Arthur's Thinking Games

by The Learning Company

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005MJV4
• Item model number: 381027
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 26, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,920 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #61 in Software > Children's Software > Thinking & Problem Solving
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The six activities in Arthur's Thinking Games encourage critical thinking and logic, and we had our problem-solving skills further tested by an inadvertent bonus activity: troubleshooting an audio problem that had characters dropping the ends of their sentences. Fortunately, this problem only occurred with one of the computers we tested on. The program's help function suggested making an adjustment to a default setting. We did that, yet the usually consistent Arthur characters still coyly refused to complete their sentences on a Pentium III system with an up-to-date sound card and more than the required 8 MB of RAM and 20 MB of hard disk space.

When we explored this CD-ROM on an older system that for some inexplicable reason gave us good audio, we found an affable little program. In one activity, kids use a catapult to launch water balloons at a castle in order to drench a dragon. As the dragon moves around, kids adjust the catapult's distance and angle of attack to hit their target and put out his fire. Another task involves helping a mummy work his way through a maze-like pyramid. In another deductive game, Arthur's dog Pal gets lost in what looks like the Roman Coliseum, and players can decipher Pal's whereabouts by clicking on windows and listening to hints. A musical jungle allows kids to compose then play short tunes with the help of some musically gifted animals. A game that's structured like a quiz show gives kids an opportunity to listen to clues and pick the correct answer from three choices. Finally, Arthur leads kids to a stage activity where they can use stamps and paints to customize a backdrop, then program Arthur to do a series of dance moves up in the footlights. Each of these activities, with the exception of the Dance Theater, can be adjusted to five different levels.

There are no strokes of genius in Arthur's Thinking Games, nor is anything particularly awful. We do think that the box is claiming a bit much by saying kids learn "history" and "geography" with this program. Apart from the game settings (a pyramid, a coliseum, a castle), we didn't find a scrap of history or geography unless those elements were lost in some of that missing audio. (Ages 3 to 7) --Anne Erickson

Product Description

Join Arthur and D.W. in six exciting learning adventures and 30 different activities packed with hours of fun and learning! Kids 5 years and older will have loads of laughs while developing critical thinking skills, logic and memory.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Little Thin on Content, November 2, 2001

By 

"1421" (MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arthur's Thinking Games (CD-ROM)

Normally, the Arthur series of educational CDs for children are enjoyable, educational and engaging. It was for this reason that I purchased this CD for my 6 year old child. However, when we recived it, the "Thinking Games" turns out to have only 5 or 6 activities, and no automatic leveling (where the CD challenges the child when the child correctly completes an activity. Further, the games that are used seem more like arcade activities, with very little actual "thinking" necessary on the part of the child. While my child enjoys it, I would much rather have them playing with Arthur's First or Second Grade CDs which are challenging, interesting and multifacited. As both the "grade" CDs and the "Thinking Games" CDs are the same price, go for the grade ones -- you will get a lot more for your money!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun. My three year old likes it!, May 21, 2002

By 

apoem "apoem" (Bosque Farms, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Arthur's Thinking Games (CD-ROM)

Two things are wrong with this CD which is why I gave it four stars instead of five.

1- There are only five activities on this CD. This is a problem when many of the other CD's you can buy have many more activities. I was a little bit dissapointed by this aspect.
2- The games a little too arcady for my taste. However having said that- I'm not the one playing it and my three year old son enjoys this CD.

I think that this would be too easy for a child that was five or six. I think this is really directed towards three to five year olds. For my three year old the games develop skills like problem solving, understanding directions and more. I was amazed at how quickly he caught on to the game of hot and cold to find something in one of the games on this CD. Now we play it around the house.

This is a fun CD that does develop thinking skills in younger kids. Be warned though that although the games can be leveled to higher and higher levels, there are only five games. That gets kind of old after a while, even if the level gets harder.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Disappointing from an Arthur Fan, October 11, 2002

By 

A. Joyce "ajjoyce" (moon township, pa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arthur's Thinking Games (CD-ROM)

Like other reviewers, I find this game to have very little educational content..or content period. My sons (2 and 3) tire quickly of its few games, and really just enjoy the regurgitating sound the garbage can makes in the painting section.

Save your money for better quality games.