There was a time when children’s learning software was critical to the growth of home computing. Dozens of titles were released every year. And yet, this year there are almost no new learning titles on the PC (aimed at consumers) and precious few on other gaming platforms.
So, who killed the home educational software market and what lessons can be applied to other software markets like gaming and Web 2.0? Like a CSI team, let's examine the corpse for clues – and see if the killer is still on the loose
Victim’s Background File: Who was Children’s Software
Children’s edutainment software, was used to break the resistance to the home computer purchase. It was something dads could use to convince moms that the computer wasn’t just for playing games, but essential to the education of Junior. Parents didn’t know how to turn one on, but they were certain that if they didn’t buy their child a computer their offspring would be left behind, unprepared for the 21st century.
The educational market flourished. IBM and Apple touted their educational line-up. Microsoft used educational and reference titles to showcase new technologies like hyper linking, multimedia, and even artificial intelligence. Broderbund, Knowledge Adventure, The Learning Company, Tom Snyder and others produced innovative software.
- Knowledge Adventure teamed up with Steven Spielberg to produce hyperlinked reference titles on dinosaurs, space exploration, and history. There were lots of excellent drill and review games like MathBlaster.
- Broderbund was known for its beautiful, humorous and brilliantly animated Living Books series that featured authors like Dr. Seuss, titles that encouraged kids to read. They also produced the creative painting program KidPix.
- Before the world had ever heard of “The Sims”, Maxis was producing SimCity and a host of other sims that kids could use to try on everything from running a town to learning music and programming.
So who killed Children’s Software?
The crime scene looks more like Murder on the Orient Express than a Sherlock Holmes mystery. The clues point to death by a thousand small stabs, rather than a single smoking gun. Herewith, the clues.
