Software:Amazon Trail II

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Amazon Trail II
Amazon Trail II Cover art.jpg
Cover art
Developer(s)The Adventure Company
Publisher(s)MECC
SeriesThe Oregon Trail
Platform(s)Windows, Macintosh
Release1996
Genre(s)Simulation[1][2]
Mode(s)Single-player

Amazon Trail II is a simulation video game developed by The Adventure Company and published by MECC for the Macintosh and Windows.[3] It was released in September 1996.[4] The game is a spin-off of The Oregon Trail.

It is the second video game in the Amazon Trail video game series, succeeding The Amazon Trail and preceding Amazon Trail 3rd Edition.[5]

It was included in a games bundle with the Quantex 5500,[6] and in the Trail Mix Social Studies Bundle with The Oregon Trail 3rd Edition and MayaQuest.[7] The Quantex QP6/333 M-1c package also included the game in its software package.[8]

Production

The aim of this educational video game is to teach players about the "culture, ecology, and history of the Amazon River".[5] Richard D. Thompson was the game's video director.[9]

The game was donated to The Strong National Museum of Play.[10]

Plot

The game starts with a mysterious incident at the Museum of Ancient Art, which results in the player ending up in the Amazon.[11] Players are then sent to find a local cure to a disease,[12] with the end goal being to reach the city of Vilcabamba.[13]

Gameplay

Featuring "the same gameplay and educational styling"[14] as The Oregon Trail, players take a virtual trip up the South American Amazon River in a canoe[5] in an interactive learning journey.[15] The game has 3 levels of difficulty.[16] Players receive points by remaining healthy, using their resources wisely, and conversing with characters correctly.[16] The best players have their names put into a high score list.[16] A fishing meter shows how hard the harpoon is thrown when fishing.[16] Tour guides ask the player questions which they must respond to further the game.[16] The game includes four river guides, 17 assignments, and 50 characters.[16]

Critical reception

Janice Reutter wrote in the Science and Children journal that the game is "an exciting, adventurous journey" with "attractive graphics", "mysterious and intriguing sound effects", and "beautiful 3D...scenes".[16] The Boston Herald favourably compared it to its "pretty simple" and "not very attractive" predecessor Amazon Trail, deeming it a "good buy for families who don't yet have Amazon Trail".[17] Computer Shopper said a software package that included the game was a "great starting point for the first-time buyer".[8] The Washington Post's review included testimony from their "kid software tester" Sarah Phillips, who said that parts of the game could be "pretty neat" or "extremely frustrating".[18] MECC deemed it "one of the most compelling interactive adventures ever".[19] TESL-EJ described it as "wonderful" and "imaginative".[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Computer-Assisted Language Learning: An Overview". http://www.journal.su.ac.th/index.php/suij/article/view/84/83. 
  2. ↑ "Advantages and Limitations of CALL". http://web.warwick.ac.uk/CELTE/tr/ovCALL/booklet1.htm. 
  3. ↑ Penix-Tadsen, Phillip (2016). Cultural Code: Video Games and Latin America. MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-03405-0. [page needed]
  4. ↑ Review, Children's Software (2001). The Complete Sourcebook on Children's Software. Children's Software Revue. ISBN 978-1-891983-05-4. [page needed]
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Software and CD-ROM Reviews on File. Facts on File, Incorporated. 1997. p. 635. https://books.google.com/books?id=dhsQAQAAMAAJ. 
  6. ↑ Inc, Future US (1999-07-01) (in en). Maximum PC. Future US, Inc.. https://books.google.com/books?id=1wEAAAAAMBAJ. 
  7. ↑ Leppert, Mary; Leppert, Michael (2001). Homeschooling Almanac 2002-2003. Crown Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7615-2856-2. [page needed]
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Quantex QP6/333 M-1c: Quantex ups the entry-level ante.(Hardware Review)(Evaluation). 1999-03-01. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-53703828.html. 
  9. ↑ "The Artistic Team". https://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/family/intothewoodsjr/behind/home.html. 
  10. ↑ "Amazon Trail II: Science & History". http://www.museumofplay.org/online-collections/22/66/109.10725. 
  11. ↑ "Amazon Trail II". https://www.metacritic.com/game/amazon-trail-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  12. ↑ "Amazon Trail II (PC)". http://au.ign.com/games/amazon-trail-ii/pc-758767. 
  13. ↑ "Amazon Trail II (Game) - Giant Bomb". http://www.giantbomb.com/amazon-trail-ii/3030-35894/. 
  14. ↑ "The Oregon Trail - Edutainment's First Video Game Hit - Apple II". http://classicgames.about.com/od/computergames/fr/OregonTrail_2.htm. 
  15. ↑ CD-ROMs in Print. Meckler. 2001. ISBN 978-0-7876-3356-1. [page needed]
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 Reutter, Janice (1997). "Amazon Trail II". Science and Children 35 (3): 59. ProQuest 236906679. 
  17. ↑ Kid tech.. 1997-03-30. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56419982.html. 
  18. ↑ Keep on Trackin'. 1997-03-14. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-706221.html. 
  19. ↑ "Amazon Trail II | Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium". http://www.mecc.co/mac--pc-products/trails/amazon-trail-ii.html. 
  20. ↑ "Oregon Trail II". http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume2/ej08/ej08m1/. 

Further reading



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