Reader Rabbit (video game)

{{Infobox video game

| title = Reader Rabbit

| image = Reader_Rabbit_Cover_art.png

| caption =

| developer = The Learning Company
The Connelley Group (Atari 8-bit){{cite web |title=Atari Mania - Reader Rabbit |url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-reader-rabbit_4302.html |access-date=March 5, 2017}}

| publisher = The Learning Company

| series = Reader Rabbit

| platform = Original
Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Mac
Talking
Apple IIGS
Reader Rabbit 1
MS-DOS
Deluxe
MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, Mac
Reader Rabbit's Reading 1
Windows, Mac

| released = 1984 (Original)
1989 (Talking)
1991 (Reader Rabbit 1)
1994 (Deluxe)
1997 (Reading 1)

| genre = Educational

| modes = Single-player

}}

Reader Rabbit (fully titled "Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory" or alternatively known as "Reader Rabbit Builds Early Learning & Thinking"{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16000 |title=Reader Rabbit - Review - allgame |author=Brett Alan Weiss |publisher=Allgame |access-date= March 5, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115010301/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=34825 |archive-date=November 15, 2014}}) is a 1984 educational video game and the first of the long-running Reader Rabbit edutainment series. It was made by The Learning Company for Apple II and later for other computers. It supports the KoalaPad graphics tablet.{{cite book|date=1984 |title="Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory" Manual |url=https://archive.org/stream/A2_Reader_Rabbit_manual/Reader%20Rabbit%20manual#page/n13 |publisher=The Learning Company |page=11 |access-date=March 5, 2017}} The Connelley Group helped with the Atari 8-bit computers conversion in 1984. A Talking version was developed for the Apple IIGS in 1989. An enhanced version was released for MS-DOS in 1991. A Deluxe version was released in 1994 for Mac and Windows 3.x. In 1997, the game was remade for Windows and Macintosh under the title "Reader Rabbit's Reading 1".

Gameplay

The game takes place in the titular Word Factory, which teaches reading and spelling in four different activities and has over 200 three-letter words and more than 70 pictures for learning.{{cite magazine|last=Staples |first=Betsy |title=Getting educated at CES; educational software crowds the show floor |url=https://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n4/154_Getting_educated_at_CES_.php |magazine=Creative Computing |volume=10 |issue=4 |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=April 1984 |page=154}} The following four activities are:

1. Sorter - the player is required to pick words that start with a chosen letter and discard the rest.
2. Labeler - out of a number of mixed up letters, the player must use those letters to spell words that match three objects on the screen.
3. Word Train - the player needs to select a word that slightly differs from the first.
4. Matchup Games - the player must match picture cards with corresponding word cards.

Development

File:Reader Rabbit version 1.1.png

Reader Rabbit was originally conceived by the Grimm sisters; Leslie authored the game while Corinne and Cindy contributed the art. Version 1.0 of Reader Rabbit, titled Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory, was released in early 1984{{Citation|last=Leslie Grimm|title=Reader Rabbit 1.1|date=1984-01-01|url=https://archive.org/details/ReaderRabbit11Ivyrea|publisher=The Learning Company|access-date=2017-02-06}} (and featured in the 1983 holiday special for Computer Chronicles{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/11/28/tech_nostalgia_1983_episode_of_the_computer_chronicles_offers_black_friday.html|title=Tech Time Capsule|last=Bradley|first=Laura|date=2014-11-28|newspaper=Slate|access-date=2017-02-06|language=en-US|issn=1091-2339}}), while versions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 were released in 1984.{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gi4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40|magazine=InfoWorld|last1=Mace|first=Scott|last2=Caruso|first2=Denise|date=February 13, 1984|publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.|language=en|title=TLC shows off additions to firm's educational line|page=40}}{{Citation|title=Reader Rabbit 1.3 (4am crack)|date=2015-07-14|url=https://archive.org/details/ReaderRabbit134amCrack|access-date=2017-02-06}} Development for an updated 2.0 version began at the start of 1984. By this time, Leslie Grimm had suffered a disc fracture but was able to develop the game while bedridden, thanks to a detachable keyboard provided by her colleague Pete Rowe.{{cite magazine|date=January 1984|title=Softalk, Volume 4|url=https://archive.org/stream/softalkv4n05jan1984#page/64|magazine=Softalk|page=65|access-date=February 2, 2017}} Many critics and gaming historians erroneously assert that the Reader Rabbit series officially began in 1986.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/293124/10-educational-pc-games-of-the-1980s/2|title=10 Educational PC Games of the 1980s|newspaper=PCMAG|access-date=2017-02-15|language=en|archive-date=2017-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113328/http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/293124/10-educational-pc-games-of-the-1980s/2|url-status=dead}}

In 1988, the first "talking" version of Reader Rabbit was released for the Apple IIGS and Tandy 1000 computers.{{Cite journal|date=1988-01-10|title=Educational software now receiving higher marks|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3864462.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207112711/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3864462.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-02-07}} The game was remade as an enhanced version for DOS in 1991 to incorporate the 256-color VGA mode, sound card option and mouse compatibility.{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fb-NRK57wIAC&pg=PT474|title=Reader Rabbit Redux|newspaper=PCMAG|date=31 December 1991|access-date=2018-01-31|language=en}} Another remake was done as a deluxe version along with its two sequels and implemented digitized speech.{{cite web | title=Reader Rabbit 1 Features | url=http://store.softkey.com/product/readerrabbit1/features.html | publisher=The Learning Company | access-date=February 1, 2018 | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970225011505/http://store.softkey.com/product/readerrabbit1/features.html | archive-date=February 25, 1997}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| award1Pub = Newsweek

| award1 = Editors' Choice Award, 1995 (Deluxe){{cite web | title=Reader Rabbit 1 Awards | url=http://store.softkey.com/product/readerrabbit1/awards.html | publisher=The Learning Company | access-date=February 1, 2018 | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970225011535/http://store.softkey.com/product/readerrabbit1/awards.html | archive-date=February 25, 1997}}

| award2Pub = Gold Medal

| award2 = National Association of Parenting Publications, 1994 (Deluxe)

| award3Pub = Reseller Management

| award3 = "Best to Sell" Software Product - Education, 1992 (Reader Rabbit 1)

| award4Pub = Program of the Decade

| award4 = Language Arts, Technology & Learning, 1991 (Reader Rabbit 1)

| award5Pub = Parents' Choice

| award5 = Best Software of the Year, 1987 (Original)

| award6Pub = Family Computing

| award6 = Critics' Choice Award, 1985 (Original)

}}

The Learning Company showcased the game alongside Number Stamper, Word Spinner, Addition Magician and Colorasaurus in the 1984 Winter Consumer Electronics Show. Dr. Ann Piestrup praised the game for its ability to aid young learners in overcoming the difficulties of reading and its word recognition.{{cite magazine|last1=Mace |last2=Caruso |first1=Scott |first2=Denise |title=TLC shows off additions to firm's educational line |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gi4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40 |magazine=InfoWorld |issue=13 |publisher=IDG |date=February 13, 1984 |page=40}}