Oregon Trail Game

 Produced by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC) in 1974, this series had an original purpose – to provide eighth-grade students with an immersive insight into the arduous pioneer life during the 19th century along the Oregon Trail.

 Players step into the shoes of a wagon leader, guiding a group of settlers from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The journey is fraught with peril, as they traverse the treacherous path in a covered wagon in the year 1848.

 In 1971, Don Rawitsch, then a senior at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, utilized an HP 2100 minicomputer with HP Time-Shared BASIC to create an innovative program for teaching history to his eighth-grade class.

 He enlisted the help of his friends and fellow student teachers, Paul Dillenberger and Bill Heinemann, to bring his vision to life.

 The core gameplay concepts introduced in the original game, and persisting through subsequent versions, include buying initial supplies, intermittent hunting for food, purchasing supplies at forts when necessary, managing inventory, adjusting travel speed based on conditions, experiencing frequent misfortunes, and, ultimately, the game’s conclusion upon either reaching Oregon successfully or meeting an unfortunate demise.

 The first iteration of the game, which would later be known as The Oregon Trail, was unveiled to Rawitsch’s class on December 3, 1971.

 Despite being played on cumbersome teletype and paper tape terminals, which lacked modern display screens, the game instantly captured the students’ imagination and quickly found its way onto the minicomputer time-sharing network of the Minneapolis Public Schools.

 When the semester concluded, Rawitsch printed a copy of the source code and removed it from the minicomputer.

 In 1974, Don Rawitsch was hired by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC), an organization focused on developing educational software for classrooms.

 He painstakingly transcribed the 1971 BASIC code into the organization’s time-sharing network and refined the frequency and details of random events within the game to better align with the accounts found in historical diaries of Oregon Trail travelers.

 In 1975, the game, now titled OREGON, was made accessible to all schools on the network, rapidly becoming one of the most popular programs with thousands of monthly players.

 Rawitsch published the source code for The Oregon Trail, which was written in BASIC 3.1 for the CDC Cyber 70/73-26, in Creative Computing’s May–June 1978 issue.

 In the same year, MECC began promoting the adoption of the Apple II microcomputer. John Cook adapted the game for the Apple II, which appeared on A.P.P.L.E.’s PDS Disk series No. 108. Subsequently, in June 1978, J.P. O’Malley created Oregon Trail 2.

 The game series continued to evolve with Oregon Trail Deluxe in 1992, followed by Oregon Trail II in 1995, The Oregon Trail 3rd Edition in 1997, and subsequent 4th and 5th editions. As of 2011, The Oregon Trail series had sold over 65 million copies, cementing its place as an educational gaming classic.

 These games have not only educated but also entertained generations, making the Oregon Trail Games an integral part of the history of computer gaming and educational technology.

 Oregon Trail II, an educational video game crafted by MECC in 1995, takes players on a riveting journey back in time.

 Published by Learning Company, it’s a reimagined edition of the original The Oregon Trail video game. The game’s development was overseen by Wayne Studer, an American Studies PhD, who aimed to make it more inclusive by giving greater roles to women and racial minorities.

 To celebrate its enduring legacy, MECC released a special 25th Anniversary Limited Edition of the Oregon Trail II Computer Game. This limited edition included a CD-ROM, an official strategy guide, and a certificate of authenticity, all elegantly housed in a commemorative wooden storage box.

 Oregon Trail II‘s development journey brought forth a game with significantly enhanced graphics compared to its predecessor.

The Oregon Trail

 The game introduced more detailed events such as diseases (dysentery, measles, cholera, and others), challenging obstacles along the trail, accidents during travel, and engaging interactions with fellow wagon trains, requiring players to make choices that influence the outcome.

 As players embark on their journey, they have the freedom to make various choices. They can select their name, occupation, departure date, starting point, destination, and the type of wagon they’ll use. Furthermore, they can decide who accompanies them on the trip, providing names and ages for fellow travelers.

 The game also allows players to allocate skill points to improve their chances during the adventure. Skills vary in cost based on their significance, with each skill affecting the likelihood of positive or negative events occurring.

 Oregon Trail II goes beyond its predecessor by offering greater depth. For example, the challenge of rafting down the Columbia River is much more substantial. Events, such as accidents or illnesses, prompt players to make choices, making the game far more interactive than before.

 Moreover, players can interact with other settlers they meet on their journey, seeking advice.

 Survival is paramount in this quest. If a player’s character dies, the game comes to an abrupt end. Unlike the original, Oregon Trail II allows players to select any year from 1840 to 1860, offering a broader historical context. Travel becomes more manageable in later years due to increased towns and trading posts along the trail.

 Outfitting the journey with supplies is a critical aspect of gameplay, allowing players to exercise greater control. Choosing supplies is a balancing act as adding more items adds weight to the wagon. If the weight limit is exceeded, some goods must be discarded.

 The game offers an extensive array of supplies for purchase, including package deals that provide provisions for up to six months. However, numerous challenges along the trail may deplete or necessitate trading these provisions.

 Players can opt for a computer-generated package deal or customize their supplies in the towns they visit. Sometimes, specific items are only available in packages or through trading. Ensuring that you have the right equipment can significantly impact your success on this arduous journey.

 Oregon Trail II is an enhanced version of the original game, offering improved graphics, sound, character voiceovers, and an overall enhanced experience.

 The game provides more options and is often more entertaining than the original. However, the game itself couldn’t quite replicate the success of the first installment. It’s definitely worth trying, but many of us still end up going back to the original Oregon Trail. 😉

 Now you can play Oregon Trail II online at school, work, or at home, directly in your web browser.

 Play an enhanced version of The Oregon Trail with improved graphics and visuals.

 The Oregon Trail (CD-ROM), released in 1993, marked an improvement over the original MS-DOS version. With enhanced visuals and the addition of music, this edition was prepared for Windows 3.x.

 The Oregon Trail, set in the mid-19th century, takes players on a trail across the American frontier. You assume the role of a wagon leader, responsible for guiding a group of pioneers from Independence, Missouri, to the fertile lands of Oregon.

 The journey is fraught with challenges, from treacherous river crossings to deadly diseases, putting your strategic decision-making skills to the test.