Software:Reader Rabbit Toddler

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 education video game
Reader Rabbit Toddler
CD cover art
Developer(s)KnowWare
Publisher(s)The Learning Company
SeriesReader Rabbit
Platform(s)Windows, Macintosh
ReleaseJune 1997[1]
Genre(s)Edutainment
Mode(s)Single-player

Reader Rabbit Toddler (also known as Reader Rabbit's Toddler) is a 1997 educational video game developed by KnowWare and published by The Learning Company. It is part of the Reader Rabbit series.

Development

Production

The game was part of Reader Rabbit's Early Learning Series, along with Reader Rabbit Preschool and Reader Rabbit Kindergarten. The game was packaged with Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby into Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby and Toddler.[2]

Educational goals

The game minimizes the presence of text to make it easy for illiterate players and to keep them interested. Users are free to click on objects without being prompted, allowing for flexible exploration. Children are able to bridge together the keyboard inputs and screen outputs in the gameplay. Much younger children are recommended to experience the game with an older sibling or adult who will give them adequate help. The activities in the game are intended to prepare a child for preschool including number and letter recognition and sequencing, patterns, matching, sorting and basic phonic skills. Difficulty in the game increases with every success made, although the focus is not about getting answers correct but rather learning from incorrect ones.[3]

Gameplay

The players do not need to use a point-and-click interface to seek enjoyment from the game. They simply have to roll their mouse over hotspots to interact with the game.[4] The game has eight activities, including Peek-a-Boo Zoo, the Bubble Castle and Musical Meadow.[5] The product has multiple difficulty levels.[6]

Reception

Critical reception

SuperKids noted the game appealed to both children and their parents.[7] Edutaining Kids thought the title was the best educational game for toddlers, and a "delightful introduction" into using computers.[4] TechWithKids deemed the title a "winner".[8] DiscoverySchool thought the game was "exceptional", "useful", and "exudes warmth" toward the player.[2] ReviewCorner praised the game's graphics, activities, and the simple interface.[9] Allgame said the graphics were more sophisticated than other Reader Rabbit titles, due to having 3D backgrounds and shading on the 2D characters.[10] Black Enterprise said the graphics were "clean, bright and simple".[11][12] The Exceptional Parent thought the game had "enjoyable cause and effect".[13] According to Chicago Sun-Times, the developers understood "what young kids are capable of doing".[14] Redbook praised the game for being playable by kids who were unable to use the point and click mouse interface.[15] Post-Tribune thought the game was a "perfect first-time introduction to the computer".[16] PC Mag said the game had "unmistakable shortcomings".[17]

Commercial performance

Reader Rabbit Toddler was the 9th top-selling education video game in October[18] and November 1997,[19] and the week ended in February 1998.[20] The game generated $1.8 million in revenue.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Portefield, Deborah (December 23, 1997). "Toddlers becoming software consumers". p. 32. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103562938/florida-today/. Retrieved June 13, 2022. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "DiscoverySchool.com - Review Corner". http://school.discoveryeducation.com/parents/reviewcorner/software/rrplaybabytoddler.html. 
  3. ↑ Ross, David (August 16, 1997). "Helping toddlers to hippety-hop into the world of learning" (in en). Press-Telegram. http://presstelegram.laserfiche.com/WebLink/DocView.aspx?dbid=0&id=1165&page=21&cr=1. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Edutaining Kids: Reader Rabbit Toddler Review". http://www.edutainingkids.com/reviews/rrtoddler.html. 
  5. ↑ "Fun-Filled Multisubject Reader Rabbit Series for Earliest Learners Available Today From The Learning Company - Free Online Library". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fun-Filled+Multisubject+Reader+Rabbit+Series+for+Earliest+Learners...-a019566340. 
  6. ↑ "The Learning Company, Inc. to Debut New Line of Multisubject, Age Appropriate Software Products - Free Online Library". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Learning+Company,+Inc.+to+Debut+New+Line+of+Multisubject,+Age...-a019397666. 
  7. ↑ "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's Toddler.". http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/early/2/rrtoddle/merge.shtml. 
  8. ↑ "Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby & Toddler Review - TechWithKids.com". http://www.techwithkids.com/Review_SR00219S_reader-rabbit-playtime-for-baby-toddler. 
  9. ↑ "Reader Rabbit Toddler Software Game". 2005-04-24. Archived from the original on 2005-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20050424060013/http://www.reviewcorner.com/software/readerrabbittoddler.html. 
  10. ↑ "Reader Rabbit Toddler - Review - allgame". 2014-12-12. Archived from the original on 2014-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20141212073023/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21868&tab=review. 
  11. ↑ "The fun-damentals of learning: this holiday season, leave the video games in the store and give the gift of knowledge instead. - Free Online Library". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+fun-damentals+of+learning%253A+this+holiday+season,+leave+the+video...-a020048723. 
  12. ↑ Ltd, Earl G. Graves (1997-12-01) (in en). Black Enterprise. Earl G. Graves, Ltd.. https://books.google.com/books?id=fl4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=Reader%2520Rabbit%2520Toddler&pg=PA39. 
  13. ↑ "Software for PLAY and ACTIVE Early Learning. - Free Online Library". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Software+for+PLAY+and+ACTIVE+Early+Learning.-a053279842. 
  14. ↑ Little kids and PCs: So far it's hit and (mostly) miss. 2003-05-31. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1482597.html. 
  15. ↑ The best learning software.(Mommy Strategies) (Bibliography). 2004-09-01. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-121873202.html. 
  16. ↑ HOLIDAY FARE CAN INCLUDE GIFTS OF SOFTWARE THAT TEACHES CHILDREN A VARIETY OF SKILLS. 1998-11-20. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-1084914C8D05F30A.html. 
  17. ↑ (in en) PC Mag. Ziff Davis, Inc.. 1998-02-10. https://books.google.com/books?id=fFrjSBw0w14C&dq=Reader%2520Rabbit%2520Toddler&pg=PA336. 
  18. ↑ A SPECIAL BUSINESS REPORT; SectorSnapshot; Little multimedia firms gain big voice.. 1998-02-19. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56385109.html. 
  19. ↑ "The Learning Company Announces 29% Increase In Year Over Year Dollar Sales in November - Free Online Library". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Learning+Company+Announces+29%2525+Increase+In+Year+Over+Year+Dollar...-a020104794. 
  20. ↑ BESTSELLERS. 1998-03-09. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-649107.html. 
  • 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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