Richard Scarry's Busytown
| Richard Scarry's Busytown | |
|---|---|
 Sega Genesis title screen |
|
| Developer(s) | Pearson Software[1] (MS-DOS version) Novotrade[2] (Sega Genesis version) |
| Publisher(s) | Sega[3] (Sega Genesis version) Simon & Schuster[1] (MS-DOS version, remake) |
| Designer(s) | Andras Csaszar[3] Zoltan Csaszar[3] |
| Composer(s) | Andras Magyari[3] |
| Platform(s) | Sega Genesis MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | MS-DOS:
Sega Genesis:
Windows/Mac OS:
|
| Genre(s) | Edutainment[1][3] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | |
| Media/distribution | Sega Genesis cartridge CD-ROM |
| System requirements
MS-DOS 3.0 or better |
|
Richard Scarry's Busytown is a Sega Genesis and MS-DOS video game that was released for a younger generation of gamers.[5] This game was based on the television show The Busy World of Richard Scarry that was produced by CINAR and Paramount Television.
[edit] Gameplay
The game consists of an interactive story book that was written by Richard Scarry.[5] Most of the game is spent exploring Busytown looking for things to interact with using either the gamepad or a special mouse that could be purchased separately from the game and the console system.[5] Young gamers will do everything from building things to delivering something to repair a ship.[5] Games are relatively short and can be finished in about an hour.[5] Familiar faces from Richard Scarry's works of literature include Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm.[5]
There is also a game where the player controls the wind and can cause controlled havoc at the city park. All games offer basic vocabulary practice as simple puzzles help improve basic problem solving and English language skills. The voice quality of this game is realistic when compared to the cartoons of that era. All of the characters act and talk like their counterparts in the books and the cartoon series. If the player puts too much lemonade or soda in the glass and spills some out of the glass, then one of the characters asks the player "Are you blind?" in a gentle voice. Delivering stuff allows the town to slowly come to life.
[edit] Sequel and remake
There was a sequel for this game titled Richard Scarry's How Things Work In Busytown which received a 1994 North America-exclusive release from Pearson Software and Simpon & Schuster.[6] Like the original game, it is intended for a pre-kindergarten through second grade audience and was released for MS-DOS in addition to the Macintosh.[7] Children that play this game learn to assemble machinery, bake bread, and complete other processes that are necessary to live life.[7] This game makes kids think where food comes from, how bread is baked, and so on.[7] Different outcomes can be observed through the several different learning methods.[7] Young players can also learn vocabulary, word recognition, and sequencing.[7]
This video game was remade in 1999 by Simon & Schuster Software. It was released for the Microsoft Windows and Macintosh operating systems, and featured improved graphics and animation resembling the 1993 Busy World of Richard Scarry animated series. The gameplay is still the same, and the original songs from the 1993 release are included. However, the Bananas Gorilla portion of the game was removed.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "PC MS-DOS Release information". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/data/937088.html. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- ^ "Developer information (Sega Genesis version)". Genesis Collective. http://www.genesiscollective.com/ShowPage.php?GameLink=1045. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ a b c d e f "Sega Genesis release information". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/genesis/data/586419.html. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- ^ "Ratings information". Game Stats. http://www.gamestats.com/objects/490/490901/. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e f "Game summary". Sega-16. http://www.sega-16.com/review_page.php?id=713&title=Richard%20Scarry's%20Busytown. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ Richard Scarry's How Things Work In Busytown - GameFAQs
- ^ a b c d e Tech Learning
