Imagination Express Destination: Ocean

IMAGINATION EXPRESS DESTINATION: OCEAN

Destination: Ocean, Edmark's newest release in the Imagination Express series, adds new features and technology which are automatically added to the other Imagination Express titles. In this release, the user can create animated and narrated books about life in the ocean.

The target age is 6 to 12, but the program includes options for parents, allowing them to control the available features or to select "Configure for Young Child". When this option is selected, the product is limited to a "powerful electronic puppet theater" suitable for younger kids.

My two-year-old really enjoyed this CD. He loved choosing the graphics to place on the background and telling me where to put them. Although too complex for him to play on his own, it is an ideal supervised activity, even for his age.

Movie-Making tool is the primary addition to the Imagination Express series. Now kids can:

Select theme music for their movies

Record their own narratives or sound effects

Turn on sticker animation in every scene

I was impressed by how easy it was to put a book together, despite the technical capabilities of this product. The icons were clear and logical.

Another technological addition is the moveable text areas. Users can add text to every scene in their choice of font, color, and size. They can then move those text areas anywhere they want in the scene, with or without a decorative border.

There are plenty of background and sticker options. Many of the stickers are animated—a diver that swims, a bird with flapping wings, etc. All of them "auto-size", changing proportions to add a real-life perspective to the scene. The stickers also go where they are dragged, such as into a cave or through kelp.

The recording procedure was very simple:

Click on the microphone icon

Record narration or a sound effect

Play it back and combine it with one of the included music tracks before or after the "movie"

The product also includes sound effects for many of the stickers.

This product, like the others in the series, has several helps to encourage creativity in writing:

Story Ideas offers creative suggestions to help a user brainstorm story topics.

Dear Parents section is designed to help parents encourage their children to write.

Fact Book provides information on the ocean environment so users can do research for their writing.

Since so many kids graduate from high school without good writing skills, I think this product would be a wonderful choice for parents who want to give their kids a head start. It provides a creative platform for children to learn about writing, research, brainstorming, and the ocean environment, while adding an element of fun. Furthermore, users can print out their books and show them off to others, giving them a sense of pride in their work.

For Windows (32-bit Systems) / Mac (Power Macintosh: OS 9 or Below) [*Please review compatibility/platform sections in 'What You Get']

WHAT YOU GET:

This item is for the original media, and includes only the media (ie. CD, floppy ...) UNLESS specifically stated above and/or in the title. If more than just the media is included, it will state which items are (ie. box, manual, etc ). Items that come in a sleeve refer to a generic CD sleeve (typically white) and will be sent with shipping protection to avoid damage during transit. If available, we will also send the front and/or back CD inserts if in stock. If these are important to you, please message us to verify we have them available to send. Please do not assume items are included other than what's stated. Again, ask questions PRIOR to purchasing if you have any concerns.

IMAGES:

All images/pictures are stock photos and are for reference only, mainly to show the type of game you will be getting. Please read "WHAT YOU GET" for what is included with the media. Screenshots may vary based on your own computer system, video card, monitor, etc.

COMPATIBILITY:

Computers are like people, each one is different. Unlike console games, a computer game may install and work flawlessly on one system but may need adjustments on another. This is due to a variety of factors, mainly the OS platform running, video card you have, drivers, protection software installed, etc. Many times manufacturers release updates to games to fix bugs and add enhancements. We would be happy to help get the game going on your computer, but ultimately compatibility issues are the responsibility of the buyer. We suggest going to Google and searching for the name of the game along with the words "system requirements" to determine if your system is suitable. Ultimately, we are not responsible for software compatibility problems or publisher's errors.

PLATFORM:

Stated within the auction is what platform the game will work on (ie. Windows, Mac, Linux...) This is a generic statement and specific platform versions (ie. XP, Vista...) will have to be researched by the buyer. Games that came out PRIOR to XP or higher will not specifically state they will work on that release, but only because they came out before those versions were made. Many, if not most, will work on XP or higher with a few quick adjustments. We provide instructions with all items purchased on how to do this adjustment using the Program Compatibility Wizard. If we find out that an item will definately not work on a specific version, we will state it. For DOS games, you may need to play it with a free DOSbox program if the Program Compatibility Wizard does not work.

64-Bit Windows OS Systems:
For 64-bit Operating Systems, older games most likely will NOT work due to 64-bit systems not being able to run 16-bit programming code (most games prior to 2000). For DOS games, you may need to play it with a free DOSbox program.

Macintosh Systems:
For Macintosh programs, most older games will need to be run in Classic Environment if you have a MAC OS X 10.0 - 10.4 version. Please research Google on how to do this, or send us a message for information prior to purchasing. If your MAC OS system doesn't support Classic Environment (ie. MAC OS X 10.5 or Higher OR Intel Macs), you will have to try running it using the free program called SheepShaver, but compatibility is not ensured. Please research prior to purchasing or ask questions.

MEDIA FORMAT:

Please verify you have the required hardware in order to use the specified media (ie. CD, DVD, floppy drives, etc.) If the item comes as a floppy disc, make sure you have either the needed 3.5" floppy drive or the bigger and older 5.25" floppy drive.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SMOOTH PURCHASE:

Ask questions PRIOR to purchasing an order to avoid any confusion.

Be patient if there are problems during installation or gameplay. Typically someone else has already ran into that problem and has listed a solution online. Contact us and we will do our best to help.

Be sure to update your video card drivers and search for updates to the game from the manufacturer.

SHIPPING:

We typically ship all items out within 1-2 business days after payment is received. In regards to the stated shipping and handling, remember that these costs include more than just postage.

International buyers please email/chat with us to determine if you are eligible for shipping of a specific product. If you are, then international buyers not shipping to an address within the U.S. can expect their orders to take anywhere from 5 days to 4 weeks to be received, depending on how fast/well USPS is moving. Additionally, international orders typically have to go through governmental customs, which can delay the arrival process. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying. Customs fees are normally charged by the shipping company or collected when you pick the item up. These fees are not additional shipping charges.