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'{{About|the Carmen Sandiego franchise|the character|Carmen Sandiego (character)|the game series|Carmen Sandiego (game series)}} {{Infobox media franchise | title = Carmen Sandiego | image = Carmen Sandiego.png | image_size = 250px | creator = [[Broderbund]] | origin = ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1985 video game)|Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?]]'' (1985) | owner = Broderbund <br> [[The Learning Company]] | books = John Peel <br /> Melissa Peterson | novels = | comics = DC Comics | strips = | magazines = | films = ''[[Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego?]]'' | tv = ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (game show)|Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?]]'' <br /> ''[[Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (game show)|Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?]]'' | atv = ''[[Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?]]''<br />''[[Carmen Sandiego (2019 TV series)|Carmen Sandiego]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/138730|title=Carmen Sandiego|website=Netflix Media Center|language=en|access-date=2017-04-27}}</ref> | plays = | musicals = ''[[Where in the World of Music Is Carmen Sandiego?]]'' | rpgs = | vgs = [[Carmen Sandiego (video game series)|Computer game series]] | radio = | soundtracks = ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (album)|Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?]]''<br />''[[Carmen Sandiego: Out of This World]]'' | toys = | otherlabel1 = Annual event | otherlabel2 = | otherlabel3 = | otherdata1 = [[Carmen Sandiego Day]] | otherdata2 = | otherdata3 = }}'''''Carmen Sandiego''''' (sometimes referred to as '''''Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?''''' between 1985 and 1996) is a media franchise that originated with a [[Carmen Sandiego (video game series)|series of computer games]] created by the American software company [[Broderbund]]. Originally classified as a "mystery exploration" series by creators and the media<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ahoy-magazine-43|title=Ahoy! Magazine Issue 43|date=July 1987}}</ref>, the series were later classified as edutainment when the games became unexpectedly popular in classrooms. The franchise centers around the [[Carmen Sandiego (character)|fictional thieving villain of the same name]], who is the ringleader of the criminal organisation, V.I.L.E.; the protagonists (most often including a computer player) are agents of the ACME Detective Agency who try to thwart the crooks' plans to steal treasures from around the world, while the later ultimate goal is to capture Carmen Sandiego herself. The franchise primarily focuses on teaching children geography, but has also branched out into history, mathematics, language arts, and other subjects.<ref name="bernstein19912">{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-09-30/entertainment/ca-2396_1_carmen-sandiego|title=PBS Game Show Charts New Territory|last=Bernstein|first=Sharon|date=1991-09-30|publisher=LA Times|accessdate=2010-08-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/09/education/a-hard-look-at-software.html|title=A Hard Look at Software|last=Lewis|first=Peter H.|date=1989-04-09|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2010-08-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/30/us/raymond-portwood-jr-computer-game-pioneer-dies-at-66.html|title=Raymond Portwood Jr., Computer Game Pioneer, Dies at 66|last=Martin|first=Douglas|date=2000-07-30|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2010-08-25}}</ref> An attempt was made to create a series of state-specific games in the 1980s, but the only prototype to be completed was ''[[Where in North Dakota Is Carmen Sandiego?|North Dakota]]''. Beginning in 1988, [[Carmen Sandiego Day]]<nowiki/>s became popular across American public schools. In the 1990s, the franchise extended into three television shows, books and comics, board games, a [[Where in the World of Music Is Carmen Sandiego?|concert series]], two [[Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego?|planetarium shows]], and two music albums. Towards the turn of the 21st century, the ''Carmen Sandiego'' property passed through a series of five corporate hands: Broderbund (1985-1997), [[The Learning Company]] (1998), [[Mattel Interactive|Mattel]] (1999), [[The Gores Group]] (2000), and [[Riverdeep]] (2001-present). Subsequent acquisitions and mergers of Riverdeep led to the franchise currently being in the possession of [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]]. The [[Media franchise|franchise]] has become known for its ability to surreptitiously teach facts, breed empathy for other cultures, and develop logic skills, all behind a mask of highly entertaining detective mystery experiences.<ref name="nerdhq.com">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nerdhq.com/nostalgia-time-where-in-the-world-is-carmen-sandiego/|title=Nostalgia Time: Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?|access-date=2017-05-06|language=en-US}}</ref> One aspect of the series that has received consistent praise by critics is its diverse representation of strong, independent, and intelligent minority women. Carmen Sandiego herself is [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]], and it has never been implied that her ethnicity is correlated to her thievery. Meanwhile, The Chief from the [[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego (game show)|''World'' game show]] was [[African American]], an unusual choice for children's television when she appeared between 1991 and 1996. These two characters have helped to bring such representations into the mainstream and demonstrate leadership roles for young women.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/243424/Where_in_the_world_did_blockbuster_educational_games_go.php|title=Where in the world did blockbuster educational games go?|last=Francis|first=Bryant|access-date=2017-08-26|language=en}}</ref> It has been noted that many of the geographical locations at the time of the franchise's release were no longer accurate, due to the events such as the dissolutions of the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|Soviet Union]], [[Breakup of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], and [[Dissolution of Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovakia]] that signalled the end of the [[Cold War]].