Joseph Szadkowski

ROMper ROOM: Learn life lessons with Jumpstart

A friendly group of animated animals teaches children the finer points of life in Jumpstart Advanced Preschool World (Knowledge Adventure for PCs with a minimum Pentium III processor using XP or Vista operating systems, $29.99). Published August 10, 2008

ZADZOOKS: Chemistry Set writer Dougan has lots of stories to tell

By day, he is a mild-mannered economics consultant. By night, Jim Dougan dons the cowl of sequential-art writer and occasional self-publisher. Published August 7, 2008

ROMper ROOM: Find recipe for new world

History's greatest leaders take center stage as they "build an empire to stand the test of time" in Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution(2K Games and Firaxis, for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, $59.99). Published August 3, 2008

ZADZOOKS: Hellboy toys are hot stuff

Thanks to the proliferation of film, comic book and cartoon characters, companies are bombarding consumers with an incredible selection of action figures. Let's take a peek at of the latest from Mezco Toyz and Dark Horse Comics for "Hellboy II: The Golden Army." Published July 31, 2008

ROMper ROOM: Reading is easier with help from Frog

LeapFrog's Tag Reading System ($50, requires two AA batteries) combines the style and portability of big brother's Fly Pen with the extremely popular Leap Pad learning system to help children in preschool through third grade with reading and comprehension skills. Published July 27, 2008

ZADZOOKS: Hellboy: Behind the scenes

Pull up a chair, break out the sarcasm filter and welcome to Mr. Zad's comic critique, featuring Dark Horse Comics' world of Hellboy including Hellboy II: The Art of the Movie and B.P.R.D.: The Ectoplasmic Man. Published July 24, 2008

ROMper ROOM: Holmes game a bit elementary

The world's greatest detective challenges a player to hone his logic skills in Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes (Legacy Interactive, single CD-ROM for PC or Intel-based Macintosh computer systems, $19.99). Published July 20, 2008

ZADZOOKS: Batman goes after the Joker

Thanks to the proliferation of film, comic-book and cartoon characters, companies are bombarding consumers with an incredible selection of action figures. With tongue in cheek, let's take a peek at some of the specimens worthy of a place in Zad's Toy Vault. Published July 17, 2008

ROMper ROOM: Brain Games 2 not entertaining

Another leading expert on exercising gray matter has thrown his name behind a hand-held set of challenges with Brain Games 2 and a look at Secret Agent Clank and Space Invaders Extreme. Published July 13, 2008

ZADZOOKS: Hulk is game for smashing

Marvel Comics' Green Goliath smashes his way into video-game consoles with The Incredible Hulk from Sega Published July 10, 2008

ROMper ROOM: Animal magnetism

Pet Vet Healing Hands, the latest in the Paws & Claws series, moves to Nintendo's hand-held system where the player takes control of a new veterinary practice set outside a small town in the expansive countryside. Published July 6, 2008

Batman becomes too brutal

This chronic feature lets me review what´s recently passed my bloodshot pupils. So pull up a chair, break out the sarcasm filter and welcome to Mr. Zad's Batman comic critique. Published July 3, 2008

Brain Voyage stuck on familiar turf

A world-renowned board game designer is escorting players on a Brain Voyage (Eidos for DS, $19.99). Well, it actually is less of a voyage, but rather some repetitive trips to the local puzzle shop with a well-dressed, eccentric uncle. Published June 29, 2008

ZADZOOKS: Hulk, foe take rivalry to stores

Thanks to the proliferation of film, comic-book and cartoon characters, consumers are being bombarded with an incredible selection of action figures. With tongue in cheek, let's take a peek at some of the specimens worthy of a place in . Published June 26, 2008

LIBRARY TECHIES: Beyond the Dewey Decimal System

The modern librarian must be Twitter-savvy and able to manipulate the Web and aggregate RSS feeds as quickly as compile competitive intelligence. In other words, a librarian must be good at social networking, customizing computer databases, filtering data and getting the facts. Published June 23, 2008

ROMper ROOM: Disney princesses shine with girl power

LeapFrog's hand-held educational gaming systems Leapster ($59.99) and Leapster L-Max ($79.99) have been learning game staples since 2003. In two new cartridges compatible with both systems, children tackle core math skills with help from easily identifiable characters true to their animated worlds in both sight and sound. Published June 22, 2008

ZADZOOKS: Creative freedom found in comics, writer asserts

This is the 57th in an infinite series profiling the elite of the comic-book industry. This time, we crack the corpus callosum of Rick Remender and ask him to .... Published June 19, 2008

ROMper ROOM: On Safari with photo ops

In a world of violent video games, where thumb dexterity is infinitely more important than the flexing of the cerebrum, there's a place for children and their parents to actually learn something from that multimedia computer/gaming system. Take a deep breath and enter the ROMper Room, where learning is a four-letter word - cool. Published June 15, 2008

Indy and friends on Lego adventure

The Original Adventures (for Xbox 360, $59.99). Lucas Arts gives one or two players the cooperative chance to control more than 80 characters in the Indy universe as they play through the 1980s trilogy of films, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "The Temple of Doom" and "The Last Crusade." Published June 12, 2008

Building a better mouse trip for Mia

In a world of too often violent video games, where thumb dexterity is infinitely more important than the flexing of the cerebrum, there's a place for children and their parents to actually learn something from that multimedia computer/gaming system. Take a deep breath and enter the ROMper Room, where learning is a four-letter word-cool. Published June 8, 2008