It's rare when I sit back and say "Wow!" But it happened recently as I took a peek at "Alphabet," a software title based on a picture book by Czech artist Kveta Pacovska. "Alphabet" creates a constantly changing environment in which a child's actions affect what appears on the screen.
"Alphabet" begins with a series of scenes full of animated letters. In this "Fantasia"-like world, letters appear randomly and are said aloud. Children control the order of presentation by hitting a specific key on the keyboard.
The letters of the alphabet might form a quilt of multicolored O's or appear to be doing the wave across the screen. As they spin, fade in and out, swirl and sweep, they create fascinating patterns. Pacovska's use of bright and bold colors creates a striking palette of letters.
There are two ways to play in this dramatic environment. If children click on a letter as it appears on the screen, they activate an activity related to that letter. Clicking in the upper right-hand corner of the screen also can trigger the activities.
Each of the letter activities is different, and some letters have more than one activity. Depending on the game, children have three ways of interacting with the letters on the screen: keyboard, mouse, and microphone.
For example, with the letter M activity, if children blow into a microphone attached to the computer, rainbow pieces form new letters. The letter Q game allows children to design their own music boxes by tapping on letters on the keyboard. With the H activity, children lead objects around and through the H by moving the mouse.
"Alphabet" is unlike any other piece of children's software. It is hard to capture its essence in words because it creates such a beautiful experience. The fluid presentation of vibrant letter paintings makes you feel like you are in an art museum. This unique kaleidoscope of sight and sound can be played by 3-year-olds, but older children will better appreciate its ingenuity.
'GollyGee Blocks'
"GollyGee Blocks" is another highly inventive software title that creates an unusual environment in which to play. With "GollyGee," children get to explore and create with virtual 3-D blocks.
Winner of the Parents Choice Gold Award, "GollyGee" provides children with an unlimited container of blocks. The interface is clean and simple, so children can jump right in and start experimenting. And it comes with some nifty features that are never available when building with real blocks--such as a zero-gravity environment.
