The requirements for most Humongous Entertainment products.
Macintosh CD-ROM
System 7.0 or higher
Minimum 25MHz 68040 or PowerPC
8MB of Ram
640x480, 256 colors
Double-speed CD-ROM drive
The requirements for Backyard Baseball* on Macintosh
System 7.0 or higher
PowerPC
16MB of Ram
640x480, 256 colors
Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
*Demo Does not run on the Macintosh
Troubleshooting
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Having trouble? There are only a couple things to check on a Mac system so try these and if that doesn't help call Humongous Entertainment Technical Support at 425 485 4210 or call Apple Technical Support at1 800 SOS APPL.
First check to make sure you meet the requirements for the program. Our games are written to run with System 7.0 or higher. The newer games require an 040/25 MHz (or faster) processor, 8MB RAM and a double speed (or faster) CD ROM drive. Make sure your system meets these requirements.
Check to see what the size of the largest unused block of memory is; there should be as close to 8MB available as possible for our games (at least 6MB of RAM should be free). Click on the Apple in the upper left hand corner of your screen and then About This Macintosh to see this information.
If this doesn't solve the problem click on the Apple again and then Control Panel and Memory. Check for these settings:
Virtual memory = OFF
32-bit addressing or Modern Memory Management = ON
RAM disk = OFF
Disk caching = 256k
Once all this is set, restart the system and try the game again. If the problem was insufficient memory or incorrect memory configuration the game should run without problem.
If not, the last thing to look for is an extension conflict. Click on the Apple, Control Panel and Extensions Manager. Turn OFF all extensions EXCEPT Apple CDROM and Quicktime. Restart the system and play the game. If it now plays without problem you have an extension conflict. To narrow it down to the culprit go back into the Extensions Manager and add back extensions in groups of 3-4, restart the system each time and play the game. Once you encounter the problems you'll simply need to figure out which particular extension (by the same method) it is and then remove that permanently or remember to turn it off before trying to play our games.
It's also possible that something in the preferences folder has become corrupted. You can take care of this by opening the System folder, then opening the Preferences folder. Inside that folder find the Humongous Entertainment folder and drag it to the trash. Restart the system and try the game again.
Demo Keyboard Commands
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<Spacebar> Pauses the game, and opens the pause dialog box. To continue, just click the Play button.
<Esc> Fast-forward through the current cutscene.
<Period> Same as the <Esc> key, but skips only the current character's line -- not the entire scene.
<F5> Toggles the game between running full-screen or in a window.
<Cmd> <Q> Allows you to quit the game.
Big Thinkers Quick Play Information
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Each Big Thinkers demo has one room with three activities. In the full game there are 6 main rooms and each room has at least one activity but usually has more. When you move the mouse over an area where there is an activity the pointer changes to a star. When you click Ben and Becky will lead you to a new screen for that activity and explain how to play. Listen carefully so you don't miss anything!
What's in the Demo?
The Kindergarten demo shows you the twin's backyard and includes these activities:
Hide 'n' Seek - This sandbox is one special playspot! It's a geographically laden map for a slight variation on Hide and Seek. Ben will hide somewhere and Becky will give you a clue about where he is. Click on the place where you think Ben is hiding and Becky will tell you if you're wrong and give you another clue or Ben will pop up!
Becky will give you three clues and you can click on her to hear the clues again. There are 30 possible locations and Ben will pick them randomly.
You earn four purple SmartStars for every two correct answers.
To find this activity: Click on the sandbox.
Bird Perch Math - The twins, and the birds in the back yard, are ready to teach you simple arithmetic. Ben and Becky offer the birds a place to perch and will ask you how many birds there are. You click on the number at the bottom of the screen that you think matches. The birds are all a twitter at the thought of being counted!
Two blue SmartStars are awarded for every three correct answers.
To find this activity: Click on the fence behind Ben, near the gate.
Mealtime Mazes - Help Ben get through the maze. Click on the path where you want him to go until you reach the end. Sounds pretty easy but after the first couple there are some obstacles. Sometimes there are piles of food blocking the way, you need to choose an animal to eat the food. But you need to choose the right animal for the type of food so be sure to concentrate!
