by Dale Farris, President, Golden Triangle PC Club
July 2001

Game Overview

Ever dream of saving the world? Now is your chance with this super new computer game that is build on fundamentals of science.

A meteorite has crashed into the planet, causing it to stop rotating around its axis. One half of the planet begins to freeze over, while unbearable heat scorches the other half. There is only one solution. You must gain the necessary knowledge through the vast database of science to set the planet rotating again.

You are the last hope for human kind. You must save the planet. However, you are not alone. The professor has left all his knowledge on a laptop that you find very early in the game.

This is the story behind the adventure game component in this super addition to the growing lineup of marvelous CD ROM programs from TIVOLA. In addition to the game that is built on science, Physicus is filled with numerous interactive learning experiences that teach the physics of electricity, optics, heat, sound, or mechanics. These science instructions are by themselves fun to work with, as you learn the scientific principles that are then well integrated into the game. As you learn the science in the game, this information then will come in handy in order to solve the many puzzles in the game.

Playing Physicus game component involves many classic adventure game genre features. These include a typical slideshow screen layout, moving around by pointing and clicking the mouse, picking up objects for storage, moving objects from an inventory to their appropriate place, and of course, going all over the many areas in the game to get objects that have to be brought back to other areas.

The adventure game component of Physicus could alone have been the targeted selling point, but the approach by this super "infotainment" company, TIVOLA, means gamers will also learn a lot as they struggle to complete this very impressive adventure game.

Age Group

Although the game box states the game is relevant for ages "from 8 to 102," I think many 8-year olds may have difficulty solving the many well-designed puzzles in the game. Although the puzzles are indeed built on solid scientific principles and are not impossible to figure out, nevertheless the Myst-like design and approach of the game means you have to go all over the game environment, remember what you find and take notes about the revealed information, pick up and then use various objects that are essential to opening other areas of the game, and be clever enough to decipher the cryptic messages and notes you find along the way. This is when the laptop comes in handy, providing you with access to the science behind the puzzles.

I suggest that adults strongly consider playing along with younger gamers to help them if they get "stuck." While these puzzles are not the most devious or most difficult I've ever run across in the many other adventure games I've played over the years, I do think some folks might experience frustration with not being able to solve some of the puzzles or open some of the doors. Thankfully, TIVOLA offers at their web site (see below) a fully developed series of hints that together make up a nice walkthrough guide that can help overcome the more difficult spots, thus enabling you to complete the game and fully experience all the many beautiful areas that make up this rich game environment.

Many adults may also find the game a challenge. The scenario of Physicus involves having to find many devices that lack an essential item that you find elsewhere in the game, most times after solving a puzzle. These objects will need to be returned and placed in their correct location. This may sound simple, but as in most all successful adventure games, Physicus has an abundance of all sorts of areas you have to go in the game that really are impressive. This super layout of the many places in the game really displays the work of the developers and is an impressive part of the game.

I also think the game is a wonderful educational tool that has definite merit in middle school science classes. While the game play and puzzle solving can be completed with classic adventure gaming approaches, the many files about the science of electricity, heat, optics, etc., all definitely have value by themselves as teaching aides. These educational files can be opened and read separately from trying to play the game, but the real fun comes from integrating the science learned in these files into the game. The genius behind this adventure game is the focus on making sure that the scientific principles are soundly built into the puzzle solving.

Educational Value

This marvelous science education program succeeds in incorporating science substance in the playing of a typical adventure game. If you want, you can just play through the game as you would any adventure game, going here and there, keeping a lot of notes about what you find, writing down the cryptic messages and clues, and of course, remembering all the while what you have learned.

In addition, the game presents numerous informative files that provide an interactive approach to learning all about electricity, heat, mechanical physics, optics, light and shadow, and acoustics. These scientific files are alone worth the investment in this super game, and can be worked with entirely separate from playing through the adventure game. The files demonstrate the principles of the physics explained, and in most all cases, present interactive possibilities for the learner.

These educational files cover the following areas.

