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'''[[The Magic School Bus]]'' franchise includes many units of [[educational software]] published by Microsoft. The video game series of interactive adventures was based on ''[[The Magic School Bus]]'' [[The Magic School Bus (book series)|book series]] and [[The Magic School Bus (TV series)|public television series]].<ref name="highbeam.com">{{Cite journal|date=1994-12-16|title=Seeing the body electric Programs can help children learn anatomy|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8308440.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008201944/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8308440.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}}</ref> ==Computer== Most of the original titles were created by the software company [[Music Pen]] in collaboration with [[Microsoft]] and [[Scholastic Press]], the publisher of the ''Magic School Bus'' book series. To access the home market, Microsoft created a video game brand called [[Microsoft Home]], and a software series was created under that umbrella.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19941223&id=RCZJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XwYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1416,3678340&hl=en|title=The Hour - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19941225&id=YJxjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WOcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4393,3496314&hl=en|title=Lawrence Journal-World - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> Like the TV series, the bus was animated in the usual way, in the [[CD-ROM]] games, it is typically animated with [[computer generated imagery]]. In all these titles the user gets to "drive" the bus, which almost always involves clicking on the [[steering wheel]] and choosing a location. (The exception is ''The Magic School Bus Explores Inside the Earth'' where it is the gear shift instead of the steering wheel.) Most of the games have seven different locations, including the classroom. There is always some goal for the user in each one. The video game series (both original titles and activity centers) are targeted for children ages 5-10. System requirements vary among the games. Games with the ''Macintosh'' indication can be used on a Macintosh LC 550 or newer with a minimum of System 7.1, 8 MB RAM, 8 MB hard disk space, color monitor, and 2X CD-ROM drive. ===''The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System'' (1994)=== This game is a computer version of both the book ''The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System'' and the episode "The Magic School Bus Gets Lost in Space". The user can fly the bus to any planet he or she chooses and play experiments and click on things there. To win the game, the user has to discover the whereabouts of the Friz. To do so they have to play a "whatsit" game to earn a token which gives them a clue as to which planet Ms. Frizzle is on. Once Ms. Frizzle is found, the bus will return to the classroom and the game begins again. All nine planets, plus the moon can be visited. When the gas giants are visited, the bus lands on one of their moons. This game is also one of the few in the series in which Liz can talk. The game was one of the chosen few "highly visual scholastic programs" in the Citrus Country library System's new youth CD-ROM station in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19970219&id=58NNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3A4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4564,1816279&hl=en|title=Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> The Spokesman-Review deemed it a "fact-and-fun filled ride".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19950206&id=1mFWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QfEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2679,4522609&hl=en|title=The Spokesman-Review - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> ===''The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body'' (1994, ''Macintosh'')=== This game is based on the book ''The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body'' and the episode from the TV series "The Magic School Bus for Lunch". Arnold has become the class' next field trip. The user can drive the bus to 12 different organs. In some locations, the player can leave the bus. Each place has an arcade game and a science experiment and a lot to explore. This is the first game that allows the user to sign in and go to the back of the bus. This is also one of the few games in which Liz can talk. This is the only game to not have a "missing collectible" minigame (where the player must find a specific and fixed number of missing collectibles). Quandary and All Game Guide both gave the game 70/100.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/scholastics-the-magic-school-bus-explores-the-human-body/mobyrank|title=Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body for Macintosh (1994) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref><ref name="metzomagic.com">{{cite web|url=http://metzomagic.com/showArticle.php?index=11|title=The Magic School Bus Explores The Human Body Review by metzomagic.com|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15992&tab=review|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116100202/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15992&tab=review|title=Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body|archivedate=16 November 2014|publisher=Rovi Corporation}}</ref> Superkids gave it 3.5/5 stars.<ref name="metzomagic.com"/> The Milwaukee Sentinel was bemused that the program got a kindergartner playtester interested in the small intestines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19941217&id=_apRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JBMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4756,6232334&hl=en|title=The Milwaukee Sentinel - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> Bangor Daily News deemed it a "splendid mix of experiments, explanations, and games".