Donald's Alphabet Chase

Last updated
Donald's Alphabet Chase
Donald Alphabet Chase DOS Cover.jpg
DOS Cover art
Developer(s) Westwood Associates
Publisher(s) Walt Disney Computer Software
Producer(s) Darlene Waddington
Designer(s) Darlene Waddington, Brett Sperry
Artist(s) Paul Johnson, Maurine Starkey
Composer(s) Mike Clarke, Dave Kelly
Platform(s) Apple II, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, DOS, ZX Spectrum
Release1988
1990 (C64) [1]
1991 (Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum)
Genre(s) Educational
Mode(s) Single-player

Donald's Alphabet Chase is a 1988 educational video game developed by Westwood Associates and published by Walt Disney Computer Software. It was released on various home computers including the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Commodore 64, DOS and ZX Spectrum. An Atari ST version was planned by Nathan Software but got no release. [2] The game was released in five different languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian and German.

Contents

Plot

The Alphabet pets have escaped from the toybox in Huey, Dewey, and Louie's bedroom and are roaming around Donald's house. It is up to Donald to catch them and bring them all together. [3]

Gameplay

The player helps Donald to catch runaway letters. The gameplay is pretty straightforward. In each room of his house, Donald will chase three, four or five letters. The player is required to press a letter on the keyboard which corresponds to the letter that Donald is trying to catch.

Educational goals

The game was designed on a low budget [4] with the ability to teach literacy at a basic level, letter recognition and simple keyboard typing skills as well as reinforcing knowledge on uppercase letters [5] and thus teaching them how to match letters of the alphabet with the letters on the keyboard. [6] The structure of the letters divided into five rooms allows children to understand and learns different letter groups. [7] Children can freely explore the game, while parents can guide them depending on their abilities. [8]

Reception

Critical reception

A Computist reviewer gave the Apple II version 3 out of 5 stars, praising the game's animation and decent sound, but deeming it lacking in challenge. [9] Amiga Format gave the Amiga version 4 out of 5 stars, finding the animations hilarious to watch, but finding the use of uppercase letter limiting in teaching material. [10]

Commercial performance

The game along with Mickey's Runaway Zoo and Goofy's Railway Express sold around 400,000 copies in a year of their development. [11] The Amiga version was showcased at the 1990 Summer Consumer Electronics Show. [6] By April 1991, the Amiga version became one of the top 10 selling products in the UK. [12] By October 1991, the game was showcased at the annual Windhoek Show as part of Schoemans Office Systems. [13] Of the 25 computer Disney Software games around 1993, "Donald's Alphabet" chase was among the most successful. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atari ST</span> Line of home computers from Atari Corporation

The Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the Atari 8-bit family. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985 and was widely available in July. It was the first personal computer with a bitmapped color GUI, using a version of Digital Research's GEM from February 1985. The Atari 1040ST, released in 1986 with 1 MB of RAM, was the first home computer with a cost-per-kilobyte of less than US$1.

<i>Rick Dangerous</i> 1989 video game

Rick Dangerous is a platform game developed by Core Design for the Acorn Archimedes, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS. The game was released in 1989 and published by MicroProse on the Firebird Software label in the UK, and on the MicroPlay label in America. It was also published in Spain by Erbe Software. Later, it was released with two other games, Stunt Car Racer and MicroProse Soccer, on the Commodore 64 Powerplay 64 cartridge. The game was followed by a sequel, Rick Dangerous 2, in 1990. Loosely based on the Indiana Jones film franchise, the game received mixed reviews from critics.

Thalamus Ltd was a British computer game developer that published titles for a number of 8-bit and 16-bit platforms during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<i>Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior</i> 1987 video game

Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior is a 1987 video game developed and published by Palace Software for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. The game was ported to many other systems and was licensed to Epyx who published it as Death Sword in the United States.

<i>Atomix</i> (video game) 1990 video game

Atomix is a puzzle video game developed by Günter Krämer and published by Thalion Software, released for the Amiga and other personal computers in late 1990. The object of the game is to assemble molecules from compound atoms by moving the atoms on a two-dimensional playfield.

<i>Switchblade II</i> 1991 video game

Switchblade II is a 1991 side-scrolling action-platform run and gun video game originally developed and published by Gremlin Graphics in Europe for the Amiga home computers. It is the sequel to the original Switchblade, which was solely created by Simon Phipps at Core Design and released earlier in 1989 across multiple platforms. Despite being primarily developed in the UK, its graphics had a distinctly Japanese style similar to anime or manga.

<i>Flood</i> (video game) 1990 video game

Flood is a 1990 platform game developed by Bullfrog Productions. It was published for the Amiga and Atari ST by Electronic Arts. The objective is to collect all the litter and find the exit to the level.

<i>Special Criminal Investigation</i> 1989 video game

Special Criminal Investigation, also known as S.C.I. for short or as Chase HQ II: Special Criminal Investigation in some home versions, is vehicular combat racing game published by Taito for arcades in 1989. It is the sequel to the 1988 game Chase H.Q.

<i>The Immortal</i> (video game) 1990 video game

The Immortal is an isometric action-adventure game originally created for the Apple IIGS. It was soon ported to the Amiga, Atari ST, DOS, Nintendo Entertainment System, and Genesis. A wizard is attempting to find his mentor in a large and dangerous labyrinth. It has a high degree of graphic violence. In 2020, the NES port was re-released on Nintendo Switch Online's retro games service.

<i>ACE</i> (magazine) Computer and video game magazine

ACE was a multi-format computer and video game magazine first published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing and later acquired by EMAP.

