Earth Quest
An Interactive Guide Into The Forces That Shape Our Earth
A Review of Earth Quest
by Brad Jeske
I’ve always been impressed with the quality of DK Multimedia products. Their 3D graphics are some of the best designed in the industry.
And it’s without question that their new title in their multimedia award winning series, Earth Quest, acquires the same level of quality. Designed around the concept of being in a museum, Earth Quest allows you to explore the how’s and why’s of the earth, and its formation. The CD is divided into three main sections. You can explore Shaping the Earth, Mining, and Violent Earth. In each one of these sections you can conduct experiments to see the effect of certain conditions, and how it affects the landscape. In Earth Quest you are allowed to manipulate an interactive virtual 3D cityscape to control earthquake’s magnitude, focus, and epicenter to see how their destructiveness can change the earth’s landscape.
Shaping the Earth discuses how mountains and valleys are formed. How does mining, and the different types of mining effect the earth?
Scroll across 3D panoramic landscapes to observe how climate and erosion combine to alter the earth’s surface. Learn about the different types of rocks and minerals. Also there is a pronunciation of the which is extremely helpful to learn correct usage — This is something I wish a lot of multimedia developers would take advantage of more.
To add to this CD there is Earth Builder, a challenging game that revolves around answering 51 questions. Half are multiple choice, the remaining half are write-ins. Samples of rocks and minerals must be collected as you visit the three sections of the museum, and returned back to the Earth Builder to unlock the 21 plates to make-up the earth’s surface. Once that has been completed, travel back through time to see now familiar places posed in unfamiliar surroundings. For example what would New York City look like during the ice age.
Another one of the interesting features of Earth Builder is the use of a time dimension. As you are traveling through the different parts of the museum you are informed as events unfold, such as the formation of crystals and other geological formations. Here you can see the developmental stages of these formations along with definitions as to how and why these engendering take place. This is also how you collected specimens for answering the questions to unlock the plates.
Another spot on this CD is the Museum Store where you can download different styles of stationery, post cards, envelopes and writing paper for you or your kids. Also included are some interesting screen savers of rocks and other patterns from the program.
Earth Builder has a link to the Internet and their home page where they offer four areas of interest. These areas are:
- Mineral of the Month, contains facts about minerals, crystals and gems.
- Hall of Fame introduces you to a important figures in the history of earth science. For example, Charles Richter, the inventor of the Richter scale is the feature person currently in the Hall of Fame.
- Earth News covers stories on earthquakes, volcanoes, as well as research development news going on at this moment. The recent earthquake in Iran is being covered now.
- Going for Gold is an interactive quiz of ten multiple choice questions. But make sure that you’ve covered the CD, because the questions asked here are included on the CD.
Earth Quest is full of great graphics. It also serves as a comprehensive resource for students, as well as those just interested in the earth and the powerful forces that continue to shape it.
Multimedia Cafe Scorecard
| Product: | Earth Quest |
| Company: | DK Multimedia |
| Cost: | $29.95 |
System Requirements:
IBM:
486DX/33 MHz or faster,
8MB RAM (12MB recommended for Windows 95),
8-bit (256 Color) SVGA display 640×480;16-bit color recommended,
8-bit or 16-bit sound card,
Double Speed CD-ROM drive,
14.4 or faster modem require for Internet connection.
Macintosh:
8 MB RAM (12 MB recommended for PowerPC running System 7.5 or later),
8-bit (256 color) display 640×480 resolution; 16-bit recommended,
Double Speed CD-ROM drive,
System 7.0 or later,
14.4 or faster modem required for Internet connection.
Breakdown:
Entertainment Value 5
Educational Value 5
Concept 4
Depth 4
Interface 3
Overall Score:
(* 0 rating, 0 votes)
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