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19941221&id=fgFgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Tw4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1430,1802778&hl=en|title=Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> The Daily Gazette deemed it "delightful".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19941218&id=4e8wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jOAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1335,4617113&hl=en|title=The Daily Gazette - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> The Boston Globe tested the problem on the latest Compaq Presario computer, yet experience game-breaking technical issues; the newspaper therefore commented that "Microsoft should be ashamed of itself".<ref name="highbeam.com"/> The Economist said the game was less informative than [[DK Multimedia]] titles.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1995-05-13|title=How does water become wee? (worthwhile educational and entertainment software titles for children)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16829907.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194427/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16829907.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}}</ref> The game was the 6th most popular education titles in the education category sold in Software Etc. and Babbage's stores in the Washington area in the week ending September 27, 1997.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1997-10-06|title=Bestsellers|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-747637.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008201849/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-747637.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}}</ref> ===''The Magic School Bus Explores the Ocean'' (1995, ''Macintosh'')=== This game is based on ''The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor'' and the TV episode "The Magic School Bus Gets Eaten". The class has taken a field trip to the beach. There they found a message in a bottle, with clues to a treasure. The user explores the ocean and follows clues that lead him/her to the treasure. This was the first [[CD-ROM]] that featured the entire cast on the bus and is the only game where the classroom can't be visited. This is also the first game to save the game in multiple files. A [[Nintendo DS]] version was released in 2011. The game won an award for Home PC - Holiday Gift Guide - The Best Programs of 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/scholastics-the-magic-school-bus-explores-the-ocean/trivia|title=Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the Ocean for Macintosh (1996) Trivia - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> The Cedartown Standard praised the game for combining fun with education.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=365&dat=19951219&id=B-cvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ND8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7050,4639204&hl=en|title=The Cedartown Standard - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> ===''The Magic School Bus Explores Inside the Earth'' (1996)=== This game is based on the book ''The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth'' and the episode "The Magic School Bus Blows Its Top". Arnold has lost some of the rocks and [[mineral]]s in his collection. He is missing four rocks. The user (who has to find four missing rocks) explores several places such as a canyon, a [[geode]], a [[geologic fault|fault]], a volcano, and an undersea environment; this undersea environment features a [[subduction zone]], a [[mid-ocean ridge]], and an underwater volcano). The user can collect rocks in various ways. The goal is to find replacements for the rocks and minerals Arnold lost. When the user creates a file, up to six files can be saved. Liz is able to speak in this game, Superkids gave the game a score of 4.3/5.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/1st_look/msbearth/merge.shtml|title=SuperKids Software Review of Magic School Bus Inside the Earth.|publisher=}}</ref> Alamo PC Organization wrote that "the program is both educating and entertaining".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alamopc.org/pcalamode/reviews/archive1/rev126.htm|title=Review: The Magic School Bus Explores Inside the Earth|publisher=}}</ref> ===''The Magic School Bus Explores in the Age of Dinosaurs'' (1996)=== This game is based on the book ''The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs'' and the episode "The Magic School Bus The Busasaurus". This is the last game in the software series to be based with the books from the original series. Ms. Frizzle is missing three photographs of prehistoric animals from her photo album (which can either be "Meat Eating Dinosaurs", "Plant Eating Dinosaurs", or "Reptiles That Aren't Dinosaurs"; chosen at random) of her last trip to the age of dinosaurs and the user has to find replacements. There are three missing photos. After the player finds all three of the photos, they are awarded with a mask of a prehistoric animal (''[[Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' for "Meat Eating Dinosaurs", or ''[[Brachiosaurus]]'' for "Plant Eating Dinosaurs", or ''[[Pterodactylus]]'' for "Reptiles That Aren't Dinosaurs") to print and cut out. There are seven different places ([[Triassic]] [[Arizona]], [[Triassic]] [[Argentina]], [[Jurassic]] [[Colorado]], [[Jurassic]] [[Tanzania]], [[Jurassic]] [[Tethys Sea]], [[Cretaceous]] [[Mongolia]], and [[Cretaceous]] [[Alberta]]). Unlike in its two adaptations (the said book from the book series ''The Magic School Bus: In the Time of the Dinosaurs'' and the episode "The Magic School Bus: The Busasaurus") where the Bus transforms into a time machine. In this version, however, the Bus transforms into three different prehistoric animals. The prehistoric animals (which are from the time periods during the [[Mesozoic era]]) that the Bus transforms into is ''[[Coelophysis]]'' (for the Triassic Period), ''[[Stegosaurus]]'' (for the Jurassic Period), and ''[[Pteranodon]]'' (for