Mix 'n' Match-igan Game/Screensaver

Nick Jr. has a screensaver that is also a match the cards game, available for download from their site. This is a members exclusive, so you'll have to sign up with their website to get it.

This download is free and is available for both Windows and Macintosh users. Windows users will need Windows 95/98/2000/NT.

Backyardigans Screensaver & Game

I downloaded this and tried it out. I was only moderately impressed. There are plenty of pictures of the Backyardigans, which is great, but combining a screensaver with a game was an idea that, in my opinion, didn't work out too well.

The problem is, I couldn't find a way to pull up the game from my desktop. I had to go into my Start menu, open the control panel, go to display and then to screensaver and click preview to start the screensaver/game. Not something I'd care to do with a small child breathing down my neck, wanting to play now, Now, NOW!

Once you've got it open, though, it's not a bad game at all. There are two buttons at the bottom, one that says Play and the other says Done. Play, obviously, is if you want to play the game. Done is for when you are finished and want to close the screensaver. Being a game, it isn't going to go away just by moving the mouse.

If it pops up as your screensaver and you don't start to play, the game will start to play automatically, revealing the pictures below as it goes. The Play button will disappear when it does this, but it's easy enough to start playing - just start clicking and matching.

Each of the cards have a Backyardigans icon on the reverse (matching) side. There are a wide variety, ranging from props such as the slide in their common backyard, to several versions of each of the characters in costumes from various episodes.

The pictures that are revealed as the matching cards are removed are pretty good. The only quibble I had with them was that as I played I frequently got the same picture two or even three times. The pictures only stay up for a few seconds, too, which was a little disappointing. I would have liked to have gotten a better look at them.

I found eight pictures over the time I played. They were:

• A picture of Pablo in a strongman's outfit, with the words "Pablo the Strong".
• Uniqua in her jungle gear from the Tarzan episode, labeled "Uniqua the Brilliant Scientist".
• Tasha, surrounded by flowers, labeled "Tasha".
• All five of the Backyardigans, in their backyard, waving. This was animated.
• Tyrone kicking a soccer ball and the word "Goal!"
• All five of the kids in Ski Patrol and Mountie gear, with the words "Greeting from the frozen North". Also animated, with falling snow.
• Another picture with all five in the backyard, with animated butterflies swooping around.
• All five Backyardigans, each framed by a giant flower shape, with animated twinkling stars.

If anyone else downloads this and find another picture, let me know! I was disappointed not to find a solo picture of Austin. I don't know if that was because there isn't one, or if I just didn't find it.