The Disk User


Geordie Racer

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: BBCSoft/BBC Publications
Machine: BBC B/B+/Master 128

 
Published in The Disk User 9

Geordie Racer has taken schools by storm and become one of BBC Software's best-selling programs. We thought we had not better miss out on the fun!

Geordie Racer

The popular BBC Schools Television series Look & Read: Geordie Racer has spawned a computer game, designed by Christopher Russell and programmed by Peter Smith. The game is a sequence of adventures, challenges and puzzles and it's great fun to play.

Any parent could happily play through the entire game with their children. The single disk is accompanied by a booklet whose main purpose is to supply follow-up information, and lots of ideas for projects based on the game. These include follow-up projects for maths and science pigeon holes, compare feathers, timing runs), art and craft (marzipan pigeon recipe) and health and fitness (history of running, Olympic Games). All these follow on from the heroes and events which take place in the Geordie Racer game.

Beating Beastly Baz

The Geordie Racer software combines arcade quality movement of characters, easy-to-read text and control via menu options. The puzzles are aimed at your children and they are given plenty of chance to have another go if they don't succeed first time round. There is no save game option but you can enter the sequence of events at any stage from the first menu. The game is split into two parts, firstly finding out what you have to do and getting to know your pigeon, secondly pursuing the treasure and beastly Baz. Great fun.

The only problem is that Geordie Racer shows up the limits of a 100K disk. It's a shame it had to end. Follow up, please, BBC Soft?