Dallas Morning News Cites Hungry Red Planet as an "Edutainment" Success

December 12, 2002

Review by
Victor Godinez
The Dallas Morning News

Hungry Red Planet

Edutainment is something of a dirty word among gamers. The education-meets-entertainment genre has traditionally produced unsatisfying gaming experiences.

But Health Media Lab's new Hungry Red Planet ($29; suitable for all ages) for the PC does a respectable job of melding nutritional education and gaming goodness.

You get to control a Martian colony's food needs, so it's up to you to make sure all the settlers are getting the right balance of fruits, vegetables and proteins.

The game teaches the nutritional pyramid of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, so Atkins diet devotees won't last long in this world. A steady diet of bacon and eggs means tubby Mars colonists.

Hungry Red Planet is a lot like Sim City, and the graphics aren't bad, although much of your time is spent studying charts, allocating resources and drafting menus.

Kids who like Zoo Tycoon and other micromanaging games might get a kick out of Hungry Red Planet — and they could learn a thing or two while they're at it. But, please, no potato chips at the keyboard.