Seiwa-en: A Garden of Pure, Clear Harmony and Peace

Product description A step-by-step interative tour on CD-ROM for Mac & Windows with botanical, religious & historical references, animations, 180 degree views & natural sounds detailing the largest Japanese garden in North America located in the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Introduction: Navigation through the garden is simple and intuitive. Moving the cursor over the images will change its appearance and function. Walking through Seiwa-en can be compared to taking a long journey compressed into the short distance around its pond. Review This informative and beautifully produced CD-ROM is full of surprises. The CD jacket for "Seiwa-en" records the following: "A step-by-step tour on CD-ROM for Mac & Windows with botanical, religious & historical references, animations, 180 degree views & natural sounds. The Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Gardens." The graphics are very well done, and the overall atmosphere created by the recorded sounds and music, the images, and the shoji portal is extremely pleasant. My only complaint is that the experience is so excellent that I ended up wanting more. I want the shoji portal to fill the entire screen of my G3; I want to be able to magnify every object and see every tree or bush in bloom; I want to be able to choose my own path through the garden. Such developments perhaps await us at some point in the future, but for now this CD-ROM is an excellent learning device and teaching tool, as well as a fun way to experience a Japanese garden from the comfort and convenience of home. -- Morgan Pitelka, About.comThis informative and beautifully produced CD-ROM is full of surprises. The graphics are very well done, and the overall atmosphere created by the recorded sounds and music, the images, and the shoji portal is extremely pleasant. My only complaint is that the experience is so excellent that I ended up wanting more. I want the shoji portal to fill the entire screen of my G3; I want to be able to magnify every object and see every tree or bush in bloom; I want to be able to choose my own path through the garden. Such developments perhaps await us at some point in the future, but for now this CD-ROM is an excellent learning device and teaching tool, as well as a fun way to experience a Japanese garden from the comfort and convenience of home. -- Morgan Pitelka, About.com, November 1999.