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              We are on the
              lookout for online games and downloadable games for kids and
              families. Here's our picks, along with our comments. 
              
                
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                    Word Games | 
                 
                
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                    Text Twist
                    
                    Description: 
                      
                     
                    
                    
                      
                     
                    How many words do you know? Make as many words as you
                    can with the letters you're given. Use all your letters to
                    make a word and you'll move on to the next round. If you get
                    stuck, just click on Twist for a hint. Don't worry, they've
                    already thought of all the words. You just have to tell them
                    what they are! 
                    
                    
                    
                    System Req: 
                      
                    
                     
                    
                      
                    Windows:
                    
                    
                      
                        
                          | •  | 
                          95/98/ME/2000/XP | 
                         
                        
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                          16-bit Graphics Card | 
                         
                        
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                          16-bit Sound Card | 
                         
                        
                          | •  | 
                          32MB RAM | 
                         
                      
                     
                    
                     
                    Mac:
                    
                    
                    
                    More
                    Information
                    
                     
                    Download
                    the game
                     
                     
                    
                    EdutainingKids Comments: Top Pick.
                    This is an excellent, addictive
                    game--our personal favorite. You know you're addicted when
                    you see words around you and, by force of habit, start
                    making little words out of them (I caught myself
                    automatically reducing the word Walmart to arm, mar, ram,
                    mart, etc., one day when I was going shopping!). Timed mode
                    is best, but untimed mode is a great option for kids. It's
                    somewhat challenging, so we recommend it for kids ages 9 and
                    up. Adults will love it too! 
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 Scrabble 
                    Description: 
                      
                     
                    
                    
                      
                     
                    The World's Best Loved Word Game is now the ultimate
                    interactive word game! The game plays the way you've always
                    known it, but now stunning graphics, multiple difficulty
                    levels, pop-up menus and more, come to vivid life on your
                    desktop. It's everything you love about Scrabble in one easy
                    download. A whole new level of fun! 
                    
                    
                    
                    System Req: 
                      
                    
                     
                    
                      
                    Windows:
                    
                    
                      
                        
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                          98/ME/2000/XP | 
                         
                        
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                          400 Mhz or faster processor | 
                         
                        
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                          64MB RAM | 
                         
                        
                          | •  | 
                          37.5MB free disk space | 
                         
                        
                          | •  | 
                          DirectX 7.0 | 
                         
                      
                     
                     
                    More
                    Information 
                    Download
                    the game 
                    EdutainingKids Comments:   Kids can play against their
                    family and friends, or vie against an animated computer
                    opponent. Eight unique skill levels make this appropriate
                    for kids as young as 8 or 9. High scores are tracked, and a
                    hint feature helps when kids get stuck. Scrabble is a
                    beloved classic, and it's educational, too! 
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                  | Puzzles and Puzzle
                    Games: | 
                 
                
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 SpongeBob
                    SquarePants Jigsaw 
                    Description: 
                      
                     
                    
                    
                      
                     
                    Nick Jigsaw offers all the great features of 
                    Super
                    Jigsaw games and includes images from some of the most
                    popular Nickelodeon cartoons--in this case, SpongeBob
                    Squarepants! 
                    
                    
                    System Req: 
                      
                    
                     
                    
                      
                    Windows:
                    
                    
                      
                        
                          | •  | 
                          98/ME/2000/XP | 
                         
                        
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                          32MB RAM | 
                         
                        
                          | •  | 
                          16 bit Graphics and Sound | 
                         
                      
                     
                    
                     
                    Mac:
                    
                    
                      
                    More
                    Information 
                    Download
                    the game 
                    EdutainingKids Comments:  This demo lasts only an hour,
                    but it's worth it! Kids will love putting SpongeBob pictures
                    back together again. The puzzles can be done with
                    traditional jigsaw shapes or squares, pieces can be rotated
                    only if desired,
                    areas can be magnified, and so forth. Plenty of features
                    here! 
                       | 
                  
                      
                    
 Dora the
                    Explorer Jigsaw 
                    Description: 
                      
                     
                    
                    
                      
                     
                    Nick Jigsaw offers all the great features of Super
                    Jigsaw games and includes images from some of the most
                    popular Nickelodeon cartoons. This one features puzzle
                    images from Dora the Explorer, a preschooler favorite. 
                    
                    
                    
                    System Req: 
                      
                    
                     
                    
                      
                    Windows:
                    
                    
                      
                        
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                          98/ME/2000/XP | 
                         
                        
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                          32MB RAM | 
                         
                        
                          | •  | 
                          16 bit Graphics and Sound | 
                         
                      
                     
                    
                     
                    Mac:
                    
                    
                      
                    More
                    Information 
                    Download
                    the game 
                    EdutainingKids Comments:  The demo
                    only lasts an hour, but
                    kids will have fun with this customizable jigsaw puzzle that
                    boasts plenty of features, including the ability to save
                    games to complete later, to choose the number of pieces per puzzle,
                    to add challenge by allowing puzzle piece rotation, and more.  
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 SpongeBob
                    Squarepants Collapse!
                     
