My first memory of Oregon Trail is getting 30 minutes into my first game when I was about 8 years old and finding out my best friend had died of dysentery. Curious, I looked the word up in the Google book encyclopedia. Thank you, Oregon Trail, for the childhood scar. Still, every moment after that was a happy one, so I’m psyched that Oregon Trail is coming to Facebook Feb. 2. And as a further blow to any form of productive activity in my life, Carmen Sandiego will also make its Facebook debut on Feb. 9.
The games are being brought to Facebook by Blue Fang Games and The Learning Company, according to Blue Fang analyst Darius Kazemi, who wrote about the games’ return on his blog (via Huff Po).
The trailers for the games are below, and are likely to bring a tiny tear to your eye if you, like I, were one of those kids who zoomed through their computer exercises for a chance to play these in elementary school. Trail has been available through iPhone for a while, but there’s something exciting about adding the social networking aspect to the game. I have a feeling I’m going to get competitive seeing other people’s scores in my news feed. I used to get livid when my high score was bumped off the shared computer, so this might get ugly. In fact, I’ll probably put off playing them as long as I can, for fear I’ll have to detox like I did when I become engrossed with Farmville and Restaurant City.
This spells disaster for my already sad social life — and I couldn’t be happier.
What about you, PopWatchers? Are you as thrilled about this news as I am?
Carmen Sandiego on Facebook? I may never work again.
They had this hilarious video on College Humor of a gritty Carmen Sandiego flick. Made me miss watching that show even more!
How sad is it that this could be my reason to break down and join facebook?
me too…how sad is that?
I’ve never played any games on Facebook, but…these are really tempting.
Ditto! These are the 2 games I would actually play…ahh nostalgia!
Ditto deuce! Oh, this could be really bad…
yay!! i was obsessed with oregon trail when i was little and still have it lol(doubt it would work in my new laptop tho). can’t wait for this facebook game!
I was a Carmen Sandiego *fanatic* when I was a kid. Awesome that they’re resurrecting it for Facebook.
Ahh Carmen Sandiego, where in the world have you been?
Oregon Trail is not the same without those horrible early 80′s graphics and slow moving images. Good. Times.
This.
I do have a copy of OT and CS that I picked up at a garage sale about 8 years ago, ha.
The BEST part about oregon trail on Apple IIe was option 8: “Stop and hunt for food”
Wanna bet that the number of dysentery deaths on Facebook will skyrocket?
So I just saw this heading and jetted right over to Facebook in search of Oregon Trail and came up empty handed. THEN I came back and actually clicked the story and saw that the game isn’t released yet.
I feel sheepish.
When first reading the headline I was thinking these two games were being made into movies. Angelina Jolie as Carmen Sandiego!
I use celebrities’ names, like “Zack Galifinakis dies of cholera”
lol – good idea. you learn quick not to use the names of people you love/like.
oooo…so true.
Oregon Trail was an app on FB like 3 years ago… Have I gone back in time?
i am so freaking frackin flippin excited for these games i can hardly stand it!!!!
I’m disappointed that the Oregon Trail version is not the Apple IIe one.