The Oregon Trail

When I was growing up I remember playing a lot of console (NES) and PC games. Sometimes we were even lucky enough to play computer games while in school. These games, of course, were educational in nature. One of the games I have some of the fondest memories of is The Oregon Trail. I have to admit that I was a little too excited for my own good when I saw that a version was available for iPhone.

The Oregon Trail is based in a time of history where Americans believed that the United States was destined to expand westward. In the mid 19th century thousands of immigrants traveled across the continent in hopes of a better life and more opportunities. This journey was by no means easy and was very dangerous. It was these experiences that were the inspiration for the game which became popular in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

If you are a fan of The Oregon Trail then you might remember that at one point there was a Facebook version of the game. Unfortunately, the rights to the game were purchased and the game was turned into some sort of speed dating application. Considering most of the women who were a part of this mass migration were married and a large majority of those women were pregnant or already had at least one child, I do not think speed dating was immensely popular on the trail.

Recently Gameloft released a version of The Oregon Trail for the Apple App Store which I have to admit is fairly entertaining. While the important aspects of the game are the same, Gameloft has added just enough features to make the game new and more fun. While hunting is still an important way to get food, players now also have the opportunity to fish and pick berries as well. Other mini games have also been implemented including a memory style game where players can earn money to buy more supplies.

While on the trail players will have to make important decisions such as how much to buy in supplies and what time of year to leave. The pace of travel is also important. Going to fast can increase the chance of injuries and other problems, while going to slow might mean not making it to Oregon before the weather turns cold. Players will also be faced with the decision to stop and visit native villages as well whether or not to pick up hitch hikers. Of course, any version of the game would not be complete without the decision to try to ford the river. What can I say, I used to be a member of the Facebook group “I tried to ford the river, but my f*ing oxen died!”

While The Oregon Trail for iPhone will not teach you everything there is to know on the subject and its gameplay will probably not change your life, it is a very enjoyable game for such a low cost. It really is a fun way to pass a little extra time that you may have here and there.