news Oregon Trail Movie in the Works: A Minnesota-Made Icon Goes Hollywood

[Movie Info]

The classic computer game Oregon Trail, created in 1971 at Carleton College in Minnesota, is heading to the big screen. Apple is reportedly developing the iconic game into an action-comedy movie, more than 50 years after its debut.

Co-creator Bill Heinemann is amazed by its longevity and cultural impact. "It's surprising and humbling that something I spent two weeks on has become a worldwide phenomenon," he shared.

The game originated as a classroom board game designed by Heinemann’s friend, Don Rawitsch, to simulate 1800s settlers heading west. Heinemann adapted it for early computers, sensing the potential. Its infamous "game over" scenarios, like dying of dysentery or a rare snake bite, became a hallmark of its charm.

Despite its massive success—selling tens of millions of copies and earning a spot in the World Video Game Hall of Fame—Heinemann and his co-creators never profited. They turned the game over to the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium soon after inventing it.

"I didn’t do it for money," Heinemann said. "I did it for the love of the game and teaching."

Fans can now look forward to seeing the adventure and humor of Oregon Trail brought to life in a whole new way.

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/oregon-trail-movie-creator-bill-heinemann/

 

[Harsh World]

This seems like it could be a very intense movie, and I hope they make it as thrilling as it was playing. While it was a text-based game, there can be many visuals that can depict the horrors of crossing the Oregon Trail, depending on how graphic they take it.

As the game was made for the era of kids who are now adults, I would assume it'd be a PG-13/R movie that can show some pretty gruesome living conditions and scenes that would make the same impact that we felt through text.

 

[Yama]

Never played or even heard of Oregon Trail. I have watched a lot of series and movies based on games and I have enjoyed them. I might try this one as well.

 

[Harsh World]

Never played or even heard of Oregon Trail. I have watched a lot of series and movies based on games and I have enjoyed them. I might try this one as well.

It was a staple in US education, being one of the very few games we could play as it taught US history.

 

[Yama]

It was a staple in US education, being one of the very few games we could play as it taught US history.

Was it about "Trail of Tears" The long march of the Indians? I have read the story.

 

[Harsh World]

Was it about "Trail of Tears" The long march of the Indians? I have read the story.

I'm not too familiar with it anymore beyond it being an emigration route for people living on the East Coast to settle on the West Coast for whatever reasons, be it trade or the gold rush.

Oregon Trail - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Dead2009]

Never played or even heard of Oregon Trail. I have watched a lot of series and movies based on games and I have enjoyed them. I might try this one as well.

Unless you're not from the US, or homeschooled, that's wild that you never heard of it

Thats just one of the versions

 

[Harsh World]

Thats just one of the versions

You must've been in a rich school district to have this version.

We had black and green gameplay.

 

[Yama]

Unless you're not from the US, or homeschooled, that's wild that you never heard of it

I am not from the US but in our history class, we did study about American history. Maybe we were only taught about major things. Never heard of Oregon Trail and based on what I have known about this recently, I am quite fascinated.

 

[Alamson]

The adaptation of Oregon Trail into a movie is highly exciting. I appreciate the dedication of the developer for creating something because of his love for it.The educational value of the game is timeless.