package contains 18 pages devoted to the history of writing, comments on writing stories, place names, playing with words, code breaking and the simple background to printing. Despite its rather high price, Punctuation Pete is a worthy game with probably more usefulness as a learning aid than many so-called educational games.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: punctuation keys, well described in book\r\nUse of colour: simple\r\nGraphics: very good\r\nSound: none","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: A little pricey, but an excellent program.","Page":"67","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Roger Kean","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 37, Feb 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-01-22","Editor":"Graeme Kidd","TotalPages":132,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Publishers: Roger Kean, Oliver Frey, Franco Frey\r\nPublishing Executive/Editor: Graeme Kidd\r\nSub Editor: Ciaran Brennan\r\nStaff Writers: Lloyd Mangram, Lee Paddon, Hannah Smith\r\nAdventure Editor: Derek Brewster\r\nStrategy Editor: Philippa Irving\r\nTech Tipster: Simon Goodwin\r\nContributing Writers: Jon Bates, Brendon Kavanagh, John Minson\r\nProduction Controller: David Western\r\nArt Director: Dick Shiner\r\nAssistant Art Director: Gordon Druce\r\nIllustrators: Ian Craig, Oliver Frey\r\nProduction: Seb Clare, Tim Croton, Mark Kendrick, Tony Lorton, Nick Orchard, Michael Parkinson, Cameron Pound, Jonathan Rignall, Matthew Uffindell\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Roger Bennett\r\nAdvertisement Assistant: Nick Wild\r\nSubscriptions: Denise Roberts\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\n\r\nEditorial and Production: [redacted]\r\n\r\nMail Order and Subscriptions: [redacted]\r\n\r\nADVERTISING\r\nBookings [redacted]\r\n\r\nPrinted in England by Carlisle Web Offset, [redacted] - member of the BPCC Group.\r\n\r\nDistributed by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced whole or in part without written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return any written material sent to CRASH Magazine unless accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material which may be used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates.\r\n\r\n©1987 Newsfield Limited\r\n\r\nCover by Ian Craig\r\n\r\n101,483 Total\r\n92,992 UK and EIRE"},"MainText":"PUNCTUATION PETE\r\n\r\nProducer: Hill MacGibbon\r\r\nRetail Price: £9.95\r\r\nAge Range: 7-12\r\r\nAuthor: Five Ways Software\r\r\n\r\r\nAs a teacher, I know how difficult it can be to teach the conventions of punctuation to young children. And most of the drill and practice programs that I've seen on this topic have not been particularly useful. Punctuation Pete however, is different. There are two programs on the cassette. On one side is the punctuation program containing a wide variety of passages for the child to punctuate. The menu offers four levels of difficulty based on the reading levels of the passages, then the child has to choose which type of scribe he is. The passages aimed at the junior scribe require full stops and capital letters; those for the master scribe need quotation marks, question marks and commas, while, if you are a super scribe, you have to insert all the missing punctuation marks.\r\r\n\r\r\nAn example of a passage at junior scribe level is: \"soon the train came it was nearly empty anna got in it was her first journey away from home 'your father will meet you at the station at naira,' her father said 'be careful now, anna don't talk to any strangers'. The train started suddenly\". The child has to move Punctuation Pete along the lines stopping at points where a punctuation mark is missing.\r\r\n\r\r\nA keyboard overlay placed on the top row of keys gives the option to move Pete left, right, up or down. Capital letters may also be inserted and mistakes deleted. Punctuation marks such as commas, full stops, quotation marks and question marks are inserted using the normal keys. When the child has finished punctuating the passage, Punctuation Pete checks it over and moves to any mistakes he finds. The child has three chances to correct the error before the correct answer is given. When the passage is completely correct, Pete waves and jumps about, and another passage can be attempted.\r\r\n\r\r\nThis is a useful program which will motivate children to improve their skills. On the other side of the tape is Wordfinder a kind of thesaurus containing about a thousand words aimed at encouraging children to make links between words. The first screen lists the categories air, water, land, how you move and needs of the traveller under 'Travel' with a downward arrow beside each. Pressing the downward arrow key takes you on to a further list of words and phrases to do with travel. Some words have horizontal arrows beside them and pressing the corresponding arrow key causes the screen to move sideways to another page of connections. Again, a keyboard overlay is provided, and it also offers the options of playing anagrams or hangman.