Fun School
Fun School is the name of a series of educational packages developed and published in the United Kingdom by Europress Software, initially as Database Educational Software. The original Fun School titles were sold mostly by mail order via off-the-page adverts in the magazines owned by Database Publications. A decision was made to create a new set of programs, call the range Fun School 2, and package them more professionally so they could be sold in computer stores around the UK.
Fun School 2
Under 6 Years
| Fun School 2 for Under 6 Years | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Publisher(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | 1989 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | tape, floppy disk |
Find the Mole - Experiment with number sizes
Teddy Count - Ideal introduction to numbers
Colour Train - Play at spotting colours
Pick a Letter - Easy steps to word building
Teddy Bears Picnic - Move around a maze
Shape Snap - Colourful shape recognition
Spell a word - Enjoy naming the pictures
Pick a Letter - Easy steps to word building [1]
Ages 6–8
| Fun School 2 for Ages 6-8 | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Publisher(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | 1989 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | tape, floppy disk |
Number Train - The player must stop the train at the correct station and enter the correct number of passengers boarding and leaving the train.
Shopping - The player must get the frog to go to the correct shop to collect the groceries on the list.
Maths Maze - The player must get the frog to navigate through the lilypad maze and answer the questions of guards along the way.
Treasure Hunt - The player must get the frog to search for treasure hidden on the island by entering letter and number coordinates.
Bounce - The player must aim the hand at different angles and positions to throw the ball in order to hit the apple.
Packing - The player must get the frog to push the shape blocks to fit correctly in the shape hole.
Caterpillar - A game like hangman, but wrong letter guesses make it harder for the caterpillar to obtain an apple.
Number Jump - The player must get the frog to jump from lilypad to lilypad, collecting numbers to form a correct math sequence. [1]
Over 8s
| Fun School 2 for Over 8s | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Publisher(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | 1989 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | tape, floppy disk |
Logic Doors - The player must enter a number of the colour/s on the next door.
Souvenirs - The player must travel through Europe to collect various Souvenirs.
Bridge - The player must use correctly shaped blocks to build a bridge across a river.
Unicorn Quest - The player must navigate through a maze to find the unicorn.
Code Boxes - The player must complete a number sequence to match the contents of a box.
Guardians -
Machine -
Escape - [1]
Fun School 3
Under 5 Years
| Fun School 3 for Under 5 Years | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Publisher(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari ST, Amiga, MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | 1991 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | tape, floppy disk |
Matching - The player must match unrevealed pairs together.
Actions - The player must direct the different actions Teddy can do.
Gallery - The player must sort out and choose pictures in an art gallery.
Counting - The player must count the number of objects at the picnic site.
Letters - The player must match and choose selected letters of the alphabet.
Painting - The player must choose colours for the different shadow pictures in the painting. [2]
Ages 5–7
| Fun School 3 for Ages 5-7 | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Publisher(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari ST, Amiga, MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | 1989 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | tape, floppy disk |
Journey - The player must direct the frog to a destination requested by the computer e.g. Go to the Cottage.
Collect - The player must direct the frog to hop from stump to stump to collect sum sequence characters in the proper order.
Toyshop - The player must get the frog to choose a toy requested by the computer.
Electricity - The player must hook up blocks of metal to a circuit to conduct electricity to a light bulb or bell and avoid using non conductive materials like Glass.
Funtext - The computer will ask the player a question which the player needs to choose a correct answer.
Time - The player has to input a time which matches the hands on a clock so that the bell lowers down until it is level with the frog to ring it. [2]
Over 7s
| Fun School 3 for Over 7s | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Publisher(s) | Database Educational Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari ST, Amiga, MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | 1989 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | tape, floppy disk |
Wordsearch - The player must search for ten words in a letter grid.
Robot Draw - The player must make use of the tools and utilities to draw and design a robot.
Planet Maths - The player must correctly answer some math sums to travel around the solar system.
Treasure - The player must measure and calculate the location of a trail of a treasure within a map.
Database - The player must arrange and edit data inside a database.
