Carmen Sandiego is a fictional character featured in a long-running series of American educational software and WQED-Pittsburgh and WGBH-Boston produced television shows originally focusing on teaching geography and history (the series later branched out into other subjects). The character later appeared in a series of books and on many licensed products. For information on Carmen and other characters see Carmen Sandiego.
There is a popular line of educational software mystery games based on Carmen Sandiego. Each game of the series has a particular theme and subject, where the player must use his or her knowledge to find Carmen or any of her innumerable henchmen. This series was originally produced by Brøderbund, but it is now produced by The Learning Company.
The goal of this game is track Carmen's villains around the world and arrest them and ultimately arrest Carmen herself. In order to make an arrest the user must have a warrant and, obviously, it has to be the correct warrant. The player begins the game by first going to the city where the crime took place, and then obtains hints from the bystanders on where the thief went next, leading them on a chase around the world to find the thief before they "get away." In the process, they must also collect clues on their identity in order to determine who the culprit is. When they reach the place where the villain is going to pass off the loot to Carmen they have to arrest the villain.
The goal of this game is track Carmen's villains around the country, and arrest them and ultimately arrest Carmen herself. In order to make an arrest the user must have a warrant and, obviously, it has to be the correct warrant. The user gets information from the bystanders on where the thief went next and what the thief looks like. When they reach the place where the villain is going to pass off the loot to Carmen they have to arrest them.
The second version of this game, Where in the USA Is Carmen Sandiego? Deluxe was released in 1992 and featured additional animation and a reworked interface. Sarah Nade (who was added to Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?) was added to this version of Carmen Sandiego Software. CD-ROM versions for DOS and Macintosh were released in 1993, and a Windows version was released in 1994. The windows version was later re-released as Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? Classic Edition.
The third version was influenced by the Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? game show on PBS and featured Lynne Thigpen as the Chief, with the help of QuickTime technology, as well as RoboCrook. It also featured Carmine the cat from Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition, the ICK brothers and 360 degree scrolling landscapes that were based on photographs of actual locations. The game is very similar to Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?.
The goal of this game is track Carmen's villains through history and arrest them and ultimately arrest Carmen herself. The second version of the game features Lynne Thigpen as The Chief, Sir Vile, Dr. Belljar, Mediva, Buggs Zapper and Jacqueline Hyde from the short-lived PBS Kids' game show of the same name.
Producer: Brøderbund Software Inc.
Publisher: Brøderbund Software Inc.
Year: 1991
This game is widely considered the most informational game of the entire series. Though it may contain some minute differences from the main series, it remains true to it. This game's aim (as the others' are), is to capture Carmen's gang of thieves, one by one until all of her henchmen have been caught. This is done by searching for clues, trailing them, identifying them and finally, bringing them in for trial. After all of the henchmen have been caught, the player must then go after Carmen herself. One of the main differences is that the player can receive in-game help. [1]
Producer: Brøderbund Software, Inc.
Publisher: Brøderbund Software, Inc.
Year: 1988
"Where in Europe Is Carmen Sandiego?" is one of the many games in the Carmen Sandiego series. It focuses on the European history and geography. The gameplay is very similar to that of "Where in the World", meaning that the player is sent to a location, has to find clues to lead them to the next location, and builds up a warrant along the way. Being one of the older games of the series, this games does not live up to the spectacular graphics and gameplay of the later editions. [2]
Published by: Brøderbund Software, Inc.
Released: 1993
The intention of this game is to teach astronomy. The player flies in a rocket ship throughout the solar system, interrogating various alien lifeforms in order to solve the theft of an important part of the solar system (e.g. Saturn's rings). There was only a limited amount of fuel available for travel. So if the player didn't ask the right questions on the right planets, or followed the wrong clues, the criminal(s) would get away, leaving the player to start over again with another crime. This version is somewhat similar to Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?. Kneemoi was introduced in this installment.
This game is intended to teach language arts for kids age 9-12. The game features Chase Devineaux.
In the game Carmen Sandiego has invented a machine called the Babble-On Machine, and the user, playing the role of Agent 13, has to thwart her plans and free all the other agents which have been captured by Carmen.
The game is very similar to Carmen Sandiego Math Detective.
This game is intended to teach Math for kids age 9-12. The game features Chase Devineaux.
In the game Carmen Sandiego has invented a machine called the Quantum Crystallizer, and the user, playing the role of Agent 9, has to thwart her plans and restore 12 landmarks that Carmen has shrunk with the machine.
The game is very similar to Carmen Sandiego Word Detective.
This game teaches multiple subjects for kids ages 9–12. It was also the first title in the Carmen Sandiego series to be released by The Learning Company. The game features Chase Devineaux.
In the game, Carmen has invented KnowBots to steal knowledge and the player(s) have to try and thwart her plans. This game is set up much like the Carmen Sandiego game shows on PBS and is the only multiplayer game of the series.
This bonus pack includes Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego (1996), Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego (1994), state and country flashcards, and reward stickers.
This game is the first in the series to give the player complete control of a character in a 3D world. The avatar, Cole, must maneuver through stages including a museum in New York City, the beaches of New Zealand, and Machu Picchu. The player fights against Carmen's robots and spirits to prevent her from stealing an enchanted diamond, the repository of all the knowledge of the nations.
Publisher: Mindscape
Developer: Strass Productions
Released: February 18, 2009
This game is currently available only in French and is aimed at ages 8 to 12. It follows ACME detectives Julia and Adam in a world-wide hunt across 10 countries for stolen world treasures. It is published by Mindscape, France, and developed by Paris-based Strass Productions.
The game The Treehouse featured the Carmen Sandiego theme as a song to play on its keyboard minigame. Paying homage as Broderbund also made The Treehouse.
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