Packard Bell launches six new CD-ROM edutainment titles.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 1994-- Packard Bell, a leading manufacture of PCs worldwide, is launching six new edutainment titles from Active Imagination, a Packard Bell subsidiary.

Called The Kidstory Series, each title offers a unique storybook adventure -- from a swashbuckling pirate escapade to a wild and wacky mouse chase -- that provide hours and hours of fun while helping children 3 to 8 years develop computer skills.

Kids experience each animated tale by virtually "turning" the pages of a storybook by clicking a button on their computer screens and then interacting with dozens of lively characters who are full of jokes, crazy expressions and wild moves, all programmed at random; so each playtime experience is different.

Incorporating sophisticated animation, high-quality graphics and original music in a child-friendly interface, the Kidstory Series is much more fun to explore than a traditional book -- and about the same price. All titles are expected to retail at an anticipated street price of $19.94.

"This is an incredible value," said Mal Ransom, vice president of marketing, Packard Bell. "We're offering these titles at approximately half the price of comparable edutainment titles."

Children are enthusiastically guided through each storybook by Kidstory's host Mick. Mick takes kids through a simple menu which appears at the bottom of each page of the story. Via bright, colorful icons, Mick offers the following choices: read the story, click and play, surprises, how to use and quit. If kids seem to hesitate, he provides a prompt. Kids can interrupt the story at any time to go back, choose a page, quit, or repeat a word.

Next-Generation Animation

"We see the Kidstory Series as the next step in edutainment," said Mal Ransom, vice president of marketing, Packard Bell. "These storybook discs feature brilliant graphics and complex animation that provide a next generation interactive experience for children. At the same time, the stories offer original music and educational features that will delight parents."

Next Generation Animation brings stories to life through seamlessly animated storytelling and larger characters that move faster and smoother with a greater range of movement, enhancing the storytelling. With the Kidstory Series, Packard Bell ushers in a next generation standard to the consumer edutainment market.

Each page of each story brings a unique animated sequence to illustrate the characters' actions. Spiders hop, broomsticks turn into cartoons that speak and milkmen converse with eccentric town spinsters all on one page.

Click on the "surprises" icon, and a hand-like cursor exposes hundreds of "hot spots" -- additional animated sequences. Children can explore each page time and time again to reveal new movements. Even some "surprises" have surprises -- sequences may vary each time the area is selected.

Fun Ways to Learn

Inherent in the Kidstory titles are skill-based educational lessons and lots of praise. All six stories feature a built-in spelling-bee option, which invites kids to spell a word by clicking on large colorful letters. Mick gives children two opportunities to spell a word correctly, all the while doling out positive reinforcement. Once the child selects the right letters, Mick offers enthusiastic praise.

The Friends of Emily Culpepper

In this delightful storybook, Old Emily Culpepper resides in a small, friendly village where she has established a rather eccentric reputation. Lonely for companionship and conversation, Emily invents a way to keep her favorite townspeople around her -- by shrinking them to mouse-like size! Crafty Emily invites the milkman, postman and plumber into her house for a cup of tea. Little do they know, this magic tea turns them into miniature prisoners.

Kids explore Emily's unusual house by clicking on "hot spots" all over the screen. Since all of her unfortunate guests are minuscule, she keeps them under glass bottles and jars. See the milkman jump and demand to be set free -- Emily's concoction even shrinks his milk bottles!

The Wrong-Way-Around World

Active Imagination's second wacky story presents a world where everything is turned upside down and every which way: rain falls upward, cows say "oom" and the early worm catches the bird. Kids love "the Wrong-way-around World's" vivid, action-packed environment, which is completely unconventional and hilarious. Children add to the adventure by locating surprises throughout the story. By encouraging creativity and innovative thinking, this title subtly tells children to embrace their active imaginations.

The Little Red Engine

The Little Red Engine has one big problem -- he does not have a bell. What good is a fire truck without one? All of the other fire engines have bells to ring out a warning. Everyone in town feels sympathy for their little red friend, and they use every type of sound they can to help the fire engine announce a town warning.

Children discover they can help the Little Red Engine as well by uncovering all sorts of ringing and clanging objects. This story sends a clear message to kids: always band together to help a friend in need.

The Yukadoos

In Active Imagination's fourth storybook, kids meet the Yukadoos, three fun-loving characters that love to sneak up on you. These little beasts create mischief by rolling around in mud puddles, hiding in closets and snickering to each other. Children can follow the Yukadoos along in their crazy adventures or even help create new ones -- all with the click of a computer mouse.

Milly Fitzwilly's Mousecatcher

Poor Milly is at her wit's end with the mice that have invaded her house. Milly whips up some pretty clever traps, knowing full well that the traditional cheese-baited mousetrap will not do the trick. Unfortunately, these mice prove too wise for her inventions. Children exploring Milly Fitzwilly's Mousecatcher can join the crafty critters in their quest to outsmart Milly. Her traps capture one thing -- the mice's amusement!

The Pirate Who Wouldn't Wash

Welcome, landlubbers, to the world of Pongo the Pirate. Pongo has an unusual aversion to soap -- which makes him pretty unpopular with the rest of the ship's crew. Watch everyone and everything react to Pongo's stench. Even the resident parrot cannot hang around this stinky crew member. The other pirates attempt to bathe Pongo, but he will not have it. Ultimately, Pongo abandons ship and finds happiness in a faraway land.

The six Active Imagination topics are shipping now and will be available in retail channels nationwide by Thanksgiving weekend, the beginning of the holiday shopping season.

Based in Westlake Village, Packard Bell designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of PC-compatible desktop computers, notebooks, peripherals and software. Currently Packard Bell dominates the mass retail channels with a 46 percent market share, according to Audits and Surveys, a research firm that tracks the retail market.

For the third quarter 1994, Packard Bell is in third place overall in PC shipments, according to International Data Corp., Framingham, Mass.

CONTACT: The Bohle Co.

Jennifer Kissell or Liz O'Donnell, 310/785-0515