\r\r\n\r\r\nAnagrams uses words from the thesaurus and the child has to rearrange the letters to make the correct word. The player can return to the thesaurus at any point to search for the word, or, by pressing the Help key, can call the word onto the screen. Letters not used in the word to be guessed are shown on the screen as the child suggests them, which is a very useful feature. Hangman is a game children love, so they will enjoy this computer version.\r\r\n\r\r\nIncluded in the package is a 16 page booklet with information on the history of writing, and the origins of place names, printing and communications. There are also a variety of tasks for the child to complete, including writing a dialogue, completing a crossword and breaking codes. This is an excellent package, particularly for use in the classroom.\r\r\n\r\r\nCOMMENTS\r\r\n\r\r\nControl keys: a keyboard overlay for each program simplifies the commands\r\r\nKeyboard play: good\r\r\nGraphics: limited to Punctuation Pete and the Hangman graphics, but very good\r\r\nUse of colour: very good","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: A very good package, with an excellent booklet giving ideas for extension work.","Page":"49","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Rosetta McLeod","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"ZX Computing Issue 13, Jun 1984","Price":"£1.95","ReleaseDate":"1984-05-31","Editor":"Ray Elder","TotalPages":156,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Ray Elder\r\nEditorial Assistant: Fiona Eldridge\r\nGroup Editor: Wendy J Palmer\r\nSales Executive: Penny Scoular\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Barry Bingham\r\nDivisional Advertising Manager: Beverley McNeill\r\nCopy Controller: Ann McDermott\r\nManaging Editor: Ron Harris\r\nChief Executive: T J Connell\r\n\r\nOrigination and design by MM Design & Print, [redacted]\r\nPublished by Argus Specialist Publications Ltd, [redacted]\r\n\r\nZX Computing is published bi-monthly on the fourth Friday of the month. Distributed by: Argus Press Sales & Distribution Ltd. [redacted]. Printed by: Garnett Print, Rotherham and London.\r\n\r\nThe contents of this publication including all articles, designs, plans, drawings and programs and all copyright and other intellectual property rights therein belong to Argus Specialist Publications Limited. All rights conferred by the Law of Copyright and other intellectual property rights and by virtue of international copyright conventions are specifically reserved to Argus Specialist Publications Limited and any reproduction requires the prior written consent of the Argus Specialist Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\n©Argus Specialist Publications Limited 1984"},"MainText":"SPECTRUM LESSONS\r\n\r\nMike Edmunds continues his quest against ignorance and assesses some of the latest educational software packages.\r\n\r\nEducational software has, to date, been of a very mixed quality, with often only a limited use in the classroom. Now, with the advent of material such as the Dudley Programs, we find software intended for use right across the curriculum.\r\n\r\nThe programs, all with the theme of travel, have been designed specifically for use in schools by a team of 24 teachers and advisers from Dudley Metropolitan Borough, in conjunction with Five Ways Software.\r\n\r\nEach of the four titles; Punctuation Pete/Wordfinder, Car Journey, Special Agent and Ballooning is a complete package in itself or can be used in conjunction with the other titles to provide a really comprehensive series of resource materials.\r\n\r\nEach package comes in an A4 folder with a detailed guide/workbook which not only outlines the aims of the program but also suggests numerous associated activities to be carried out using either the program or the workbook material. There is also a set of keyboard overlays, a summary of instructions and a 'run card'. Loading is straightforward and the pupil is greeted by an illustrated title screen detailing loading time. As with the workbook, the programs are colourful and visually attractive, good use of graphics being maintained throughout the series.\r\n\r\nPUNCTUATION PETE\r\nWORDFINDER\r\n\r\nThe first package, Punctuation Pete/Wordfinder, is really two for the price of one. Pete lives inside your computer and it is his job to keep everything tidy. Your job is to help him sort out sentences that have lost their punctuation. Although this type of program has been around for quite a while, this version is a step ahead of the others by virtue of its graphics. A delightfully animated Pete is guided around various texts to correct the mistakes (often physically kicking them into submission it seems!)