View source for Reader Rabbit (video game)

{{Short description|1984 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Reader Rabbit
| image = Reader_Rabbit_Cover_art.png
| caption =
| developer = [[The Learning Company]]<br/>The Connelley Group (Atari 8-bit)<ref name="RRAtari">{{cite web |title=Atari Mania - Reader Rabbit |url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-reader-rabbit_4302.html |access-date=March 5, 2017}}</ref>
| publisher = The Learning Company
| series = ''[[Reader Rabbit]]''
| platform = '''Original'''<br/>[[Apple II]], [[Apple IIGS]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Mac (computer)|Mac]]<br/>
'''Talking'''<br/>Apple IIGS<br/>
'''Reader Rabbit 1'''<br/>MS-DOS<br/>
'''Deluxe'''<br/>MS-DOS, [[Windows 3.x]], Mac<br/>
'''Reader Rabbit's Reading 1'''<br/>Windows, Mac
| released = 1984 (Original)<br/>1989 (Talking)<br/>1991 (Reader Rabbit 1)<br/>1994 (Deluxe)<br/>1997 (Reading 1)
| genre = [[Educational video game|Educational]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
}}

'''''Reader Rabbit''''' (fully titled "Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory" or alternatively known as "Reader Rabbit Builds Early Learning & Thinking"<ref name="RRWF-Allgame">{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16000 |title=''Reader Rabbit'' - Review - allgame |author=Brett Alan Weiss |publisher=[[Allgame]] |access-date= March 5, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115010301/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=34825 |archive-date=November 15, 2014}}</ref>) is a 1984 [[educational video game]] and the first of the long-running ''[[Reader Rabbit]]'' edutainment series. It was made by [[The Learning Company]] for [[Apple II]] and later for other computers. It supports the [[KoalaPad]] graphics tablet.<ref>{{cite book|date=1984 |title="Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory" Manual |url=https://archive.org/stream/A2_Reader_Rabbit_manual/Reader%20Rabbit%20manual#page/n13 |publisher=[[The Learning Company]] |page=11 |access-date=March 5, 2017}}</ref> The Connelley Group helped with the [[Atari 8-bit computers]] conversion in 1984.<ref name="RRAtari"/> A Talking version was developed for the [[Apple IIGS]] in 1989. An enhanced version was released for [[MS-DOS]] -n 1991. A Deluxe version was released in 1994 for Mac and Windows 3.x. In 1997, the game was remade for Windows and Macintosh under the title "Reader Rabbit's Reading 1".

==Gameplay==
The game takes place in the titular Word Factory, which teaches reading and spelling in four different activities and has over 200 three-letter words and more than 70 pictures for learning.<ref name="RRWF-Allgame"/><ref name="RR-CES">{{cite magazine|last=Staples |first=Betsy |title=Getting educated at CES; educational software crowds the show floor |url=https://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n4/154_Getting_educated_at_CES_.php |magazine=[[Creative Computing (magazine)|Creative Computing]] |volume=10 |issue=4 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=April 1984 |page=154}}</ref> The following four activities are:

*'''1. Sorter''' - the player is required to pick words that start with a chosen letter and discard the rest.
*'''2. Labeler''' - out of a number of mixed up letters, the player must use those letters to spell words that match three objects on the screen.
*'''3. Word Train''' - the player needs to select a word that slightly differs from the first.
*'''4. Matchup Games''' - the player must match picture cards with corresponding word cards.

==Development==
[[File:Reader Rabbit version 1.1.png|left|thumb|Reader Rabbit version 1.0 (1984)]]

