ALEX BUILDS HIS FARM from Focus Multimedia is a laid-back exploration of farming and farm life with Alex, the farmer’s son, as guide and companion. During a nap under a tree with his dog Miro, Alex dreams of a wonderful farm where he and his family would spend the rest of their lives. He’s determined to build his own farm but first he’ll have to learn about everything that happens to make a farm run properly. Many of these activities are disguised as fun games that unfold as part of the exploration and completing a game enters a photo in Alex’s album. 

The early section familiarises players with the controls which are basically the enter key, spacebar, tab key and the arrow keys. These move Alex around the farm and allow interaction with objects and characters while the tab key calls up the photo album from where uncompleted tasks can be identified. Initially players have to throw the ball for Oscar the dog, pick apples from the tree, locate some missing ducks on the duck pond and catch some fish for tea. Further on most aspects of farm life are explored plus, of course, building the farm itself. All this is done with the help of around 40 different characters and illustrated by more than 150 animated sequences. 

Flashing objects or characters mean that they can be selected but often selected items need to be combined to perform a task. For example: the bucket and the apple tree need to both be selected in order to gather apples. This applies to the other areas of the farm like the henhouse, stables, garden and cowshed and completing all the set tasks through one of the three levels of difficulty earns you a diploma that can be printed out and hung on the wall. 

There are loads of fun things to do in ALEX BUILDS HIS FARM. Catching hens, milking cows, racing ponies and driving tractors are just a sample of what’s in store. It’s nicely paced, simple to master and aimed at the 3-12 age group.

To buy this Focus Multimedia product call their order hotline on 01889 – 570156, 9 am-5:30 pm Monday to Friday or write to FM Select Ltd. The Studios, Lea Hall Enterprise Park, Armitage Road, Rugeley Staffs WS15 1LH quoting reference PR 41