1987 · The Learning Company · Puzzle · Strategy

Think Quick!

Players banish a dragon from the Castle of Mystikar in this action puzzle edutainment game.

Released: 31 December 1987
Platforms: Apple II MS-DOS
Genres: Puzzle Strategy Adventure
Developers: The Learning Company
Publishers: The Learning Company
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Educational

About

The Learning Company (TLC) was an American educational software company founded in 1980 in Palo Alto, California and headquartered in Fremont, California. The company produced a grade-based line of learning software, edutainment games, and productivity tools. Its titles included the flagship series Reader Rabbit, for preschoolers through second graders, and The ClueFinders, for more advanced students. The company was also known for publishing licensed educational titles featuring characters from animated series such as Arthur, Scooby-Doo, Cyberchase, Hamtaro, The Powerpuff Girls, SpongeBob SquarePants, Caillou, Jay Jay the Jet Plane, Zoboomafoo, and Sesame Street.

In December 1995, the company was acquired by SoftKey in a hostile takeover bid, at which point SoftKey assumed the Learning Company name and brand.

Keywords

edutainment
in-game map editor

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Development

The Learning Company was founded on May 8, 1980, by Ann McCormick; Leslie Grimm; Teri Perl; and Warren Robinett, a former Atari, Inc. employee who had programmed the game Adventure. They saw the Apple II as an opportunity to teach young children concepts of math, reading, science, problem-solving, and thinking skills. Part of the original funding for the company came from a National Science Foundation grant.

TLC produced launch titles for the PCjr, announced in late 1983. From 1980 through 1984, it created a line of 15 widely acclaimed children's educational software products, which were sold through the U.S. retail and school computer software channels.