Reader Rabbit (video game)

Last updated
Reader Rabbit
Reader Rabbit Cover art.png
C64/Atari cover art
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, DOS, Macintosh

Talking:
Apple IIGS
Reader Rabbit 1:
DOS
Deluxe:
DOS, Windows 3.x, Macintosh

Contents

Reader Rabbit's Reading 1:
Windows, Macintosh
Release 1984 (Original)
1989 (Talking)
1991 (Reader Rabbit 1)
1994 (Deluxe)
1997 (Reading 1)
Genre(s) Edutainment
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 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 also made use of the KoalaPad graphics tablet. [3] The Connelley Group helped with the Atari 8-Bit conversion in 1984. [1] A Talking version was developed for the Apple IIGS in 1989. An enhanced version was released for DOS on 1991. A Deluxe version was released in 1994 for Macintosh and Windows 3.x. In 1997, the game was remade for Windows and Macintosh under the title "Reader Rabbit's Reading 1".

Development

Reader Rabbit version 1.0 (1984) Reader Rabbit version 1.1.png
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

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:

Reception

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]

Related Research Articles

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The ClueFinders is an educational software series aimed at children aged 8–12 that features a group of mystery-solving teenagers. The series was created by The Learning Company as a counterpart to their Reader Rabbit series for older, elementary-aged students. The series has received praise for its balance of education and entertainment, resulting in numerous awards.

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<i>The ClueFinders Search and Solve Adventures</i> 2000 video game

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<i>Reader Rabbit</i> Video game series

Reader Rabbit is an educational game franchise created in 1984 by The Learning Company. The series is aimed at children from infancy to the age of nine. In 1998, a spiritual successor series called The ClueFinders was released for older students aged seven to twelve.

<i>Reader Rabbit 2</i> 1991 educational video game

Reader Rabbit 2 is a 1991 educational video game, the sequel to Reader Rabbit and the fourth game in the Reader Rabbit franchise. A facelift was given to the game's predecessor to match the graphical fidelity of Reader Rabbit 2.

<i>Reader Rabbit 3</i> 1993 video game

Reader Rabbit 3 is a 1993 educational video game, part of the Reader Rabbit franchise. It was released for DOS that year, but was released for Windows and Macintosh in 1994 under the title "Reader Rabbit 3 Deluxe!".

<i>Reader Rabbit Preschool: Sparkle Star Rescue</i> 2001 educational video game

Reader Rabbit Preschool: Sparkle Star Rescue is a game in the Reader Rabbit series by The Learning Company. The title was released in 2001. The game is recommended for ages 3–6. The game teaches "shape and size recognition, letter recognition and listening", among other skills, including maths-related ones. The game was also released for the Nintendo Wii by Graffiti Entertainment, simply titled Reader Rabbit Preschool.

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<i>Reader Rabbit: 1st Grade</i> 1998 educational video game

Reader Rabbit's 1st Grade is an educational video game, part of the Reader Rabbit series, developed by KnowWare and published by The Learning Company on January 14, 1998. The game was re-released on the Nintendo Wii by Graffiti Entertainment on May 4, 2010.

<i>Reader Rabbit Toddler</i> 1997 education video game

Reader Rabbit Toddler is a 1997 educational video game developed by KnowWare and published by The Learning Company. It is part of the Reader Rabbit series.

<i>Math Rabbit</i> 1986 educational video game

Math Rabbit is a 1986 video game spin-off from the Reader Rabbit edutainment series. It was made by The Learning Company for MS-DOS and Apple II series. A Deluxe version was released in 1993 for MS-DOS, Macintosh, and Windows 3.x. In 1997, the game was remade for Windows and Macintosh as Reader Rabbit's Math 1. The final remake for Windows and Macintosh in 1998 is Reader Rabbit's Math Ages 4-6, with a personalized version released in 1999.

<i>Reader Rabbit Kindergarten</i> 1997 education video game

Reader Rabbit Kindergarten is a video game within the edutainment series Reader Rabbit, published by The Learning Company in July 1997. A new version of the game was developed in-house by Graffiti Entertainment, and was released in 2009.

<i>Math Blaster Jr.</i> 1996 video game

Math Blaster Jr. is a 1996 educational video game, aimed at ages 4–8. The game was re-released as Math Blaster: Ages 4 - 6 in 1997.

<i>Writer Rabbit</i> 1986 educational video game

Writer Rabbit is a 1986 video game in the educational video game, part of the Reader Rabbit franchise. It was remade as Reader Rabbit 3 for DOS in 1993, which was then re-released for Windows and Macintosh in 1994 under the title "Reader Rabbit 3 Deluxe!".

<i>Reader Rabbits Reading Development Library</i> Educational video game series

Reader Rabbit's Reading Development Library is a series of four edutainment games from The Learning Company as part of the Reader Rabbit franchise. The first two games were developed in October 1994, the third was developed in 1995 and the last one was developed in 1996. The products make use of interactive storybooks based on fairy tales to help early readers broaden their reading, vocabulary, writing and word recognition skills. Each number in the title corresponds to the reading level of the reader they are aimed at.

<i>Reader Rabbits Interactive Reading Journey</i> 1994 educational video game

Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey is a 1994 video game released on the Windows and Macintosh systems. It is the sixth game in the Reader Rabbit franchise. Designed for ages 4 till 7, the game introduces the new main characters Mat the Mouse and Sam the Lion who accompany Reader. It was then re-released in 1997 under the title "Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey For Grades K-1", followed by another in 1998 titled "Reader Rabbit's Reading Ages 4–6" and a personalized version in 1999.

<i>Reader Rabbits Ready for Letters</i> 1992 educational video game

Reader Rabbit's Ready for Letters is a 1992 video game and the fifth game of the Reader Rabbit franchise. Although a spin-off title, it is designed for ages 3 to 6 to teach prereaders about becoming literate and phonics.

<i>Reader Rabbits Interactive Reading Journey 2</i> 1996 educational video game

Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey 2 is a 1996 video game released on the Windows and Macintosh systems and designed for ages 5 till 8. It is the seventh game in the Reader Rabbit franchise and a sequel to Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey. It was re-released in 1997 as "Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey For Grades 1-2", followed by another in 1998 titled "Reader Rabbit's Reading Ages 6–9" and a personalized version in 1999.

References

  1. 1 2 "Atari Mania - Reader Rabbit" . Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  2. 1 2 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: 11. Retrieved March 5, 2017.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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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