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REDWOOD CITY, Calif. April 22, 1996: Kids saddle up for a social studies adventure in Pony Express Rider™, where they experience the Old West as a Pony Express rider galloping through dangerous territories and influencing the outcome of U.S. history. McGraw-Hill Home Interactive (MHHI) today announced Pony Express Rider, a new CD-ROM title where Buffalo Bill Cody and Calamity Jane, two legendary Pony Express riders, guide kids through life in the 1860s. Throughout the journey kids jump right into the action, viewing their surroundings from a rider's perspective while guiding their horse around obstacles and out-racing dangers. In addition, kids will encounter many characters such as spies and roving bandits while crossing swollen rivers, Indian territory and difficult terrain to forge a vital link between St. Joseph, Mo. and San Francisco, Calif. in a mission to get the mail West. The product is being published for kids ages 9 to 14 for Microsoft® Windows® '95 and the Apple® Macintosh® and will gallop into stores in November 1996.
"We are excited to offer the only social studies adventure that places kids in the role of an influential youngster in U.S. history with the ability to control the outcome of events," said Bill Nisen, president of MHHI. "For the first time kids will discover how critical and vital the speedy link of the Pony Express was back in the 1860s, as well as gain a deeper understanding of its short-lived, but important role in history."
In Pony Express Rider, kids are thrust into the 1860s and become influential decision makers at a time when young riders linked two thousand miles of rugged land. At the start of the adventure, kids are given a journal by Bill Cody and Calamity Jane to plan their journeys and track their routes, as well as record how well they are doing and all the situations they have encountered. Kids ride into home stations to pick up letters, brush up on historic facts and gain skills that will help them complete their ride.
In addition to the action-packed adventure story line and ride, Pony Express Rider also places a strong emphasis on educational and historical components. Through this interactive experience, children must consider different choices along the way and realize the impact of each of their decisions. Kids will encounter exciting historical, cultural and geographic content, while learning more about U.S. history along the way.
Pony Express Rider is based on an original series concept, AMERIKIDS™ from Lynn Rogoff and AMERIKIDS™ USA, and developed for MHHI in collaboration with Interactive Arts.
Pony Express Rider is expected to sell for $40-$50.
This title requires an IBM PC or compatible, 486/66 or faster or Pentium, 8 MB RAM, 256-color monitor, double-speed CD-ROM drive, Microsoft Windows'95, 8-bit sound card, speakers and a mouse. For the Mac, the title requires Macintosh System 7.x, 68040/33 or faster or PowerMac, 8 MB RAM, and a 256-color monitor.
Established in 1995, McGraw-Hill Home Interactive (MHHI) is based in Redwood City, Calif. The division is dedicated to publishing original consumer multimedia titles that equally emphasize education and entertainment in core subject areas such as science, math, social studies and language arts. MHHI's titles, targeted to children 8 to 14, engage their imaginations and stimulate their minds with entertaining narratives, while making parents comfortable with the educational value and proven experience of McGraw-Hill. McGraw-Hill Home Interactive is a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
The McGraw-Hill Companies, founded in 1888, is a leading information services organization serving worldwide markets in education, business, finance, the professions and government. Revenues in 1995 exceeded $2.9 billion.
Copyright ©1996
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