Product Review
By John Pepon, MBT staff
Who is Oscar Lake? is a very enjoyable program that would be of use to anyone learning a new language. The program is in the format of an adventure game, however all the activities are in a foreign language. (Translations are easily available within the game.) The premise is that you are a gem expert, invited to a foreign city to see a fabulous diamond, The Light. You travel by train, arrive in the city, meet the mysterious proprietress... Soon the diamond has been stolen and the game is afoot! The program also has drill and lesson type activities, a basic dictionary, but the area in which this program excels is conversation practice. The game is driven by conversations with different characters. Each conversation has multiple paths, giving you the opportunity to listen and respond in different ways. This is much more realistic and interesting than the static conversations in other CD-ROMs or tape courses. The program looks great and is very nicely executed. I recommend this program highly, but I would suggest that it be used along with a course or classes.