<i>Hostages</i> (video game) 1988 video game

Hostages, also known as Hostage: Rescue Mission', is a 1988 tactical shooter video game developed and published by Infogrames for the Acorn Electron, Archimedes, Atari ST, Amiga, Apple IIGS, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, Nintendo Entertainment System, and ZX Spectrum. The game depicts a terrorist attack and hostage crisis at an embassy in Paris, with the player controlling a six-man GIGN counterterrorist team as they are deployed to defeat the terrorists and free their hostages.

<i>Total Recall</i> (video game) 1990 video game

Total Recall is a 1990 platform game developed and published by Ocean Software that was released for the Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, and Nintendo Entertainment System. Total Recall is based on the 1990 film of the same name.

<i>Iron Lord</i> 1989 video game

Iron Lord is an adventure video game developed by Orou Mama and Ivan Jacot for the Atari ST and published by Ubi Soft in 1989. It was ported to the Amiga, Acorn Archimedes, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and DOS.

This article deals with productivity software created for the Amiga line of computers and covers the AmigaOS operating system and its derivates AROS and MorphOS and is a split of main article Amiga software. See also related articles Amiga Internet and communications software, Amiga music software, Amiga programming languages, and Amiga support and maintenance software for other information regarding software that run on Amiga.

<i>Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax</i> 1988 video game

Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax is a video game first published in 1988 for various home computers. It was released as Axe of Rage in North America. The game is the sequel to Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior, which was published in 1987. In Barbarian II, the player controls a princess or barbarian character, exploring the game world to locate and defeat an evil wizard. The game's plot is an extension of its predecessor, although the gameplay is different. While the first game offers two players the opportunity for virtual head-to-head combat, the second is a single-player beat 'em up with fewer fighting moves. It uses a flip-screen style instead of scrolling.

<i>Fun School</i> Video game series

Fun School is a series of educational packages developed and published in the United Kingdom by Europress Software, initially as Database Educational Software. The original Fun School titles were sold mostly by mail order via off-the-page adverts in the magazines owned by Database Publications. A decision was made to create a new set of programs, call the range Fun School 2, and package them more professionally so they could be sold in computer stores around the UK. Every game comes as a set of three versions, each version set to cater for a specific age range.

<i>Menace</i> (video game) 1988 video game

Menace is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by DMA Design and published by Psygnosis. It was originally released for the Amiga in 1988, and was ported for the Atari ST, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS in 1989. The game is set on the planet of Draconia, where players are tasked with destroying the planet's defence mechanisms in order to kill the harmful creatures.

<i>Conqueror</i> (video game) 1988 video game

Conqueror is a video game released as the follow-up to Zarch, using the same landscape engine. It is a third-person shooter with strategy elements in which the player controls a fleet of tanks. It was originally developed and released on the Acorn Archimedes by Superior Software in 1988 and ported to other home computers in 1990 by Rainbow Arts. The game was well received, particularly for its blend of strategy and arcade action.

<i>Switchblade</i> (video game) 1989 video game

Switchblade is a 1989 side-scrolling action-platform run and gun video game originally developed by Core Design and published by Gremlin Graphics in Europe for the Atari ST home computers. The first installment in the eponymous two-part series, the game is set in a dystopian future where players assume the role of Hiro from the Blade Knights as he embarks on a journey to defeat Havok, the main antagonist who broke free from his imprisonment after the sacred Fireblade was shattered into several pieces. Its gameplay consists of run and gun action mixed with platforming and exploration elements, with a main single-button configuration.

Scetlander was a software publisher which released titles for various 8- and 16-bit home computer systems in the 1980s and 1990s.

References

  1. ↑ http://ready64.org/giochi/manuali/donalds_alphabet_chase/dolnald_alphabet_chase_floppy_disk.jpg [ bare URL image file ]
  2. ↑ Davison, John S. (August 1991). "ST File - Disney Software" (PDF). New Atari User . No. 51. Page 6 Publishing. pp. 51, 56.
  3. ↑ Trivette, Don (September 24, 1991). "Early Learning Software". PC Magazine . Vol. 10, no. 16. p. 496.
  4. ↑ http://svn.dridan.com/sandpit/QA/trecdata/datacollection/sjm/sjm_017 [ bare URL plain text file ]
  5. ↑ Jones, David (September 1991). "Can you count on Disney time?" (PDF). ST Format . No. 26. Future plc. pp. 124, 126, 128.
  6. 1 2 Bjornsen, Harold R. (October 1990). "Disney on Disk" (PDF). Run . No. 80. IDG Communications. p. 10.
  7. ↑ "Learning with Mickey". Crash . No. 85. Newsfield Publications. February 1991. p. 29.
  8. ↑ "Circle Reader Service Number 342". Compute! . No. 85. ABC Publishing. May 1992. pp. G16–G17.
  9. 1 2 "The Product Monitor". Computist . No. 78. SoftKey Publishing. 1990. p. 6.
  10. 1 2 Winstanley, Pat (May 1991). "Down with Skool". Amiga Format . No. 22. Future Publishing. p. 120.
  11. ↑ "Westwood Studios Profile". Archived from the original on 2000-08-16.
  12. ↑ "The April Charts from Centresoft". Zzap!64 . No. 72. Newsfield. April 1991. p. 7.
  13. ↑ "Disney Software for Home Computers" (PDF). The Namibian . October 8, 1991. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  14. ↑ Apodaca, Patrice (May 25, 1993). "World Is Small So Far for Disney Software". LA Times. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.