Oregon Trail: 2008

Image courtesy of GameSpot, naturally.

Ahh, Oregon Trail.  A classic.  What child growing up in the ’80′s or early ’90′s doesn’t remember hitching up the wagon (figuratively speaking) and taking the family out west, hunting food to survive and braving the dangers of weather, broken axels, starving oxen, and maladies like measles, broken bones, and dysentery in the name of education?

...has died of dysentery.

In fact, It’s so ingrained into the young culture today that there have been t-shirts and other items memorializing the game.  Further, earlier this year when my wife and I visited some spots along the trail, we even staged our own recreation of a particularly memorable moment in the game. (Following taking this picture, we thought about caulking the Toyota and attempting to float across the Platte but decided against it. We were on a schedule, after all.)

However, despite its renown, The Oregon Trail was made widely available in 1985 — more than twenty years ago!  Despite several spinoffs and some updated editions in the early ’90′s, and even if it’s part of an advertising campaign, it’s time for an update.

The kind people over at Thule (they make storage racks for your vehicle) have given us an updated version of the game via their marketing site.  Now, intstead of traveling the Oregon Trail, you’re on the Thule Trail, making your way from Chicago to the Atlantis Music Festival on the great American road trip.  Nobody expires from dysentery, but there are other potentially disastrous situations that arise.

Not again...

Along the way, you have the chance to pick up hitchhikers, hunt for food, or kayak, snowboard, and bike your way to extra funds for your party.  As with the original game, timing your arrival properly, arriving in good health and spirits, arriving with supplies to spare (uneaten food, unused games and magazines, and un-listened-to CDs, naturally), and doing well in the various challenges all play a part in how many points you earn.

Oh (and this is essential)…don’t forget to use your friends’ names so you can laugh at what happens to them!

Wanna play?  Click here!