<ref name="nerdhq.com" /> ''Carmen Sandiego'' has maintained a considerable popularity and commercial success over its history. ''Carmen Sandiego'' is one of the top 30 [[List of longest-running video game franchises|longest-running video game series]], having existed for just over 30 years with the release of ''[[Carmen Sandiego Returns|Returns]]'' in 2015. By 1997, ''Carmen Sandiego'' games had been translated into three different languages, and over 5 million copies had been sold into schools and homes worldwide.<ref name=":1" /> All three television shows have together been nominated for a grand total of 45 [[Daytime Emmy Award]]s (winning 8), while ''World'' also won a [[Peabody Award]]. They had a combined viewing audience of over 10 million viewers each week.<ref name=":1" /> The franchise will continue on television with the premiere of a [[Carmen Sandiego (2019 TV series)|eponymous Netflix series]], which is due to air in 2019. == History == {{Timeline of release years | title = ''Carmen Sandiego'' media release years | 1985 = ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1985)|World]]'' (1985 video game) | 1986 = ''[[Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego? (1985)|U.S.A.]]'' (1986 video game) | 1988a = ''[[Where in Europe Is Carmen Sandiego?|Europe]]'' (video game) | 1988b = [[Carmen Sandiego Day]] (annual event) | 1989a = ''[[Where in North Dakota Is Carmen Sandiego?|North Dakota]]'' (video game) | 1989b = ''[[Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (video game)|Time]]'' (video game) | 1991a = ''[[Where in America's Past Is Carmen Sandiego?|America's Past]]'' (video game) | 1991b = ''Carmen Sandiego'' (John Peel book series) | 1991c = ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (TV show)|World]]'' (TV show) | 1992a = ''Carmen Sandiego'' (board games) | 1992b = ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (album)|World]]'' (album) | 1993 = ''[[Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?|Space]]'' (video game) | 1994a = ''[[Carmen Sandiego: Out of This World|Out of This World]]'' (album) | 1994b = ''[[Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?|Earth]]'' (TV series) | 1995a = ''[[Carmen Sandiego Junior Detective|Junior Detective]]'' (video game) | 1995b = ''[[Where in the World of Music is Carmen Sandiego?|World of Music]]'' (concert series) | 1996a = ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1996 video game)|World]]'' (1996 video game) | 1996b = ''[[Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego? (1996 video game)|U.S.A.]]'' (1996 video game) | 1996c = DC Comics (comic books) | 1996d = ''[[Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (TV show)|Time]]'' (TV show) | 1997a = ''[[Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time|Great Chase Through Time]]'' (video game) | 1997b = ''Carmen Sandiego'' (Melissa Peterson book series) | 1997c = ''[[Carmen Sandiego Word Detective|Word Detective]]'' (video game) | 1998 = ''[[Carmen Sandiego Math Detective|Math Detective]]'' (video game) | 1999a = ''[[Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge|Think Quick Challenge]]'' (video game) | 1999b = ''[[Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego?|Universe]]'' (planetarium show) | 2001 = ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Treasures of Knowledge|Treasures of Knowledge]]'' (video game) | 2003 = ''[[Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego?|Universe II]]'' (planetarium show) | 2004 = ''[[Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums|The Secret of the Stolen Drums]]'' (video game) | 2009 = ''[[Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? 3 - New Carmen Adventure|New Carmen Adventure]]'' (video game) | 2011a = [[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (Facebook)|''World'']] (2011 video game) | 2011b = ''[[Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math|Adventures in Math]]'' (video games) | 2015 = ''[[Carmen Sandiego Returns|Returns]]'' (video game) | 2019 = ''[[Carmen Sandiego (2019 TV series)|Carmen Sandiego]]'' (TV series) }} === Background (1983–1985) === {{See also|Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1985 video game)#Development|l1=Development of ''Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?''}} The original game idea started in 1983 from [[Broderbund]] programmer Dane Bigham, wanting to take the idea of text adventure games like ''[[Colossal Cave Adventure]]'', but create a menu-driven interface to be played on the [[Apple II]] computer. Initial work was done with Broderbund's "Rubber Room" artists, Gene Portwood and Lauren Elliott, creating a game where the player would chase down various crooks. Broderbund co-founder Gary Carlston suggested changing the concept to be focused on geography, anticipating shipping copies of ''[[World Almanac|The World Almanac]]'' to let players research clues and find the right answers for geography questions.<ref name="craddock" /> As Bigham was not thrilled with this direction, he focused more on the interface, and Carlston hired David Siefkin to write the game's story. Siefkin came up with the idea of the player tracking down numerous criminals, and developed several criminal personas, including [[Carmen Sandiego (character)|Carmen Sandiego]]. The other staff found this name mysterious and exotic, in addition to being a female character they could use to attract younger women to the game. From Siefkin's script, they expanded out the idea of the criminal organization V.I.L.E. - Villains’ International League of Evil – and the ACME Detective Agency – with ACME jokingly considered an initialism for "A Company that Makes Everything". The core gameplay was then established, having the player as an ACME recruit to chase down underlings within V.I.L.E., following geography-based clues to complete their search, and working up their ranks in ACME until they were tasked to go after Carmen herself. The game proved successful, unexpected from the educational market, as it became a staple in many classrooms.