"Oregon Trail" computer game is now being developed as a movie

[branfont]

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — "The Oregon Trail," one of the most successful computer games of all time and a staple for children of the '80s and '90s, is currently being developed into a movie project.

Bill Heinemann says it's hard to find someone these days who hasn't heard of "The Oregon Trail." The computer game he co-created in 1971 at Carleton College in Northfield has sold tens of millions of copies and is in the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

"It's surprising and gratifying and humbling, in a way, that a little thing that I spent two weeks on has become a worldwide phenomenon," Heinemann said.

The idea sprouted when Heinemann's friend, Don Rawitsch, came up with a board game for students he was teaching that simulated 1800s settlers going west on the Oregon Trail.

Computers were in their very early days, and even though Heinemann says he'd only seen "Pac-Man," he sensed an opportunity.

"I said, 'That'll be a great application for a computer,' because you wouldn't have to shake the dice to see what happens," Heinemann said. "What happens could come up and be unexpected."

 

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oregon-trail-movie-creator-bill-heinemann/

[+Warwagon MVC]

But, of course, it is.

Someone in the movie better die of Dysentery.

[Taliseian]

...I hated it when they dissed Terry....

[TheReaperMan]

On 02/12/2024 at 04:40, Warwagon said:

But, of course, it is.

Someone in the movie better die of Dysentery.

I hope everyone in the movie dies of dysentery!

[neufuse Veteran]

movie better have a MECC logo in it's title cards, you didn't grow up in the 80s in the USA at least not knowing who MECC was...

[FloatingFatMan]

On 02/12/2024 at 01:07, branfont said:

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — "The Oregon Trail," one of the most successful computer games of all time and a staple for children of the '80s and '90s, is currently being developed into a movie project.

Bill Heinemann says it's hard to find someone these days who hasn't heard of "The Oregon Trail." The computer game he co-created in 1971 at Carleton College in Northfield has sold tens of millions of copies and is in the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

Gotta love the "America is the whole world" viewpoint here.  Amusingly, OUTSIDE of America, it's barely known at all...  Hell, the ONLY reason I've heard of it is because I'm into retro gaming and watch a lot of that content on YouTube...

 

Out of curiosity I looked it up on the various lists of most successful games... It's nowhere to be found.  

[+LightEco Subscriber²]

On 11/12/2024 at 01:26, FloatingFatMan said:

Out of curiosity I looked it up on the various lists of most successful games... It's nowhere to be found.  

Hey, it sold over 65 million copies so far in it's various forms, and that was back in 2011. That's nothing to pass by.

[FloatingFatMan]

On 11/12/2024 at 21:08, LightEco said:

Hey, it sold over 65 million copies so far in it's various forms, and that was back in 2011. That's nothing to pass by.

Don't tell me, tell the people who compile the lists!  

[adrynalyne]

On 11/12/2024 at 14:12, FloatingFatMan said:

Don't tell me, tell the people who compile the lists!  

I wonder if they are biased. 😛

[neufuse Veteran]

On 11/12/2024 at 16:12, FloatingFatMan said:

Don't tell me, tell the people who compile the lists!  

probably dont consider it a "game" since it was "Educational software"

[adrynalyne]

On 11/12/2024 at 17:03, neufuse said:

probably dont consider it a "game" since it was "Educational software"

Which is funny because the only thing I learned from it is dysentery. Was cool to play in grade school though on big ol 5.25 floppies. 

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

British: fully aware of this game and the comedy it could provide as a movie if done tongue in cheek.

[branfont]

On 12/12/2024 at 01:56, Dick Montage said:

British: fully aware of this game and the comedy it could provide as a movie if done tongue in cheek.

Check out the following:

 

[Steffan]

On 01/12/2024 at 22:40, Warwagon said:

But, of course, it is.

Someone in the movie better die of Dysentery.

I received an ornament a couple of a years ago as a departing gift from a department I left.

[Slugsie]

On 11/12/2024 at 21:30, adrynalyne said:

I wonder if they are biased. 😛

I wonder if they all died... of dysentery.

[TheReaperMan]

On 12/12/2024 at 09:56, Dick Montage said:

British: fully aware of this game and the comedy it could provide as a movie if done tongue in cheek.

I agree, maybe they could do a Grannies Garden game next!

[Son_Of_Dad]

Thought they already did a TV series it was the spinoff of Yellowstone, 1883

[FloatingFatMan]

On 13/12/2024 at 07:45, TheReaperMan said:

I agree, maybe they could do a Grannies Garden game next!

Clearly the best game for a TV spinoff is Manic Miner.  

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

On 24/12/2024 at 11:31, FloatingFatMan said:

Clearly the best game for a TV spinoff is Manic Miner.  

Bomberman

[dfuk]

Chuckie Egg