''Reader Rabbit'' was originally conceived by the Grimm sisters; Leslie authored the game while Corinne and Cindy contributed the art. Version 1.0 of ''Reader Rabbit'', titled ''Reader Rabbit and the Fabulous Word Factory'', was released in early 1984<ref>{{Citation|last=Leslie Grimm|title=Reader Rabbit 1.1|date=1984-01-01|url=https://archive.org/details/ReaderRabbit11Ivyrea|publisher=The Learning Company|access-date=2017-02-06}}</ref> (and featured in the 1983 holiday special for ''[[Computer Chronicles]]''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/11/28/tech_nostalgia_1983_episode_of_the_computer_chronicles_offers_black_friday.html|title=Tech Time Capsule|last=Bradley|first=Laura|date=2014-11-28|newspaper=Slate|access-date=2017-02-06|language=en-US|issn=1091-2339}}</ref>), while versions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 were released in 1984.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gi4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40|magazine=InfoWorld|last1=Mace|first=Scott|last2=Caruso|first2=Denise|date=February 13, 1984|publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.|language=en|title=TLC shows off additions to firm's educational line|page=40}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Reader Rabbit 1.3 (4am crack)|date=2015-07-14|url=https://archive.org/details/ReaderRabbit134amCrack|access-date=2017-02-06}}</ref> Development for an updated 2.0 version began at the start of 1984. By this time, Leslie Grimm had suffered a disc fracture but was able to develop the game while bedridden, thanks to a detachable keyboard provided by her colleague Pete Rowe.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=January 1984|title=Softalk, Volume 4|url=https://archive.org/stream/softalkv4n05jan1984#page/64|magazine=[[Softalk]]|page=65|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> Many critics and gaming historians erroneously assert that the ''Reader Rabbit'' series officially began in 1986.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/293124/10-educational-pc-games-of-the-1980s/2|title=10 Educational PC Games of the 1980s|newspaper=PCMAG|access-date=2017-02-15|language=en|archive-date=2017-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113328/http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/293124/10-educational-pc-games-of-the-1980s/2|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1988, the first "talking" version of ''Reader Rabbit'' was released for the Apple IIGS and [[Tandy 1000]] computers.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1988-01-10|title=Educational software now receiving higher marks|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3864462.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207112711/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3864462.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-02-07}}</ref> The game was remade as an enhanced version for [[DOS]] in 1991 to incorporate the 256-color [[Video Graphics Array|VGA]] mode, [[sound card]] option and mouse compatibility.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fb-NRK57wIAC&pg=PT474|title=Reader Rabbit Redux|newspaper=PCMAG|date=31 December 1991|access-date=2018-01-31|language=en}}</ref> Another remake was done as a deluxe version along with its two sequels and implemented digitized speech.<ref>{{cite web | title=Reader Rabbit 1 Features | url=http://store.softkey.com/product/readerrabbit1/features.html | publisher=The Learning Company | access-date=February 1, 2018 | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970225011505/http://store.softkey.com/product/readerrabbit1/features.html | archive-date=February 25, 1997}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
<!-- Reviewers -->
<!-- Awards -->
 | award1Pub = [[Newsweek]] 
 | award1 = Editors' Choice Award, 1995 <small>'''(Deluxe)'''</small><ref name="RR1Awards">{{cite web | title=Reader Rabbit 1 Awards | url=http://store.softkey.com/product/readerrabbit1/awards.html | publisher=The Learning Company | access-date=February 1, 2018 | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970225011535/http://store.softkey.com/product/readerrabbit1/awards.html | archive-date=February 25, 1997}}</ref>
 | award2Pub = Gold Medal
 | award2 = National Association of Parenting Publications, 1994 <small>'''(Deluxe)'''</small><ref name="RR1Awards"/>
 | award3Pub = Reseller Management
 | award3 = "Best to Sell" Software Product - Education, 1992 <small>'''(Reader Rabbit 1)'''</small><ref name="RR1Awards"/>
 | award4Pub = Program of the Decade
 | award4 = Language Arts, Technology & Learning, 1991 <small>'''(Reader Rabbit 1)'''</small><ref name="RR1Awards"/>
 | award5Pub = [[Parents' Choice Foundation|Parents' Choice]]
 | award5 = Best Software of the Year, 1987 <small>'''(Original)'''</small><ref name="RR1Awards"/>
 | award6Pub = [[Family Computing]]
 | award6 = Critics' Choice Award, 1985 <small>'''(Original)'''</small><ref name="RR1Awards"/>
}}

The Learning Company showcased the game alongside ''Number Stamper'', ''Word Spinner'', ''Addition Magician'' and ''Colorasaurus'' in the 1984 Winter [[Consumer Electronics Show]].<ref name="RR-CES"/> Dr. Ann Piestrup praised the game for its ability to aid young learners in overcoming the difficulties of reading and its word recognition.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Mace |last2=Caruso |first1=Scott |first2=Denise |title=TLC shows off additions to firm's educational line |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gi4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40 |magazine=[[InfoWorld]] |issue=13 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=February 13, 1984 |page=40}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/reader-rabbit}}
* {{moby game|id=/reader-rabbits-reading-1|name=''Reader Rabbit's Reading 1''}}

{{Reader Rabbit}}

[[Category:1984 video games]]
[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:1991 video games]]
[[Category:1994 video games]]
[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:Apple II games]]
[[Category:Apple IIGS games]]
[[Category:Atari 8-bit computer games]]
[[Category:Children's educational video games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:The Learning Company games]]
[[Category:Reader Rabbit]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games about rabbits and hares]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Windows games]]