Reader Rabbit (video game)
Reader Rabbit | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Developer(s) | The Learning Company The Connelley Group (Atari 8-bit)[1] |
Publisher(s) | The Learning Company |
Series | Reader Rabbit |
Platform(s) | Original Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Mac Talking Windows, Mac |
Release | 1984 (Original) 1989 (Talking) 1991 (Reader Rabbit 1) 1994 (Deluxe) 1997 (Reading 1) |
Genre(s) | Educational |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Reader Rabbit (fully titled "Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory" or alternatively known as "Reader Rabbit Builds Early Learning & Thinking"[2]) is a 1984 educational video game and the first of the long-running Reader Rabbit edutainment series. It was made by The Learning Company for Apple II and later for other computers. It supports the KoalaPad graphics tablet.[3] The Connelley Group helped with the Atari 8-bit computers conversion in 1984.[1] A Talking version was developed for the Apple IIGS in 1989. An enhanced version was released for MS-DOS -n 1991. A Deluxe version was released in 1994 for Mac and Windows 3.x. In 1997, the game was remade for Windows and Macintosh under the title "Reader Rabbit's Reading 1".
Gameplay
[edit]The game takes place in the titular Word Factory, which teaches reading and spelling in four different activities and has over 200 three-letter words and more than 70 pictures for learning.[2][4] The following four activities are:
- 1. Sorter - the player is required to pick words that start with a chosen letter and discard the rest.
- 2. Labeler - out of a number of mixed up letters, the player must use those letters to spell words that match three objects on the screen.
- 3. Word Train - the player needs to select a word that slightly differs from the first.
- 4. Matchup Games - the player must match picture cards with corresponding word cards.
Development
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/40/Reader_Rabbit_version_1.1.png/220px-Reader_Rabbit_version_1.1.png)
Reader Rabbit was originally conceived by the Grimm sisters; Leslie authored the game while Corinne and Cindy contributed the art. Version 1.0 of Reader Rabbit, titled Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory, was released in early 1984[5] (and featured in the 1983 holiday special for Computer Chronicles[6]), while versions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 were released in 1984.[7][8] Development for an updated 2.0 version began at the start of 1984. By this time, Leslie Grimm had suffered a disc fracture but was able to develop the game while bedridden, thanks to a detachable keyboard provided by her colleague Pete Rowe.[9] Many critics and gaming historians erroneously assert that the Reader Rabbit series officially began in 1986.[10]
In 1988, the first "talking" version of Reader Rabbit was released for the Apple IIGS and Tandy 1000 computers.[11] The game was remade as an enhanced version for DOS in 1991 to incorporate the 256-color VGA mode, sound card option and mouse compatibility.[12] Another remake was done as a deluxe version along with its two sequels and implemented digitized speech.[13]
Reception
[edit]Publication | Award |
---|---|
Newsweek | Editors' Choice Award, 1995 (Deluxe)[14] |
Gold Medal | National Association of Parenting Publications, 1994 (Deluxe)[14] |
Reseller Management | "Best to Sell" Software Product - Education, 1992 (Reader Rabbit 1)[14] |
Program of the Decade | Language Arts, Technology & Learning, 1991 (Reader Rabbit 1)[14] |
Parents' Choice | Best Software of the Year, 1987 (Original)[14] |
Family Computing | Critics' Choice Award, 1985 (Original)[14] |
The Learning Company showcased the game alongside Number Stamper, Word Spinner, Addition Magician and Colorasaurus in the 1984 Winter Consumer Electronics Show.[4] Dr. Ann Piestrup praised the game for its ability to aid young learners in overcoming the difficulties of reading and its word recognition.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Atari Mania - Reader Rabbit". Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ a b Brett Alan Weiss. "Reader Rabbit - Review - allgame". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ "Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory" Manual. The Learning Company. 1984. p. 11. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ a b Staples, Betsy (April 1984). "Getting educated at CES; educational software crowds the show floor". Creative Computing. Vol. 10, no. 4. Ziff Davis. p. 154.
- ^ Leslie Grimm (1984-01-01), Reader Rabbit 1.1, The Learning Company, retrieved 2017-02-06
- ^ Bradley, Laura (2014-11-28). "Tech Time Capsule". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
- ^ Mace, Scott; Caruso, Denise (February 13, 1984). "TLC shows off additions to firm's educational line". InfoWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. p. 40.
- ^ Reader Rabbit 1.3 (4am crack), 2015-07-14, retrieved 2017-02-06
- ^ "Softalk, Volume 4". Softalk. January 1984. p. 65. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ "10 Educational PC Games of the 1980s". PCMAG. Archived from the original on 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
- ^ "Educational software now receiving higher marks". 1988-01-10. Archived from the original on 2017-02-07.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "Reader Rabbit Redux". PCMAG. 31 December 1991. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ "Reader Rabbit 1 Features". The Learning Company. Archived from the original on February 25, 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b c d e f "Reader Rabbit 1 Awards". The Learning Company. Archived from the original on February 25, 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Mace, Scott; Caruso, Denise (February 13, 1984). "TLC shows off additions to firm's educational line". InfoWorld. No. 13. IDG. p. 40.
External links
[edit]- 1984 video games
- 1990 video games
- 1991 video games
- 1994 video games
- 1997 video games
- Apple II games
- Apple IIGS games
- Atari 8-bit computer games
- Children's educational video games
- Classic Mac OS games
- Commodore 64 games
- DOS games
- The Learning Company games
- Reader Rabbit
- Single-player video games
- Video games about rabbits and hares
- Video games developed in the United States
- Windows games