Who remembers all the countless times you died of dysentery?

Before there were high-definition shoot-em-up games like "Call of Duty," vast online adventures such as "World of Warcraft" or even classic quests such as "Super Mario Bros." there was one game that every child who grew up in the late 80's/early 90's remembers playing...

Credit: Gameloft, MECC
Credit: Gameloft, MECC
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If you're not picturing an old Apple pixelated green-screened computer with the graphics displaying "Oregon Trail" on it, then you were robbed as a child! Loading those floppy discs into the machine always gave me the biggest joy, as it was one of the most addicting games I can ever remember playing.

But what most people don’t know is that the game was developed right here in Minnesota!

In 1971, three student teachers in Minnesota created the game to help their students learn American history. The MECC (Minnesota Educational Computer Consortium) developed a version to distribute to schools, first in Minnesota and then all over the United States.

Never played "Oregon Trail?" (Again, shame on you!) Well, the premise is fairly simple: You were a settler who had to make your way from Missouri to Oregon while hunting bison, shooting at rabbits, and picking up other settlers. Along the way, you had avoid contracting painful and deadly diseases... such as the nine-lettered disease mentioned above!

The game has appeared on every major computing platform since, including smartphones.  In fact, if you'd like to play the game for FREE then GO TO THIS LINK HERE!

Some other video game classics that were also inducted in the Hall of Fame this year, were “Space Invaders,” “Grand Theft Auto III,” ”Sonic the Hedgehog,” ”The Legend of Zelda” and “The Sims.”

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