Sentences - The player must fill the missing gaps of sentences with correct words. [2]
Fun School 4
Under 5 Years
| Fun School 4 for Under 5 Years | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Platform(s) | Amstrad CPC |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Addition -
Teddy Paint -
Fun Train -
Teddy's House -
Teddy's Karaoke -
Teddy's Books -
Ages 5-7
| Fun School 4 for Ages 5-7 | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | 1992 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | CD-ROM, Floppy Disk |
This package is based around a character named Freddy the Frog.[3]
Library - In this game Freddy is a librarian. The player must help him reorganise the books in ascending alphabetical order.
Basketball - In this game Freddy is playing basketball. The player must fill in the missing letter or number of a sequence to help Freddy score goals.
Shopkeeper - This game is divided into two parts. In the first part, the player has to do some shopping for Freddy and provide the correct amount of money. In the second part Freddy is the shopkeeper and the player has to add up the amount of money for the customer's product and then calculate the correct change.
Log Cabin - In this game Freddy is finishing the construction of his family's log cabin. The player needs to fill in the missing number of a sum, so Freddy can successfully place the logs.
Opposites - In this game Freddy is leaping on lily pads in a pond, while other frogs are going up and off a diving board into the pool. The player needs to match the opposites so the frogs will climb up the diving board.
Typing - In this game Freddy is making run from a hungry crocodile. The player needs to press keyboard characters corresponding to the flashing characters and help Freddy reach the mallet to drive away the crocodile.
Ages 7-11
| Fun School 4 for Ages 7-11 | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | 1992 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | CD-ROM |
This package is based around a spy character called Sammy. Each game relates to him in some way.
Proportions - In this game, the player must answer questions relating to proportions. For example, the player is shown a collection of flasks and asked "What proportion are red flasks?". The player must answer a set number correctly within the alloted time in order to win.
Spy Quiz - In this game, Sammy is attempting to climb a wall. In order for him to reach the top the player must answer a set number of general knowledge questions correctly within 30 seconds. An example of a question is "What biblical character wore a coat of many colours?". If the player succeeds then they move on to the next level. Each level provides increasingly challenging questions.
Exchange Rates - In this game, there are a number of items which Sammy requires (such as items of clothing or items for a mission) lying on a table. The player must answer mathematical questions based on exchange rates which are shown at the top of the screen. After answering a set number of questions correctly, the player receives one of the items. The objective is to get all of the items. In order to assist the player, a calculator is provided, but it may only be used five times in each level.
Timetable - In this game, the player is presented with a flight timetable. Sammy wishes to board a plane, and in order to do so he must check on the departure and arrival times. The player is asked a question such as "What time does the Athens flight leave?" or "Where does the 2.15am flight go to?" and must choose the correct answer from a list. Getting an answer correct gives the player a point, but getting an answer wrong removes a point. The game is over when the player has a set number of points (in earlier levels, four points are required, but this increases as the game gets more difficult).
Spy Travels - In this game, Sammy wishes to travel to a set destination. The player must locate it on the map using the arrow keys. Once the destination has been found, the player must then press the Enter key. This continues until a set number of destinations have been found.
Desert Dates - In this game, Sammy is searching for hidden gems and parchments inside the magical pyramids of "Historichunk". In order to locate the hidden items, the player must break open sections of the pyramid. Dates are written on top of a number of these sections and the player is asked a question such as "When did John become King?". Answering correctly will cause the section to break open and reveal the hidden item. Once a set number have been found, the player has won.
Fun School Specials
After releasing Fun School 4, several "Specials" were released. Each of these specials were aimed at a particular subject or theme. There were four specials in total. All of these are designed to run under MS-DOS.
Spelling
| Fun School: Spelling | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | MS-DOS, Commodore 64 |
| Release date(s) | 1995 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | CD-ROM |
The Spelling package consists of six games, each with three difficulty levels. The game places the player in a fun fair environment where they can choose between the six different activities.
Coconut Shy - In this game, the player is presented with a Coconut Shy. A number of coconuts, each with a different letter written on them, are lined up. The player is given a description and must create a suitable word out of the available letters by removing unwanted coconuts. For example, the letters m-j-f-a-d-x-e are provided and the description is "Created, invented". By removing the letters j, f, and x, the word 'made' is created.
