Thomas & Friends: Special Delivery review and giveaway
Written by valmg on August 27, 2008 – 4:43 am
We were fortunate enough to receive a copy of the new children’s computer game Thomas & Friends: Special Delivery from Brighter Minds Media. From the day it arrived and CJ saw the box he was excited about it. Thomas is one of CJ’s favorite characters in the whole wide world, so I was hopeful that he’d be able to play the game and enjoy it.
Thomas & Friends: Special Delivery is what I consider an edutainment game. It promotes basic life and educational skills while allowing children to enjoy a story featuring beloved and familiar characters. Your child might be having so much fun they may not even realize they’re learning! Some of the skills practiced in the game are puzzles, counting, shapes, colors, memory skills, observation, deduction and following directions. The game can be played on one of two levels. The characters featured in this game are Thomas and James. Sir Topham Hatt, Harold and Cranky the Crane also make appearances. The storyline behind the game is that James was picking up animals and taking them to the zoo and got lost on the way. His friends need to find him so the animals can be brought to the zoo for opening day.
At 9, CJ is developmentally delayed and not reading yet. One of the things that made this game great is that it was led by the narrator, so no reading skills were required. The narrator tells the player a part of the story, a chapter as it were. At the end of each chapter there is an activity. In the activities if a child selects a wrong answer they are gently encouraged to listen to the question again and try again. When a player completes the game a certificate of achievement can be personalized and printed. If a player leaves the game before completing it, his or her progress will be saved for the next time.
The whole game is point and click and it will help players work on simple mouse skills. There is no complicated keyboard interaction for little hands to have to remember and master. The game is animated, and the coloring of the game is bright and the appearance of the characters remains true to the television series. The harder level of the game follows the same storyline and activities but the activities are a bit harder.
CJ has been having a blast playing this game. He is so pleased that he can do it by himself. It took him a little over an hour to complete the game and activities on the easy level the first time he played it. He was able to figure out what was required for all of the activities except one (clearing the clouds over a forest). His favorite part was completing the puzzles to make the animals’ cages. The entire time he played all we heard was “I did it!”, “wow!” and “yay!”
I recommend this game highly for a number of reasons including the smile on my son’s face and the sense of empowerment and independence it gave him. From what I’ve been seeing for the past couple of days, CJ would rate it even higher than me. It is rated E for Everyone and is labeled for ages 3-5. It retails for $19.99. Thomas & Friends: Special Delivery will operate on computers running Windows XP or Vista with 256mb of free ram and a Direct X 9 compatible video card.
The generous folks at Brighter Minds Media have been generous enough to offer two copies of this game, Thomas & Friends: Special Delivery, to my readers for this giveaway. To enter, visit the Brighter Minds Media website. (While you’re there, you might want to check out the Brighter Minds Media Contests site too.) Then come back here and leave a comment telling me who you’d give this game to if you won and what other game (besides Thomas) you’re interested in from the Brighter Minds Media website. Only comments containing this information will be entered into the drawing. For an extra entry write about this giveaway on your blog, linking to the Brighter Minds Media website and this post. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm est on Saturday 09/06/08. Winners will be chosen at random. The winner must contact me within 72 hours to confirm they wish to receive the prize. US addresses only please. Good luck to all!
THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.
Danielle
August 27th, 2008 at 5:41 am
My almost 2 year old LOVES Thomas, so even though she is a little young for the game, I would give it to her and let her “grow into it”. I also like the Brain Quest DVD Game for ages 6-8 for my older girls.
ldsmom2201 at yahoo dot com
Jen
August 27th, 2008 at 11:22 am
oops, sorry I got a little key crazy, my boy would love the Thomas game, and we’d also do good with the 30 minutes a day Kindergarten learning system
Trudy
August 27th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I’d love to give this to my grandson–who has all the Thomas trains and the track!! He has loved them since he was 2, and now he’s 4 years old. I’d also be intersted in the Panda game for him.
Alyce
August 27th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
We love Thomas in our house! My four year old son would just love this game, so I would give it to him.
The other game I found interesting at their site is Venture Arctic. I think my 7 year old would love this game.
A Cowboy’s Wife
August 27th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Hey there:) My little guy would love this I bet! He loves trains especially. And I’d really like the 30 minute a day for preschoolers:) You know, train em’ early!
CanCan (Mom Most Traveled)
August 28th, 2008 at 12:07 am
We have a Brighter Mind Media game that my son loves. A Thomas game would be very exciting for him! (He is almost 4).
Janet F
August 28th, 2008 at 3:00 am
My grandson loves Thomas, so I would give this to him.
I would be interested in Jurassic Park Explorer DVD Game.
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Janet F
August 28th, 2008 at 3:05 am
I blogged your giveaway.
http://luckygiveaways.blogspot.com/2008/08/thomas-friends-special-delivery-review.html
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Bebemiqui
August 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I’ll be giving to my son and I liked their Brain Quest DVD for my daughter.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ginny
August 28th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I’d love to give this to my husband nephew, he is a huge fan. I’d also like to get the Brain Quest game for my daughter.
