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         Blue's Treasure Hunt, created by Humongous Entertainment, is 
          a software program based on Nickelodeon's preschool program "Blue's 
          Clues," and features Steve and a cast of two- dimensional 
          animated characters, among them Blue, a fun-loving, spotted blue dog. 
          Blue's Treasure Hunt invites kids to join Steve on a series of treasure 
          hunt adventures. Preschoolers help Blue and friends collect treasure 
          scrolls, find and solve Blue's Clues, explore Steve's neighborhood, 
          play multi-level learning games and more. Kids use critical thinking 
          and problem-solving skills to help Steve and Blue discover Paprika's, 
          Mailbox's, and Magenta's favorite treasures as they play with old and 
          new friends on their quest to find the land of Great  Discovery. 
          Together they explore new places including the park, school and Recycle 
          Town. Then, using the treasure keys they've earned by collecting treasure 
          scrolls and solving Blue's Clues games, kids are granted entry to the 
          captivating Land of Great Discovery where new treasures await them. 
          The price for Blue's Treasure Hunt is $29.99 and the game comes on two 
          CDs. There is also a Blue's Birthday Adventure, Blue's 123 Time Activities, 
          and Blue's ABC Time Activities. (See our reviews of these programs.) 
          All games can be used with a PC with Windows or a Macintosh. The Humongous 
          Entertainment Web site is a great place for both parents and kids to 
          visit. There is all sorts of information, games and such. http://www.humongous.com 
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         Installation. The program was very 
          easy to install.  
        Interface. The interface is well-done 
          with clickable items all over the screen. Children get a kick out of 
          seeing the same characters they already know from the television series. 
          All the graphics are colorful, and the music and rhymes are appealing 
          to parents and children. 
        Difficulty Levels. The program 
          automatically adjusts the difficulty settings of each activity so that 
          as kids become better at completing them, the activities gradually get 
          more challenging. Alternatively, parents may help direct their child's 
          learning by selecting from beginning, intermediate or hard settings 
          before the game is launched. 
        Storyline and Goal. The 
          overall goal of Blue's Treasure Hunt is to help Blue and Steve enter 
          the Land of Great Discovery. To get there, children must help Blue and 
          Steve complete three unique  Treasure 
          Hunts in sequence. Each Treasure Hunt "pathway" features a 
          complete Blue's Clues game to solve, a series of three treasure scrolls 
          to find and follow, multilevel learning games to uncover, a Blue's skidoo, 
          and lots of locations and clickable surprises to explore and discover. 
          The scrolls in each pathway have been hidden by a lively new character, 
          Treasure Bug, and they lead children to the treasure chest, while the 
          answer to Blue's Clues allows them to open the treasure chest where 
          they find th e 
          favorite treasures of their old friends Paprika, Mailbox, and Magenta. 
          The treasures inside will partially unlock 
          the door to the Land of Great Discovery. Once they have completed all 
          three pathways in order (solving each Blue's 
          Clues game and completing each treasure scroll hunt), they can "unlock" 
          the door to the Land of Great Discovery where more treasures await. 
        The Land of Great Discovery. 
          This is a wonderful place which is full of surprises and more treasures: 
        
          
            - Discovery Kit--Kids can create their 
              own special place within the Land of Great Discovery. They can personalize 
              it by using the painting and drawing tools or by selecting from 
              more than 400 animated and non-animated, pre-made stickers, which 
              feature items such as Blue's Clues friends, animals, musical instruments, 
              toys and more.
 
            - Treasure Hunt Computer Game--In the 
              clubhouse, kids play a Blue's computer game in which the goal is 
              to score as many points possible by clearing all the blocks off 
              the screen by bouncing Blue's ball. There are l100 pre-made games 
              for many different skill levels.
 
            - Create a Computer Game--Preschoolers 
              can design their very own computer game with up to 10 customized 
              levels.
 
           
         
        Multilevel Learning and Creativity Activities. 
          These activities encourage children to expand their clue solving experience 
          and strengthen essential early learning skills.  
         
          Learning activities include: 
         
        
          - Lights On, Lights Off--Preschoolers help Orange Kitten keep 
            track of school supplies in the preschool supply closet as they strengthen 
            visual discrimination and memory skills by identifying objects that 
            have been taken away or added to the shelf of the closet.
 
          - Find the Numbers--Kids practice early math and number recognition 
            skills as they explore Mary's Garden for Hickory Dickory Dock clock.
 
         
         
          Creativity activities include: 
         
        
          - Bedtime Stories--Kids engage in early reading, rhyming and 
            storytelling skills as they help Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper create bedtime 
            stories for Baby Paprika. 
 
         
        
  
         
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