Test Your Strength - In this game, the player is given questions based on plurals. For example, "What is the plural of sandwich?". They are then given the choice of four answers, one of which is correct. The objective is to choose the correct answer.
Mechanical Grab - In this game, the player is presented with a grab and an incomplete word. They must 'grab' the missing segment of the word and drop it in the correct place. Once four words have been successfully completed the player has won.
Circus Word - In this game, the aim is to complete a basic crossword. The player is provided with clues for each word and must enter the answers in the same way as a normal crossword. Once all answers have been correctly entered the player has won.
Haunted House - In this game, the player is presented with a sentence with a missing word. They must then choose from a selection of choices which could fill in this missing word, all of which are similar (such as to, two, and too). Entering enough correct answers allows the player to view a short animation of the haunted house ride.
Word Juggle - In this game, the player is presented with a misspelt word, and a clue which indicates the word's meaning. They must re-order the letters and spell the word correctly. This game is unique because it allows the player to enter their own words from the dictionary before play (and thus test themselves on the spellings of those words)
Maths
Paint & Create
| Fun School: Paint & Create | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Platform(s) | Commodore 64, Amiga, MS-DOS |
| Release date(s) | 1993 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Interactive Intro -
Make a Monster -
Card Creator -
Art Alive -
Jigsaw -
Music Maestro -
Young Scientist
Fun School 5
The fifth collection of Fun School games introduced two children, Suki and Rik, and their pet purple dinosaur, Gloopy. The player has to assist Gloopy and the children in solving a number of challenges. It was also the first to be developed for Windows, rather than MS-DOS which was used in previous games. Each package was aimed at a different age range, used a different theme, and included puzzles in various educational areas, such as English, Maths, Art, and Physics.
Dreamland (Ages 4-7)
| Fun School 5 in Dreamland | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1995 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | CD-ROM |
Number Town Dream -
Paint Book Dream -
Watery Word Dream -
Music Box Dream -
Tell Time Dream -
Space (Ages 6-9)
| Fun School 5 in Space | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1995 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | CD-ROM |
This package is based around a space theme.
Mega Maths - The player must guide some small little coloured creatures to correctly fit the mathematical sequences and jump over holes they will not fit in.
Space Speak - The player must help Suki navigate and get out of a labyrinthine planet by answer Math and English questions correctly and avoid additional hazards.
Eco-Logic - The player has to help Gloopy sort out different garbage types into the correct bins.
Mission Earth - The player has to match landmarks, animals, flags and other icons with their correct countries.
Alien Art - The player has to paint with colours, patterns, shapes and designs in many creative ways to make a picture.
Time (Ages 8-11)
| Fun School 5 in Time | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1995 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | CD-ROM |
This package is based around a historical theme.
Cave School -
Mayan Mayhem -
Fantasy Funfair -
Survival Course -
Persian Paint -
Fun School 6
The sixth collection of Fun School was the second to use the dinosaur Gloopy as the main character. Similar to Fun School 5, each package was based on a different theme and aimed at a different age range. There were 5 games in each package and they could be accessed from a menu screen that was accessible at any time during gameplay. One of several improvements to Fun School 6 was the addition of three help guides, one for each package. They provide a tutorial before each game is launched, explaining how to play.
Fairyland (Ages 4-7)
This package is based around a fairy theme. The help guide is a fairy called Marjorie. A demo version of the Fairyland Music game was distributed with the Europress Big Bonus CD-ROM.
Maths - Gloopy the big pink dinosaur discovers a fairy glade full of elves and they're very generous. They keep throwing lots of sweets for him to catch. But before he can keep them, he has to do some mental arithmetic. The aim of the game here is to catch the correct answer to the question by guiding Gloopy left and right. Initially children practise counting up to five, and then to 10. Next addition and subtraction bonds to 10 are introduced and gradually extended to 20. Repeated addition is encountered when the elves throw bags of sweets in sets of two, five and 10. By the end of the game children will have encountered the ideas of odd/even and smaller/bigger.
English - In this game Marjory has persuaded Gloopy to enter a jousting tournament against the Fairy King's champion knights. Gloopy gallops down the field of combat trying to collect the correct flag at the end. Each flag has a phonic theme. As they choose the flag to ride towards, children have to recognise various phonics.
