Press release: 1996-10-28: Tech for Tots: Sega's Pico Bus Brigade hits Baltimore, Nov. 2-3

From Sega Retro

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This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below.
Language: English
Original source: The Free Library


BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 1996--The PICO Bus Brigade is making stops all across Baltimore to bring a fun world of interactive edutainment to parents and their children.

PICO's colorful school bus will showcase loads of award-winning PICO systems and lots of new Storyware at a very fun spot in Baltimore -- the FOX 45 Family Fun Fest at the Timonium State Fairgrounds Cow Palace on Saturday, Nov. 2 and Sunday, Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Parents and their children will get to experience first-hand the benefits of interactive edutainment -- an increasingly important tool for raising kids in an interactive age -- in a fun and creative environment. Up to 14 PICO interactives will be set up in each location, featuring Storyware with characters such as Disney's "101 Dalmatians," "Lion King" and "Pocohontas," Sonic the Hedgehog, Jim Henson's "The Muppets" and many more.

Pico's Storyware provides an entertaining approach to teaching 3-7 year olds how to count, spell, solve problems, match, read and create art, giving them a head start on learning and using computers. And even more importantly, Pico Storyware provides a tremendous forum for parents to interact and get involved in their child's early education.

"As technology and interactivity become more and more a part of our daily lives, the role of electronic learning aids (ELAs) such as PICO increases to become a valuable tool for parents and children alike," said Mike Fisher, product manager for Pico. "The PICO Bus Tour is our grassroots effort to bring this product to families in an easily accessible way. We want to make the PICO bus a magical learning experience that kids will remember and parents can participate in."

One of the most awarded interactive edutainment products available for three to seven year olds, Pico plugs into the television and plays like a video game while educating like a computer. To parents, Pico is like a laptop computer with enough computing power to be a serious learning aid for counting, spelling, matching, problem solving, memory, logic and reading. To kids, Pico creates new magic on the TV every time they play.

The key to Pico's interactivity is the Magic Pen, a jumbo, crayon-like stylus that brings stories to life on the television screen with a simple touch. Kids can control the characters and the games, create their own animation and more. By the end of 1996, Pico will have a library of more than 16 available Storyware titles.

Pico has a suggested retail price of $139. Deluxe titles sell for less than $50, with additional software titles priced at less than $40.

Sega of America is the arm of Tokyo-based Sega Enterprises Ltd. responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega products in the Americas. Sega Enterprises Ltd. is a nearly $3.5 billion company known as a leader in interactive digital entertainment media, with operations on five continents. Sega of America's World Wide Web site is located at: http://www.sega.com.

Note to Editors: For Sega's past press releases, go to http://www.businesswire.com/emk

CONTACT: Sega of America

Angela Edwards, 415/802-3908

or

Manning, Selvage & Lee

Sabrina Skacan/Kelly Fitzsimmons, 213/782-6600
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