                    Description: 
                      
                    
                     
                    
                    
                      
                     
                    What's more fun than watching SpongeBob SquarePants, or
                    playing Collapse!? SpongeBob SquarePants Collapse, of
                    course! This new game offers you the best of both. 
                     
                    Think Super Collapse, but with SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy,
                    bubbles, jellyfish and starfish -- you get the picture --
                    it's SpongeBob SquarePants Collapse! 
                    
                    
                    System Req: 
                      
                    
                     
                    
                      
                    Windows:
                    
                    
                      
                        
                          | •  | 
                          95/98/ME/2000/XP | 
                         
                        
                          | •  | 
                          32MB RAM | 
                         
                        
                          | •  | 
                          16-bit Graphics & Sound Card | 
                         
                      
                     
                    
                     
                    Mac:
                    
                    
                    More
                    Information 
                    Download
                    the game 
                    EdutainingKids Comments: This game features the SpongeBob
                    theme, fun graphics, and the ability to choose a starting
                    level.  
                       | 
                    | 
                 
                
                  | Music | 
                 
                
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 Tap a
                    Jam
                     
                    Description: 
                      
                    
                     
                    
                    
                      
                     
                    Tap a Jam is the most fun you've ever had with music.
                    But don't worry, Tap a Jam requires no musical skills
                    whatsoever. We've already made the music for you. All you
                    have to do is follow the symbols on the screen and your
                    fingers will be dancing their way to high scores in no time. 
                     
                    Choose from over 30 different songs and increasing levels of
                    difficulty - there's even a tutorial to get you started.
                    Once you've got it down, challenge your friends to beat your
                    scores - see who's got the most rhythm. 
                     
                    There's even a Beat Box to crank out your own jams. Just
                    choose your beat, your base line, and start recording your
                    own grooves. You can even save your songs to share with your
                    friends. 
                     
                    
                    
                    System Req: 
                      
                     
                      
                    Windows:
                    
                      
                        
                          | •  | 
                          95/98/ME/2000/XP | 
                         
                        
                          | •  | 
                          32MB
                            RAM | 
                         
                        
                          | •  | 
                          16-bit
                            Graphics and Sound | 
                         
                      
                     
                    More
                    Information 
                    Download
                    the game 
                    EdutainingKids Comments:  This game features 3 difficulty
                    levels to accommodate different skill sets, and an option to
                    record your own tracks. Kids will have a great time with
                    this one.  
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                    Music Ace
                    Deluxe Software Demo 
                    Description: 
                      
                    
                     
                    
                    
                      
                     
                    
                    
                    
                    The full software version of
                    Music Ace Deluxe (see
                    our review of the software) combines 36 of the
                    highly-engaging music lessons from the award-winning Music
                    Ace and Music Ace 2 products into a single, carefully
                    sequenced product.
                     Designed by music education
                    professionals, the program is a comprehensive series of
                    music lessons and games that teach beginning music students
                    of all ages the basics of music theory, rhythm, pitch, note
                    reading, listening, and the keyboard. No previous musical
                    experience or instrument is required. 
                    Under the guidance of
                    animated tutor Maestro Max, students are led through a
                    carefully sequenced series of music lessons. Used alone or
                    as a complement to traditional music lessons, this program
                    will challenge, engage and motivate music students and help
                    them succeed by mastering important music concepts and
                    skills. 
                    Download
                    the demo 
                    EdutainingKids Comments: This
                    is a demo version of the excellent software. Kids can sample
                    some of the music lessons the product offers, as well as the
                    fun and educational Doodle Pad for some freeform music
                    fun.  
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              Family Games: 
              At RealArcade,
                  users with a RealArcade GamePass have access to high-quality
              games (arcade, puzzle, word games, and more) and get a free video
              game of their choice each month. The games offered include ones
              appropriate for kids, as well as adults. RealArcade has over 180 games--click here for a free 30-day trial of RealArcade GamePass.
              Highly recommended.
               
              Family Music: 
              Do your kids love listening to
              music online? With music downloads now such an
      "iffy" thing, there is a certain level of comfort when you can
      download music safely and legally. Our favorite site for music downloads
      is RealRhapsody. Listen to Music Online with 750,000+ Songs at your fingertips with RealRhapsody. 14 day free trial, then only $9.95 month 
      The range of music offered will suit every member of the family -- they
              have rock, alternative, classical, children's, and more.
              Basically, your family can listen to any song in the library while
              online. If users want to burn a song for offline use, it will cost
              them 79 cents.  Kids, especially tweeners and teens, love
              this! 
  
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