Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey
{{short description|1994 educational video game}}
{{Infobox VG
|title = Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey
|image = Interactive_Reading_Journey_Cover.jpg
|caption = 1994 cover art
|developer = The Learning Company
|publisher = The Learning Company
|composer =
|release = October 1994 (Original){{cite web|url=http://www.softkey.com/html3/pr/irj.htm|title=The Learning Company Announces Upgrade of Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey, Now with Record & Playback and a Microphone|website=softkey.com|date=May 8, 1996|archive-date=January 11, 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970111223207/http://www.softkey.com/html3/pr/irj.htm|access-date=September 25, 2023}}
1997 (re-release)
1998 (Ages 4-6)
1999 (Personalized)
|genre = Adventure, edutainment
|platforms = Windows, Windows 3.x, Macintosh
|modes = Single-player
}}
Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey is a 1994 video game released on the Windows and Macintosh systems. It is the sixth game in the Reader Rabbit franchise. Designed for ages 4 till 7, the game introduces the new main characters Mat the Mouse and Sam the Lion who accompany Reader. It was then re-released in 1997 under the title Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey For Grades K-1, followed by another in 1998 titled Reader Rabbit's Reading Ages 4–6 and a personalized version in 1999.
Educational goals
The game teaches users how to read effectively. Forty storybooks can be read aloud or narrated to the user. Over 100 reading exercises include phonics, word-recognition, spelling skills and building vocabulary. The activities incorporate repetition of words, followed by a gradual increase of word variety. The game challenges users to keep learning independently and helps them to become interested in reading.{{cite magazine|last=Aycock |first=Heidi E. H. |title=A Full House |url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamer09Feb1995/page/n125 |magazine=PC Gamer |issue=9 |publisher=Future Publishing |date=February 1995 |pages=122–123}} It also allows older users to build up on their previous skills. Overall, Reading Journey allows learners to set their reading progress at their own page.{{cite magazine|last=Scisco|first=Peter |title=Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey |url=https://archive.org/details/CDROMToday11Jan1995/page/n113 |magazine=CD-ROM Today |issue=11 |publisher=Imagine Publishing |date=January 1995 |page=108}} The game came packaged with printed versions of 40 stories included in the game, which aid in reading along at the computer or independent reading away from the computer.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/reader_rabbits |title=Reader Rabbit Interactive Reading Journey EPK |date=June 20, 2004}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = CD-ROM Today
| rev2 = PC Magazine
| rev2Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v-ujWW1YGuwC&pg=PT132|title=PC Mag|date=1995-02-07|publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc.|volume=14|issue=3|page=384}}
| rev3 = MacUser
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/MacUserUSDec1995_201511/page/n85 |title=The Game Room |last=Levitus |first=Bob |date=December 1995|publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc. |page=235}}
| award1Pub = Home PC
| award1 = Award of Excellence{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/the-learning-company-inc-history/|title=History of The Learning Company Inc. – FundingUniverse}}
| award2Pub = Parenting
| award2 = Software Magic Award
| award3Pub = Parent Council
| award3 = Seal for Outstanding Product
| award4Pub = Technology & Learning
| award4 = Award of Excellence for the School Category
| award5Pub = Parents' Choice
| award5 = Foundation Approval
| award6Pub = Mac Home
| award6 = Reader's Choice Award
| award7Pub = CD-ROM Today
| award7 = Best Children's Program-Reading Award
| award8Pub = Home Computing & Entertainment
| award8 = Best Educational Program Award
}}
CD-ROM Today rated the game 5 stars, meriting its simple interface and artistic design.
PC Magazine wrote that the game facilitates learning in a non-threatening and effective way. Creating Ever-cool noted that as the difficulty increases with each book, readers feel a "thrill of accomplishment" upon progressing.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cnSKDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT113|title=Creating Ever-cool: A Marketer's Guide to a Kid's Heart|last=Gene|first=Del Vecchio|date=2010-09-23|publisher=Pelican Publishing|isbn=9781455603084}} Working Mother praised the title's "creative approach".{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5CmroQQZxTsC&pg=PA54|title=Working Mother|date=March 1995|publisher=Working Mother Media|page=54}} The Washington Post praised the animation as "crisp and humorous".{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/09/28/lets-see-teenage-morphin-x-hog-rangers-from-hell/6604d1e1-b9fc-42ea-8d85-a5b5f001239c/ |title=Let's See...Teenage Morphin X-Hog Rangers from Hell? |last=Kelly|first=John F.|date=September 28, 1994 |newspaper=New York Times |access-date=March 11, 2019 |language=en-US}} The Parents Magazine declared that the game was the most comprehensive reading skill software of that time.{{cite web|title=Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey 1 - Parents Magazine |url=http://macintoshgarden.org/games/reader-rabbits-interactive-reading-journey-1 |quote="Bar none, this is the most comprehensive reading skill software program you can find" |accessdate=August 2, 2018}}
In June 1997, Interactive Reading Journey Learning and Interactive Reading Journey 2 were the 5th and 6th best selling reading titles.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-01-fi-27854-story.html|title=Educational Software|date=1997-09-01|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-03-11|issn=0458-3035}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/reader-rabbits-interactive-reading-journey}}
{{Reader Rabbit}}
Category:The Learning Company games
Category:Children's educational video games
Category:Software for children