Reports on themes emphasized at the April 1994 Computer Game Developers Conference held in Santa Clara (California), including the exploding CD-ROM marketplace and the potential and challenge of using CD-ROM's multimedia capacity to build cinema-quality stories and characters into computer games. Strategies for introducing more complex plots are…

Evaluates and compares three text-capable Windows-based multimedia CD-ROM authoring tools used by the publishing industry. Reviews product lines, hardware requirements, customer costs, screen designs, product uses, and product advantages and disadvantages. Examples of computer screen designs are displayed throughout the article, and a sidebar…

Describes the nature of electronic books that are published primarily on CD-ROM. Discusses common delivery platforms; human-computer interface issues; and authoring. Outlines pedagogical benefits and potential, including their interactivity, portability, connectivity, and dynamic behavior that make them beneficial for both individual and…

Examines facets using multimedia to enhance learning. Highlights include product linkage and customization; flexibility for lesson plans; hypermedia authoring tools; student presentations; expense; incompatible and confusing systems; high memory demands; hardware standards for Windows and Macintosh programs; and CD-ROM products. (AEF)