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Reader Rabbit (video game)

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Reader Rabbit
Developer(s)The Learning Company
The Connelley Group (Atari 8-bit)[1]
Publisher(s)The Learning Company
SeriesReader Rabbit
Platform(s)Original
Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Macintosh

Talking
Apple IIGS
Reader Rabbit 1
MS-DOS
Deluxe
MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, Mac

Reader Rabbit's Reading 1
Windows, Classic Mac OS
Release1984 (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".

Development

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Reader Rabbit version 1.0 (1984)

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[4] (and featured in the 1983 holiday special for Computer Chronicles[5]), while versions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 were released in 1984.[6][7] 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.[8] Many critics and gaming historians erroneously assert that the Reader Rabbit series officially began in 1986.[9]

In 1988, the first "talking" version of Reader Rabbit was released for the Apple IIGS and Tandy 1000 computers.[10] 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.[11] Another remake was done as a deluxe version along with its two sequels and implemented digitized speech.[12]

Gameplay

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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][13] 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.

Reception

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The Learning Company showcased the game alongside Number Stamper, Word Spinner, Addition Magician and Colorasaurus in the 1984 Winter Consumer Electronics Show.[13] 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

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  1. ^ a b "Atari Mania - Reader Rabbit". Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Brett Alan Weiss. "Reader Rabbit - Review - allgame". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  3. ^ "Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory" Manual. The Learning Company. 1984. p. 11. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  4. ^ Leslie Grimm (1984-01-01), Reader Rabbit 1.1, The Learning Company, retrieved 2017-02-06
  5. ^ Bradley, Laura (2014-11-28). "Tech Time Capsule". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  6. ^ Mace, Scott; Caruso, Denise (February 13, 1984). "TLC shows off additions to firm's educational line". InfoWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. p. 40.
  7. ^ Reader Rabbit 1.3 (4am crack), 2015-07-14, retrieved 2017-02-06
  8. ^ "Softalk, Volume 4". Softalk. January 1984. p. 65. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  9. ^ "10 Educational PC Games of the 1980s". PCMAG. Archived from the original on 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  10. ^ "Educational software now receiving higher marks". 1988-01-10. Archived from the original on 2017-02-07. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ "Reader Rabbit Redux". PCMAG. 31 December 1991. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  12. ^ "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)
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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)
  15. ^ Mace, Scott; Caruso, Denise (February 13, 1984). "TLC shows off additions to firm's educational line". InfoWorld. No. 13. IDG. p. 40.
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