<ref name="craddock">{{Cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/the-making-of-carmen-sandiego-1804490410 | title = The Making Of Carmen Sandiego | first = David | last = Craddock | date = September 15, 2017 | accessdate = September 15, 2017 | work = [[Kotaku]] }}</ref> === Brøderbund era (1985–1998) === {{Quotation|text="I think the problem is that geography, like far too many things, is presented as dry and dull and boring by people who must have personally found it that way. I don't think it has to be ... We don't use the word 'educational' anywhere on any of our products. The term translates into 'boring' in kidspeak. I prefer 'explorational'".|sign=Broderbund CEO Doug Carlston|source=Interview with Albuquerque Journal, January 20, 1992<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/156322163/</ref>}} During the 1980s and the 1990s, Broderbund followed the first ''Carmen Sandiego'' video game with ''[[Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego? (1986 video game)|U.S.A.]]'', ''[[Where in Europe Is Carmen Sandiego?|Europe]]'', ''[[Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (video game)|Time]]'', ''[[Where in America's Past Is Carmen Sandiego?|America's Past]]'', ''[[Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?|Space]]'', and ''[[Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective|Junior Detective]]'', reboots of ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1996 video game)|World]]'', ''[[Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego? (1996 video game)|U.S.A.]]'', and ''[[Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time|Great Chase Through Time]]'', and finally released ''[[Carmen Sandiego Word Detective|Word Detective]]'' and ''[[Carmen Sandiego Math Detective|Math Detective]]''. The first seven games of the franchise were each awarded one or more SPA Excellence in Software Awards, particularly for their educational effort.{{cn|date=October 2017}} ''Carmen Sandiego'' games comprised 25% of Brøderbund's total revenue in 1992, behind only ''[[The Print Shop]]''.<ref name="cgw1993022">{{cite news|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=103|title=The Print Shop Still Prints Money At Broderbund Software|date=February 1993|work=Computer Gaming World|pages=82|accessdate=6 July 2014}}</ref> By 1997, ''Carmen Sandiego'' games had been translated into three different languages and over 5 million copies had been sold into schools and homes, worldwide.<ref name=":1" /> Carmen Sandiego also appeared in three television shows during this era. The [[Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (game show)|''World'' game show]] was broadcast on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] between 1991 and 1996 and won six [[Daytime Emmy Awards]] and a [[Peabody Award]]. ''World'' was followed by ''[[Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego? (game show)|Time]]'', until its cancellation in 1998 due to the geography-based premise having "run its course".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/brownsville-herald-oct-21-1996-p-13/?tag=carmen+sandiego&rtserp=tags/carmen-sandiego?page=2/|title=Brownsville Herald Newspaper Archives, Oct 21, 1996, p. 13{{!}} NewspaperArchive®|website=newspaperarchive.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-03}}</ref> It was acknowledged that time, as a subject, can be more subjective than geography but the show hoped to tackle challenging material like the [[Internment of Japanese Americans|Japanese American internment camps]] during [[World War II]] in a straightforward and educational way.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/garden-city-telegram-oct-26-1996-p-32/?tag=carmen+sandiego&rtserp=tags/carmen-sandiego?page=2/|title=Garden City Telegram Newspaper Archives, Oct 26, 1996, p. 32{{!}} NewspaperArchive®|website=newspaperarchive.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-03}}</ref> The [[Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?|''Earth'' animated series]] was broadcast on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] between 1994 and 1999. In 1996, [[President of the United States|President]] [[Bill Clinton]] stated: "When I met the co-leaders of [[San Marino]] at the [[Olympic Games|Olympics]], I knew where it was because of Carmen Sandiego".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/oct/16/history-trivia-carmen-sandiego-is-helping-kids/|title=History Trivia Carmen Sandiego Is Helping Kids Learn About History In A New Game Show Format|work=Spokesman.com|access-date=2017-05-03|language=en}}</ref> === The Learning Company era (1998-present) === After Brøderbund ceased to exist in 1998, [[The Learning Company]] apparently sought to redesign the series. The company assessed that the brand was currently stagnating, but thought it was easier to revive an established brand than start a new one.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-orange-county-register-sunday-oct-11-1998-p-110/?tag=carmen+sandiego&rtserp=tags/carmen-sandiego/|title=Santa Ana Orange County Register Sunday Newspaper Archives, Oct 11, 1998, p. 110{{!}} NewspaperArchive®|website=newspaperarchive.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-03}}</ref> Under The Learning Company, the series seems to take its premise more seriously and uses character-based humor. Since The Learning Company has only created two ''Carmen Sandiego'' games, one of which is no longer sold, this change is evident mainly through marketing and which Brøderbund products The Learning Company has chosen to continue to sell. The first title released by The Learning Company was ''[[Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge|ThinkQuick Challenge]]'', a quiz game with a similar tonality to ''[[Carmen Sandiego Word Detective|Word Detective]]'' and ''[[Carmen Sandiego Math Detective|Math Detective]]'', which included the reappearance of Chase Devineaux. The new structure of ''Time'' was apparently to The Learning Company's liking since their new version of ''World'', titled ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Treasures of Knowledge|Treasures of Knowledge]]'', was similar. The Learning Company decided to return the series to its original focus on geography, discontinuing ''Word Detective'', ''Math Detective'', and ''ThinkQuick Challenge''. In 