![Retro Retro](http://www.iconbar.com/news/uploaded/retro.gif)
It seems such a long time ago that Acorn had their computers in most UK schools and even longer ago that I was sitting in a classroom playing games on the BBC Masters that the school had bought. Several games stand out in my memory and these include (in no particular order): Yellow Brick Road, Little Red Riding Hood and the one that I'm sure most of you who used school computers in the late 80s will remember, Granny's Garden.
In this, the first of a series of articles, we'll be taking a look back at Yellow Brick Road.
![Title screen](/news/oldschool/yellowbrickroad/thumb/ybr1.png)
Yellow Brick Road
Released by MEP North in 1985, Yellow Brick Road is, as the title suggests, based around the story of the Wizard of Oz. The game takes the form of an adventure and is in three parts which are cunningly titled Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
The game starts by asking you if you would like to help Dorothy and Toto get to the Great Oz's castle to help them get home. If you say "No", Dorothy gets upset and tells you that "That's not very nice". Saying "Yes" gets you a "Thank you very much" instead, and the adventure begins.
You start your adventure by a signpost and you must collect the objects you need to help the people you see along your way. Items such as the red shoes are useful later in the game and could lead you into trouble if you don't pick them up whilst you're here. You get yourself around by choosing an option from the numbered list and make your way around the Ditch, Forest, Garage, Bridge, Stile, Cornfield and Signpost, meeting the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and the Lion along the way, before crossing the ditch into the Land of Oz. At this point, you're told to call your teacher. I didn't have a teacher watching me, so I pressed "t" to bring up the teacher's menu and take myself to Part 2 of the adventure.
Part 2 begins with a quick question to help the Tin Woodman chop down a tree to cross the river. You're given a letter to take with you (be sure to write these down, as I didn't on my first time round and had to do it all again so I could guess the word later on!). At this point, it helps if you know your trees and plants. After you've crossed the river with your tree knowledge, you enter a field of poppies, where you have to answer 10 sums before all the petals fall off the three poppies on the screen (a total of 9 petals). Once you've done that, you have a code to break. It's a fairly simple code. Each letter of the alphabet has a number from 1 to 26. A being 1, B is 2 and so on.
Part 2 ends with a set of steps, where you are asked to make words from the letters on the steps. This rewards you with the final letter you need to make up the password. Once you enter the password, the mighty Wizard of Oz appears and tells you to call your teacher once more to set you on your way to Part 3 of the adventure.
Part 3 starts with putting sentences into the right order, for example "Dorothy want home I am to am I go" becomes "I am Dorothy and I want to go home". Once you've put the four sentences in the right order, the Wizard tells you to go and kill the Wicked Witch of the West (try and get away with killing in schools these days!). You set off along the Great Path of Oz in which you must travel down each road once and once only to get to the castle. This is simple enough, but the Witch has of course set a few traps for you, which involve some mini games.
When you arrive at the Witch's castle, she sets the Scarecrow on fire. - How rude. - You can put the Scarecrow out by finding the magic word in the word search and with that the Witch is dead. Hurrah! And finally, Dorothy can go home to Kansas, the Scarecrow has some brains, the Tin Woodman has a heart and the Lion has some courage. Poor Toto doesn't get anything. You are asked to call your teacher and the adventure ends here.
Screenshots
Click on any of the screenshots to see a larger version of it.
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School gaming from days gone by |
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nunfetishist (00:41 19/2/2007) Phlamethrower (00:45 19/2/2007) monkeyson2 (01:08 19/2/2007) blasts of the xtre (08:07 19/2/2007) andypoole (09:50 19/2/2007) blasts of the xtre (10:03 19/2/2007) cjr43 (13:06 19/2/2007) Stoppers (16:08 19/2/2007) mavhc (19:27 20/2/2007) adamlloyd (19:50 20/2/2007) nunfetishist (19:55 20/2/2007) andypoole (21:41 20/2/2007) MikeCarter (09:51 21/2/2007) nunfetishist (17:40 21/2/2007) adamlloyd (11:43 3/3/2007) trevj (11:01 14/4/2010) filecore (18:40 14/4/2010) CJE (17:09 15/4/2010) VincceH (17:14 15/4/2010) filecore (20:54 15/4/2010) moss (23:48 15/4/2010) moss (23:48 15/4/2010) filecore (08:59 16/4/2010) trevj (09:09 16/4/2010) gazza_fp (11:45 14/4/2010) castlevarich (18:20 15/4/2010) trevj (19:18 15/4/2010) trevj (08:49 20/4/2010) trevj (09:39 12/5/2010)
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Rob Kendrick |
Message #98802, posted by nunfetishist at 00:41, 19/2/2007 |
![nunfetishist](/images/avatars/227.jpeg) Today's phish is trout a la creme.
Posts: 522
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OMG. IT BURNS MY EYES. That looks diabolically shit, even for 1985.