Science of electricity:  the electrical circuit, current strength, voltage, generators

Science of heat:  aggregation states of different materials, expansion

Science of mechanics:  play with and learn about Newton's Laws of Motion, investigate the laws of energy conservation

Optics:  light and shadow, lenses and colors, phases of the moon

Acoustics:  sound waves, oscillations, the hum ear, echoes

Game Play Notes

Physicus is a super combination of interactive learning about science and an equally super adventure game. The adventure game is as good as most now on the market, and is not by any standard "easy" to solve. The puzzle solving and riddle deciphering are as good as you see in most all adventure games, and this means that savvy adventure gamers will find a challenge in this game that they might otherwise have thought was "easy."

You move about totally controlled by the mouse, and its shape changes depending on whether you are moving forward, backward, turning left or right, or picking up objects or placing objects in their correct place. The inventory here is cleverly designed to seamlessly integrate into the game, while the pick up and use cursor shapes are also a nice new idea.

Accomplishing the goal of the game, to "save the planet," is not new of course to most adventure gamers, but in this case, the design of the approach is very unique and impressive. The layout and design of the many screens, while not offering any panning capability, are visually quite stunning, and evocative of what many gamers have experienced in other well known adventure games, such as Myst, or The Longest Journey. There is also no full-motion movement.

TIVOLA has not scrimped anywhere in the design of this game, and this is a nice surprise, especially when you think the game might suffer because it is primarily designed as a means of teaching about science. However, TIVOLA accomplishes a very difficult feat, by producing a great adventure game that happens to also be filled with educational value. You can play through the adventure game as if this were how the entire program were designed, or you can also choose to solely open the science learning files that are all very impressive.

The complexity of the puzzle solving has been designed to challenge even the most experienced adventure gamers. While there are no deviously designed, or very short timed puzzles, there are enough difficult puzzles that I suspect many gamers might want to seriously consider getting the walkthrough hints from the TIVOLA web site.

The backgrounds are beautiful, and very impressive, conveying this imaginary world so well that you begin to believe it actually exists. This is a testament to the coders and the designers that obviously labored very hard for many long hours to attend to the meticulous detail that all adds up to a very impressive appearance.

The accompanying background music files work well to also aid in enhancing the overall effect of this super game.
 
Game Features

Myst-like adventure game that is challenging but not impossible
Beautiful graphics and design
Many physics based riddles and puzzles based on solid science
Science database can be used stand alone to teach these principles
Students can work through the game while learning the scientific facts
Very intriguing, unique storyline
Classic adventure game genre features control gameplay
Save the game anywhere anytime
Visually stunning and a delight to play
First-person perspective
Very impressive background display
Well designed, integrated background soundtrack
Classic point-and-click interface to work the game
Beautifully drawn backgrounds

Targeted Customers

TIVOLA's marvelous game of science, all wrapped up in a super adventure game, may be targeted toward children, but after playing the game, I can attest to the fun that all adventure gamers will have with the game. While it is not the most complex of all adventure games, and certainly not the most difficult to complete, nevertheless the game is filled with enough challenging puzzle solving that I suspect even experienced adventure gamers will like this one.

Younger children can easily work alone with the separate science database, learning all about the physics of optics, electricity, light, heat, etc., and most might even be able to decipher the puzzles and get through the game. However, this game is as good as any adventure game now on the market, meaning that you will indeed run across many, many areas that present puzzles to solve, objects to find and take back to other areas in order to open up other areas, that then offer still more objects that relate to other areas.

This is a classic adventure game feature, requiring the gamer to be on their toes and to remember a lot as they have to go literally everywhere in the game to find out what's in store in all these various screens, and then begin to put these many pieces together to make sense. If the complexity is too challenging, TIVOLA wisely provides hints and clues that together form the necessary walkthrough strategy guide to help you complete the game.

Install and Setup

The installation and setup presented no difficulties on my machine. You just locate on the CD the Physicus Setup.exe file, execute it in the Run command and follow the instructions. To uninstall, insert the CD 1 and find and run the Physicus Delete.exe file from the disk.

To run the program, you will need the CD 1 in the drive. After you find the laptop and begin to open the science database, you swap CD disks, and then play the game from CD 2.

Price

$19.99 (super bargain!)
2-disk game

Minimum System Configuration Requirements

Windows 95, 98, NT 4
P-133 processor
32MB RAM
14MB free hard disk space (minimum install, swap CD disks)
650MB free hard disk space (maximum install, no disk swapping)
SVGA graphics card (640 x 480 with thousands of colors)
Sound card
8x CD ROM

Mac System Requirements

Mac Power PC 166Mhz
16MB RAM
Operating System 7.5-9.0 or later
16MB RAM
32768 colors
Sound card
8x CD ROM

At the time of this writing, no patches for this game had been released, and very likely, none will be needed.

