The Oregon Trail and When Rivers Were Trails games were very different to me. The Oregon Trail game was created in a time when the education behind the creation of the United States was based on the experience of the white settlers and tended to exclude the view of the Native Americans that were kicked off their land. The creation behind the Oregon Trail game was intended to educate people about the expansion and the difficulty that came with traveling across the country during this time period. When the game was sold to the company is when I noticed a change in the way the history was taught. The game excludes the diversity of the tribes that would have been found on the Oregon Trail as well as a lack of agency for the group themselves. I also did not see many Native figures in the Oregon Trail version of the game. I only witnessed Native Americans in the game when they found food and gave it to me. On the other hand the When Rivers Were Trails game was more educational. I was able to learn about how difficult it was for Native Americans to travel to new lands as well as see the diversity in groups.
When Rivers Were Trails was much more interactive. The Native American artist who created the game had much more story and history behind the game. When playing this game I felt it was very crucial that the map came up more often than it did in the Oregon Trail game. The geography is much more important from the standpoint of Native Americans whereas in the Oregon Trail game I felt the destination was much more important. The Native characters in the When Rivers Were Trails game varied and each interaction with them was different which I felt was very special because it gives Natives more agency. Each person and tribe was different because they were and instead of being glossed over their diversity was acknowledged in the game. Lastly, video games can show how cultural narratives have changed over time. They also are very telling when it comes to who is telling the story. Video games can teach their audiences which is both valuable and dangerous.
Brianna– thank you for sharing these thoughts about the two computer games! I’m always fascinated by the backstory of The Oregon Trail as a game designed specifically for use in classrooms. It also involves far more math than history, in my opinion! I’m glad to hear that you had a much more engaging experience with When Rivers Were Trails, and I agree. It is simply more immersive and more informed, and this makes for a more educational experience. I also appreciate your thoughts on video games as a medium for historical education. There are advantages as well as limitations, but undeniably, video games are a mode creating an interactive learning experience.