You earn three green SmartStars for every three mazes completed at the first level.
To find this activity: Click on the trellis to the left of Ben.
Click Points
Don't forget to check out the click points you'll always find in a Humongous Entertainment product! Click on everything you see for some more fun.
Quitting the Demo
To quit the demo press the Command and Q keys or hold the Command key and use your mouse to click on the menu. You'll see another dialog box asking you to confirm that you want to quit. Click OK and the demo will exit to the Catalog window. You can choose another demo or click on the close the window and eject the Catalog CD.
The Exit is always active and available. Click on the door if you want to leave the demo.
What are Activities?
Games and Puzzles -These are activities in which something has to be solved, for example math problems, or matching objects. Educational concepts are taught while playing a simple game.
Exploration -These are open-ended types of activities. They might involve drawing or stamping images, playing with a music maker, or combining words into silly sentences.
SuperStar of Smarts Challenge -This is a special Puzzle Solving activity. SmartStars of each color are required to access this special activity. The more stars you've collected the better chance you'll have of completing the challenge definite incentive to earn more SmartStars! When you finish this activity, you're rewarded with a SuperStar of Smarts certificate. This activity is only available in the full game.
Brain Bank
The BrainBank is always available. At the beginning of game play, when a name is entered or selected, you can choose from one of five friendly animal bank heads. The BrainBank is used in a couple of different ways:
When an activity is completed SmartStars fly onto the screen to show you how many you have earned. The BrainBank pops up and when you click on the SmartStars they fly into it.
You can activate the BrainBank by dragging the mouse cursor to the bottom of the screen. Click on the icon and the SmartStars appear above the bank. The number of stars of each color appears when you pass your mouse cursor over them. You can also click on the stars to hear information about them.
If there are no stars collected in a given category, the star appears empty of color. After a moment the stars will return to the BrainBank and the bank will disappear.
Smart Stars
SmartStars‘ are awarded when you successfully complete a game or puzzle type activity or have spent time on a creative activity. Once you've put the stars in the BrainBank‘ you can play the same activity again or choose to go somewhere else.
The Superstar of Smarts challenge, a special activity, requires SmartStars of each color to enter. If you successfully complete the activity you'll be awarded a Superstar of Smarts which is kept in your BrainBank too. You'll also get a certificate you can print out!
Activities are divided into five main academic categories. Each category has a corresponding color of SmartStar:
Category SmartStar Color
Mathematics Blue
Language Arts Red
Creative Arts Yellow
Science/Social Science Purple
Thinking Skills/Spatial Perception Green
Junior Adventures
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SpyFox in Dry Cereal
SpyFox in Dry Cereal is filled with interesting characters, puzzles, mystery, adventure, and endless amounts of fun!
All the world's dairy cows are missing! Everyone is upset, kids are forced to eat dry cereal, there's no ice cream and hot chocolate isn't nearly as good as it's supposed to be. Wild rumors of black market milk prove false all the cows have disappeared without a trace. The only clue SpyFox has is that Mr. Udderly, the president and CEO of Amalgamated Moo Juice Incorporated, is missing as well. Furthermore, Mr. Udderly is reported to have vital information regarding the missing ruminants. The wily SpyFox must focus on saving Mr. Udderly first, in hopes of learning more about the global crisis at hand.
SpyFox's Task
SpyFox is headed for the island of Acidophilus where Monkey Penny is waiting in the SPY Corps Mobile Command Center with Professor Quack, who has the spy gadgets SpyFox will need. SpyFox keeps everything in his tuxedo and uses a SpyWatch to communicate with Monkey Penny. Now, SpyFox must find Mr. Udderly.
Gadgets:
SpyFox will need these for help in various situations. In the demo you only need one and Monkey Penny will explain it to you.
The gadgets SpyFox carries with him are kept in the Spy Gadget Stack Pack in his tuxedo. To use one drag your cursor to the bottom of the screen and the interface will pop up. Click on the Spy Gadget Stack Pack, wait for it to unfold, then click on the gadget you want to use. It will stick to your cursor. Now click on the thing you want to use it on!