Not requiring a 3d graphics accelerator card, and needing a minimally powered CPU means this game is playable on many more systems, a wise move on the part of TIVOLA. While it is true that more newer systems either come with or are being customized with newer, 32MB or 64MB 3dfx video boards and high-end, 3d audio boards, driven in part by the high-end requirements of many computer games, in fact I suspect there are many more legacy systems still working that will likely be fine for this game.

The above system configuration requirements indicate the minimum and recommended system configuration requirements, and as any experienced gamer knows, if at all possible, you just don't ever want to load and run any computer game on minimally configured systems. Computer games are notorious for taking over machines, and this is why users will need to be sure and close out all their other open files, before playing this and any computer game. However, in the case of this TIVOLA title, I think we have an example of a computer program for children that will actually very likely play just fine even on a minimally configured system.

About TIVOLA

TIVOLA Publishing creates and publishes a wide range of award-winning multimedia products designed to open up a world of interactive fun and learning to children and young people. The German based company has offices in New York, London, and Berlin, and produces a wide range of innovative interactive CD ROMs that stimulate a child's curiosity, while encouraging smart play. In 1995, TIVOLA published its first title, and has developed six distinct categories of software.

These include Play and Learn, The World Around Us, Quest for Knowledge, Stories and Adventures, Crimes and Clues, and Games for Fun. The company has a commitment to producing high-quality, multilingual CD ROMs that tell exciting, entertaining stories through beautiful graphics, witty animation and original games. TIVOLA titles are currently in more than 49 countries worldwide.

TIVOLA began in 1995, when founding partners, Karsten Voelker, Mil Thierig, and Barbara Landbeck founded the Berlin office to fill the need for original CD ROM games that are clever but also promote learning. In 2000, TIVOLA was named "Company of the Year" by the Berlin Association of Self-Employed Entrepreneurs, who recognized the company's fast development into an internationally successful multimedia company with an innovative brand building strategy.

The TIVOLA UK offices opened in 1998, and with the launch of 10 new titles in 2001, the company continues to grow in the UK children's software publishing market. The TIVOLA US offices opened in 1999, and the company signed a contract with the Navarre Corporation to distribute their products in the US and Canada. 

The company develops books and story games on CD ROM, and all titles are simultaneously produced in English so that they can be understood by potential international licensees. The software is also produced for the PC and the Apple platform.

TIVOLA also buys and sells license for different products. For these purposes, the company has developed optimal localization standards. With this new system, TIVOLA titles are obtainable in countries all over the world.

The TIVOLA line of CD ROM programs are products parents can depend on to provide a fun and educational computer experience for their children. Teachers can also feel secure in integrating the educational lineup of TIVOLA products into their curriculum, especially those teaching entry level classes. TIVOLA's series of learning CD ROMs for children that include the many Oscar the Balloonist titles, the many Max adventures, the super Physicus science-based program, and of course The Little Prince, all assure a solid worthwhile computer experience for all ages, especially young learners.

With the worldwide notoriety of TIVOLA products, the company has also ventured into a new online interactive arena. Companies can now rent online games from TIVOLA to make available at their Web site for their own customers. This new portfolio of online games for rent expands still further the success of the company.

Recent news has also revealed that TIVOLA has been granted worldwide licensing rights to develop and publish educational discovery games based on the legendary comic strip icon, PEANUTS, through United Media. The most widely syndicated comic strip in history, PEANUTS reaches over 350 million readers in 75 countries, appealing to adults as well as children. The first TIVOLA PEANUTS CD ROM will be introduced at the 2002 Toy Fair, and will combine PEANUTS humor with the suspense of a discovery game. As would be expected from any TIVOLA title, the game will integrate educational elements into the distinctive humor of the PEANUTS world. 

Contact Information

Tivola Publishing
580 Broadway, Suite 604
New York, NY 10012
212-431-4420
FAX 212-431-4537
www.tivola.com
mail@tivola.com

You can also order from other retailers or online vendors.