\r\n\r\nThis is aimed at reasonably able readers and provides various texts, chosen at random from a large bank, all on the theme of travel. The child can choose his own level, beginning with Junior Scribe (full stops and capital letters). If he can master this level he may wish to aim for higher status, where the exercises are correspondingly more difficult. Mistakes by the child are indicated by Pete and a second try is invited. Continuing errors are eventually corrected by the computer.\r\n\r\nWordfinder, the second half of the pack, provides an extensive thesaurus on the travel theme, its aim being to develop vocabulary. Words can be selected from a comprehensive list and all linked possibilities then examined. This is a novel idea and it would be nice to think of this program 'sitting' at the back of a classroom available for constant referral as a source of vocabulary, stimulation and ideas, especially for subjects such as creative writing, topic work etc.\r\n\r\nCAR JOURNEY\r\n\r\nThe second package, Car Journey, involves travelling around the main roads of England and Scotland and combines geography and mathematics with logical thinking and evaluation. Four levels of skill are provided and the child first has an opportunity to get acquainted with the vehicles and conditions in the Driving School. Here, selection of vehicle, route planning, cost analysis and fuel consumption all prove to be important decisions which the child needs to make. The correct choice makes the journey easy!!! Having passed through the Driving School, the child should be well equipped to tackle the hazards of everyday motoring. As an added bonus here you can also opt for driving with hazards, anything from radar traps to snowstorms!\r\n\r\nThis program is realistic in approach and the child soon learns to tackle the tasks systematically in order to achieve good results. This is an excellent way of applying decision making and logical thinking to an everyday 'real-life' situation.\r\n\r\nSPECIAL AGENT\r\n\r\nIn Special Agent you are recruited by M16, your job being to catch an enemy spy. This is a maddeningly frustrating program - sometimes the spy can be tracked down quite quickly, at other times you can spend weeks (or even months) chasing him around the cities of Europe. Continued lack of success might spoil this program for some children but it can also be very addictive! The strategies required are soon discovered and the various countries and cities involved quickly become familiar. (It is a decided advantage to have several atlases on hand!)\r\n\r\nThe program also gives practice in the workings of train and airline timetables... all this whilst trying to understand intelligence reports and decipher codes! As a program for older primary children upwards, this is an ingenious way of encouraging quick, logical, decision making based on a wide variety of information. As an alternative to the normal procedure it is also suggested that the game be played with either limited time or limited money!\r\n\r\nBALLOONING\r\n\r\nBallooning, the final title in the series, is a simulation program which encourages children to investigate and explore the science of lighter-than-air flight. There are several levels and initial tuition is gained in the Flying School. This is an essential duty before undertaking your Flying Test and eventually your Live Mission. If you pass your test you are assigned a score and your subsequent activities are influenced by the rank you have been given.\r\n\r\nYou are then ready to embark upon a solo flight with specific tasks to perform. These are not at all straightforward - I'm afraid I left the vet stranded on a hillside miles away from the sick sheep! The program and activities suggested within the package introduce children to various scientific principles and seem an ideal way of combining learning with enjoyment.\r\n\r\nTO CONCLUDE\r\n\r\nTaken singly, each of the programs in this series is excellent. Put together, as a complete resource package, they are outstanding - each having the right blend of interest and skill to ensure continued usage. The programs are well written and overall presentation is of a high quality.\r\n\r\nAs a theme package they test the child's abilities in all areas. Marvellous - fun whilst learning!\r\n\r\nEach of the packages reviewed above costs £9.95 and is published by Heinemann Computers in Education Ltd, [redacted].","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"24,25","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Mike Edmunds","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]