Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2002

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: 2001 08
• Genre: Home
• Style: Reference
• Similar Games: Merriam Webster's Dictionary for Kids (IBM PC Compatible), Microsoft Bookshelf (IBM PC Compatible), Encyclopædia Britannica 2002: Deluxe Edition CD (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2002 is the midrange edition of Microsoft's line of Encarta CD-based encyclopedias, settling in between Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2002 and Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Library 2002. All three versions have the same basic encyclopedia functionality but the Deluxe edition incorporates additional features not found in the budget level Standard software.

In comparison to the Standard version, Deluxe contains 22,000 more articles (total 61,000), nearly 6,400 more photos and illustrations (total 19,200), and 185 videos and animations (an increase of 110). The number of web links and map locations is the same (26,750 and 30,000 respectively), and there's a slight increase in the number of sound and music clips. Unlike the Standard edition, the Deluxe version contains 3,150 sidebars (additional source information), only 200 less than the Library edition.

Users can access current events articles and database updates through the Encarta website and search the database index by topic and keyword. Additional features include quiz games about a variety of topics and multimedia interactive presentations, as well as panoramic (2D) and virtual (3D) tours of famous locales around the world. The Encarta Researcher provides help in writing reports by automatically incorporating quotes with corresponding references from the database or online web pages.

Monthly updates for the article database are available through free membership to the online Club Encarta, and the website frequently updates online quiz games about various topics. The database can be accessed from the three CDs with a minimal install, or the entire database can be transferred to the hard drive.

Review: Overall

The major highlight and selling point of the Microsoft Encarta line of CD-formatted encyclopedias is the multimedia aspect, ensuring more than just the equivalent of a set of printed encyclopedias transcribed onto a CD. Traditionally, three versions of the software are released each year, including Standard (budget edition), Deluxe and Library. Although all cover a wide range of topics and offer large numbers of articles, illustrations, photos, music, sound and video clips, as well as current event updates, the Deluxe version is quite possibly the best investment.

Encyclopedias are typically used to research various topics, often for writing reports. In that respect, the Encarta Researcher offers a highly useful function that allows you to browse through not only Encarta's internal database, but also articles on the website, grab quotes and add them to your report. The Researcher formats the quotes and automatically generates and adds an appropriate footnote, thus eliminating one of the most annoying aspects of referencing. As any school or college student can attest, using extensive quotes is both the easiest method of eating up report word or page requirements and the best way to make a report appear to be well researched.

A number of features lure you into research and learning for the sake of enjoyment. Kids will have fun researching answers to both offline and online quiz games, and animated interactive presentations offer fascinating information on various subjects like probability and human languages. The interactive aspects teach more about the topics in greater detail or clarity than is possible through dry printed text.

Additionally, Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2002 includes a number of 2D and 3D virtual tours of exotic locales around the world, complete with text about their significance. The 2D-panoramic tours are impressive -- it's like standing in the center of the location and turning around to get a full 360-degree perspective. The 3D-virtual tours are even more spectacular, as they're designed like modern 3D video games, giving you the ability to wander anywhere you want within the confines of the location.

No matter how many extra features are included, the heart of any encyclopedia is the article database, and this software delivers over 60,000 articles, with more than 20,000 still images, videos, and sound clips supporting them. The articles are indexed by title and keywords, and cross-linked to other related articles so you can easily expand beyond the scope of your original research to get additional context and content. Microsoft takes this a step further by also offering current events articles on the Encarta online website, and by offering article update packages for download.

Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2002 is a must-have for any family with school-age children. It not only offers a compact and low cost alternative to full sets of printed encyclopedias, but also delivers much more than printed encyclopedias can with the Researcher and online integration. Adults with inquiring minds and no children will also enjoy the varied discussions and presentations on the wide range of topics.

Review: Enjoyment

The extensive article database with cross-linking to other relevant articles makes research easy. The extra multimedia features make the product fun to browse simply for pleasure. The Researcher offers great help in creating reports.

Review: Graphics

The Deluxe version contains nearly double the visual aids of the Standard version, including still pictures, video clips, and pictorial tours of famous locales throughout the world.

Review: Sound

More than 2500 sound and music clips make the articles come alive.

Review: Replay Value

The database remains current with updates available on current events and news from the Encarta website. More than 60,000 articles offer a lot of research material.

Review: Documentation

Although virtually no printed documentation comes with the product, plenty of online help is available.