I reviewed this some months ago as a school package
and commented then that I didn't feel it would have
much use in the home!
Longman obviously disagrees (or is disappointed by
its school sales) and has now produced an attractive
home pack with the legend "the software used in
schools". It won't ever be used in mine.
The aims are quite widespread: learning concepts of
space, direction, estimation, number and angle -
which it does go some way towards fostering. The
child, or children, has to steer sheep through a gate
by commanding a sheepdog. The sheep don't often move
in a straight line - which is true to life, at
least - and if they hit the fence you start again.
It works well and is well error-trapped so young
fingers cannot do too much harm, but it is
extremely repetitive.
The documentation is not a patch on the schools
version which was one of its best features. I would
now describe it as adequate only. Price is still a
reflection of the packaging rather than program
quality and graphics are very poor - sheep heads
are ampersands!
24th January 1984
