“Microsoft's Neil Thompson has warned developers and publishers that trying to create games with specific educational value will just lose a company money.”

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/thompson-educational-games-will-lose-you-money


Really??
--Ricardo

Microsoft also though in 1996 that the internet is not an
important element of home computing.

I think that guy just thinks that educational games cant generate millions, as in large budget production.
But there is shure a market in the small budget segment.

He is right if you look at the reality. I talked to some German publishers and they said to me that edutainment was a big flop. It sold very badly.

Maybe time is too early at the moment. Like Neil Thompson said, the first steps should start from government, schools, educational system to develop a need for this kind of software. If they prefer books and tv productions for teaching then there is simply no room for edutainment.
And I also wonder if edutainment is the right product for schools. They better should tech with real educational software then, some virtual construction kits for physics, electronics, chemistry whatever. The entertainment part is not needed at school. It is better for enjoying it at home.

But maybe this changes anytime in the future.

Crazy machines sold quite good,
and it a mix of Fun and edutainment (Physical puzzles)

On Mobile devices, things like DR Kawachima, brain Trainer etc
also sell well.

maybe the publisher you talked to simply had low quality products,
causing them to sell poor...

In the end Edutainment is partly a way to make education TV programs or similar shows, or a science book beeing an interactive medium.

Inserting rewards, unlockable features und a narration by some character do not detroy its educational idea, while
enhancing the motivation of the user.

The idea about edutainment is not to look as boring and serious as possible, but to transmit some scientific knowledge on the fly.
Even Age of Empire is edutainment is this sense,
teaching about Ancient Historical events.

"Capitalism" was also successful as game AND teaching tool in
business schools.

But your examples are meant to be fun. The "educational" part was only to provide a more realistic background. They still produced entertainment and not edutainment.