MCOE Kang: Learn Microsoft Office with a game

Ribbon Hero 2

Microsoft Office is a powerful suite of programs. In this case, "powerful" means very useful and very confusing. These programs contain an incredible number of tools. Most people barely scratch the surface of what they can do.

How do you learn to use complex programs like Word, PowerPoint and Excel? You could just poke around and see what happens. You could read through nearly endless manuals. Or you could play a game.

Ribbon Hero 2 makes learning to use Office fun. No, really it does! The latest version has new mini-games and fun cartoon graphics.

It challenges you to use the available tools. Exercises encourage exploration. Or use the helpful hints if you get stuck. Every completed challenge earns you points.

On top of that, everyday use will earn you points too. Your point total sits in your ribbon’s Home tab. Click it to launch challenges. Word, PowerPoint and Excel all have separate challenges.

What happens when Office and Xbox intermingle?

Yes, we turned Office into a game! If you're going to spend time immersed in the inner workings of Office, by golly it should be fun. In Ribbon Hero 2, the player will hop on board Clippy's stolen time machine and explore different time periods. With each time period, they get to explore a new game board with challenges they must complete to get to the next level. Each challenge takes the player into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote to complete a task. Discover new Office features by actually using them, with a hint button to fall back on in case you get stuck. Race for a high score with colleagues, classmates and friends, or even put your score on your resume to show off your Office skills!

For those of you who have been paying attention, we've done this before. That's how we got the “2” on the end of the title. So what's different? *deep breath* Clippy, comic strips, colorful graphics, surprise animations, multiple levels, time travel, upside-down Clippy, space ships, Greek Gods, bow-and-arrow battles, and a ton of useful Office features.

For forums and more information, check out the official website at: http://www.ribbonhero.com.