PARENTS Magazine rates ZIPZAPMAP! top of its class — edges out Math Blaster for 1st place high-profile PARENTS Magazine picks best educational, entertainment software

Business Wire, March 27, 1995

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 1995--Promark Software's ZIPZAPMAP! USA, which is marketed by the National Geographic Society was presented with the Golden Mouse Award by PARENTS Magazine.

The magazine, which has a circulation of 1,185,000 readers in the U.S. and Canada, announced the award in its April 1995 issue. The issue features a special section entitled "Kid-tested software" which deals with software for entertainment and education.

In the article, 100 children ages 3 to 12 reviewed a dozen titles in three categories: Ages 3 to 5, Ages 6 to 8 and Ages 9 to 12. ZipZapMap! USA was placed in the Ages 9 to 12 category, competing against such titles as Davidson & Associates Math Blaster and Lucas Arts' Rebel Assault.

Scoring a perfect four stars in the "Fun" and "Educational" categories, and 3 1/2 stars in the "I can do it myself" category, ZIPZAPMAP! USA had the highest overall score. A copy of the article is on the following page.

Promark President John Henry, creator of the MicroCLAS software engine upon which the ZIPZAPMAP! USA program is based, commented: "This award is expected to have a positive effect on sales and to speed the introductions of further titles based on the MicroCLAS engine".

Promark Software Inc. developed the software for ZIPZAPMAP! USA as well as for Canada and World Geography versions, and is currently developing additional titles for the National Geographic Society. -0- ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Robert A. Simington, Vice President -0- Kid-tested Software Computer programs that are fun and educational.

By Peter Scisco

There are a staggering number of children's software titles on the market today. How's a parent to choose? Not to worry. We put some titles to the test - the kid test.

We began evaluating our software picks last November at the Parent & Child Expo, in San Diego, and followed up at our offices in New York City. All told, 100 children ages 3 to 12 gave the thumbs-up to the titles reviewed in the following pages. We rated each program on a scale of one to four stars - with four the highest rating - for fun, educational value, and ease of use based on the children's responses to survey questions. The favorites in each age group won our Golden Mouse Award.

Ages 9 to 12 ZipZapMap! USA Golden Mouse Award

This fast-paced geography game is easy to play but takes real skill and knowledge to win. Players start with a map outline of the United States displayed on the computer screen. As state-shaped pieces fall from the top of the screen, players must correctly position them within the outline.

In the easiest of three levels, the states drop slowly, in the proper orientation. At more difficult levels, players may have to rotate the states to make them fit. States are just the start. Players must also place capitals, major cities, and major geographical features such as lakes, rivers, mountains, and oceans. (National Geographic Society; diskette for DOS, Windows, and Macintosh, $29.95. 1-800-368-2728)

Fun: (X)(X)(X)(X) Educational: (X)(X)(X)(X) "I can do it myself": (X)(X)(X)1/2

Math Blaster: Secret of the Lost City

Strand children an a strange planet where solving mathmatical equations is the only escape, and they will learn math concepts faster than you can flip a flash card. In this second game of a series, players help Blasternaut and friends recover their crashed spaceship and unlock the secret of the Lost City. To do that, they must solve several puzzles, all tied to math skills. In Positron Splash, for example, kids race to supply the missing parts of an equation. Three skill levels govern more than 50,000 problems in four different games. Parents can also create their own equations to help focus their child on problem areas. It all adds up to solid drills that are also lots of fun. (Davidson & Associates; diskette for Windows, approximately $40, CD-ROM for Windows, approximately $40. 1-8OO-545-7677)

Fun: (X)(X)(X)(X) Educational: (X)(X)(X) "I can do it myself": (X)(X)(X)(X) -0- The contents of this news release have neither been approved nor disapproved by the Vancouver Stock Exchange.

CONTACT: Promark Software, North Vancouver

Harold Leishman, 604/988-2051

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMED COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS REPEATS: New York 212-575-8822 or 800-221-2462; Boston 617-330-5311 or