2004, [[Bam! Entertainment]] released ''[[Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums|The Secret of the Stolen Drums]]'' on the [[GameCube]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], and [[PlayStation 2]]. It is so far the only game of the franchise to use real-time 3D computer graphics, although many previous games had used pre-rendered 3D graphics. It was also an action game and while geographical facts were included, learning them was not necessary to complete the game. Although The Learning Company evidently licensed the use of the series as well as some of their own characters from ''Treasures of Knowledge'', this game is not distributed by or sold under The Learning Company name. An upcoming [[Netflix]] series called ''Carmen Sandiego'' is scheduled to air in 2019. == Entries in the franchise == === Games === {{Main|Carmen Sandiego (video game series)}} === Television shows === ==== ''World'' ==== {{Main|Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (game show)}} This was the PBS game show designed for children ages 8–12. The ''World'' game show was staged in a slightly off-skew detective office, which was part of the ACME agency with [[Lynne Thigpen]] portraying "The Chief" and [[Greg Lee (actor)|Greg Lee]] portraying himself as a special agent in charge of training new recruits.<ref name="bernstein19912" /> Greg was helped in this training by various live-action and animated characters. Among the show's most popular were the members of the a cappella house band and comedy troupe, [[Rockapella]], who also sang the show's main theme song. The game was played in three rounds: the first round was Q&A, where the two gumshoes with the highest scores proceeded to a second round. In the second round, the two remaining gumshoes had to find the loot, the warrant, and the cartoon crook in the correct order. The winning gumshoe captured the day's crook and later advanced to the third and final round to capture Carmen. As Greg shouted the names or places in a region of the world, the gumshoe had to place a marker on the corresponding place on a giant map of that area within a 45-second time limit. A successful gumshoe who placed all the correct locations and captured Carmen would win a trip to anywhere in the [[contiguous United States]] and later in [[North America]]. ==== ''Time'' ==== {{Main|Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (game show)}} The ''Time'' game show refocused the show on history, but was otherwise similar to ''World'' with Thigpen reprising her role as "The Chief". [[Kevin Shinick]] portrayed himself as a Time Pilot Squadron Leader and Rockapella was replaced by a different dance group, The Engine Crew. The third and final round of the game involved the pilot answering six various history-related questions to open time gates. If the pilot answered correctly, he/she passed through the gate. Otherwise, the pilot had to turn a crank, pull a lever, or do some other task within the 90-second time limit. A successful pilot who passed through all six gates and captured Carmen would win a personal computer. ==== ''Earth'' ==== {{Main|Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?}} The ''Earth'' animated series was a Saturday morning cartoon series produced by [[DIC Entertainment]]. The series features the adventures of Zack and Ivy, two teenage siblings who worked as ACME agents in [[San Francisco]] and were aided by the [[Max Headroom (character)|Max Headroom]]-like Chief, who had to stop Carmen (voiced by [[Rita Moreno]]) and her henchmen from stealing artifacts from around the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-05-04/features/9405040222_1_carmen-sandiego-acme-detective-agency-earth|title='Educating Rita|last=Mangan|first=Jennifer|date=1994-05-04|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=2010-10-02}}</ref> The series was the first Saturday-morning children's program ever to win the "Best Animated Program" [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carmensandiego.com/hmh/site/carmen/home/articles?article=44106|title=The History of|date=2012-01-09|publisher=Carmen Sandiego|accessdate=2013-02-12}}</ref> Its episodes have subsequently been repeated on the [[Fox Family Channel]], the [[PAX Network|Pax]] network, Hub TV, and [[Univision]]. The first season was released on [[DVD]] by [[Shout! Factory]] in 2006<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=4459|title=DVD Review: Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?|date=|work=The Trades|accessdate=2010-10-02|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316060745/http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=4459|archivedate=2010-03-16|df=}}</ref> and the complete series was later released by [[Mill Creek Entertainment]] in 2012. ==== ''Netflix'' series ==== {{Main|Carmen Sandiego (2019 TV series)}} === Book series and comics === ==== John Peel book series ==== In the early 1990s, in response to the successful Carmen Sandiego franchise, "editor Sharon Shavers was tasked with turning the games into a book series". She gave the responsibility to John Peel. His research consisted of playing all the games, and this was followed by "Sharon and [him] work[ing] out a format for the series" before he commenced writing. While in the past his natural tendency to add jokes to his work had been looked down upon, "Sharon [actually] asked [him] to put more in". The art was done by Allan Neuwirth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.john-peel.com/pb/wp_0537870a/wp_0537870a.html|title=Carmen Sandiego|publisher=john-peel.com|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> The premise of each choose-your-own-adventure book is that "you are the detective", and each title features "four exciting detective adventures inside!".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/88364173@N00/3390781992/|title=notebook16a|publisher=flickr|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> The books are written in the second person and in present tense, and have removable inserts that provided clues and the identities of the villains. The books are published by the Canadian branch of Golden Books Publishing.