Give me Granny's Garden or L any day. |
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Jeffrey Lee |
Message #98803, posted by Phlamethrower at 00:45, 19/2/2007, in reply to message #98802 |
![Phlamethrower](/images/smileys/phlamethrower.gif) Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot stuff
Posts: 15100
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OMG. IT BURNS MY EYES. That looks diabolically shit, even for 1985. And that looks like it's running on an emulator with a tarted up Mode 7 font ![](/images/smileys/shock.gif)
[edit]
Also, I think someone needs to teach them the difference between rotation and reflection (Assuming we're meant to be guessing the letter on the tin man's chest).
http://www.iconbar.com/news/oldschool/yellowbrickroad/ybr22.gif
*insert observational comment about how the number of idiot celebrities/crap drivers/binge drinkers/etc. has risen since the release of this 'educational' program*
[Edited by Phlamethrower at 01:03, 19/2/2007] |
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Phil Mellor |
Message #98804, posted by monkeyson2 at 01:08, 19/2/2007, in reply to message #98803 |
![monkeyson2](/images/avatars/43.jpeg) Please don't let them make me be a monkey butler
Posts: 12380
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http://www.iconbar.com/news/oldschool/yellowbrickroad/ybr3.gif
Teaching punctuation, there. |
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Sion |
Message #98806, posted by blasts of the xtre at 08:07, 19/2/2007, in reply to message #98804 |
![blasts of the xtre](/images/avatars/804.jpeg) Suppose you were an idiot. Suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
Posts: 326
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Ah, Grannie's Garden. Now that brings back some memories. It should still be on my A5000... |
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Andrew Poole |
Message #98807, posted by andypoole at 09:50, 19/2/2007, in reply to message #98806 |
Posts: 5558
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Ah, Grannie's Garden. Now that brings back some memories. It should still be on my A5000... A5000? Peh! You need the BBC version ![](/images/smileys/tongue.gif) |
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Sion |
Message #98808, posted by blasts of the xtre at 10:03, 19/2/2007, in reply to message #98807 |
![blasts of the xtre](/images/avatars/804.jpeg) Suppose you were an idiot. Suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
Posts: 326
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Bah! Hiss! |
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Chris Rayson |
Message #98822, posted by cjr43 at 13:06, 19/2/2007, in reply to message #98803 |
Member
Posts: 3
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I think someone needs to teach them the difference between rotation and reflection (Assuming we're meant to be guessing the letter on the tin man's chest). Mirror at 45° to vertical (kind of like /)? |
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Simon Willcocks |
Message #98840, posted by Stoppers at 16:08, 19/2/2007, in reply to message #98803 |
Member
Posts: 302
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Also, I think someone needs to teach them the difference between rotation and reflection (Assuming we're meant to be guessing the letter on the tin man's chest).
Clearly, the reflection is in a mirror placed at an angle of 45 degrees. |
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Mark Scholes |
Message #98886, posted by mavhc at 19:27, 20/2/2007, in reply to message #98840 |
Member
Posts: 660
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Don't they teach people anything in school these days? |
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Adam Lloyd |
Message #98887, posted by adamlloyd at 19:50, 20/2/2007, in reply to message #98886 |
Member
Posts: 155
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Don't they teach people anything in school these days? yes they teach you why you should hate Windows but stioll use it because Dell don't do Macs and they can't order Linux PCs because they can't order off the internetl. From a little Welsh scool in Swansea. |
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Rob Kendrick |
Message #98888, posted by nunfetishist at 19:55, 20/2/2007, in reply to message #98887 |
![nunfetishist](/images/avatars/227.jpeg) Today's phish is trout a la creme.
Posts: 522
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yes they teach you why you should hate Windows but stioll use it because Dell don't do Macs and they can't order Linux PCs because they can't order off the internetl. From a little Welsh scool in Swansea. EPARSE. |
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Andrew Poole |
Message #98890, posted by andypoole at 21:41, 20/2/2007, in reply to message #98888 |
Posts: 5558
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yes they teach you why you should hate Windows but stioll use it because Dell don't do Macs and they can't order Linux PCs because they can't order off the internetl. From a little Welsh scool in Swansea. EPARSE.
I think that shows they don't teach Grammar ![](/images/smileys/wink.gif) |
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Mike |
Message #98900, posted by MikeCarter at 09:51, 21/2/2007, in reply to message #98890 |
Posts: 401
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Don't they teach people anything in school these days? yes they teach you why you should hate Windows but stioll use it because Dell don't do Macs and they can't order Linux PCs because they can't order off the internetl. From a little Welsh scool in Swansea. Install it yourself...
Also take up a Grammar for beginners course. |
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Rob Kendrick |
Message #98915, posted by nunfetishist at 17:40, 21/2/2007, in reply to message #98900 |
![nunfetishist](/images/avatars/227.jpeg) Today's phish is trout a la creme.
Posts: 522
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Also take up a Grammar for beginners course. Grammar in this context is not a proper noun, and as such should not be spelt with an upper-case first letter unless it is the first word in the sentence. :-p |
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Adam Lloyd |
Message #99394, posted by adamlloyd at 11:43, 3/3/2007, in reply to message #98915 |
Member
Posts: 155
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Also take up a Grammar for beginners course. Grammar in this context is not a proper noun, and as such should not be spelt with an upper-case first letter unless it is the first word in the sentence. :-p As I have heard in school many times "hes done huw mosh".