Inventory Items:
SpyFox will need several items to help him solve this mystery some things will be given to SpyFox but you need to be on the lookout for others! You only need a couple in the demo and they're given to SpyFox.
Talk Balloons:
SpyFox can use these to get information on certain characters. For instance, a talk balloon for the Weasel doorman will allow you to get information from other characters. When you speak with a character who has a talk balloon it will automatically be stored in a notebook in SpyFox's tuxedo. In the demo you can get a talk balloon but don't need to use it.
Click Points
Don't forget to check out the click points you'll always find in a Humongous Entertainment product! Click everywhere your mouse cursor turns solid.
Quitting the Demo
To quit the demo press the Command and Q keys or hold the Command key and use your mouse to click on the menu. You'll see another dialog box asking you to confirm that you want to quit. Click OK and the demo will exit to the Catalog window. You can choose another demo or click on the close the window and eject the Catalog CD.
Freddi Fish and the Case of the Haunted Schoolhouse
Freddi and her pal Luther return in another adventure in their underwater world. Just like the previous mystery this one is teeming with an assortment of characters, puzzles, music, and of course, loads of fun!
It's just your average "rock-hoppin" day under the sea, or so it may seem, as Freddi and her best friend Luther prepare for another day of school. It's Luther's turn to bring something for show-and-tell and what better choice than his favorite toy -- a Codfish Commando action figure. However when Freddi and Luther arrive, they find that a ghost has invaded the schoolhouse and is stealing all the guppies toys. Your average fish might cower in fear at this news but not Freddi! With your child's help, Freddi and Luther soon discover the truth behind the ghost and devise a plan to trap it!
In the demo Freddi and Luther need to help their friend Tucker turtle. Can you help them find what they need?
The Interface
Inventory Bubbles, like the one shown at left, hold items which Freddi and Luther pick up during their adventures. To use an item, just click on it. The item will "stick" to your cursor. Now click on an object or character you want to use it on!
Click Points
Freddi Fish's world is alive with secret Click Points. Click on the seaweed, shells, urchins or any of the hundreds of spots around the ocean and watch the fun unfold! Most objects react to a click in more than one way, so be sure to try them more than once.
Quitting the Demo
To quit the demo press the Command and Q keys or hold the Command key and use your mouse to click on the menu. You'll see another dialog box asking you to confirm that you want to quit. Click OK and the demo will exit to the Catalog window. You can choose another demo or click on the close the window and eject the Catalog CD.
Freddi Fish in the Case of the Stolen Conch Shell
Luther's Uncle Blenny has invited Freddi and Luther to attend the Founder's Day Festival, a fantastic Mardi Gras-style festival in the tropics! With the help of Pelican Sam, Luther and Freddi fly to the exotic locale only to discover that the festival has been indefinitely postponed, and that Luther's uncle has been arrested! Our young heroes learn that the annual festival is kicked off by a trumpet blast from the one-of-a-kind Great Conch Shell, and that Uncle Blenny is suspected of swiping the shell! Egad, what a mess! Freddi and Luther must find the real culprit and recover the Great Conch Shell so Luther's uncle can be cleared of blame, and the Founder's Day Festival can begin!
In the demo Freddi and Luther need to find a way to get through the net. How will they do it?
The Interface
Inventory Bubbles, like the one shown at left, hold items which Freddi and Luther pick up during their adventures. To use an item, just click on it. The item will "stick" to your cursor. Now click on an object or character you want to use it on!
Click Points
Freddi Fish's world is alive with secret Click Points. Click on the hula doll, flowers, rocks, or any of the hundreds of spots around the ocean and watch the fun unfold! Most objects react to a click in more than one way, so be sure to try them more than once.
Quitting the Demo
To quit the demo press the Command and Q keys or hold the Command key and use your mouse to click on the menu. You'll see another dialog box asking you to confirm that you want to quit. Click OK and the demo will exit to the Catalog window. You can choose another demo or click on the close the window and eject the Catalog CD.
Putt-Putt Travels Through Time
Putt-Putt's on his way to show Mr. Firebird his history report and new school supplies. He has his Smokey the Fire Engine Lunchbox, a calculator, his history report and of course, his old friend Pep. Mr. Firebird's lab is no longer the Fireworks Factory after the incident where he sent the little purple car to the Moon. Now it's a time workshop. Mr. Firebird is working on a new invention called a Time Portal that allows you to see into the time continuum, kind of like a television set.