Cindi
August 29th, 2008 at 1:51 am
My nephew would really enjoy this “Thomas and Friends” computer game! Another one I think he would enjoy playing while learning is the “Caillou Magic Playhouse” game! Please enter me in your fun drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
Carlee
August 29th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I’d give this game to my cute nephew. He’s 4 years old and would love it. I am also interested in the Brain Quest game. I love a good challenge!
Julie
August 29th, 2008 at 10:44 am
My 3 year old LOVES “Pomas”. He would definitely enjoy it!
We’d also like the Kung Fu Panda game.
Kam A
August 29th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I would definitely give this game to my son who LOVES Thomas!! He would be so thrilled!
The other game I would be interested in would be the Nancy Drew DVD Game!
Patricia Hill
August 29th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
My grandson adores Thomas the Train. He would also like the Kung Fu Panda game.
Michelle
August 29th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
My almost 3 year old daughter would love this, in fact, Thomas and friends is her party theme this year. Pick us, pick us!!
Becca
August 29th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
My nephew would love this game! But what preschool/toddler boy wouldn’t? I’d love to get Chocolatier for myself.
Shannan P
August 30th, 2008 at 2:35 am
My 2 1/2 year old would just die if we won this! At our house, its all about trains, especially Thomas! I would love the 30 Minutes a Day Preschool for him, as well.
Vickie Couturier
August 30th, 2008 at 8:48 am
I have a 3 yr old grandson who adores Thomas,this would be such a nice Christmas gift for him,the other one I liked would be,the Cartoon network all stars game,wow,this site is nice,thanks for the chance!
Christine
August 30th, 2008 at 10:06 am
My son (3) is a Thomas FIEND!! Oh wow would he love this. We’ve got a laptop set up for him that we don’t use anymore (it wont charge) so he’s already hooked up to the internet via his “Launch Pad” (cool toy by FP). But he’s always asking for new games! I also like the 30 Minute a Day Learning System: Preschool game on their website. We’re all about “getting ready for school” these days!
TRACY HEYER
August 30th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
THE KIDS LOVE THOMAS THE TRAIN! THEY LIKE KUNG FU PANDA! THANKS FOR THE CONTEST!
ellen cunningham
August 30th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
My son would love this as well as the Jurassic Park Explorer game. thanks
Charla
August 31st, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Sounds awesome! I used to teach first grade for 11 years, and anything that’s fun makes it so much easier for kids to learn that are stressed out by it.
Mary @ Adventures in Mommyland
August 31st, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I’d love to give this to my daughter if I won. I also like the Caillou Ready For School Jewel Case Game. Great giveaway, thanks!
Mary @ Adventures in Mommyland
September 1st, 2008 at 12:01 am
Blogged ya:
http://mommyland512.blogspot.com/2008/08/thomas-friends-giveaway-at-vals-views.html
Thanks again!
judy brittle
September 1st, 2008 at 2:55 am
My grandson loves Thomas and I would love for him to have this. My other favorite is Kung Fu Panda for my granddaughter. Thank you!
Suzie
September 1st, 2008 at 3:46 am
My daughter is almost 3 and I would let her play this. Another game I liked that would be great for her was the 30 Minutes a Day preschool game.
michelle rosborough
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:56 am
For my little cousin.
I also like the Marvel Heroes Breakout Travel DVD Game
luckydolls123[at]verizon[dot]net
Gina Stratos
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
My son would love the Thomas the Tank game while my daughter would benefit from the 30 Minutes A Day Preschool Game.
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Vicki Wurgler
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
my grandson would love this and I’m also interested in the cartoon network all stars
Diana Corlett
September 4th, 2008 at 12:04 am
For my nephew.
Also like the Kung Fu Panda Create-a-story.
Betty Nations
September 4th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
This would definitely go to my grandson. He loves Thomas the Train! Another favorite of his is Bob the Builder so another game I would like from that site would be Bob the Builder: Can-Do Zoo. Both games look wonderful and age appropriate!
Nicole Price
September 5th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I would give this to my son if I won. He loves everything Thomas related. It’s hard to get out of a store if they sell any Thomas toys or dvds. I think he would also like Cailou. Thanks for the giveaway!!
Carla Pullum
September 5th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I would give this t my daughter!
I also like Yard Sale Hidden Treasures: Sunnyville!!!
Stephanie Bruce
September 6th, 2008 at 11:44 am
my boys are obsessed with thomas we would love thanks so much!
kathy pease
September 6th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
i would give this to my son jordan and he would also love the Cartoon network all stars game since that is his FAVORITE CHANNEL
Carol
September 6th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
My three youngest grandsons would love this! They enjoy playing with their Thomas trains.
mittens0831 AT aol DOT com
Sarah C.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
My preschool-aged son would LOVE the Thomas game. We would also enjoy the Caillou Ready to Read game! Thanks so much!