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VKEYKkL_iZoC&q=%22where+in+time+is+carmen+sandiego%22&dq=%22where+in+time+is+carmen+sandiego%22|title=Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego|date=December 7, 1993|publisher=Golden Books Publishing (Canada)|isbn=978-0-307-22204-6|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> # Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991) # Where In The USA Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991) # Where In Europe Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991) # Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991) # Where In America's Past Is Carmen Sandiego? (1992) # Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego, Part II (1993) # Where In Space Is Carmen Sandiego? (1993) # Where In The USA Is Carmen Sandiego? Part II (1994) # Where In America Is Carmen Sandiego? (1992) – this title was, as opposed to the others, "a picture book like Where's Waldo?", and the only picture book Peel ever wrote. # Where Is Carmen Sandiego? Calendar (1993) – this title was written for Workman Publishing, and Peel considers it "the strangest – and most difficult – writing job [he] ever had" ==== Melissa Peterson book series ==== In 1997 another series of Carmen Sandiego books was written by [[Melissa Peterson]] and illustrated by [[S. M. Taggart]]. Each book in the series was subtitled ''A Carmen Sandiego Mystery'' and featured child detectives Ben and Maya as the protagonists. These books were titled: * ''Color Me Criminal'' * ''Hasta La Vista, Blarney'' * ''One T. Rex Over Easy'' * ''The Cocoa Commotion'' * ''Take The Mummy And Run'' * ''Highway Robbery'' ==== Comic book series ==== From mid 1996 to early 1997, four Carmen Sandiego comic books were published by [[DC Comics|DC]] in a series entitled ''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?''. They involved the exploits of Evan Sawyer, "Acme Detective Agency's newest and youngest gumshoe". * Issue #1 (June 1996) * Issue #2 (September 1996) * Issue #3 (November 1996) * Issue #4 (January 1997) ==== Miscellaneous ==== * '''''The Official Carmen Sandiego Clue Books''''' (Harper Trophy Publishers)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.carmensandiego.com:80/brand.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970530192638/http://www.carmensandiego.com/brand.html|dead-url=yes|archive-date=1997-05-30|title=Carmen Sandiego Connection – Find Carmen!|last=Inc.|first=Peter N. Skram, Bedrock Media,|website=web-beta.archive.org|access-date=2017-03-05|df=}}</ref> * '''''Carmen Sandiego Mystery Adventure Novels''''' (Harper Trophy Publishers)<ref name=":1" /> * '''''Carmen Sandiego Travel Activity Books''''' (Troll Associates)<ref name=":1" /> * Bi-monthly Carmen Sandiego comic strip in '''''National Geographic Society World Magazine''''' <ref name=":1" /> === Board games === University Games published a number of board games, and at least one card game, based on Carmen Sandiego throughout the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carmensandiego.com:80/store.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970530192821/http://www.carmensandiego.com/store.html|dead-url=yes|archive-date=1997-05-30|title=Carmen Sandiego Connection – Get the Goods|last=Inc.|first=Peter N. Skram, Bedrock Media,|website=web-beta.archive.org|access-date=2017-03-05|df=}}</ref> To promote the first board game, Broderbund made a special offer around Christmas when any Carmen Sandiego video game was purchased in tandem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://huguesjohnson.com/scans/EBChristmas92/EBChristmas92_pg41.jpg|title=EB Christmas 92', Page 41|last=|first=|access-date=2017-03-27}}</ref> * '''Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?''' card game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamebooks.org/show_item.php?id=300|title=Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?|date=|publisher=Gamebooks.org|accessdate=2013-02-12}}</ref> * '''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?''' (1992)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8009/where-in-the-world-is-carmen-sandiego|title=Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (1992)|publisher=BoardGameGeek|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> ** The designer is A. Robert Moog ** The number of players is 2 − 6 ** The suggested playing time is 60min ** The suggested ages are 10 and up ** The game has two parts. First, players collect clues to work out which of Carmen's henchmen stole the landmark. Afterwards, players race to see who can catch the crook first.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ugames.com/rules/university_games/WhereInTheWorldIsCarmenSandiego.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-03-18 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326053930/http://www.ugames.com/rules/university_games/WhereInTheWorldIsCarmenSandiego.html |archivedate=2014-03-26 |df= }}</ref> * '''Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?''' (1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5532/where-in-the-usa-is-carmen-sandiego|title=Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? (1993)|publisher=BoardGameGeek|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> ** The number of players is 2 − 6 ** The suggested playing time is 60min ** The suggested ages are 8 and up * '''Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego? Card Game''' (1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/20433/where-in-the-world-is-carmen-sandiego-card-game|title=Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego? Card Game (1993)|publisher=BoardGameGeek|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> ** The number of players is 2 − 10 ** The suggested playing time is 15min ** The suggested ages are 10 and up * '''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Junior Detective Edition''' (1994)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19331/where-in-the-world-is-carmen-sandiego-junior-detec|title=Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Junior Detective Edition (1994)|publisher=BoardGameGeek|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> ** The number of players is 2 − 4 ** The suggested playing time is 30min ** The suggested ages are 4 and up * '''Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego''' (1995)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/33498/where-in-space-is-carmen-sandiego|title=Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego (1995)|publisher=BoardGameGeek|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> ** The number of players is 2 − 4 ** The suggested playing time is 60min * '''Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego''' (1996)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/24635/where-in-time-is-carmen-sandiego|title=Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego (1996)|publisher=BoardGameGeek|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}</ref> ** The number of players is 2 − 4 ** The suggested playing time is 60min ** The suggested ages are 8 and up === Other media === ==== Planetarium films ==== {{Main|Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego?}}''Where in the Universe Is Carmen Sandiego?'' is a movie that was made to be played in a [[planetarium]]. It is less like a traditional movie, and more like one of the Carmen Sandiego game shows featured on [[PBS]] with the live audience as the detectives. This film also featured [[Lynne Thigpen]] as "The Chief" and was based on ''Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?''. This marked Thigpen's final appearance of the franchise before her death of a cerebral hemorrhage on March 12, 2003. A sequel was later created called ''Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego? - II''. ==== Concerts ==== {{Main|Where in the World of Music is Carmen Sandiego?}}''Where in the World of Music is Carmen Sandiego?'' is a concert series developed by Gary Sheldon. It consists of 3 concerts: The Case of the Missing Concert Hall, The Case of the Missing Bells, and The Case of the Missing Pyramids. ==== Planned films ==== [[Walt Disney Pictures]] were planning to make a film version of "Carmen Sandiego", with [[Sandra Bullock]] as the title character in the late 1990s. [[Walden Media]] has planned to make a [[live action]] version of the film with [[Jennifer Lopez]] as both Carmen Sandiego and producer of the film with her production company [[Nuyorican Productions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deadline.com/2011/11/walden-media-and-jennifer-lopez-team-up-on-carmen-sandiego/|title=Walden Media And Jennifer Lopez Team Up On ‘Carmen Sandiego’|date=2011-11-03|work=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=2011-11-03}}</ref> Writer Darren Lemke (''[[Jack the Giant Slayer]]'') has been attached to write the screenplay in July 2012. ==== Carmen Sandiego Days ==== {{Main|Carmen Sandiego Day}} ==== Other ==== In the late 1990s, the Metro Washington Park Zoo in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]], (now the [[Oregon Zoo]]), in conjunction with [[Brøderbund]], ran a summer-long event titled '''''[[Where in the Zoo Is Carmen Sandiego?]]''''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yptproject.org|title=Young People's Theatre Project|date=|publisher=Yptproject.org|accessdate=2011-02-03}}</ref> which functioned as a full-immersion live-action Carmen game in which zoo patrons were the investigating detectives. Actors were hired to play Carmen's henchmen, who could be found around the zoo, and on occasions a costumed Carmen appeared as well, but never in a location where patrons could interact with her. Clues were given out at various stations by members of the ZooTeens volunteer group.<ref>http://articles.mcall.com/1998-05-18/features/3199077_1_carmen-sandiego-metro-washington-park-zoo-preserve</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z-P_7UcGQkcC&q=%2522Where+in+the+zoo+Is+Carmen+Sandiego%2522&dq=%2522Where+in+the+zoo+Is+Carmen+Sandiego%2522&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizyu_apKLOAhVGopQKHaIECYUQ6AEILDAB|title=Philadelphia: 24 Weekend Get-a-Ways from the City of Brotherly Love|last=Odesser-Torpey|first=Marilyn|last2=Piantanida|first2=Maria|date=1999-06-01|publisher=Globe Pequot Press|isbn=978-0-7627-0444-6|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Zavatsky2">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_fNNEvVOSzEC|title=Kids Love Pennsylvania: A Parent's Guide to Exploring Fun Places in Pennsylvania With Children... Year Rould!|last=Zavatsky|first=George|last2=Zavatsky|first2=Michele|date=2000-02-01|publisher=Kids Love Publications|isbn=978-0-9663457-2-8|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Zavatsky2" /> In 2016, NPR held an homage to the WinWiCS gameshow entitled '''''[[Where in the Mall is Carmen Sandiego?]]''''' in which incoming theft reports from ACME CrimeNet are relayed to contestants who must then work out which store in the mall is being referred to. It was part of the podcast called NPR Programs: Ask Me Another.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/npr/480500466/where-in-the-mall-is-carmen-sandiego|title=Where In The Mall Is Carmen Sandiego?|website=www.wbur.org|access-date=2016-08-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/2016/06/03/480500466/where-in-the-mall-is-carmen-sandiego|title=Where In The Mall Is Carmen Sandiego?|website=NPR.org|access-date=2016-08-02}}</ref> The '''Carmen Sandiego Licensing Program''' saw the Carmen Sandiego brand licensed to over 20 companies including Harper Collins, University Games, Great American Puzzle Factory, DIC Entertainment, WGBH/WQED, Micro Games of America, Publications International and Troll Associates.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.broderbund.com:80/company/news.html#CARM02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970412101154/http://www.broderbund.com/company/news.html#CARM02-10|dead-url=yes|archive-date=1997-04-12|title=Press Releases|website=web-beta.archive.org|access-date=2017-03-05|df=}}</ref> The '''Carmen Sandiego Connection''' website allowed players and fans to discover more about the franchise.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carmensandiego.com:80/about/aboutcarmen.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990422021914/http://www.carmensandiego.com/about/aboutcarmen.html|dead-url=yes|archive-date=1999-04-22|title=Carmen Sandiego Connection, About Carmen Sandiego|website=web-beta.archive.org|access-date=2017-03-05|df=}}</ref> '''Pacific Bell Carmen Sandiego Prepaid Phone Cards''' were made available.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carmensandiego.com:80/about/aboutcarmenbookandmags.