Something goes dreadfully wrong while Mr. Firebird is showing the Time Portal to Putt-Putt and all Putt-Putt's things are sucked into it! And then Pep is lost too! Putt-Putt must go find Pep and all his things and return to the present so Mr. Firebird can close the Time Portal in the full game. In the demo all Putt-Putt needs to find is his history report.
Inventory
Putt-Putt's inventory is visible in the dashboard on the lower right part of the game screen.
Inventory Items, like the one shown at left, are objects which Putt-Putt can pick up during his adventures. To use an item, just click on it. The item will "stick" to your cursor. Now click on an object or character you want to use it on!
For instance, if you are trying to feed some hay to the Triceratops, who might be standing on Putt-Putt's history report, you need to click on the hay in the dashboard and then click on the Triceratops.
Click Points
Don't forget to check out the click points you'll always find in a Humongous Entertainment product! Rocks, flowers, clouds will produce amazing things!
Quitting the Demo
To quit the demo press the Command and Q keys or hold the Command key and use your mouse to click on the menu. You'll see another dialog box asking you to confirm that you want to quit. Click OK and the demo will exit to the Catalog window. You can choose another demo or click on the close the window and eject the Catalog CD.
Pajama Sam in No Need to Hide When it's Dark Outside
Pajama Sam's ultimate goal in No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside is to find Darkness and capture him in Sam's Portable Bad-Guy Containment Unit. Along the way, he'll have to outsmart talking trees, travel through twisty caverns, and eventually reclaim his stolen superhero items. And, since the Land of Darkness changes every time you play, it should be a long time before you see the same game twice!
The Superhero Gear
Sam needs to find three items in the full game before he can transform himself into Pajama Sam - the world's youngest superhero. In the demo he only needs to find the lunchbox and the flashlight.
Inventory
Sam will need a few things along the way to help him out. You can find these things in the inventory at the bottom of the screen. Drag your mouse to the bottom edge of the screen and the inventory will pop up.
Click Points
Don't forget to check out the click points you'll always find in a Humongous Entertainment product! Click on trees, rocks, flowers you'll be amazed!
Quitting the Demo
To quit the demo press the Command and Q keys or hold the Command key and use your mouse to click on the menu. You'll see another dialog box asking you to confirm that you want to quit. Click OK and the demo will exit to the Catalog window. You can choose another demo or click on the close the window and eject the Catalog CD.
Junior Field Trips
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The opening screen of the Junior Field Trip demo offers a "bird's-eye view". You can see several areas, but, as Buzzy the Knowledge Bug explains, you can't see it all in the demo. Check out the full games for all the fun and action!
In the Airport demo you go inside a plane! Be sure to check out the cockpit; all those buttons and switches and try the controls too! Then go into the passenger cabin and help get food ready in the galley. Try multiple clicking you'll be amazed at what happens. It's more fun than a barrel full of monkeys!
Buzzy acts as a personal guide for you. He reads aloud questions, answers, and the names of objects. If you click on the picture of him at the bottom of the screen he'll appear to provide tips, suggestions, and a comment or two.
If you click on the question mark at the bottom of the screen your mouse cursor will turn into a question mark. Now place the question mark over something onscreen and Buzzy will pronounce its name to you.
Click on the button that looks like a piece of paper with the letters A, B, and C on it and an index containing terms and items associated with an airport will appear. Click on a word in the Index to open up the Information Page for that word. The Information Pages contain over 100 illustrated objects of the words found in the Index.
Click on the speaker button while in the index and Buzzy will read the words on the page out loud.
Click Points
Don't forget to check out the click points you'll always find in a Humongous Entertainment product! Click on animals, trees, clouds and rocks, you'll be surprised.
Quitting the Demo
To quit the demo press the Command and Q keys or hold the Command key and use your mouse to click on the menu. You'll see another dialog box asking you to confirm that you want to quit. Click OK and the demo will exit to the Catalog window. You can choose another demo or click on the close the window and eject the Catalog CD.
