Producer: Sinclair/Macmillan (Science Horizon Series)
Retail Price: £7.95
Age Range: Upper primary
Author: Five Ways

This is probably the weakest of the three Science Horizons programs we looked at. Its aim is to acquaint the user with the scientific principles of gliding taking into account the need for rising currents of warm air (thermals) and how these are influenced by what is on the ground as well as by the weather conditions and the time of the day. When the program has loaded, the player can chose the time of day, and then, when ENTER is pressed, the glider is towed to the appropriate height and released. A variometer on the right of the screen shows the rate of climb or fall, and when you reach a thermal you should press H to circle and gain as much height as you can. A rough map of the island above which you are flying is shown in the booklet, with a key to the thoroughly confusing list of symbols used. You can get the Air Traffic Controller's report on your performance together with your final score at the end of the flight (you may have landed safely or crashed), which is a nice touch.

COMMENTS

Control keys: T, Y, U, G, J, B, N, M to change the direction of the glider, P to pause, C to continue, SPACE to choose your time of day at the beginning of the game, and for the report and final score at the end
Keyboard play: good
Use of colour: could have been used to greater effect
Graphics: dull
Panel's comments: a lot of room for improvement in the graphics and game play. The picture on the box makes the game look much more exciting that it really is. We wouldn't want it for Christmas.