CD-ROM Roundup is a regular feature that profiles CD-ROMs aimed at children anywhere from preschool to late teen that will be hitting retail stores in the coming months. By Andrea Haman (416-408-2300 -phone, 416-108-0870 – fax, or haman@brunico.com)

Name: Sesame Street: Elmo’s Preschool

Publisher & Developer: Creative Wonders, San Mateo, California; Children’s Television Workshop, New York, New York

Release Dates & Markets: August: U.S., Canada

Storyline: Hosting a CD-ROM for the first time, Sesame Street character Elmo joins players in 15 learning activities designed to teach skills such as identifying colors and shapes, counting, sharing and cooperation. This is the sixth title in Creative Wonders’ Sesame Street line.

Platforms: Windows 3.1, Windows 95

Target Audience: 21ž2 to 5

Promotion: not available

Estimated Street Price (US$): $34.95

Name: Liam Finds a Story: An Irish Folk Tale; Sleeping Cub’s Test of Courage: A Native American Folk Tale; The Princess and the Crab: An Italian Folk Tale

Publisher & Developer: Davidson & Associates, Torrance, California Capitol Multimedia, Bethesda, Maryland

Release Dates & Markets: August: Liam Finds a Story and Sleeping Cub’s Test of Courage; September: The Princess and the Crab; U.S.only at launch

Storyline: Grandpa Mouse narrates a classic folk tale from around the world in each new title in the Magic Tales series, which kicked off last September and includes three other products.

Platforms: Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Macintosh, PowerMac

Target Audience: 3 to 9

Promotion: -price promo still to be determined

-storytelling program with book chain Barnes & Noble, with giveaways of $5 rebate coupons, posters and stickers

-holiday recommendation program with retailers -direct mail to former Magic Tales customers

-on-line marketing

Estimated Street Price (US$): $30.00 each

Name: Monster on the Loose: A Geography Adventure

Publisher & Developer: Packard Bell Interactive, Seattle, Washington; Brilliant Interactive Ideas, Manly, Australia

Release Dates & Markets: September; U.S., Canada

Storyline: Players travel through eight European countries with Nigel the Loch Ness monster in his search for a new home. This title, the seventh in Packard Bell Interactive’s A+ Learning Series, is the first that incorporates Internet links. Players can learn more about a country by exploring prescreened Web sites, then return to the CD-ROM by clicking on an icon.

Platforms: Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Macintosh

Target Audience: 4 to 9

Promotion: -another new title, which is still undecided, will launch at the same time

-advertising in software, parents’ and children’s magazines

-promotions with retailers, including point-of-purchase materials and shelf talkers

-public relations

Estimated Street Price: $29.95

Name: Nickelodeon Multimedia Lab

Publisher & Developer: Viacom New Media, New York, New York; Artech Studios, Ottawa, Canada

Release Dates & Markets: October; U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and is planning to distribute the title worldwide

Storyline: This follow-up to Nickelodeon Director’s Lab allows players to create videos, cartoons and electronic greetings cards using content from 10 Nickelodeon shows, including Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and Rugrats. The title offers new animation and 3-D features, as well as 500-plus graphics, 200 videos, 100 pieces of music and 200 sound effects. With the new Nick On-line tool, players can also continually obtain new content to manipulate.

Platforms: Windows 95

Target Audience: 8-plus

Promotion: -on-air and other tie-ins with Nickelodeon

-print advertising

-efforts with retailers

-public relations

Estimated Street Price: $44.99

Name: Drawing the Marvel Artist Way

Publisher & Developer: Cloud 9 Interactive, Santa Monica, California

Release Dates & Markets: October; U.S., Canada

Storyline: Players learn to illustrate Marvel characters Spider-Man, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men through a series of lessons starting with the basics and moving to final drawings. This product is the first in a four-title deal with New York-based Marvel Characters.

Platforms: Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Macintosh 95

Target Audience: 8 to 12

Promotion: not available

Estimated Street Price: $34.95

Name: MTV’s Aeon Flux

Publisher & Developer: Viacom New Media, New York, New York; Cryo Interactive Entertainment, Paris, France

Release Dates & Markets: December; U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and is planning to distribute the title worldwide

Storyline: As Aeon Flux, the spy heroine from the year-old animated MTV series of the same name, players undertake six missions through more than 35 levels in a quest to capture the supernatural creature Demiurge. This is the first game starring Aeon Flux, and is set in 3-D, real-time environments.

Platforms: Windows 95, Sony PlayStation

Target Audience: 13-plus

Promotion: -tie-ins, including on-air efforts, with MTV

-print advertising

-retail programs

-public relations

Estimated Street Price: $54.99