Discoveries in Learning Series: Difference between revisions

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== <br />Description ==
== <br />Description ==


The Sierra Disney Games <!-- consists of 3 early titles, created between 1984 and 1986: Donald Duck's Playground, Mickey's Space Adventure and Winnie the Pooh in the Hundred-Acre Wood. These 3 games were released in 1984 in a plastic clamshell box, and in 1986 in a cardboard flip box and were edutainment games. Al Lowe, who already had experience in the edutainment genre (Dragon's Keep), was in charge of the Sierra-Disney Software department.
The Sierra Disney Games consists of 3 early titles, created between 1984 and 1986: Donald Duck's Playground, Mickey's Space Adventure and Winnie the Pooh in the Hundred-Acre Wood. These 3 games were released in 1984 in a plastic clamshell box, and in 1986 in a cardboard flip box and were edutainment games. Al Lowe, who already had experience in the edutainment genre (Dragon's Keep), was in charge of the Sierra-Disney Software department.
A 4th title, Goofy's Word Factory, was in production but never hit the shelves, according to Al Lowe. It did have box art though, and was even listed for purchase for the Apple II ($29.95), Commodore 64 ($24.95) and PC ($29.95).
A 4th title, Goofy's Word Factory, was in production but never hit the shelves, according to Al Lowe. It did have box art though, and was even listed for purchase for the Apple II ($29.95), Commodore 64 ($24.95) and PC ($29.95).
Then in 1986, one final Sierra-Disney was released, The Black Cauldron, based on the Disney movie with the same name. After the release of that title, the cooperation between Sierra and Disney ended.  
Then in 1986, one final Sierra-Disney was released, The Black Cauldron, based on the Disney movie with the same name. After the release of that title, the cooperation between Sierra and Disney ended.  
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Goofy's Word Factory box - http://www.sierragamers.com/uploads/49/20217.jpg
Goofy's Word Factory box - http://www.sierragamers.com/uploads/49/20217.jpg
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==<br /> Games in Series ==
==<br /> Games in Series ==

Revision as of 16:43, 21 September 2024

Discoveries in Learning Series


Discoveries in Learning Series
Release Dates:  1984-1986
Developer(s): Sierra On-Line
Publisher: Sierra On-Line
Designer(s): Al Lowe, Roberta Williams
Category: Games
Type: Full
Genres: Adventure, Educational
Themes: Alphabet, Exploration, Grammar, Preschool, Reading, Spelling, Vocabulary
Engines: ADL
Platforms: MS-DOS, Tandy CC3, Tandy 2000, Tandy 1000, PC Booter, PCjr, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Amiga, Atari ST, C64
Localizations: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Website: www.sierra.com



Description

The Sierra Disney Games consists of 3 early titles, created between 1984 and 1986: Donald Duck's Playground, Mickey's Space Adventure and Winnie the Pooh in the Hundred-Acre Wood. These 3 games were released in 1984 in a plastic clamshell box, and in 1986 in a cardboard flip box and were edutainment games. Al Lowe, who already had experience in the edutainment genre (Dragon's Keep), was in charge of the Sierra-Disney Software department. A 4th title, Goofy's Word Factory, was in production but never hit the shelves, according to Al Lowe. It did have box art though, and was even listed for purchase for the Apple II ($29.95), Commodore 64 ($24.95) and PC ($29.95). Then in 1986, one final Sierra-Disney was released, The Black Cauldron, based on the Disney movie with the same name. After the release of that title, the cooperation between Sierra and Disney ended.


Can anyone give me any information about this enigmatic game? Did it exist? Has it ever? According to a price list that was published by Sierra for customers to buy games, you could most definitely buy it. (You can find a link to that price list below). There is also a good article about the game below as well. Can Mr. Williams, or anyone on this board, for that matter, give me information concerning this game? Thank you so much!

Talk to you later!

JDHJANUS Josh

Sierra Price List scroll down a bit)

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Unknown

Hi Ken and company! I'm a huge Sierra fan and a collector from Finland; my first post here.

I have, and have had for a long time, some questions about extremely rare Sierra/Disney game "Goofy's Word Factory" that apparently wasn't released, though actively advertised. Here is a picture of it from a Sierra/Disney ad from 1984 with description of the game: http://koti.mbnet.fi/psychic/_eng_prototypes_goofy.html

Here's the complete ad scanned: http://koti.mbnet.fi/psychic/pics/gamecollection/catalogs/sierra_disney.jpg http://koti.mbnet.fi/psychic/pics/gamecollection/catalogs/sierra_disney_inside.jpg http://koti.mbnet.fi/psychic/pics/gamecollection/catalogs/sierra_disney2.jpg http://koti.mbnet.fi/psychic/pics/gamecollection/catalogs/sierra_disney_back.jpg

As a side note those other Disney-games seen there are also drawn prototype art; the final covers are paintings. Even all the texts and logos are drawn in those unfinished covers.

