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Rating:  -
I had a problem with the installation.
I started the installer and successfully registered online, but the installer later had a disk read problem. I canceled the install and tried again, but now the installer insisted on my registering again.
I successfully logged into the web site with my newly created account from the first install, but the installer wouldn't recognize that I had previously registered. It continued to insist I register before proceeding, which I couldn't do since my email account was already tied to the first registration.
Turns out the integration between the web registration and the program install is sloppy and cheap. It's not transactional and it's handled by a VB Script (cheesy!). Luckily, I happen to be a programmer, and I wound up copying the CD to a hard drive, tweaking the .vbs to skip the registration check, installing the application, then modifying an.ini file to fool it into thinking I installed from the CD drive. If this makes sense to you, and you're willing to do the same if your initial install fails, then have fun.
Apparently, you also need an internet connection to start up the game as well, which may make this game unusable when traveling, unless you have wi-fi access or a cellular modem.
That being said, my son seems to enjoy the game.
Rating:  -
AUGUST REVIEW - 3 wks in: Great fun, with a BIG BUT. Our homeschooled 4 yr old loves it, and has in about 3 weeks plowed thru BOTH of the EXCITING INCLUDED levels, with a little help from Dad. As a previous reviewer mentioned, this game is very heavy on the hand-eye coordination, getting arrow keys right in order (like the dancing games at arcades) to help your "pet" do tricks, etc. The lessons were fun, but not too challenging, honestly much easier than the 2002 vintage Jumpstart Advanced Kindergarten or the Broderbund Reader Rabbit KindergartenReader Rabbit Kindergarten (Jewel Case) and MathReader Rabbit Personalized Math 4-6 Deluxe. The graphics are BEAUTIFUL, and my little one LOVES exploring the world.
However, what you can't tell from the packaging or the Amazon information is that this $20-25 game is little but a preview to entice you to buy the $70/yr "membership" to unlock the remaining 10 levels.
I am profoundly disappointed at the 12 e-mails I have gotten, plus the fact that when they go to their "cabin" the "TV" they watch is more commercials for the "membership", the games and activities mention to ask your parents to upgrade, etc.
This is a SCAM, and I would return it if I could, even with how much my little one enjoys it. Steer clear until they stop ripping you off and using your kids as advertisers.
NOVEMBER UPDATE: Forgot to update this - what they don't mention also, is that if you stop your membership, the worlds disable anything past what your child could do before you paid the extra. So $28 for the game (and 2 levels) and $32 later (bad dad, forgot to turn off the pricey subscription), we've paid $60 for a game, and our just turned 5 yr old has finished 9/12 levels, we stop paying the subscription fee and poof, we're back to 2/12 levels. I would seriously look at other companies that don't "penalize" you for being unwilling to spend $100 on a $28 game.
Rating:  -
We have been using the JumpStart World software for almost two years now, and IT IS GREAT! My two older kids are in first grade and kindergarten. We have both Jumpstart World First Grade and Kindergarten and both of my kids LOVE them. And now, when I let them have some computer time, they are actually learning something. What I really love is how the software reinforces what they learn in school.
For example, in math, my first grader learned about cubes and longs not that long ago. Yesterday, she went to play a math game, and there were the same cubes and longs, just like she learned in class. This has happened over and over, so it seems the people at JumpStart know what they're doing.
Yes, it IS pricey. You only get the first two units with your purchase, and yes, you need a good connection (we have a cable connection, I think this software would be a nightmare with dial up). Getting back to the units, as you probably know, you can either buy them all at once at a slightly discounted rate, or you can get a "monthly" subscription, where each unit is something like $7.99. If it seems that your child is really into the software, I would highly recommend going ahead and buying all at once at the discount. When I purchased the Kindergarten software, I decided to go with the monthly subscription because I mistakenly thought that a new unit would only be sent once a month. In this way, I thought this would force my daughter to slow down and just have one unit a month to focus on. This is not the case. When she blew through Unit 5 in two days, Unit 6 was downloaded immediately. No big deal, but I didn't think that was very clear.
Now that I think of it, I guess getting the monthly subscription would make sense if you're not sure if your child is really into the software. I guess, if they lose interest, you wouldn't want to be stuck with all those unused units, which get sent to you monthly regardless of whether your child is moving up in units or not. I THINK buying monthly allows you to cancel if your child isn't using it (but don't quote me on this, make sure). All I can say is that my kids have been playing with this software for almost two years and they still love it!
Rating: -
I bought this product for my six year old daughter and she loves it. I enjoy watching her work through the first unit. The software has excellent ways of challenging a child's intellectual abilities. The only issue I have it that the internet access is required to run the software. I wanted an application program that she could use on road trips. The interactive component is amazing; however, I would prefer if the application had the ability to run in stand-alone mode.
Rating: -
I found the Jump Start World Kindergarten at SAMS Club a year ago. Since I am a homeschool mom, I figured it would be a good "game" for breaks and free time. Well, the kids, then 5 and 3, loved it and within a month I bought the additional units. Once my Kindergartener finished all the units I called to buy the 1st grade units and found the Jump Start World Club and we joined. I was able to download directly to the PC, no more disks to deal with. I received the pre-school (3-5), 1st Grade (5-7) and 2nd grade (6-8) all for one price. My now 4 year old who was taking her time through the Kindergarten program, finished the pre-school program in two months and had a new interest in the kindergarten program. My now 1st grader is more than half way through the 1st grade program and they play in their Worlds almost every day. My 1st grader tells regularly when we are working on schoolwork, "I did that in Jump Start World!" and Zips through her assignments. Now my sisters have gotten into the program for their kids. My whole family completely enjoys this product and I believe it is worth every dime I spent on it.
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