Wagons Ho!
Written: Jun 25 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very realistic scenarios
Cons: A bit of a problem with the sound
The Bottom Line: So interesting and fun, kids won't notice they are learning something too.
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| Rocketgirl's Full Review: Oregon Trail 3rd Edition |
With the research I am always doing on the American West, it's probably not too surprising that I would check out this software. Of course the emigrants heading west on the Oregon Trail is a major portion of our history. I like the innovative way this software presents for making history interesting for kids. I picked 10 to 13 year olds as the target age, though it is certainly educational for anyone up through adults. I just felt that this age range is still interested in learning, while the older kids would probably find it too uncool (just my impression).
Anyway, the software comes with three CDs. You use the first one to install the executable file and icon to your hard drive. The CD did not self-install, so I had to use the "run" feature from the Windows taskbar to run the setup program. No big deal, but something to watch for. You will have to use all three CDs during the course of playing the game. It would be nice if you could install them all and have the game automatically continue--I haven't figured out how to make it do that. But then again, it would probably kill a whole Gig of memory, so its just as well.
What I really like about the game is its realistic adaptation to the experiences that actual travelers had. You encounter the same kinds of problems the pioneers did, such as illness, Indians, broken axles, high water, buffalo stampedes, severe dust, lack of food, and cold weather. The first few times I played I kept swamping my wagon in rivers and dumping half my supplies. On the other hand, I ignored the "wimps" complaining about the cold and pressed on. Well, those are the kinds of decisions you get to make as the wagonmaster.
At each point on the trail, you are given the option to rest or look around or continue. The look around option doesn't really do anything in most cases, but there are some nice sound effects that rather soothing. You get to "look around" before crossing a river to decide if you should ford the river or float the wagons or look for another place to cross. If you decide to rest at any of these locations you "circle the wagons." When you choose that option, you have the option to listen to some "pearls of wisdom" from various interesting characters.
At each of the major forts, you get the option to trade with a Mexican vaquero, a snake-oil salesman, and others. The forts also have stores to replenish your supplies. All of these places have people ready to give you advice. Each place keeps tally of the supplies you have left and how much the store has to replenish with. It also keeps a tally of how much money you have left.
I was very impressed with the graphics and sound effects. The people that talk are actual actors in period clothing, that have been filmed into the software. It is very realistic looking and entertaining. There are various pictures of scenery of the west, though some of it is still cartoonish. I imagine this is so the software can still be run on older systems that may not have the best of graphics cards. At any rate, the pictures were appropriate to the point of the trail. I do wish that when the traveler arrived at a real fort, that actual pictures would have been used, or at least an actual background of where the fort was. But not a big drawback.
There was a running "soundtrack" running throughout your travel. It was your typical fiddle/banjo/harmonica type music that you would hear in a barn dance in a western. I enjoyed that. Also, there were sound effects for the fishing and hunting and the wagon breakdowns, storms, etc., that were very realistic sounding. When the travelers were complaining about the lack of food or the cold, the voices almost seem as if they are in the room. The only problem I encountered is that occasionally the sound would go "blurry" for a few minutes, then would return to clear. I don't know what causes it or how to fix it--perhaps it is not totally compatible with my sound card. A minor annoyance, but not an insurmountable one.
Along the way, you can hunt and fish, if you have the supplies. You can go on a buffalo hunt. You can pick wild berries and roots--but check the guidebook if you don't know which are edible. You have the option to choose other routes. You can build morale by playing cards or playing the banjo for a sing-a-long. You might have to bury the dead along the way. As I said, very realistic scenarios to what the pioneers may have encountered.
I would highly recommend this software as a learning tool for children. Letting them make their own decisions and seeing the simulated consequences can be a valuable learning experience. Just learning about what the pioneers went through compared with how easy we have it today is also a valuable lesson. About my only real complaint is that at times it is a little tedious waiting for that little red line to creep along the map and get you to a new obstacle. But you can always relieve the boredom by "playing cards" or "going fishing." All-in-all, a very nice software package.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Rocketgirl
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 in Books |
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Member: Beth
Location: Tri-Cities, WA
Reviews written: 398
Trusted by: 225 members
About Me:
So many books, so little time.
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