I have very fond memories of playing this computer game as a child, so I was excited to take a look at this new and updated edition. I wasn't disappointed, as this edition is even more fun and exciting than the original. It's also a ton more educational than it used to be as well. For those who aren't familiar, this is a game where players fill a wagon with people and supplies and then head West on the historic Oregon Trail. Like real people who traveled the trail, you run into problems like food and water shortages, broken wagon parts, flooded rivers, illness and injuries, stolen supplies, bad weather, getting lost, and more. The game is more realistic than is used to be, as players get more choices on supplies to bring and even different wagon styles. Besides being able to hunt like the original game (with better graphics), players can also fish and forage for food, which is a lot of fun. In this edition, players can select various characters, and they'll share historic facts in a storytelling manner, like you're chatting with pioneers as they share their hopes, fears, and adventures. Another great addition is a storytelling time with Captain Jed Freedman. These are basically mini-movies of Captain Jed sharing true stories around the campfire at night. With all these things combined, I was impressed with the amount of history lessons contained in the game. They break up the daily traveling and trials in a realistic manner as players cross plains, ford rivers, and climb mountains. Students can keep track of their adventures in a trip diary, which can even be printed out at the end of the trip (hopefully when the entire wagon has reached Oregon and not when the last member has died from dysentery). More educational, multicultural, and realistic than past versions, this is the perfect supplement for history studies on this period. But honestly, your children will probably want to play just for the fun of it. A staple of many childhoods, this game has only gotten better with time. Because this game requires use of the font "New York 18", newer Mac operating systems (higher than OS 9.2 and OS X) will not be compatible with this game. Please pay special attention to system requirements before purchase.~ Rachel
System requirements:
Windows:- Windows® 98, 2000, Me, XP
- Pentium® 166 MHz or faster
- 32 MB RAM
- 120 MB free hard disk space
- 640x480 monitor, 16-bit color
- 8X CD-ROM drive
- Mac OS 8.6-9.2, OS X
- Power PC 180 MHz or faster
- 32 MB RAM
- 120 MB free hard disk space
- 640x480 monitor, thousands of colors
- 8X CD-ROM drive