Genre: | Arcade Game: Action |
Publisher: | Longman |
Cover Art Language: | English |
Machine Compatibility: | BBC Model B |
Release: | Professionally released on Cassette |
Available For: | BBC Model B, Spectrum 48K & Spectrum 48K/128K/+2/+3 |
Compatible Emulators: | BeebEm (PC (Windows)) PcBBC (PC (MS-DOS)) Model B Emulator (PC (Windows)) |
Original Release Date: | 2nd August 1983 |
Original Release Price: | £9.95 |
Market Valuation: | £2.50 (How Is This Calculated?) |
Item Weight: | 64g |
Box Type: | Cassette Single Plastic Clear |
Author(s): | Tony Gray |
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Price is still a reflection of the packaging rather than program quality and graphics are very poor - sheep heads are ampersands! Read Review
The game works well and is well error-trapped... but it is extremely repetitive. Read Review
Help Bonzo the sheepdog get the sheep into the pen in this absorbing program which teaches young children keyboard skills and how to solve problems. Older children can use the points of the compass to direct Bonzo.
Longman Software - the new generation of learning materials. Each program is based on well-tried educational theories, brought alive by the cretive wizardry of modern technology. Your children will be spellbound.
At home, 4 to 8 year olds can discover, by themselves and for themselves, an adventure wonderland of early skills and abilities.
The colour and movement on the screen will fire their imagination. They will be stimulated and encouraged to enjoy addition and subtraction, spelling and word recognition and other early skills.
Sheepdog is a game where the aim is to round up sheep giving commands to Bonzo the dog. It is great fun and involves children using a range of language and number skills. The experience of using the program is most valuable when shared with other children or adults. These notes are to help you get the best out of the program.
Sheepdog is part of the Early Learning range from Longman Software - home computer programs from one of the world's most successful educational publishers. Longman have drawn together experts in the field of every learning and professional computer programmers to make the most of the advantages of micro computer learning.
'Rounding up sheep' is the short answer! Initially, the program may seem like a simple arcade game. However, by varying the conditions it is possible to make Sheepdog a stimulating and exacting program for all ages - even adults! (See note 3)
The program is designed to provide a context for children to develop and practise concepts of space, direction, estimation, number and points of the compass. This happens best when children are encouraged to discuss their thinking, to make decisions and then justify them.
Commands of where and how to move are given to the sheepdog. As in real life, the sheep run away when Bonzo gets near and your aim is to get the sheep into the pen. There are two ways of giving commands: using the computer arrow keys or typing in points of the compass. (See below for commands.)
Superficially, Sheepdog is a simple simulation, an example of an interactive video game. However, the program was designed to promote reasoning and shared problem solving through discussion. Its potential is realised more fully when children plan and predict what will be the consequences of a set of moves.
Two conventions you will meet in this program:
A. You can opt to have 1 or 2 sheep, give commands using the computer arrow keys or by typing points of the compass. Select which you want. After typing in your name, press RETURN. You are asked to help Bonzo. Press SPACE to move to the next page which shows Bonzo and sheep in a field surrounded by a fence with a gap leading to a pen.
Here are the commands and what they mean:
Arrows Left, Right, Up, Down, C - Crouch, S - Stand
Compass
N (RETURN) | - | North |
S (RETURN) | - | South |
W (RETURN) | - | West |
E (RETURN) | - | East |
CR (RETURN) | - | Crouch |
ST (RETURN) | - | Stand |
NE (RETURN) | - | North East |
SE (RETURN) | - | South East |
SW (RETURN) | - | South West |
NW (RETURN) | - | North West |
Note: You must press RETURN after each command using compass directions. Bonzo can move when crouched and, like this, is able to get closer to the sheep. However he does not move as far each time, nor do the sheep run as far.
B. Try running the sheep (or Bonzo) into the fence that surrounds the field. You will be asked if you want to try again. (Press Y for Yes or N for No in reply to these questions.)
C. The options include repeating the same starting positions or making changes. If you opt to change, you will have a new problem with the positions of Bonzo, sheep and pen altered. Repeating the same problem has advantages especially when you are following some of the problems suggested (See below).
CHAIN"" (RETURN)
The following utilities are also available to allow you to edit the supplied screens of this game:
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