The Learning Company
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The Learning Company is an educational software company, founded in 1980. They invented a grade-based system similar to Knowledge Adventure's Jumpstart series. The products for preschoolers through second graders feature Reader Rabbit, and software for more advanced students features the ClueFinders.
TLC is now a subsidiary of Riverdeep, along with Brøderbund.
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Software
- The ClueFinders
- Reader Rabbit
- Reader Rabbit Baby
- Reader Rabbit Toddler
- Reader Rabbit Preschool
- Reader Rabbit Kindergarten
- Reader Rabbit 1st Grade
- Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade
- Math Rabbit (Later changed to Reader Rabbit Math)
- Zoombinis
- Super Seeker Series
- Super Solver Series
- Real World Series
- Tools and Other Programs
Reference: The Gizmos & Gadgets! User's Guide Back Outside Cover
Continuity in the Learning Company World
While it may not seem like it at first, many of the series of games do, indeed, involve each other in subtle ways that the developers may just want to sneak in, or otherwise.
The Master of Mischief and Morty Maxwell
The most obvious one is the descrepency between The Master of Mischief and Morty Maxwell. Both appear to be the same character, sporting the same voice and art. However, the Master of Mischief, the antagonist of the Super Seeker series, is characterized as more of a whymsical trickster, blending to the magical themed world in and around Treasure Mountain. He seems to cause problems just for fun. Morty Maxwell (the antagonist of the Super Solver series), on the other hand, seems to take over facilities in hopes of making profit. Again, this seems to be a bit more mischievious than greed, but his intentions are much more grounded.
Take this example: In Treasure Galaxy!, the Master of Mischief invents a device that transforms asteroids into evil, menacing Disasteroids. He then proceeds to watch as they wreck havoc on Crystal City. Conversely, in Gizmos & Gadgets!, Morty Maxwell makes a hostile takeover of the Shady Glen Technology Center, and challenges you to beat him in 15 races. Morty usually has a more active, fighting role, but the Master of Mischief sits back and watches mayhem ensue.
Locations
The primary locations of the Reader Rabbit series are located in Wordville. On the Wordville map in the front of the Reader Rabbit 3 User's Guide, Treasure Mountain can be seen. This seems to suggest that the two worlds are located relatively close to one another.
References
Though Operation Neptune seems to be outside of the fantasy realm of the other games, one of the prizes in the Circus in Math Rabbit is the Neptune.
In one of the data logs found in Operation Neptune, one of the scientists references Ancient Empires as one of the ways the scientists on the space exploration journey like to pass the time.
External links
- The Learning Company Software (http://www.broderbund.com/ProductGroup.asp?CID=638)