I think that shows they don't teach Grammar Bah! Hiss!
[Edited by adamlloyd at 11:48, 3/3/2007]
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Trevor Johnson |
Message #113965, posted by trevj at 11:01, 14/4/2010, in reply to message #98802 |
Member
Posts: 660
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Give me Granny's Garden or L any day. Well, you may have just missed out on a real bargain! |
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Gary Hughes |
Message #113967, posted by gazza_fp at 11:45, 14/4/2010, in reply to message #98802 |
Member
Posts: 25
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Give me Granny's Garden or L any day. I've just spent the last term teaching a problem solving class to some upper primary students (I normally teach secondary maths so this was an interesting experience) and their favourite activity was using BeebEm ("no, you can't use the mouse") to run L.
I should point out that this was not because all the other activities were boring (they were engaged in all of the activities), but they were really determined to solve it. |
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Jason Togneri |
Message #113970, posted by filecore at 18:40, 14/4/2010, in reply to message #113965 |
Posts: 3867
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Well, you may have just missed out on a real bargain! Fifty-six quid and counting? Wow. I wonder what my original copy of the Doom trilogy* would fetch.
* yes, I'm referring to the classic text adventure games for the BBC Micro and later RISC OS, rather than the bloodbath Wintel FPS games which later took the same name. |
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Chris Evans |
Message #113978, posted by CJE at 17:09, 15/4/2010, in reply to message #113965 |
CJE Micros chap
Posts: 228
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Give me Granny's Garden or L any day. Well, you may have just missed out on a ! What is L? |
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VinceH |
Message #113980, posted by VincceH at 17:14, 15/4/2010, in reply to message #113978 |
![VincceH](/images/avatars/574.png) Lowering the tone since the dawn of time
Posts: 1600
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What is L? For me, living in a world where everyone uses text speak. ![tongue](/images/smileys/tongue.gif)
COAT! |
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Jon Robinson |
Message #113981, posted by castlevarich at 18:20, 15/4/2010, in reply to message #113967 |
Member
Posts: 55
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Give me Granny's Garden or L any day. I've just spent the last term teaching a problem solving class to some upper primary students (I normally teach secondary maths so this was an interesting experience) and their favourite activity was using BeebEm ("no, you can't use the mouse") to run L.
I should point out that this was not because all the other activities were boring (they were engaged in all of the activities), but they were really determined to solve it. ================================ If anybody reading this is still managing to use RISC OS in education, either natively or under emulation, despite the best efforts of the Dept of Education to persuade you otherwise, would you please leave a message in this forum telling us what you're up to.
Apart from satisfying my curiousity, I'm hoping to be able to release an upgraded version of a program which is very useful educationally, if you've got the patience to create resources for it.
Incidentally, is the L mentioned above, Little Red Riding Hood ?????
Jon Robinson (Leeds) |
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Trevor Johnson |
Message #113982, posted by trevj at 19:18, 15/4/2010, in reply to message #113981 |
Member
Posts: 660
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If anybody reading this is still managing to use RISC OS in education... I should be able to point you to an amusing link early next week! (Mum's the word.) |
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Jason Togneri |
Message #113983, posted by filecore at 20:54, 15/4/2010, in reply to message #113978 |
Posts: 3867
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Give me Granny's Garden or L any day. Well, you may have just missed out on a ! What is L? Classically, L is other people. |
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John Hoare |
Message #113984, posted by moss at 23:48, 15/4/2010, in reply to message #113978 |
Posts: 9348
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Give me Granny's Garden or L any day. Well, you may have just missed out on a ! What is L? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L_–_A_Mathemagical_Adventure |
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John Hoare |
Message #113985, posted by moss at 23:48, 15/4/2010, in reply to message #113984 |
Posts: 9348
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...and I've just discovered another bug in TIB's comments system ![tongue](/images/smileys/tongue.gif) |
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Jason Togneri |
Message #113988, posted by filecore at 08:59, 16/4/2010, in reply to message #113985 |
Posts: 3867
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Can you get them to fix the one where it won't parse URLs containing more than one "HTTP" (eg, links to mirrored sites in the Wayback Machine?). That's always bugged me. |
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Trevor Johnson |
Message #113989, posted by trevj at 09:09, 16/4/2010, in reply to message #113985 |
Member
Posts: 660
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In the mean time a TinyURL for L – A Mathemagical Adventure will have to do. |
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Trevor Johnson |
Message #114015, posted by trevj at 08:49, 20/4/2010, in reply to message #113981 |
Member
Posts: 660
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A recent poll of education IT professionals has revealed that 5 out of 7 voters miss RISC OS†. And 2 out of 7 miss BBC micros. (Yes, I resisted the temptation to vote myself. The poll was open for 10 weeks.) † More precisely, 5 of the 7 total voters! |
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Trevor Johnson |
Message #114419, posted by trevj at 09:39, 12/5/2010, in reply to message #98802 |
Member
Posts: 660
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Give me Granny's Garden or L any day. Original tape version recently fetched over £8. |
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