Broderbund Unveils the New StoryQuests Line Of Children's Adventure Stories Featuring Gregory and the Hot Air Balloon and Darby the Dragon; New Line Of Challenging Quests and Fun-Filled Games That Captivate, Entertain and Teach

Business Wire, July 23, 1996

NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 1996--Broderbund Software (NASDAQ: BROD), introduces its new StoryQuests line of kid-activated adventure stories with the simultaneous releases of Gregory and the Hot Air Balloon and Darby The Dragon. Developed in partnership with Capitol Multimedia, the StoryQuests series allows children ages 4-8 to embark on challenging adventures through enchanted worlds while helping them obtain essential learning skills, such as logical reasoning, problem solving, phonics, creative arts, letter recognition and counting. As the stories unfold, children encounter whimsical characters who guide them on their journey and help them discover clues and play fun-filled games. Exquisite animation, graphics and original music enhance the experience by bringing the stories to life.

"The StoryQuests line offers kids exciting story adventures which challenge them to think and have fun," says Laurie Strand, Executive Publisher of Broderbund's Early Learning Studio. "Now kids will be able to control the action in the story and will be asked to use their problem-solving skills to move along the plot."

Gregory and the Hot Air Balloon

Gregory and the Hot Air Balloon stars Gregory Chuckwood, a precocious young woodchuck, and his trusty pet lizard, Newt, who live in the make-believe town of Acorn Hollow. This adventure story for children ages 4-7, begins when Gregory and Newt take a wild ride in a hot air balloon and are whisked away to a far-off land. It's up to the player to help Gregory and Newt find their way home by solving puzzles and searching for objects to help them accomplish that goal. The keys to the solution lie in a local carnival Gregory finds near the balloon landing site.

The program is filled with fun activities kids can explore for hours including challenging games, musical interludes and clever clues to help them solve their quest.

-- Great Mentallo's Guessing Game: Children build their phonic skills by coupling letters with pictures that begin with those letters in this fun matching game.

-- The Fun House: The Fun House offers three exciting rooms for kids to explore and have fun. The scary room provides a variety of musical ghosts and goblins; the trampoline room is where Gregory can have fun jumping on a number of trampolines; and the mirror room provides an amusing game, where kids can create their very own image of Gregory by changing the reflections in the mystical mirrors.

-- MacMoo's Ice Cream Parlor: Mrs. MacMoo invites kids to join in and create their own ice cream sundaes. By choosing their own flavors of ice cream and quantities of nuts, candy and some gooey toppings, children can construct their ice cream creations.

-- The Great Maze Home: Help Gregory and Newt travel back to Acorn Hollow by guiding them through a maze of mountains. Different puzzles allow kids to play the game multiple times.

-- Ferris Wheel: Kids can observe the sights and sounds of the Carnival by taking a ride on the ferris wheel.

-- Acorn Hollow Bookstore: Children are encouraged to read along with the narrated storybooks that are on display in the town's bookstore. Three stories can be accessed, including Gregory and the Giant, Gregory Goes Fishing and Gregory Cleans His Room.

Darby The Dragon

Darby the Dragon is a friendly dragon prince who lives in the enchanted kingdom of Dragondale with his father, mother and big sister, Sparkle. Upon discovering a magic wand, he mistakenly casts a spell on Sparkle which shrinks her to a small size. Children, ages 5-8, must find the wizard to learn of the reversal potion and then set off on their quest to find the magical ingredients. Traveling throughout the streets of Dragondale, Dag's Desert and the enchanted forest, kids will interact with traveling minstrels, street vendors, a variety of trolls, fairies and giants.

As kids explore the kingdom in search of magical ingredients and secret gold coins, they are challenged with thought provoking puzzles and problem-solving activities. The program also teaches valuable life lessons about cooperation and helping others and features original music, sung by a variety of characters.

-- The Wizard's Magic Spell Hut: Kids can enter the wizards hut and create their very own magic spells. Choose from a variety of ingredients and place them into a boiling cauldron to see the results of the potent potion.

-- Singing Minstrels: Wandering minstrels sing playful songs throughout the tale that provide important clues.

-- Amanda's Puppet Theater: Kids can design the stage for their very own puppet show and then watch the exciting show played out before their eyes.

-- Mask Maker's Hut: The Mask Maker's Hut is a fun activity which lets children create their own magical masks by picking from a variety of eyes, nose, mouth, ears and much more.

-- Dag's Desert Hut: Children discover an arcade style game that exposes the player to counting while strengthening hand-eye coordination. Kids fill a basket with a variety of flowers as they pop up and then disappear quickly.