The Playroom (1989 video game) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Playroom |
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Windows cover art
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| Developer(s) | Broderbund Presage Software (Macintosh, Windows) |
| Publisher(s) | Broderbund Infogrames (Amiga) |
| Designer(s) | Leslie Grimm Dennis Casewel Lynn Kirkpatrick |
| Artist(s) | Donna Buttlaire |
| Composer(s) | Tim Larkin Greg Rahn |
| Series | Early Learning Family Series |
| Platform(s) | Amiga, Apple II, MS-DOS, FM Towns, Mac, Windows |
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| Genre(s) | Educational |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The Playroom is a fun educational video game that first came out in 1989. It was made by Broderbund and designed to help young kids, especially those aged 3 to 6, get ready for school. The game lets you explore a virtual playroom with a friendly character named Pepper Mouse. It teaches important skills like counting, reading, and telling time in a playful way. Over the years, The Playroom was updated and released on many different computer systems, including Windows and Mac. It even had follow-up games like The Treehouse and The Backyard.
Contents
Exploring the Playroom
The Playroom takes place in Pepper Mouse's very own playroom. When you click on different toys or areas in the room, something exciting happens! You might see a fun animation, or a new learning activity will open up.
Fun Activities to Play
The game has several cool activities designed to help you learn:
- The Spinner: This is a simple game that helps with counting. It has four different levels, so you can start easy and get better.
- The ABC Book: Here, you can place objects onto two different scenes. It helps you learn about the English alphabet and new words.
- The Computer: This part of the game teaches you spelling and helps you get used to using a keyboard.
- The Cuckoo Clock: This activity shows you how to tell time, which is a super useful skill!
- The Mousehole Game: This is a dice-rolling game with three skill levels. It's a fun way to practice numbers.
- The Mix-Up Toy: With this toy, you can create your own silly characters! You can mix and match different heads, bodies, and legs.
The version of the game released in 1995 added even more to these activities. It also introduced Pepper's sister, Ginger, who joins in the fun!
Learning with The Playroom
The Playroom was created to make learning feel comfortable and fun for young players. It helps them get ready for school without feeling stressed. You don't even need to know how to read to start playing!
Skills You Can Learn
The game covers many important topics:
- Simple Math: Like counting with the spinner.
- Reading: Through the ABC book and the computer spelling game.
- Time: Using the cuckoo clock.
- Reasoning Skills: Thinking through puzzles and games.
The game pays close attention to details, making it easy to understand letters, words, and how to type. It also encourages imagination with activities like the mix-up toy. The game even came with a user manual that had extra fun activities to do offline. Some copies of the game also included a soft toy of Pepper Mouse! This game lets children learn at their own speed and play in their own way.
Game Release
The Playroom was first released on December 18, 1989, for computers like MS-DOS, Apple II, and Mac. Later, it was made available for other systems like Amiga and FM Towns. In 1995, a new version was created for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh computers. The game was also sold as part of a special CD pack that included another educational game called "James Discovers Math."
Images for kids
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A screenshot showing gameplay in The Playroom.
