As a video game player ( gamer ) and a parent, I know how appealing video games are to children. Even at the age of two, I see my son's eyes light up when he watches Mommy or Daddy playing a video game and then he wants to play, too. The problem is, most video games have absolutely no educational content or value for the children who play them. They provide little more than some frantic action to young children who haven't even learned to read. Enter Sega and the Pico Educational System. Touted as "The Computer That Thinks It's a Toy" Sega introduced the Pico to American shores in 1993 and shipped it to major toy and discount stores around the country. While the Pico won the hearts of educators, even taking home the 1995 Technology & Learning Award of Excellence and being named one of the best computer games available by Child Magazine. The system never took root in the homes of the American public and was quietly discontinued by Sega in the late 1990's. Majesco, a company that has a history of relaunching older systems, re-released the Pico as well as several of it's titles in 1999. Since then, the Pico has started to regain some of it's popularity among American parents who have finally discovered this wonderful educational system. However game development in America was never continued and the game or "Storyware" library consisted of only about twenty American releases. We now venture across the Pacific Ocean and see that the Pico is Alive and well in many parts of Asia. Companies in Asia still produce Storyware titles and there are even "Pico Clubs" that promote the many and varied educational titles produced. There are even interactive accessories like cooking sets, driving sets, train playsets, fishing poles and hair salons that attach to the Pico systems with compatible Storywares as well as storywares and systems dedicated to favorite characters like Sailor Moon, Anpanman and Hello Kitty. Sega Pico died before it's time here but Asian children still benefit from this wonderful educational tool which in some cases can be imported to your home.
