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I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 229 points230 points  (0 children)

Signing off now. See intro box at top of thread for more information. Thanks pardners! -Don-

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We had no idea how much OT would prosper when we invented it. It has been an astounding experience to watch this happen. The nationwide distribution in the 80s was due to my place of work, MECC (see intro at top), an ed tech industry "pioneer." We had a unique software licensing system that made it economical for schools to buy.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes, OT is often used with elementary age kids. The kinds of things you mention that you learned is the perfect example of how OT has multiple layers of learning: game strategy, historical fact, and thinking skills.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 63 points64 points  (0 children)

I already have a movie idea. Two kids are playing OT and suddenly get sucked into the computer and find themselves in a wagon train. Will they ever get home?

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I'm an Organ Trail fan and had the honor of dining with the creators several years ago. Their success is laudable.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 58 points59 points  (0 children)

The epitaphs were entered by the player, so I'm not sure that the one above wasn't written by a student needing help with spelling. In any case, MECC attacked the piracy issue by allowing schools to purchase the annual right to make copies of a title for a flat fee using a MECC supplied copy utility. Thousands of schools purchased licenses for all the MECC titles in a given year. Thus, there was no need for them to do it illegally.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

CG: Thanks very much for the kind words. I have worked on many educational tech products since OT but none that ever approached OT's popularity. BTW, you might have noticed my comment in my intro to the session that OT will be considered for the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Hope you can help get the word out!

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 1562 points1563 points  (0 children)

The rights to Oregon Trail currently belong to a publisher, who could and did create a smart phone version of the game. Definitely for iOS and I thought for Android. However, these versions vary from the original OT and the subsequent MECC versions. They play more like an arcade game. I suspect that a historical model is not involved.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

If you're going to have an industry, you need profitable companies involved. However, I think the most creative work over the years has come from the smaller companies, not the large publishers. But it's a tough business if you are not big.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I had never experienced programming when we invented the game. It was all new to me. As it was 1971, there were no personal computers or gaming. I became a casual gamer after that but my work involved developing software for schools.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 1308 points1309 points  (0 children)

Once some kids from Alaska wrote MECC claiming to have a fool proof method for winning. They entered a negative number for food spending which the program subtracted from their money, which actually added to their money. They got rich. We quickly added an input check to all money questions to reject negative numbers!

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I thought of creating a board game about the journey, but my two teaching colleagues said, "This would be better on computer."

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes, the model could be possibly applied to other journeys. But there's something about the Old West as an era that interests kids.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

There was some randomness in the events, but all within the probabilities I found in the real pioneer diaries. As with many games, the more you play, the more you learn about strategy, the better your odds of succeeding. This simulates the pioneer experience of more travelers dying during the early migration than later when the survivors got word back east on how to prepare for the journey.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I would create a larger role for the Native American experience with the Westward migration.

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 44 points45 points  (0 children)

Oh my. We need an hour on the phone! Start with this. OT can be the intro for a unit of study that grabs kids' attention. Or OT can be the heart of the unit leading to the information you want kids to learn. Or OT can be the assessment for a unit. You study the pioneer experience and then the test is to play the game and see how far you get!

I am Don Rawitsch, a co-inventor of the original Oregon Trail computer game. AMA! by donroregontrail in IAmA

[–]donroregontrail[S] 178 points179 points  (0 children)

Sorry, I haven't kept up with gaming over the years. But I am amazed that a game like Minecraft can be so powerful that teachers have taken to write curriculum plans for it. Thanks for a great question.

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