Toy Story Animated Storybook
Sold Out		(Win95/98/3.1/Mac) (Retail) (TOYSTORYDR)

PIXAR Animation Studios / Disney

Children

Ages: 3 to 9

Ratings:

3 1/2 stars (out of 4) San Jose Mercury News

85 from Family PC

A Reading Adventure that Will Take You to Infinity and Beyond

Enter a wacky 3-D world where toys come to life. As you read along, it's up to you to help Woody and Buzz escape from bad-boy Sid, catch the moving van, and become best buddies. Every page is packed with surprises and gags, plus music and 3-D graphics just like in the movie, for a non-stop reading adventure worth getting all wound up about.

Read-along feature builds reading and vocabulary skills.

Fifteen story screens with hundreds of clickables provide hours of exploration and loads of laughs.

Five exciting activities, including three with multiple levels, improve problem solving and concentration skills.

Requirements:

Windows - 486-50MHz or faster processor, 8MB RAM and 10MB free disk space, 256-color VESA, PCI or other local bus video, 8-bit sound card, Microsoft Windows 95, 3.1 or later, double-speed (2x) CD-ROM drive, Microsoft compatible mouse.

Macintosh - 68040 or faster processor, System 7.1 or later, 8MB RAM (16MB RAM Power Macintosh), 640x480x256 color video display, double-speed (2x) CD-ROM drive.

Preview:

CD-ROM Today, March 1996

"Developed by Pixar, the same company that produced the eye-popping animation for the film, the CD-ROM storybook is impressive. As you (or your child) move through this disc, the toys will move with the same life and grace they displayed on the big screen."

"Unlike previous Disney storybooks, Toy Story will integrate activities into the story that help your children improve their reading, vocabulary, and logic skills. Three of the four activities have multiple levels, so kids can advance to another level as they master each of the activities."

Review:

San Jose Mercury News, Sunday, May 12, 1996

"'Toy Story' the CD-ROM, I'm happy to report, is just as fun and charming as 'Toy Story' the movie."

The CD-ROM "delivers almost everything that made the movie special. A scaled-down version of the complex computer program that created the movie is build into the CD-ROM, so the animation on screen looks as smooth and life-like as the original.

"The developers have scattered new and interesting little scenes throughout the CD-ROM. We learn, for example, that Buzz Lightyear is something of an outer-space dancing fool, eager to show his boogie and ballet moves whenever the music starts. And we see the versatile Mr. Potato Head yank out an arm and use it to start a tape player, prompting Woody to also let loose with a few dance steps."

"The CD-ROM unfolds through 15 on-screen storybook pages. Each page begins with Hamm the piggy bank reading out loud the sentence or two of text shown on the screen, a nice touch in helping younger children learn to read. Then the characters act out a part of the plot, which centers around the competition between Woody and Buzz to become their owner's favorite toy.

"Once the action is finished, children can point and click with the mouse to trigger all kinds of actions. Click the firetruck and it races around in a circle, or click Bo Peep to hear her romancing Woody."

"...But the storybook pages are so much fun that kids should enjoy many trips through 'Toy Story.'"

Family PC, October 1996

"In this interactive story based on Disney's blockbuster movie Toy Story, Woody, Buzz, and the gang are up to their old tricks - but now your child can get into the action. Kids can explore 15 story screens that contain hundreds of clickable surprises and plenty of amazing 3-D animation from the feature film, plus some original animated scenes. If your child clicks on Buzz's box, for example, he gets to unpack Buzz Lightyear and press all the buttons on his uniform."

"Despite the brainteasing nature of the activites, testers thought Toy Story overall a bit shy on educational value. But as a way to relive memorable moments from the film, they felt it was a big hit.

"'The animation is pure Disney magic,' said Robert Prager from Babylon, New York, the father of Ashley, age four. 'And using it my daughter improved her mouse skills and word recognition.'"

PC Magazine, September 10, 1996

"But the real treats are the five games in the interactive story section. In the Put-Away Game, the toys are in total disarray and it's up to your child to place them on the shelves where they belong. This game has three levels: The first asks your child to place the toys in their shadows, and in the other two, Woody offers vocal instructions.

"The Crane Game is the most entertaining. It is your mission to be the leader and savior of the extremely small aliens whose lives depend upon the whims of the crane. This game will help your child with colors, counting, and coordination. The Escape Plan, Woody's Scheme, and the Maze Game are also kicks. So if your child just can't get enough of Toy Story, this CD will certainly entertain."

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