Software:Geograficus

From HandWiki
Short description: Video Game
Geograficus
Geograficus Cover.jpeg
ReleaseOctober 2003
Genre(s)Adventure, Educational

Geograficus is a 2003 educational adventure video game, developed by Ruske & Pühretmaier and published by Heureka-Klett (up until 2005) and BrainGame Publishing (from 2005 after acquiring H-K's edutainment catalogue). The game was originally released in Germany.

History

The game, along with a video game in the Willy Werkel series entitled Willy Werkel baut Raumschiffe, were used at Pestalozzi-Fröbel-Haus in a 2005 program entitled "Expedition Earth" which encourages children to learn about geography through the interactive media.[1]

Gameplay

The gameplay is similar to that of video game Myst, in which players traverse through a series of static screens in a retro science-fiction setting.[2] The game aims to teach players about the Earth's physical geography and history of the Earth.[3]

The game has an internal interactive encyclopedia that contains scientific information and clues on how to complete the puzzles.[4]

Plot

The young protagonist Geo is tasked by the wise scientist Geograficus to locate the whereabouts of Balvin, a fire dragon who has gone missing.

Critical reception

Adventure Archiv questioned the choice to set an educational game in a fantasy world with dragons and magic, noting that the logic and physics of such worlds conflict with that of the real world thereby offering a confused message to players.[5] Angel Adventure thought the game was both captivating and beautiful,[6] while Kinderuni Darmstadt described it as interesting and logical.[7] Wissen.de gave the game a rating of 3/5 stars.[8] Macwelt thought the game's graphics or control did not live up to contemporary adventure games such as Uru (2003) or Broken Sword (2003).[9][10] Lizzy Net wrote that the game made good use of its educational content and made it palatable.[11] In her article Computer games in geography lessons: Learning does not always mean memorizing and timpani, Christina Bulow concluded that the program would not make a good classroom companion due to the high time investment required and the inefficiency of its educational-content delivery.[12]

The game was awarded the 2004 Comenius Seal of Quality,[13] and the 2004 GIGA mouse award for best educational game.[14]

References

  1. "Pestalozzi-Fröbel-Haus | Projekt Expedition Erde". http://www.pfh-bundesallee.de/Seiten/Betreuungsangebote/Projekt_Expedition_Erde_2005.htm. 
  2. Pivec, M. (2006-03-02) (in en). Affective and Emotional Aspects of Human-Computer Interaction: Game-Based and Innovative Learning Approaches. IOS Press. ISBN 9781607501497. https://books.google.com/books?id=1tfvAgAAQBAJ&q=%22Geograficus%22&pg=PA34. 
  3. slydos. "Geograficus - Review english". http://www.adventure-archiv.com/g/geograficusreviewe.htm. 
  4. "Geograficus [RUS скачать бесплатно"]. http://rus-game.net/Geograficus%20%5BRUS%5D%20%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C%20%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%BE.html. 
  5. slydos. "Geograficus - Review english". http://www.adventure-archiv.com/g/geograficusreviewe.htm. 
  6. "Geograficus Review". 2004-04-09. http://angels-adventure.de/album1_059.htm. 
  7. "Lernadventure im Test: Geograficus - Das Abenteuerspiel aus der Welt der Geografie" (in de). http://kinderuni-darmstadt.de/8004-lernadventure-im-test-geograficus-das-abenteuerspiel-aus-der-welt-der-geografie.html. 
  8. Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Konradin Medien GmbH. "Geograficus | wissen.de". http://www.wissen.de/geograficus. 
  9. Hartmann, Thomas. "Rezension: Lernadventure 'Geograficus'". Macwelt. https://www.macwelt.de/news/Rezension-Lernadventure-Geograficus-2856655.html. 
  10. Hartmann, Thomas. "Schöne Bilder". Macwelt. https://www.macwelt.de/news/Schoene-Bilder-2856661.html. 
  11. "LizzyNet.de - Geograficus" (in de). https://www.lizzynet.de/wws/5207332.php. 
  12. "Computerspiele im Geographieunterricht | w.e.b.Square". 2013-05-05. http://websquare.imb-uni-augsburg.de/2010-04/4. 
  13. "Zehn Comenius-Auszeichnungen für Klett-Softwaretitel". 25 June 2004. https://www.presseportal.ch/de/pm/100000133/100476388. 
  14. "Beste Lernspiele für Kinder ab 12 Jahre (und andere Altersgruppen)". https://www.mediengewalt.de/spiele/beste-lernspiele-kinder-12-jahre.shtml. 

External links