Learning with Leeper

Learning with Leeper is a 1983 game developed and published by Sierra On-Line. Similar to Learning with FuzzyWOMP (1984), it teaches colours, numbers, and the alphabet to players.[1] It reuses the character from the Sierra On-Line game Lunar Leepers

Learning with Leeper
Developer(s)Sierra On-Line
Publisher(s)Sierra On-Line
Platform(s)ColecoVision, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, ZX Spectrum, Tandy 1000
Genre(s)Educational
Mode(s)Single-player

Development

"A Brighter Future For Early Learning Through High Tech" asserted that, in 1984, several commercial software developers had decided that "there is a market for children as young as three" in the gaming space. Learning With Leeper is one such game that attempted to appeal to this segment.[2]

Gameplay

The game is played with a joystick. Players navigate the Leeper icon across the menu screen to choose a minigame.[3] The four available choices are symbolized by a dog (counting), balloon (shape matching), frog (hand-eye coordination), and overturned paint can (creativity).[4] The game does not record performance scores.[5]

Reception

Learning with Leeper was well received, gaining the award for "1984 Best Educational Video Game/Computer Game" at the 5th annual Arkie Awards where judges described it as "a painless way for youngsters to learn such tricky concepts as counting and shape recognition". It was predicted that children who had not yet learned to read would still have "a fine time" with the game and that the game's "Painting" segment would "be a spur to youthful creativity".[6]:29 Personal Computing wrote that children should enjoy the title,[7] while Betsy Staples of Gifted Children Newsletter explained "all in all, we think [it] is an excellent package" due to being aesthetically pleasing, attention-holding, and educational.[7]

In regard to creating a softkey for the game, Hardcore Computist writer Marco Hunter wrote: "The three things you can count on in this life are death, taxes, and Sierra On-line nibble counts. With this in mind, I tackled Learning with Leeper, a recent educational release from Sierra. I quickly discovered that, as usual, the disk is normal DOS 3.3. This means it is easily copied with COPYA."[8]

Math and Science for Young Children argues the game can be utilised by children for one-to-one kinesthetic and perceptual-motor experiences.[9] Ready: A Commodore 64 Retrospective gave the game a rarity score of 3, and a Historical Importance score of L.[10] Reaching Students Through Computers: A New Therapy for Learning and Playing deemed it a "very simple program".[11]

References
  1. Ltd, Earl G. Graves (1984-09-01). Black Enterprise. Earl G. Graves, Ltd.
  2. Behrmann, Michael M. (1984-01-01). "A Brighter Future For Early Learning Through High Tech". The Pointer. 28 (2): 23–26. doi:10.1080/05544246.1984.9943002. ISSN 0554-4246.
  3. Beaty, Janice J.; Tucker, W. Hugh (1987-01-01). The Computer As a Paintbrush: Creative Uses for the Personal Computer in the Preschool Classroom. Merrill Publishing Company. ISBN 9780675205238.
  4. Personal Computing. Personal Computing Magazine. 1983-01-01.
  5. Software Reviews on File. Facts on File, Incorporated. 1986-01-01.
  6. Kunkel, Bill; Katz, Arnie (February 1984). "Arcade Alley: The 1984 Arcade Awards, Part II". Video. 7 (11): 28–29. ISSN 0147-8907.
  7. The Digest of Software Reviews: Education. School & Home CourseWare, Incorporated. 1984-01-01.
  8. Hunter, Marco. "Softkey for Learning With Leeper". Hardcore Computist. Issue 13. 1984.
  9. Charlesworth, Rosalind; Lind, Karen K. (2012-10-22). Math and Science for Young Children. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1133712060.
  10. Dillon, Roberto (2014-12-03). Ready: A Commodore 64 Retrospective. Springer. ISBN 9789812873415.
  11. Sisson, Lee Hansen; Mayfield, Shirley A.; Entz, Susan (1985-03-01). "Reaching Students Through Computers: A New Therapy for Learning and Playing". Journal of Reading, Writing, and Learning Disabilities International. 1 (3): 61–83. doi:10.1080/0748763850010311. ISSN 0748-7630.
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