the Cretaceous Period). Occasionally, the time machine on the bus may malfunction and take the player to one of two cutscenes from the Cretaceous (both cutscenes have the Bus take form as a ''Pteranodon'' from the Cretaceous; which is seen for Cretaceous Mongolia and Cretaceous Alberta). However, to skip the cutscenes, the player can click on the "X" sign. But there are two cutscenes. The first cutscene is the ''Tyrannosaurus Rex''. The ''T. Rex'', he tries to chew the Bus and ends up eating the "X" sign (leaving that untouched as he tries to chomp down and eat his way on everything else on the bus). The second one is in the Cretaceous; set where meteors shower down where the dinosaurs face extinction. This game has very elaborate CGI forms for the bus. Although the classroom location song has changed in the following games, the game's classroom location song is the same as ''The Magic School Bus Explores Inside the Earth'', but had added more rhythm in between. Also, in this game the user can replace previously saved data on one of the files when all six have already been saved. Both ''All Game Guide'' and ''Quandary'' gave it 70/100.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/scholastics-the-magic-school-bus-explores-in-the-age-of-dinosaur/mobyrank|title=Scholastic's The Magic School Bu"s Explores in the Age of Dinosaurs for Windows (1996) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> Metzomagic gave it 3.5/5 stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metzomagic.com/showArticle.php?index=157|title=The Magic School Bus Explores in the Age of Dinosaurs Review by metzomagic.com|publisher=}}</ref> Microsoft donated copies of the game to high school students via the University of Maine Upward Bound Program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19961108&id=1RpbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6U4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3494,2286249&hl=en|title=Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> ===''The Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest'' (1997)=== The class is decorating their classroom for "Rainforest Day". Wanda brought a "Right-Away-Rainforest Toolbox" that could do the job, but three or four "bio-clones" are missing from the kit. Ms. Frizzle takes the class on a field trip to the [[Costa Rica]]n rainforest to find the (three or four) missing bio-clones. This is the only game where Ms. Frizzle's middle name is mentioned. This game was the first game (first of three games) in the CD-ROM series not to be based on any books. However, the game is based on the episode "The Magic School Bus In the Rainforest". ''All Game Guide'' gave it 80/100.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/scholastics-the-magic-school-bus-explores-the-rainforest/mobyrank|title=Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest for Windows (1997) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> ===''The Magic School Bus Explores the World of Animals'' (1999)=== While Tina Marie Goff continues her role as Ms. Frizzle in the software series, this is the first game in the software series to replace the original voice actors of the eight children from the TV series. Starting with this game, this game is the first of two CD-ROMs to not be based on the books or TV series. In this game, the user has to find all the four missing animals from the incorrect habitats and send them back to their own habitats where they each belong. Unlike the previous games, the user enters his or her name before playing the game instead of creating a file within creating a face on the Driver's License screen, and the save option was removed so the game is automatically saved when quitting the game. When traveling to certain habitats, one of the children is transformed into an animal (for example, Arnold becomes a bull frog in the swamp), Superkids gave the game a score of 4.7/5.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/science/6/msanimal/merge.shtml|title=SuperKids Software Review of Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Explores the World of Animals.|publisher=}}</ref> Bangor Daily News said the game "is jampacked with unusual animals, interesting information, games, puzzles, and experiments".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19990624&id=JqZJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mQ0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3783,2930555&hl=en|title=Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> ===''The Magic School Bus Explores Bugs'' (2000)=== The replacement voice actors from ''Animals'' continue their roles in this game, in which pairs of the children have designed biodomes for a contest, but each pair has lost one of the bugs from their projects. This is the final game in the original software series. Like the other game (''The Magic School Bus Explores the World of Animals''), this last game in the software is again not based with any adaptation (book series, TV tie in books, or TV series). The player's task in this game is to find a specimen of each of the four missing bugs in one of four natural habitats. In each habitat, one of the children transforms into a bug, e.g. Keesha changes into a luna moth in the forest. The game was given a score of 90/100 by Tech with Kids (Computing with Kids) and 50/100 by Macworld.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/magic-school-bus-explores-bugs/mobyrank|title=The Magic School Bus Explores Bugs for Macintosh (2000) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> SuperKids gave it 4.5/5.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/science/9/msbugs/merge.shtml|title=SuperKids Software Review of Magic School Bus Explores Bugs|publisher=}}</ref> Ludington Daily News praised the game for its high quality engaging multimedia and accurate information.