The CD is easy to install and features an useful guide booklet. This is packed with information, assignments, teacher's notes, a guide to the 25 featured characters and information on agencies and sources of information or support. The notes are also available in Abode Acrobat and Word format using the CDROM. This permits the user or teacher to not only print the notes, but to amend them accordingly.

You need a PC with at least 64MbRAM and Windows 95, 98, NT or 2000. You must of course have a CDROM player plus 300Mb hard drive space for installation.

The scene is a virtual nightclub with culturally diverse characters, that should appeal to young people. The player takes the role of an alien visiting earth to find out more about human drug use. Three scanning modes are used to analyse the situation and the people.

From the drug scans of individual clubbers access to information is available on the particular drug that person is taking. The information is factual and correct and the language appropriate.

The medical officer gives advice on the physical effects of drugs, the counsellor on the mental health aspects, the security officer information about particular drugs including legal, illegal and prescribed medication and there is also a help panel referred to as the captain.

The booklet has eight assignments or missions. These include identifying drugs and risks and minimising harm.

The resource easily engages young people, teaches drugs related issues, develops skills in handling drug use situations and explores attitudes. 1 am impressed with this fun and entertaining resource. The authors and graphic designers are to be congratulated for their creativity and innovation and for setting new standards in drug education.
Jane Byrne
Team Manager, Drug and alcohol team, London Borough of Richmond
Teenage view
The controls of Xoteric are extremely simple and suitable for all types of users. A mistake by many informative computer games is to make the gamer read pieces of long, dull text. Xoteric gets over this by having all the text narrated by various alien faces. Xoteric also boasts appropriate, catchy music and lovely graphics. Key words in the text are highlighted, helping the gamer to understand these by clicking on them to get an explanation, followed by a short game.

Xoteric has its flaws. Its biggest problem is repetition, making it boring early on. The linear arrangement also means that once you get deep into the game, it takes a lot of clicking to get back to the start. Although this is a small problem, it is likely to waste time for pupils, meaning they might not get as much information as they could in the course of a lesson.

On the whole, Xoteric is a very informative resource and an excellent addition to classroom work. Though it will be a disappointment for anyone expecting hours of fun.
Joe Shapiro (aged 13)

Source: DrugScope's DrugLink magazine: July/August 2002