Thinkin' Things
{{short description|Series of educational video games}}
{{Infobox video game series
|title = Thinkin' Things
|image = File:Thinkin'_Things_Logo.gif
|genre = Edutainment
|developer = Edmark Corporation
|publisher = Edmark Corporation
|platforms = Windows 3.x, Windows, Macintosh
|first release version = Thinkin' Things Collection 1
|first release date = 1993
|latest release version = Thinkin' Things: Toony the Loon's Lagoon
|latest release date = 1999
|spinoffs = Thinkin' Science
}}
Thinkin' Things is a series of educational video games by the Edmark Corporation and released for Windows and Mac in the 1990s. Entries in the series include Thinkin' Things Collection 1 (Formerly Thinkin Things) (1993), Thinkin' Things Collection 2 (1994), Thinkin' Things Collection 3 (1995), the adventure game Thinkin' Things: Sky Island Mysteries (1998), Thinkin' Things Galactic Brain Benders (1999), Thinkin' Things: All Around Frippletown (1999) and Thinkin' Things: Toony the Loon's Lagoon (1999).
Gameplay
The Thinkin' Things series allows players to experiment and explore with interactive objects in different ways and methods throughout the games. This can be in the form of playing with shapes, patterns, motions, sound effects and music tunes. Every game has its own preset designs and demonstrations to give the player an idea of how the game works before the player can customize a design of their own. Some games also permit the player to record their own sounds with a microphone.
Reception
=Critical reception=
TERC commented that two activities within Thinkin' Things Collection 1 have the opportunity to "provide variety and continued challenge".{{Cite web|url=http://www.alamopc.org/pcalamode/reviews/archive2/rev119916.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030507065039/http://www.alamopc.org/PCAlamode/reviews/archive2/rev119916.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 7, 2003|title=Review: Thinkin' Things: Galactic Brain Benders|website=www.alamopc.org|access-date=2016-09-23}} Computer Gaming World stated that it was "an excellent example of educational software ... a well-designed and creative program that really enhances learning".{{Cite magazine |last=McCauley |first=Dennis |date=February 1994 |title=Thinkin' Things |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=115 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=168, 170}} PC Player thought the game fell short due to its inferior graphics, sound, and gameplay.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/win3x/thinkin-things-collection-1/mobyrank|title=PC Player review|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}} Teaching Children Mathematics deemed it "delightful".{{Cite journal|date=1994-09-01|title=Thinkin' Things, Ages 4-8. (Software Review)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16547066.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194418/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16547066.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08|journal=Teaching Children Mathematics}}
Thinkin' Things Collection 2 was the 5th most popular title in the Macintosh category sold across seven Software Etc. stores in the Washington area in the week ending on December 28, 1996.{{Cite journal|date=1997-01-06|title=BESTSELLERS|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-714573.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008201840/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-714573.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}} New Straits Times commented that the activities in this version were targeted at an older demographic than its predecessor.{{Cite journal|date=1997-12-01|title=Innovative series for children|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-4604430.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008195737/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-4604430.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}}
TERC posited that Thinkin' Things Collection 3 was not a traditional game due to having no story, impersonal characters, no overarching goals, and no competitive play, considering the title inferior to others that have these qualities.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=354&StepNum=1|title=Thinkin' Things: Galactic Brain Benders|website=Parents' Choice Foundation|access-date=2016-09-23}} The New York Times thought the game was terrific, while the activities were superbly designed and beautiful.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/11/technology/library-thinking-skills-thinkin-things-collection-3.html|title=LIBRARY/THINKING SKILLS; Thinkin' Things Collection 3|last=Slade|first=Margot|date=1999-02-11|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-09-23}} MacUser named Thinkin' Things Collection 3 the best children's software of 1995.{{cite journal | author1=Myslewski, Rik | author2=Editors of MacUser | title=The Eleventh Annual Editors' Choice Awards | date=March 1996 | journal=MacUser | volume=12 |number=3 | pages=85–91}}
Alamo PC Organization said that Thinkin' Things: Sky Island Mysteries praised the game's ability to reward players for successfully completing activities, and for allowing parents to change the difficulty of challenges.{{Cite web|url=http://alamopc.org/pcalamode/reviews/archive2/rev020011.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030507064308/http://www.alamopc.org/PCAlamode/reviews/archive2/rev020011.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 7, 2003|title=Review: Thinkin' Things; Sky Island Mysteries|website=alamopc.org|access-date=2016-09-23}} SuperKids said the game stretches children's minds, encouraging them to learn and achieve.{{Cite web|url=http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/problem/3/skyland/merge.shtml|title=SuperKids Software Review of Thinkin' Things Sky Island Mysteries.|website=www.superkids.com|access-date=2016-09-23}} The Boston Herald thought it was a "point-and-click sleep-inducer".{{Cite journal|date=1998-04-12|title=It's a mystery why 'Sky' falls short.|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56366145.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194940/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56366145.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}}
Alamo PC Organization wrote that Thinkin' Things Galactic Brain Benders contained a "wonderful, colorful world full of excitement".{{Cite web|url=http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=353&StepNum=1&award=aw|title=Thinkin' Things: All Around Frippletown|website=Parents' Choice Foundation|access-date=2016-09-23}} Parent's Choice deemed the game a "winner".
Parent's Choice said Thinkin' Things: All Around Frippletown would be entertaining and challenging to the player. The Washington Post thought the game was "thought-promoting".{{Cite journal|date=1999-07-02|title=SCREEN SHOTS|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-612105.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008201808/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-612105.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}}
Parent's Choice explained that Thinkin' Things: Toony the Loon's Lagoon
=Awards=
By 1997, the series had won 18 awards.{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19971201&id=HP1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_RQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5627,5626637|title=New Straits Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=2016-09-23}}
{{Expand list|date=November 2017}}{{awards table}}
|-
| 1994
| Thinkin' Things Collection 1
| CODiE Award for Best Early Education Program
|-
| 1996
| Thinkin' Things Collection 3
| CODiE Award for Best Education Software Program
|-
| 1999
| Thinkin' Science Series: ZAP!
| AIAS Award for Computer Educational Title of the Year (9-16 years)
|-
| 1999
| Thinkin' Things: All Around FrippleTown
| 15th Annual Editor’s Choice Award (Educational Software)
|}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=-group/thinkin-things-collections|name=Thinkin' Things series}}
{{Edmark Games}}
Category:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt franchises
Category:Children's educational video games
Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1993