Software:Junior Field Trips

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Junior Field Trips
Genre(s)Adventure, edutainment
Developer(s)Humongous Entertainment
Publisher(s)Humongous Entertainment[lower-alpha 1]
Creator(s)Ron Gilbert
Platform(s)Windows, Macintosh
First releaseLet's Explore the Farm (originally titled Junior Encyclopedias: The Farm)
October 1994
Latest releaseLet's Explore the Jungle
November 1995

The Junior Field Trips series is a trilogy of point-and-click children's computer and video games released by Humongous Entertainment in conjunction with Random House. These games (in general) offered virtual tours of particular locations related to their theme, and included a game suite with virtual coloring pages, a scavenger hunt, and various other games depending upon the title. They were originally released for Windows and Macintosh computers, but were re-released via Steam in April 2015.[1] These games were written using the SCUMM engine and can thus be played on additional platforms by using ScummVM.

The series was hosted by "Buzzy the Knowledge Bug" (voiced by Jim Cissell), a blue anthropomorphic insect who provides feedback on the locations when called upon and provided narration for each of the games. The Farm and Airport titles were written by the noted programmer Deborah Todd.

Games

Let's Explore the Farm

The first game was originally released on November 22, 1994[2] under the "Junior Encyclopedias" brand, with an updated version released on July 27, 1995, alongside Let's Explore the Airport[3] that revamped the user interface and added mini-games. Players visit a mixed farm and can explore the barn, animals, and crops. Available areas include a farmhouse, crop fields, an orchard, a chicken coop, and a duck pond. The farm has all of the activities and processes of a real, working farm. This includes milking a cow, collecting eggs from hens, harvesting corn, and more. Fact sheets about all the farm animals, plants, farm staff, and pieces of equipment are available. Mini-games (in Let's Explore only) include trivia, spelling quizzes, a coloring book, and an egg catching game.

Let's Explore the Airport

The second title was released on July 27, 1995, alongside Let's Explore the Farm.[3] Players visit an airport and can explore the various airport departments and the interior of the aircraft. Other areas include the airfield, a seaplane dock, and a helipad. The airport has all the processes, procedures, services, and specifications true to reality. Fact sheets with diagrams teach about the aircraft, airport staff, and machinery. Mini-games include trivia, object quizzes, object finding, a coloring book, and a lost luggage game.

Let's Explore the Jungle

The third title was released on November 15, 1995.[4] Players visit three different types of rainforests: South American, African, and Southeast Asian. Fact sheets about animal types and behavior, plants, places, and geographical objects are available. Mini-games include trivia, letter jumble, object finding, a coloring book, and an anteater feeding game.

Accolades

Reception
Awards
PublicationAward
Child Magazine1996 Best of the Year Award[5]
Parenting MagazineSoftware Magic Award[5]
Family PCTested and Recommended Award[5]
Family ChannelSeal of Quality Award[5]
Coalition for QualityChildren's Media Award[5]
National Parenting CenterSeal of Approval[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Junior Field Trips on Steam". Steam. http://store.steampowered.com/search/?snr=1_4_4__12&term=junior+field+trips. Retrieved June 1, 2015. 
  2. ↑ "Humongous Entertainment Launches New Interactive and Entertaining CD-ROM Children's Software Product Line at Summer CES (archived version)". PR News Wire. 23 June 1994. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20171215221218/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/HUMONGOUS+ENTERTAINMENT+LAUNCHES+NEW+INTERACTIVE+AND+ENTERTAINING...-a015490982. Retrieved 15 August 2019. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 ""Let's Explore the Airport" and "Let's Explore the Farm" CD-ROMs -- players of all ages explore the world in junior field trips". Business Wire. 26 July 1995. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/%22Let%27s+Explore+the+Airport%22+and+%22Let%27s+Explore+the+Farm%22+CD-ROMs+--...-a017354956. Retrieved 28 September 2017. 
  4. ↑ "Let's Explore The Jungle". http://www.humongous.com/about/pr/more/news/JUNGLE.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Humongous Entertainment - Press News - Coming Soon Magazine". Coming Soon Magazine. http://www.csoon.com/issue27/p_humon1.htm. Retrieved January 13, 2017. 
  1. ↑ The Steam release was co-published by Tommo and Night Dive Studios.
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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