                          ESPN Let's Play Soccer
                                    AND
                     ESPN Soccer Skills and Strategies
                         Review By: Don Pellegrino

        Since my visit to the World Cup last summer, soccer enthusiasm in
the United States has jumped by leaps and bounds.  As I was sitting in the
Cotton Bowl (June 30, 1994 - Game 36 Argentina vs. Bulgaria), it was easy to
tell my fellow Americans from the fans from abroad.  The Argentineans and
Bulgarians were screaming their heads off, much like Americans act at the
NHL Stanley Cup playoffs or any NFL bowl game.  Most of the Americans just
sat back and looked confused.  As the game wore on and entered extra time,
however, the entire stadium was out of their seats and into the action.

                           ESPN Let's Play Soccer

        "Let's Play Soccer" is a very high quality instructional video which
just happens to be on multimedia CD-ROM.  It is hosted by "Home Improvement"
actor Zachery Ty Bryan, official youth ambassador for World Cup '94, and
taught by John Harkes and Mia Hamm.  Harkes is a United States National Team
member, U.S. World Cup midfielder, formerly with the 1993 British F.A. Cup
Champions and now playing with the First Division's Derby County Team in
England. Hamm is the all-time NCAA women's points leader and a member of the
U.S. National Women's team and 1991 World Championship Team.
        The training is very basic yet complete for an under 15, club, or
beginning player.  Most of what my coaches taught me in my pre-high school
club teams is included in the program.  There are about forty minutes of
video in the program and there is not much interactivity.  The main
advantage this program has over a VHS counterpart is that specific
instruction can be easily found according to a specific topic heading.

                     ESPN Soccer Skills and Strategies

        "Skills and Strategies" is an immense double CD set hosted by John
Harkes, Mia Hamm, and Tony Meola.  Harkes and Hamm are profiled above.
Meola was goalkeeper and Captain of the U.S. World Cup Team.  In 1989 he was
awarded the Herman Trophy and was named the Missouri Athletic Club Player of
the Year.
        "Skills and Strategies" is a very complete look at the game of
soccer. Not only does it present the basics but, it contains many advanced
techniques, including goal keeping strategy.  The program tells more than
just how to play the game.  It has areas reviewing equipment and rules.
There is even an "Ask the Players" section, where you can see the answers to
many common questions fans ask of the three famous hosts.
        The box boasts of an "Interactive Strategy Simulation", but if you
are looking for a good arcade soccer game, this is not one of them.  It is
helpful in explaining strategy and seeing how plays unfold.  It fits in
nicely with the theme of the program.  If you are looking for a good arcade
type game try "FIFA Soccer" by EA Sports.
        If you are a diehard fan of the game or just recently found it
interesting this is a very good program.  If you want to find out what
soccer is all about, this gives an easy to understand and very interesting
presentation. If you have been playing for a few years and want to improve
your game, you can not buy a better tutor.  You will definitely learn
something new.

Intellimedia Sports Inc.

        Intellimedia was founded in December of 1991.  They develop many
instructional programs under the brand name of IntelliPlay.  Products
currently available are "ESPN Step Aerobics", "ESPN Baseball", "ESPN Let's
Play Baseball", "ESPN Let's Play Basketball", "Cowboy Casino", "ESPN
Football", "ESPN Golf: Lower Your Score with Tom Kite", "ESPN Let's Go
Skiing", "ESPN Let's Play Tennis", and "ESPN Let's Play Beach Volleyball."
The products range in price from $34.95 to $84.95.  Most programs support
the MPC, multimedia-ready Macintosh, and 3DO platforms.

Techie Stuff

        Both programs are very reliable and I wish that all of my multimedia
programs ran as well.  I had one error.  I had to call Customer Support and
I was only on hold for one minute.  I left a message and they called me back
in eight.  Here is the error and solution:

Windows Error: Could not copy file: VER.DL_ -> C:\WINDOWS\ver.dl
Answer: Delete VER.* from Windows and reinstall.

System Requirements and Recommendations

        Both "ESPN Let's Play Soccer" and "ESPN Soccer Skills and
Strategies." MPC Hardware Requirements: MPC Level 1 compliant machine with:
486-25MHz processor minimum, hard drive with 5MB disk space free, 4MB of
RAM, 16 bit SVGA video card with at least 512K of memory, CD-ROM drive with
minimum 150K per second transfer rate, sound card, mouse, DOS 5.0 or higher,
Windows 3.1. Recommended Hardware: MPC Level 2 compliant machine with:
486DX-33MHz or greater, 8MB of RAM, accelerated local bus video adapter with
1MB memory, CD-ROM drive with minimum 300K per second transfer rate.

ESPN Soccer Skills and Strategies: $64.95
ESPN Let's Play Soccer: $49.95

                         Intellimedia Sports, Inc.
                       Two Piedmont Center, Suite 300
                             Atlanta, GA 30305
                           Sales: 1-800-269-2101
                      Customer Support: 1-800-269-2099
                            FAX: 1-404-261-2282
                           CompuServe: 73361,2442

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