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=20000629&id=dTNQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nlUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5921,10129045&hl=en|title=Ludington Daily News - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}}</ref> ==Sega Genesis== *''Scholastic's The Magic School Bus: Space Exploration Game'' (1995) **This was the only game created on a medium other ([[Sega Genesis]]) than PC CD-ROM. The premise was for the Magic School Bus to select a destination (starting with The Moon and reaching all the way out to Pluto). The game would then follow the same format, where Ms. Frizzle would take off into outer space, and the player (As Phoebe) would have to find her. All missions consisted of flying to the planet (while taking photographs of various space objects, shooting apart meteors, and collecting "space buoys" for fuel), landing the bus on a platform successfully, traversing the planet on foot to find Ms. Frizzle, and finally, putting together a sliding jigsaw puzzle to complete the stage. All this with plenty of bonus games along the way, one based heavily on [[Asteroids (arcade game)|Asteroids]] and the other on [[Breakout (arcade game)|Breakout]]. Sega-16.com gave it 90/100, while Video Games & Computer Entertainment gave it 60/100.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/genesis/scholastics-the-magic-school-bus-space-exploration-game/mobyrank|title=Scholastic's The Magic School Bus: Space Exploration Game for Genesis (1995) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> ==Sega Pico== * A [[Sega Pico]] title under the same name was released in 1995. The game is about going to various places (such as the time of [[dinosaur]]s, the [[solar system]], etc.) ===Activity Centres=== ====''The Magic School Bus: In Concert Activity Center'' (2000)==== This game was developed by KnowWonder and published by Microsoft. It received a score of 76/100 by Review Corner and 60/100 by All Game Guide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/magic-school-bus-in-concert/mobyrank|title=Magic School Bus in Concert for Windows (2000) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> ====''The Magic School Bus: Lands on Mars Activity Center'' (2000)==== This game was developed by KnowWonder and published by Microsoft. It received a score of 77/100 by Review Corner and 50/100 by All Game Guide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/magic-school-bus-lands-on-mars/mobyrank|title=Magic School Bus Lands on Mars for Windows (2000) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> Superkids gave it 4.7/5.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/science/8/msbmars/merge.shtml|title=SuperKids Software Review of Magic School Bus Lands on Mars|publisher=}}</ref> ====''The Magic School Bus: Whales and Dolphins Activity Center'' (2001)==== This game was developed by KnowWonder and published by Microsoft. It received a score of 90/100 by Tech with Kids (Computing with Kids), and 85/100 by Review Corner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/magic-school-bus-whales-and-dolphins/mobyrank|title=Magic School Bus Whales and Dolphins for Windows (2001) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> ====''The Magic School Bus: Discovers Flight Activity Center'' (2001)==== This game was developed by KnowWonder and published by Microsoft. It received a score of 90/100 by Tech with Kids (Computing with Kids).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/magic-school-bus-discovers-flight/mobyrank|title=Magic School Bus Discovers Flight for Windows (2001) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> Superkids gave it 4.3/5.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/science/8/msflight/merge.shtml|title=SuperKids Software Review of The Magic School Bus Discovers Flight Activity Center .|publisher=}}</ref> ====''The Magic School Bus: Volcano Adventure Activity Center'' (2001)==== This game was developed by KnowWonder and published by Microsoft. It received a score of 90/100 by Tech with Kids (Computing with Kids), 83/100 by Review Corner, and 40/100 by Mac Addict.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/magic-school-bus-volcano-adventure/mobyrank|title=Magic School Bus Volcano Adventure for Macintosh (2001) MobyRank - MobyGames|work=MobyGames}}</ref> ==Portable Mobile Games== ===Nintendo DS=== ====''The Magic School Bus: Oceans'' (2011)==== The game was developed by Big Blue Bubble Inc.and Published by Scholastic for the Nintendo DS console. ===Mobile Smartphone=== Published by Scholastic and released on Android and Apple devices as "Touch and tilt" storybooks that included games <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://appadvice.com/appnn/2011/01/scholastic-debuts-line-touch-tilt-interactive-storybooks-ipad|title=Scholastic Debuts Its Line Of Touch & Tilt Interactive Storybooks For iPad|last=Author|first=AppAdvice Staff|date=2011-01-03|website=AppAdvice|language=en|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref>. ====''The Magic School Bus: Dinosaurs'' (2010)==== Described an in iterative storybook, the app included a game with "7 different levels that explores where dinosaurs lived around the world."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scholastic.com/apps/#/msb-dinosaurs|title=Mobile Apps|website=www.scholastic.com|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref> ====''The Magic School Bus: Oceans'' (2010)==== Also described as an interactive storybook, this one "features 1 highly re-playable game that includes over 20 animals in which children can play to earn points for more science facts and to travel to other areas of the ocean." <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scholastic.com/apps/#/msb-oceans|title=Mobile Apps|website=www.scholastic.com|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020207014752/http://www.microsoft.com/mac/download/msb/volcano/msbvolcanoinstall.bin |date=February 7, 2002 |title=Volcano Adventure}} demo for [[Classic Mac OS]] and [[List of macOS components#Classic|Classic Environment]] {{The Magic School Bus}} {{Microsoft Kids}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Magic School Bus}} [[Category:The Magic School Bus]] [[Category:Children's educational video games]] [[Category:Science educational video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Windows games]]'