The object of Roadcraft 1 from Highlight Software is to guide
Roger Roadcraft across a busy system of roads, but thank
goodness it isn't another Frogger lookalike.
The intention is far more serious - that of introducing
young children to road safety. The child using the program has
to guide him using the cursor keys, and has to avoid various
pitfalls which are the sort he might meet outside.
Equally, there are aids to safety available such as zebra
crossings, pelican crossings and a very friendly policeman.
Poinis are awarded at the bottom of the screen but they
soon become superfluous, the animated discussion of the
children being far more relevant and important.
The program is quite well error trapped and has a few
rather gruesome touches - the child who tries to cross from
between parked cars freezes on the screen and the cursor keys
become inoperative. This results in the child waiting for Roger to
be struck down. wiih no possibility of him moving back onto the
pavement.
Obviously this is a deliberate ploy, as is the fact that a child
can ignore a crossing, as long as another safe place is selected.
Rather worrying however, is one liltle problem which the
programmers perhaps didn't envisage. If a child halts while
crossing the zebra - yes, I know they wouldn't, but children do
silly things in real life - a car driving along will hit the child.
1st November 1985
