The Playroom (1989 video game)

The Playroom

Windows Cover art
Developer(s) Brøderbund
Publisher(s) Brøderbund
Designer(s) Leslie Grimm[1]
Dennis Casewel
Lynn Kirkpatrick
Composer(s) Tim Larkin
Greg Rahn
Series Early Learning Family Series
Platform(s) Amiga, Apple II, DOS, FM Towns, Macintosh, Windows
Release date(s)
  • December 18, 1989 (DOS)
  • 1989 (Apple II, Macintosh)
  • 1992 (Amiga)
  • 1994 (FM Towns)
  • 1995 (Macintosh, Windows)
Genre(s) Educational
Mode(s) Single-player

The Playroom is a video game first created in 1989 for the DOS, Apple II and Macintosh computers. It was ported to the Amiga and FM Towns computers in 1992 and 1994 respectively and then remade for Windows and Macintosh in 1995. It was designed for ages 3 to 6 (preschool through first grade) manufactured by Brøderbund. Copies of the game also came with a stuffed toy of Pepper Mouse.[2] A follow up game titled The Treehouse came in 1991 as well as a sequel to this game, called The Backyard in 1993.

Gameplay

This video game featured Pepper Mouse and is set in his playroom. Activities include the spinner, a simple counting game with four difficulty levels; an ABC book, where objects can be placed on two different scenes; the computer, which teaches spelling and getting familiar with the keyboard; the cuckoo clock, which teaches how to tell time; the mousehole game, which is a dice-rolling game with three skill levels; and the mix-up toy, in which heads, torsos and legs from various characters can be customised.[3]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGame(1989 version)[4]
(1995 version)[5]
CGW[6]
Awards
PublicationAward
Award of ExcellenceTechnology & Learning[7]
Seal of ApprovalNational Parenting Center[7]

"The Playroom" won six Early Learning Awards.[8] Computer Gaming World gave the game four stars out of five, calling it "clever and engaging".[6]


References

  1. "Leslie Grimm Ph.D." (PDF). Talking Fingers Inc.: 1. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  2. "Brøderbund Catalog" (PDF). Brøderbund: 30. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  3. Beth Ann Murray (February 1992). "Compute! Issue 117" (117). Compute!: 90. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  4. Ric Moxley. "The Playroom - 1989 Review - allgame". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  5. Lisa Karen Savignano. "The Playroom - 1995 Review - allgame". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Ackelson, Caitlin (June 1991). "Kaptivating Komputer Games Katch Kids' Imaginations". Computer Gaming World. p. 84. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  7. 1 2 http://elisoftware.org/index.php?title=Learning_Advantage_Library_1_(PC_and_Mac,_CD-ROM)_Broderbund_Software_-_1996_USA,_Canada_Release
  8. http://www.pcmuseum.ca/details.asp?id=39061&type=software


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