
| Software for RiscOS Computers | ||||
| These are several educational programs for RiscOS computers which we have developed in the school over the last few years - other schools or parents with Acorn (RiscOS) computers might find them useful. They are intended for children aged 5-11, but some have also been used successfully by Secondary Special Needs children. All the programs take over the whole screen rather than running in a RiscOS window. Unless otherwise stated, all will work from an 800K floppy disc or hard disc on a basic 1Mb machine using RiscOS 3.1 upwards (though the basic floppy versions seem to work okay on RiscOS 2.1), and all are RiscPC, StrongArm and Iyonix compatible. By using the VirtualAcorn patches the RiscPC versions can also be used on earlier RiscOS 3 machines with VGA/SVGA or multisync displays, and where indicated they will run on the VirtualAcorn A5000 emulator on the PC. All may be copied and freely distributed - if anyone makes any improvements we'd appreciate a copy. Full instructions are included as ReadMe text files. They are supplied as standard ZIP archives, which can be decompressed using the PD SparkPlug software by David Pilling. (Click on the icons to download software) |
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| Goblin Adventure is a non-violent text adventure suitable for children aged 8-14. This basic version has 16-colour pictures for each location, and can be run from a single 800K floppy disc on a 1Mb RiscOS 2 or 3 machine, as well as from a hard disc. A Drawfile map and solution are included for teachers or parents. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (268K archive 16.9.00) |
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| An enhanced version of Goblin Adventure for older machines. It has improved 256-colour graphics, an on-screen map and pictures of objects. It runs in screen Mode 15, needing RiscOS 2 upwards, a hard disc and 2Mb memory. A Drawfile map and solution are included for teachers or parents. It uses some sampled sound effects. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (808K archive 13.1.03) |
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| The enhanced version of Goblin Adventure for the RiscPC series computers. It includes an on-screen map, pictures of objects and uses outline fonts as well as some sampled sounds. It runs in VGA screen mode, needing RiscOS 3 upward and a hard disc. A Drawfile map and solution are included for teachers or parents. (991K archive 18.4.03) (Download patch for VirtualAcorn on the PC - 35K) |
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| Fairytale Adventure is a non-violent text adventure with 16-colour pictures for each location and for objects. It is suitable for children aged 8-14. A detailed solution is included for teachers or parents. This basic version has compressed picture files and will run from an 800K floppy on a 1Mb RiscOS 2 or 3 machine as well as a hard disc, but this version will not work with RiscOS 4. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (207K archive 28.12.00) |
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| Fairytale Adventure enhanced for older machines. It has improved 256-colour graphics, an on-screen map and pictures of objects. It runs in screen Mode 15, needing RiscOS 2 upwards, a hard disc and 2Mb memory. A detailed solution is included for teachers or parents. It has the optional extra of using some sampled sound effects. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (608K archive 13.1.03) |
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| Fairytale Adventure enhhanced for the RiscPC. It uses outline fonts and has improved graphics. It runs in VGA screen mode and needs RiscOS 3 upwards and a hard disc. (740K archive 18.4.03) (Download patch for VirtualAcorn on the PC - 25K) |
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| Letra is a simple text-disclosure program similar to Tray on the BBC micro. Short text passages are selected and used in three different text-disclosure word games with a scoring system and high-score tables. Text samples can be typed in or plain texfiles can be imported. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (43K archive 12.12.02) |
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| An enhanced version of Letra for the RiscPC and older systems with multisync monitors, using SVGA graphics and outline fonts. (59K archive 12.12.02) (Download patch for VirtualAcorn on the PC - 31K) |
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| A precursor to turtle graphics, Wipe can be used with children aged 4-9. They have to program a robot wiper to clear a square of colour, using directions (NSEW or UDLR) and step sizes, either as single steps or by joining up several steps together. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (12K archive 16.9.00) |
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| Tortoise is a mental arithmetic game for children aged 7-14. There are 3 different activities and the child can choose different levels for difficulty and speed. There is optional sound. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (237K archive 13.1.03) |
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| Tortoise enhanced for the RiscPC and older systems with multisync monitors, using SVGA graphics and outline fonts. (269K archive 13.1.03) (Download patch for VirtualAcorn on the PC - 18K) |
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| Emperor is a management strategy game for children aged 10-adult. The player has to manage the armies and finances to run the Roman Empire. There are 3 different difficulty levels and instructions are included on-screen and as a Readme file. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (24K archive 8.12.02) |
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| Emperor enhanced for the RiscPC and older systems with multisync monitors, using SVGA graphics and outline fonts. (40K archive 1.01.03) (Download patch for VirtualAcorn on the PC - 19K) |
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| King Arthur is simpler management strategy game set in the 6th century. The player has to manage the armies of the British to repel the Saxon invaders. There is optional sound. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (223K archive 13.1.03) |
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| King Arthur enhanced for the RiscPC and older systems with multisync monitors, using SVGA graphics and outline fonts. (250K archive 13.1.03) (Download patch for VirtualAcorn on the PC - 18K) |
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| Sentence Animator is intended to support children in simple sentence construction. The child builds a sentence by clicking on the words provided, then the program animates any sentence that has been made, (eg. 'The flowers run to the tree.') (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (55K archive 16.9.00) |
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| Turtle is a basic turtle graphics program, supporting simple procedures and variables. It includes commands for magnifying, colours and filling shapes and can be configured to work in larger steps for younger children. (Works with VirtualAcorn on the PC) (46K archive 16.9.00) |
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| A version of Turtle for the RiscPC, working in SVGA screen mode. (52K archive 16.9.00) |
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| CardMaker is a utility for teachers to produce workcards/sheets of sums. There is a menu allowing a great variety of choice and settings can be saved. The output can be printed and/or saved as text files (including answers) for loading into a DTP package. (Works on VirtualAcorn on the PC but the direct printing option may not work) (46K archive 16.9.00) | ||||