Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego

It's a little frustrating trying to get "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" to work in the Windows Vista environment. Here is a useful workaround.

Go to the Start Menu and select "Control Panel". Click on "Programs". Under Programs and Features, choose "Use an older program with this version of Windows" and select "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" from the list of programs. You will now have several options as to how you want the game to run. I found that the game worked best in the Windows 98 environment, with the display set to 640x480 with 256 colors. When you're done setting the game up, right click on the Carmen Sandiego shortcut and select "Run as Administrator". Wallah!

The game itself is fun (once you get it to run). I was expecting a more modern version of the game (i.e. similar to what I found in the Elementary Advantage software pack) but for the price, it's not bad.

For those of us who played the classic APPLE IIe version of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" this game is a far cry different than the original. In the original, and most of the remakes, the format was the same with a full selection of ten to twenty V.I.L.E. Henchmen, as well as Carmen herself. The format used a random selection system with an anonymous villain with random loot from around the world. The game-play was slightly repetitive, with nearly unlimited cases to play over and over, but still with a very addictive style - and fun!

The game being sold in this YELLOW jewel-case (AND the BLUE jewel-case that is a mirror image of the cover of the yellow one) is a modernized story arc that is very linear. The only villain is Carmen herself. There are six main cases which flow continuously into one another, without room for a pause. The seventh case is more of a comprehensive collection of all of the stolen artifacts from the previous six cases being bundled into a story wrap-up...

I played through this the first time and it only took about five hours from install to end credits. For kids, I am sure this simplified version can be fun, but once played to completion, it's kinda boring the second time around.

Sure, I may be well beyond the age market for this game, but I still enjoy the downloaded DOS version that is an exact replica of the APPLE IIe version of the original...

Overall, if you are looking for a cool game that reminds you of your own childhood, this is not the case for you.

Try the versions in the GREEN box or the TAN colored box - anything by Broderbund is more like the original, and far superior.

As far as getting these to run in Windows XP, just make sure to turn on COMPATIBILITY mode for Windows 95,98,ME and you will be fine.


GAMEPLAY:

Essentially, each location is a still image with your two animated characters to the left and right of center. There are "hot spots" (like in Myst) that trigger one or the other of the characters to describe the scene or the country or city history or features.

Occasionally there are characters you can click on to hear details or give things to.

There are puzzles (about five in total) which you have to solve or gather the pieces to and arrange in a certain order....

Carmen may show up inside a doorway or after you click a hot spot, only to get away easily.

There are literally A FEW animated sequences in which your characters chase Carmen or watch things unfold, and a looped sequence for "the Chief" speaking to you from ACME HQ.

There are tools worn on the vest of the your characters and there is a cell phone that connects you with "The Chief" and that's about it.

The manufacturer says the game is compatible with Windows XP, but it's not. I have been dealing with tech support since before Christmas trying to get it to run with no success. I can't get past the log in screen for players. The program shuts down saying there is an error. Although the game was cheap, this purchase was not worth the time and money spent. I can't find Carmen Sandiego and at this point I don't want to.

We have a wide age range in our family. Our oldest is married and our youngest is 5. When our two oldest were in third or fourth grade we began buying the Carmen Sandiego games. The girls loved the challenge and it helped them learn a lot while having fun. This Christmas we again purchased a version for our current computer and our 8 year old is constantly asking to use the computer and play Carmen. Thanks for a faithful product.

I purchased this "Where in the World..." version for my grandsons to play when they visit. It is every bit as much fun for them as it was when their mother's played it. Updated but as educational as ever! The best part is that the kids are learning and don't even realize it!! Thanks - Carmen!!