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202200347/http://www.carmensandiego.com/about/aboutcarmenbookandmags.html|dead-url=yes|archive-date=1998-12-02|title=Carmen Sandiego Connection, About Carmen Sandiego books, magazines, games, and puzzles|website=web-beta.archive.org|access-date=2017-03-05|df=}}</ref> '''Where in the Valley is Carmen Sandiego?''' <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/36163036/yakima-youth-have-back-to-school-fun-with-where-in-the-valley-is-carmen-sandiego|title=Yakima youth have back-to-school fun with 'Where in the Valley is Carmen Sandiego?'|last=Padilla|first=Veronica|access-date=2017-08-27|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nbcrightnow.com/clip/13608140/where-in-the-valley-is-carmen-sandiego|title=Where in the valley is Carmen Sandiego?|access-date=2017-08-27|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.yaktrinews.com/news/kids-enjoy-where-is-the-valley-is-carmen-sandiego-scavenger-hunt-before-going-back-to-school/606609764|title=Kids enjoy "Where is the Valley is Carmen Sandiego" scavenger hunt before going back to school|last=Sosa|first=Karla|date=2017-08-19|work=KVEW|access-date=2017-08-27|language=en-US}}</ref> == Awards == By 1997, the franchise had received over 60 awards, including 12 Software Publishers Association Excellence Awards for Best Education Programs and 7 Parents' Choice Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carmensandiego.com:80/products.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970530192712/http://www.carmensandiego.com/products.html|dead-url=yes|archive-date=1997-05-30|title=Carmen Sandiego Connection – Spy the Software|last=Inc.|first=Peter N. Skram, Bedrock Media,|website=web-beta.archive.org|access-date=2017-03-05|df=}}</ref> By 2000, the franchise had won over 90 awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carmensandiego.com/about/aboutcarmen.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000903000959/http://www.carmensandiego.com/about/aboutcarmen.html|dead-url=yes|archive-date=2000-09-03|title=Carmen Sandiego Connection, About Carmen Sandiego|date=2000-09-03|access-date=2017-03-05}}</ref> They include: * ''Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?'' Version 3.0: World Class Award – Best CD-ROM for Children, ''PC World'', July 1997 * ''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'' Version 3.0: "Best Software of '97 – around the world for ages 9-12", ''Child Magazine'', Dec/Jan 1997 * ''Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?'' Version 3.0: "Best Software of '97 – around the world for ages 9-12", ''Child Magazine'', Dec/Jan 1997 * Carmen Sandiego Series: ''Family PC'' – Top 50 Products, ''Family PC'', July/August 1997 * ''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'' Version 2.0, 1996 ''PC World'' Class Award, ''PC World'', 1996 * ''Carmen Sandiego Junior Detective Edition'', Silver Apple Award, National Educational Media Network, May 1996 * ''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'' Version 2.0, Codie Award – Best Secondary Education Program, Software Publishers Association, March 1995 * ''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'', Excellence in Software Awards – Best Early Education Program, Software Publishers Association, September 1995 * ''Carmen Sandiego Junior Detective Edition'', 1996 Newsweek Editors' Choice Award, ''Newsweek'', August 1995 * ''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'', NAPPA Gold Winner for Children's Software, The 1995 National Parenting Publications Award, December 1995 == Critical response and legacy == {{Quote|text=The commercial success of Carmen Sandiego is due in part to its intrinsic fantasy that makes the game both fun and educational. The skill and the fantasy are intertwined, resulting in a much more engaging experience. When playing educational games with intrinsic fantasies, the users are more motivated to apply their educational skills because it feels natural, not arbitrary.|sign=Craig Brannon, Legacy Software Director of Education|source="Making Things Fun to Learn: Principles of Edutainment Design " presentation at the 1997 Computer Game Developers' Conference.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/19980208114332/http://www.legacysoft.com/corporate/craigspaper.html</ref>}} The series as a whole has been met with critical acclaim, although most of the games released after Broderbund was sold to [[The Learning Company]] have received mixed to bad reviews. A review by Mr. Bill & Lela for Mr. Bill's Adventureland Review <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrbillsadventureland.com/reviews/u-v-w/wherecarmenR/whereinworldR.htm|title=WHERE IN THE WORLD Is Carmen SANDIEGO Review – Mr. Bill's Adventureland|date=|publisher=Mrbillsadventureland.com|accessdate=2011-02-03}}</ref> says of the 1996 game ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?]]'' "It teaches knowledge of world geography and cultures, electronic database research skills, map reading and deductive reasoning. This game became so popular that there is a whole series of them out now: Where in the USA, Where in Time, etc. It's a great game and one that is often used in schools today." The 1991 document ''Three Instructional Approaches to Carmen Sandiego Software Series'' outlined three ways in which the Carmen Sandiego series could be utilized in an educational context: turning teacher instruction into a gamified cooperative/competitive experience, linking the previously discrete academic topics, and not playing it in its entirety but isolating segments for lessons on particular items.<ref>http://search.proquest.com/docview/210608428</ref> The 1994 journal article "The impact of a computer-based adventure game on achievement and attitudes in geography" by J. H. Wiebe and N. J. Martin found that there were no "significant differences in recall of geography facts or attitudes between the teaching methods" of the computer game ''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'' and a "non-computer-based board-style geography game".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itu.dk/people/petero/Serious%20Design/games.pdf|title=Considering Games as Cognitive Tools: In Search of Effective "Edutainment"|date=August 1996|publisher=University of Georgia – Department of Instructional Technology|page=12|accessdate=September 26, 2012|author=Hogle, Jan G.