Carmen Sandiego (game series)

The box sets of the six earliest Carmen Sandiego titles in chronological order of release: Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (1985), Where in the U.S.A is Carmen Sandiego? (1985), Where in Europe is Carmen Sandiego (1988), Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego? (1989), Where in Americas Past is Carmen Sandiego (1991), and Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego (1993).

Computer icons for World (1996), Time (1997), Word (1997), World (1985), Space (1993), and USA (1985)

Carmen Sandiego is a fictional character featured in a long-running series of American educational software and WQED-Pittsburgh and WGBH-Boston produced television shows originally focusing on teaching geography and history (the series later branched out into other subjects). The character later appeared in a series of books and on many licensed products. For information on Carmen and other characters see Carmen Sandiego.

There is a popular line of educational software mystery games based on Carmen Sandiego. Each game of the series has a particular theme and subject, where the player must use his or her knowledge to find Carmen or any of her innumerable henchmen. This series was originally produced by Brøderbund, but it is now produced by The Learning Company.

Video games

Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?

This title was released in 1985. The goal of this game is track Carmen's villains around the world and arrest them and ultimately arrest Carmen herself. In order to make an arrest the user must have a warrant and, obviously, it has to be the correct warrant. The player begins the game by first going to the city where the crime took place, and then obtains hints from the bystanders on where the thief went next, leading them on a chase around the world to find the thief before they "get away." In the process, they must also collect clues on their identity in order to determine who the culprit is. When they reach the place where the villain is going to pass off the loot to Carmen they have to arrest the villain.

Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego?

This title was released in 1985. The goal of this game is track Carmen's villains around the United States, and arrest them and ultimately arrest Carmen herself. In order to make an arrest the user must have a warrant and, obviously, it has to be the correct warrant. The user gets information from the bystanders on where the thief went next and what the thief looks like. When they reach the place where the villain is going to pass off the loot to Carmen they have to arrest them.

The second version of this game was released in 1992 and featured additional animation and a reworked interface. Sarah Nade (who was added to Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?) was added to this version of Carmen Sandiego Software. CD-ROM versions for DOS and Macintosh were released in 1993, and a Windows version was released in 1994. The windows version was later re-released as Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? Classic Edition.

The third version of the game was released in 1996 and features Lynne Thigpen as "The Chief", with the help of QuickTime technology, as well as RoboCrook. It also featured Carmine the cat from Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition, the ICK brothers and 360 degree scrolling landscapes that were based on photographs of actual locations.

Where in Europe Is Carmen Sandiego?

Titlt card for Where in Europe Is Carmen Sandiego?

Producer: Brøderbund Software, Inc.
Publisher: Brøderbund Software, Inc.
Year: 1988

"Where in Europe Is Carmen Sandiego?" is one of the many games in the Carmen Sandiego series. It focuses on the European history and geography. The gameplay is very similar to that of "Where in the World", meaning that the player is sent to a location, has to find clues to lead them to the next location, and builds up a warrant along the way. Being one of the older games of the series, this games does not live up to the spectacular graphics and gameplay of the later editions. This was the first of the games to have an database built in to the crime computer, where players could narrow down their next stop by entering information such as flag colors, currency used, and languages mentioned. Production of the game was discontinued in 1990 due to the fall of the Eastern Bloc and drastic border and government changes that resulted.[1]

Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?

This title was released in 1989. The goal of this game is track Carmen's villains through history and arrest them and ultimately arrest Carmen herself. The second version of the game features Lynne Thigpen as "The Chief" and five villains from the short-lived PBS Kids game show.

Where in North Dakota Is Carmen Sandiego? (prototype)

Over 20 states in the US have "asked Brøderbund to make state-level [Carmen Sandiego games]".^[1] This North Dakota-specific game, which was produced by Janese Swanson (along with 12 other members of North Dakota Database Committee^[2] of the Minot Public Schools^[3]) in 1989^[4][5] or 1990,^[6] is the only one that ever got far enough in its development to be released, and in fact "this prototype product was the only one they attempted".^[7] It ended up selling approximately 5,000 copies, mostly to North Dakotan schools and was very popular in that state.^[8][9] The game was intended to teach North Dakotans about their state's history and geography.^[10] The game, which is played in first person, is for the Apple II platform.^[11]

The premise of the game is as follows:

That wiley super-criminal is at it again! The insidious Carmen Sandiego, scourge of law enforcement agencies around the world and throughout history, has decided to lie low and lower her bar a little bit in this rare and unusual installment of her educational game series, organizing her nasty gang of brutes and burglars to commit vile crime throughout the frontier state of North Dakota from Bismarck to Fargo! The player's understanding of this very specific slice of the American Midwest is necessary for them to successfully play the role of an agent sent to apprehend Carmen and her gang by gathering clues and staying hot on the suspect's trail, steps needed (as in all classic Carmen Sandiego games) to obtain the information needed to issue an arrest warrant and close the case on one crook after another. So close your Louis L'Amour paperback, finish your bowl of Knoephla soup, and get to it!

— ^[12]

Where in America's Past Is Carmen Sandiego?

