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Released in 1971, The Oregon Trail is an edutainment PC game that taught kids about being an American pioneer in the 1800s. Because of its educational value, it was often the only game on computers in North American public schools. This helped ingrain the game into the memories of children of the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Since then, it has become a PC game classic, and considered to be one of the best educational games ever made.
History[ | ]
The first game to go by the name of "Oregon Trail" was developed in 1971 by three student teachers in Northfield, Minnesota, who gave the game to Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium for publishing/distribution.
Gameplay[ | ]
The game has been described as an old-school adventure game, and sometimes a strategy game. You start out by naming yourself & your party, and then choosing a job. Each job class has different bonuses, such as being able to fix wagon parts or having more money. You will also need to budget your money on what you needed more: More food, or bullets to try your luck at hunting food for yourself, or more oxen to pull you. Your goal is to reach Oregon alive.
Your party & your wagon travel along the trail, being sure to keep an eye out on supplies and dealing with whatever the frontier hands you. You'll have to hunt, conserve your Oxen's strength, figure out how to cross rivers, trade with travellers and more. You may even die of dysentery. When you die, you can write your own epitaph, which other players may stumble upon on their own journey.