Who’d Want to Be President, Anyway?
A Review of Oval Office: Challenge of the Presidency
by Ron Enderland
I mean, a man would have to be nuts to want to be President, right?
Oval Office: Challenge of the Presidency purports to present a realistic view of what it is like to hold the highest office in the United States. How does it do? Well, fair-to-middlin’.
To begin with, an intro must be endured that is, like most intros, interesting the first time that you experience it. It quickly gets old, though, and you discover that there is no way to escape the minute or so of movies and soundtracks that you must traverse before you can enter the presentation itself. (sigh)
Jumping from one part of the program to another requires clicking on various objects and enduring yet more movies. This CD could use some drop-down menus.
Ah, well, on to the presentation itself. Oval Office is an educational tool that is aimed at the young person who would learn about the Presidency. It takes you into the nuts and bolts of the job, including campaigning, working with Congress, signing (and vetoing) bills, selecting Supreme Court justices, weathering news conferences, making national budgets, etc. It presents a fairly realistic view of the job.
First off, as in the case of the President himself (I’m not being sexist, as soon as a woman gets elected, I’ll start using gender-neutral terms, I promise!), no good deed goes unpunished. The most brilliant budgetary manipulations will still bring down the wrath of SOMEONE upon you. Obviously, kids, you’re going to need a thick skin to hold this office.
Secondly, boneheaded legislation vetoes will be overridden, while intelligent ones will fly.
Thirdly, reelection depends upon prevailing public opinion, not the quality (or lack thereof) of the job done.
It’s presented nearly like a game, though not quite. Students should enjoy it. The complete text of the Declaration of Independence is included, as is the United States Constitution. The latter includes a paraphrased translation which will help simplify the ins and outs of our most basic law structure.
There is also a virtual tour of the White House aboard.
Geography (isn’t that what US students are supposed to be the worst at?) is touched upon by means of video presentations of numerous world areas, accessible by means of a world map.
All in all, this program reminds me of a schoolbook. It’s chock full of valuable information, but it could have been presented in a better manner.
MultiMedia Cafe Scorecard
| Product: | Oval Office: Challenge of the Presidency |
| Company: | Meridian Creative Group |
| Cost: | $49.95 |
System Requirements:
Mac:
OS 7.0 or higher, 68020 CPU 25 Mhz or faster,
5120 K memory, 640x480x256 graphics,
Double Speed CD-ROM drive, 16-bit audio,
QuickTime 2.0 (included).
IBM:
Windows 3.1 or higher,
486 DX 33 MHz or faster processor,
4 MB RAM, 640x480x256 graphics,
Double Speed CD-ROM drive,
16-bit audio, QuickTime 2.03 (included).
Breakdown:
Entertainment Value 3
Educational Value 3
Concept 4
Depth 4
Interface 2
Overall Score:
Copyright © 1997 InfoMedia, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.