In addition to the ad, "Goofy's" was mentioned in some registration cards (f.ex. have two different from 1986) for these computer platforms and even prices: Apple II ($29.95), Commodore 64 ($24.95) and PC ($29.95).

I read your previous post about the situation with Disney and Sierra and what led them going their own ways etc. but this game was prior to The Black Cauldron (1985-86). So why was Goofy cancelled?

And any idea/recollection if it wasn't released, why was it still mentioned in 1986 registration cards with price references? That's what confuses me.

Is there a perhaps a prototype of this game and more art lying somewhere?

Regards, - Jukka

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I don't remember what happened to Goofy's Word Factory -- I don't even remember who was working on it. Strange .... I vaguely remember that the game did exist, but that's it. I'll ask Roberta if she remembers it.

I remember that my favorite of the games was Donalds Playground, that Al Lowe did.. Here's a little known fact: Micky's Space Adventure was designed by Roberta!

-Ken W

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Excuse my enthusiasm (and you probably hear it so often) but this is so cool to be talking to the Man himself :). Respect. And my best regards and compliments to Roberta; King's Quest is my favorite series though I love all those wonderful games. Interesting to hear if she remembers the Goofy-game.

Of the Disney-series games my favorites are The Black Cauldron (it's in my top Disney-movies too) and Donald Duck's Playground.

The Goofy is alright very forgotten since there isn't anything written about it on the net than my site. There was a brief mentioning about it at following link, but it's gone and unfortunately I didn't think to save it: Link: http://www.livingsoft.com/ds4/products.htm(http://www.livingsoft.com/ds4/products.htm)

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To my recollection was something like "Goofy's Word Factory", "Apple II"...

- Jukka E.

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I asked Roberta about Goofy's Word Factory, and she was like me --- no recollection, beyond that it existed. She thought Al Lowe may have written it ( Link: www.allowe.com(http://www.allowe.com) ).

You could try writing him - to see what he remembers.

-Ken W

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The Wayback Machine saves the day. The link in question shows a product list of sorts.

archived version of the page you mentioned - http://web.archive.org/web/20030406053223/www.livingsoft.com/ds4/products.htm

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I asked Al Lowe and here's what he said:

Al Lowe: "Goofy's was begun but didn't make much progress. At that time, Sierra was much smaller, artists were scarce, and we were about to lose the Disney license. When the programmers didn't make much progress, the game was scrapped. I believe there were also many arguments with Disney's staff about exactly how the game should play, something I was careful to avoid with my games. (I just "didn't get around to showing the games to them" until they were nearly finished. That way, if they wanted changes, it would delay shipping and no one wanted that!)

There was never a playable Goofy As far as I know."

---

Question: Did you get to do any work for Goofy or were you involved at the time on the other Disney games? Al Lowe: No. I was working on Winnie and the music for Mickey then. I think I was hired to do the music for Goofy, but never got to it.

Question: Do you have any names who might have worked on it? Al Lowe: No. It was probably one of the "failure" programmers. There were several who would attempt projects, but never finish. But that's just a guess.

Question: Was it made/started simultaneously with the other Disney-games or after them? Al Lowe: simultaneously

---

Wow! This was some difficult research! I had to abuse archive.org quite a lot.

"I don't know if this game was released, and why it was possibly canceled. The box shot is from an Sierra/Disney Personal Computer Software -ad. Here's what it reads on the ad:

"Today, Goofy starts his new job at the word factory. As words move along the conveyor belt, it's his job to sort them out, dropping each in the chute where it belongs - nouns in the noun chute, verbs in the verb chute, and so on.

He can carry each word to its proper chute, but that takes time. Or he can throw the words, but he'll have to watch out for the passers-by. Goofy sure could use your help. If he does well, he may even get promoted."

I have a 1986 Sierra registration card that mentions Goofy's Word Factory with these computer platforms and even prices: Apple II ($29.95), Commodore 64 ($24.95) and PC ($29.95). The prices suggest the game would have been released and available for purchase, but then it would be odd since nobody knows about it -- why would it be so forgotten?"

Goofy's Word Factory box - http://www.sierragamers.com/uploads/49/20217.jpg


Games in Series


Series Collections

  • None


Compilations

  • None


Freeware/Extras/Mini Games

  • None


Demos

  • None


Fan Remakes

  • None


Downloads

Links to individual game installers can be found on each game's page.

Patches

  • No known Patch Available

Misc Downloads

  • None Available


References



Related Links

 

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