''The Treehouse'' is a

point-and-click Point and click are one of the actions of a computer user moving a pointer to a certain location on a screen (''pointing'') and then pressing a button on a mouse or other pointing device (''click''). An example of point and click is in hypermedi ...

educational video game for

MS-DOS MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few op ...

and then ported to Mac and the

FM Towns The is a Japanese personal computer built by Fujitsu from 1989 to 1997. It started as a proprietary PC variant intended for multimedia applications and PC games, but later became more compatible with IBM PC compatibles. In 1993, the FM Towns ...

, with

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

versions arriving later. Following the success of '' The Playroom'',

Broderbund Broderbund Software, Inc. (stylized as Brøderbund) was an American maker of video games, educational software, and productivity tools. Broderbund is best known for the 8-bit video game hits '' Choplifter'', '' Lode Runner'', '' Karateka'', and ...

created ''The Treehouse'', which provides more content and furthers the user's ability to explore. First released in 1991, most copies were sold in educational supply stores rather than mainstream stores that sold computer software; it included a sing-along cassette tape. It was re-released in 1996 for Windows 3.1 and

Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented operating system developed by Microsoft and the first of its Windows 9x family of operating systems, released to manufacturing on July 14, 1995, and generally to retail on August 24, 1995. Windows 95 merged ...

. Although the Windows version has the same general activities, the characters, interface, and locations are different.

Gameplay

The game's main characters are two

opossum Opossums () are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia () endemic to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 126 species in 18 genera. Opossums originated in South America and entered North A ...

s who at various times either want to play or take a nap. The activities within the game include music composition and learning, a music maze, a picture scene with interactive objects, a puppet show and a

Monopoly A monopoly (from Greek language, Greek and ) is a market in which one person or company is the only supplier of a particular good or service. A monopoly is characterized by a lack of economic Competition (economics), competition to produce ...

-style game that teaches counting and currency concepts.

Educational goals

The game is designed for older learners than ''The Playroom''. The subjects in the game include math, language, music, creative art and science. Children are encouraged to explore new places, learn new facts and put their creative skills to use.

Reception

Computer Gaming World ''Computer Gaming World'' (CGW) was an American Video game journalism, computer game magazine that was published between 1981 and 2006. One of the few magazines of the era to survive the video game crash of 1983, it was sold to Ziff Davis in 199 ...

'' gave ''The Treehouse'' five out of five stars, stating that it had a "rich, full environment" with "excellent sound effects" and placed it as one of the SPA Top Hits for Home Education. The game was given a platinum award at the 1994

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award ''The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio'' is a nationally recognized independent consumer review of children's media. It was founded in 1989 by child development authors Joanne Oppenheim and her daughter Stephanie Oppenheim. The newsletter is published quart ...

s. The judges claimed that "the graphics and music are first-rate, and the activities are interactive and fun".

References

External links

Official site
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Treehouse, The 1991 video games 1992 video games 1993 video games 1995 video games 1996 video games Apple II games Broderbund games Children's educational video games Classic Mac OS games DOS games FM Towns games Multiplayer and single-player video games Music video games Point-and-click adventure games Video games about animals Video games about toys Video games developed in the United States Windows games