}}{{dead link|date=November 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> [[Kotaku]] explains the duality of the franchise thus: "In concept, it [is] a light edutainment game. In practice, it [is] a gateway to the rest of the world."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://kotaku.com/why-in-the-world-people-love-carmen-sandiego-1794456730?IR=T|title=Why In The World People Love Carmen Sandiego|last=Alexandra|first=Heather|work=Kotaku|access-date=2017-04-20|language=en-US}}</ref> ''The Educational Technology Handbook'' says that the series "engage[s] youth in tracking elusive villains across the earth". It suggest that the many games in the franchise "...hold your child's interest by putting them in touch with real-life places and events in a way no formal history or geography lesson can match".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YxTmRhAicm0C&pg=PA314&dq=%22where+in+the+world+is+carmen+sandiego%22+1996#v=onepage&q=%22where%20in%20the%20world%20is%20carmen%20sandiego%22%201996&f=false|title=The Educational Technology Handbook:|year=1996|isbn=978-0-87778-292-6|pages=119, 223|accessdate=November 14, 2012|author=Hackbarth, Steven}}</ref> ''From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games'' suggests that software games like ''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'' challenge ideas of gender stereotypes in regard to games, due to it "hav[ing] equal appeal for boys and girls".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5_cbfm3YfYC&pg=PA90&dq=%22where+in+the+world+is+carmen+sandiego%22+1996#v=onepage&q=%22where%20in%20the%20world%20is%20carmen%20sandiego%22%201996&f=false|title=From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games|date=2000-02-28|isbn=978-0-262-53168-9|page=90|accessdate=November 14, 2012|author=Cassell, Justine}}</ref> In 2001, the Los Angeles Times said "even the most sophisticated recent titles have a hard time competing with Carmen Sandiego, the grand dame of teaching kids where in the world they are".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/68951224.html?dids=68951224:68951224&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+22%2C+2001&author=JINNY+GUDMUNDSEN&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Where+in+the+World+Is+the+Perfect+Kids%27+Geography+Game%3F&pqatl=google|title=Where in the World Is the Perfect Kids' Geography Game?|last=Gudmundsen|first=Jinny|date=2001-02-22|accessdate=November 14, 2012}}</ref> The Stanford paper "Why in the World is Carmen Sandiego a Success?" by Todd Brown explained the long-lasting appeal of the series: "Ultimately, the keyfactor of success for the Carmen series has been cultural. The designers were able to appeal to all children, boys and girls, by developing an experience with something for everyone. Goals, conversations, intrigue, suspense, learning geography... it’s all there. Furthermore, they did it without just shoving a geography lesson down kids’ throats and without talking down to them either". He quoted Elliott, who said "We don’t use small words. Kids are short but not stupid", and concluded "By treating children as the intelligent little people they are, the designers had no need to hide from them the fact that they were playing and learning at the same time. Kids knew. The beauty of Carmen Sandiego is that they kept playing anyway."<ref>http://www.stanford.edu/group/htgg/sts145papers/tbrown_2001_2.pdf</ref> == References == {{Reflist|30em}} == External links == {{Wiktionary|Appendix:Carmen Sandiego}}{{Wikiquote}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/19970530192544/http://www.carmensandiego.com/ Carmen Sandiego home page as of 1997] at the [[Internet Archive]] * [https://web.archive.org/web/19981206081630/http://www.carmensandiego.com/home2.html Carmen Sandiego home page as of 1998] at the [[Internet Archive]] * [http://carmensandiego.com/ Carmen Sandiego home page as of 2012] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20040725080859/http://www.carmensandiego.com/ ACME Virtual Detective Agency site] at the [[Internet Archive]] * {{moby game|id=-group/carmen-sandiego-series|name=''Carmen Sandiego'' series}} * TV-Series 1991–1996: {{IMDb title|id=0106172|title=Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?}} * TV-Series 1994–1998: {{IMDb title|id=0167742|title=Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?}} * [http://www.toonopedia.com/sandiego.htm Carmen Sandiego] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://www.webcitation.org/66ua2ZkDW?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/sandiego.htm Archived] from the original on April 13, 2012. * [https://web.archive.org/web/19970530193132/http://www.carmensandiego.com/reviews.html Reviews] === Other media === * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130708140606/http://www.universitygames.com/rules/university_games/WhereInTheUSAIsCarmenSandiegoJuniorEdition.html Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego®? Junior Edition] * [http://www.his.com/~pshapiro/carmen.sandiego.html The Ultimate Unofficial Carmen Sandiego Companion] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130719171550/http://www.universitygames.com/rules/university_games/WhereInTheWorldIsCarmenSandiego.html Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? TM Instructions] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20111016144713/http://universitygames.com/rules/university_games/WhereInTheWorldIsCarmenSandiegoJuniorDetectiveEdition.html Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? TM Jr. Detective Edition Game Instructions] * [http://xkcd.com/1023/ Carmen Sandiego as the subject of an xkcd comic] * [http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=where+in+the+world+is+carmen+sandiego Carmen Sandiego easter egg in Wolfram Alpha] * [https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=pt&u=http://www.anpuhpb.org/anais_xiii_eeph/textos/ST%252004%2520-%2520Ana%2520Luiza%2520de%2520Vasconcelos%2520Marques%2520TC.PDF&prev=search Journal article ''WHERE IS CARMEN SANDIEGO: LOOKING FOR NEW CHALLENGES IN HISTORY''] {{Carmen Sandiego}} [[Category:Carmen Sandiego| ]]'