Producer: Brøderbund Software Inc.
Publisher: Brøderbund Software Inc.
Year: 1991

This game is widely considered the most informational game of the entire series. Though it may contain some minute differences from the main series, it remains true to it. This game's aim (as the others' are), is to capture Carmen's gang of thieves, one by one until all of her henchmen have been caught. This is done by searching for clues, trailing them, identifying them and finally, bringing them in for trial. After all of the henchmen have been caught, the player must then go after Carmen herself. One of the main differences is that the player can receive in-game help. [2]

Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?

Asking a witness for clues in Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?

Published by: Brøderbund Software, Inc.
Released: 1993

The intention of this game is to teach astronomy. The player flies in a rocket ship throughout the solar system, interrogating various alien lifeforms in order to solve the theft of an important part of the solar system (e.g. Saturn's rings). There was only a limited amount of fuel available for travel. So if the player didn't ask the right questions on the right planets, or followed the wrong clues, the criminal(s) would get away, leaving the player to start over again with another crime. This version is somewhat similar to Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?. Kneemoi was introduced in this installment.

Junior Detective Edition

This title was released in 1995.

Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?

This title was released in 1996.

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

This title was released in 1996.

Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time

This title was released in 1997. It was previously known as Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?.

Carmen Sandiego Word Detective

This title was released in 1997. This game is intended to teach language arts for kids age 9-12. The game features Chase Devineaux.

In the game Carmen Sandiego has invented a machine called the Babble-On Machine, and the user, playing the role of Agent 13, has to thwart her plans and free all the other agents which have been captured by Carmen.

The game is very similar to Carmen Sandiego Math Detective.

Carmen Sandiego Math Detective

This title was released in 1998. This game is intended to teach Math for kids age 9-12. The game features Chase Devineaux.

In the game Carmen Sandiego has invented a machine called the Quantum Crystallizer, and the user, playing the role of Agent 9, has to thwart her plans and restore 12 landmarks that Carmen has shrunk with the machine.

The game is very similar to Carmen Sandiego Word Detective.

Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge

This game teaches multiple subjects for kids ages 9–12. It was also the first title in the Carmen Sandiego series to be released by The Learning Company. The game features Chase Devineaux.

In the game, Carmen has invented KnowBots to steal knowledge and the player(s) have to try and thwart her plans. This game is set up much like the Carmen Sandiego game shows on PBS and is the only multiplayer game of the series.

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Treasures of Knowledge

This game was released in 2001.

Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums

This game is the first in the series to give the player complete control of a character in a 3D world. The avatar, Cole, must maneuver through stages including a museum in New York City, the beaches of New Zealand, and Machu Picchu. The player fights against Carmen's robots and spirits to prevent her from stealing an enchanted diamond, the repository of all the knowledge of the nations.

Mais où se Cache Carmen Sandiego? Mystère au Bout du Monde

Publisher: Mindscape
Developer: Strass Productions
Released: February 18, 2009
This game is a French game and is aimed at ages 8 to 12. It follows ACME detectives Julia and Adam in a world-wide hunt across 10 countries for stolen world treasures. It is published by Mindscape, France, and developed by Paris-based Strass Productions.

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? 3 - New Carmen Adventure

The game has been translated into English as Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? 3. This is a PC point-and-click adventure game for ages 8–12.^[13]

A review of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? 3 at PALGN ^[14] was negative: "It's difficult to decide upon the worst aspect of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? 3. The obvious indifference with which it's been slapped together? The frustrating, poorly devised puzzles? The fact that even though it does little more than slide 2D pictures across the screen, it still manages to introduce a game-stopping bug?". The game was given a score of 2½/10, adding "tired, uninspired and buggy. Wherever Carmen is, let's hope she stays there".

A review for the game at Impulse Gamer ^[15] was more positive: "For an e-learning game, it's probably one of the better ones available and does give kids something different to the mindless violence of the console world of gaming. It's not the greatest game ever made but for the genre, it's sturdy enough!". The game was given an overall score of 6.9.

Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math

This is a series of games released in 2011/2012 for the Wii [3].

• Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Lady Liberty Larceny (Dec 15, 2011)
• Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Big Ben Burglary (Dec 29, 2011)
• Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Case of the Crumbling Cathedral (Jan 12, 2012)
• Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Great Gateway Grab (Feb 2, 2012)
• Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Island of Diamonds (Mar 22, 2012)

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego’s Luggage

This is a Carmen Sandiego game which was based on the game shows and video-games, and "was used as part of a classroom-based customer service training course at Scandinavian Airways Systems (SAS)".^[16][17] The date of release is unknown.

Internet games

Facebook Game

In 2011, a Facebook version of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? was released.

Homages

The game The Treehouse featured the Carmen Sandiego theme as a song to play on its keyboard minigame.

References

External links

• Carmen Sandiego series at MobyGames
• More artwork/concept art for various games can be found here, here, here, here, here, and here.
• Carmen Sandiego games at Amazon
• Carmen Sandiego games at IGN
• Carmen Sandiego games at giveawayoftheday

Individual games

• [4]
• [5]
• [6]
• [7]
• [8]
• [9]