Science - In this game children are able to learn about various parts of the body and by mixing parts to create their own creature. Their creation can then be exported to the Art game.
Art - A basic Art package allowing the child to draw lines, circles, pattern fills etc. Emphasis on simplicity and ease of use for the under 7s.
Music - Five well known tunes are available in this simple audio workshop, allowing children to cut and mix styles (from folk to hip-hop). In addition there's also a music game to test memory.
Magicland (Ages 6-9)
| Fun School 6 in Magicland | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1996 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | CD-ROM |
This package is based around a magical theme, where Gloopy finds himself in a haunted castle. The help guide is a wizard.
Maths - In this game, Gloopy is trapped on a magical spider's web. In order to escape he must collect mathematical shapes which have been scattered around the web in a specific order. Once all of the shapes have been collected, Gloopy can escape, and the level is complete. Unfortunately, the spider Archie has fallen in love with Gloopy, and can follow him around the web. If he gets too close, then he captures Gloopy and the game ends. As the game progresses, various spells are unlocked which can be used to prevent Archie from following Gloopy.
English - In this game, Gloopy must cross a tiled floor before some strange gases turn him into a frog. The colour of a tile determines the question being asked. Spells are also accessible that can either aid or hinder Gloopy's progress.
Physics - In this game, Gloopy is trapped inside a magical maze, and flies around on a broomstick. The player must navigate through the maze and solve scientific problems by using a combination of different abilities. The first phase of the game provides the "Blow" ability which blows Gloopy in a certain direction. Later levels introduce five other abilities: Push, Pull, Turn Clockwise, Turn Anti-clockwise, and an Inventory which is used to store various objects such as oil cans and keys.
Music -
Art -
Futureland (Ages 8-11)
| Fun School 6 in Futureland | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Europress Software |
| Publisher(s) | Europress Software |
| Engine | Proprietary/Custom |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1996 |
| Genre(s) | Educational game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | CD-ROM |
This package is based around a futuristic theme. The help guide is a blue spherical robot called Cybor, who is characterised by saying "Farewell, and remember, the future belongs to you!" at the end of each tutorial.
Maths - In this game, Gloopy, equipped with a refuelable jet pack, needs assistance from the player to power up a stranded spacecraft. The objective is to transfer enough energy to the spacecraft so that it can launch. Energy falls down from a chamber at the top of the screen and the player must direct it towards the matching coloured tubes at the bottom of the screen by rotating it between cogs in a small maze. In order to move energy to a different cog, Gloopy must land on the cog, and then the player must answer a mathematical question correctly (for example, they are shown a triangle with two angles and asked "What is the missing angle?"). There are also small aliens called Jayvees which fly around on the screen, which consume the energy, preventing the player from transferring it to the spacecraft. Gloopy is also equipped with a laser and can shoot at the Jayvees to prevent them from feeding on the energy - doing so converts them to fuel which powers the jet pack. The game is complete when all of the energy has been transferred to the spacecraft.
English - In this game, Gloopy, equipped with his jet pack and laser from the Maths game, must navigate around a maze and locate the exit. As he progresses through the maze, futuristic robots block his path. In order to get past these robots, the player is provided with badly written sentences and must correct the grammatical errors, adding capitalisation, punctuation, and correcting the order so that the sentence makes sense. The player is also blocked by metallic gates, and in order to open them Gloopy must have the correct key, which is hidden somewhere else in the maze.
Science - In this game, Gloopy is the Mayor of a city, and he wants to be re-elected next year. He must therefore make the population happy so that they will vote for him again. The player must manage taxes, allocating money to various economic sectors in order to improve their performance. If he fails to please enough of the population, then the population will vote for his opponent Dwayne instead.
Music - In this game, the player can experiment with musical composition. They are provided with the choice of four different musical genres and can compose a short 16-bar melody which has been split up into 4-bar sections. Each 4-bar section can be filled in with up to four predefined melodies from the chosen genre. Once all of the desired melodies have been chosen, the player can then listen to their composition. They can also import videos from the Art game and use their composition as background music for the video.
Art - In this game, the player can create an artistic drawing using a range of supplied tools. They can also create a video by adding predefined animations.
