Orly's Draw-A-Story

Orly's Draw a Story is a video game released in 1997 by Broderbund. The game won the 1998 Interactive Achievement Award for Computer Innovation.[1] The game is aimed at the 5-10 year old age-group and carries an age rating of 3+.[2] It was designed by ToeJam & Earl Productions and released by Broderbund. The main character Orly is voiced by Alreca Whyte.[3]

Orly's Draw a Story
Cover art
Developer(s)ToeJam & Earl Productions
Publisher(s)Broderbund
Platform(s)Windows
Windows 3.x
Macintosh
Release1997
Genre(s)Activity, Design
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

It focuses around the two main characters, Orly, an 8-year-old girl and her anthropomorphic talking frog friend Lancelot who lives in Jamaica. The game features four unique stories narrated by Orly. The player is able to illustrate each of the stories with their own paintings, either original drawings or using ready-prepared objects. As Orly tells the story the user is asked to create an item such as a friend for a flying monster or a birthday present to give to Orly.

The objects become animated and are then used as part of the story. Clicking on the shutter opens up a series of template drawings that can be coloured by the player. At the end of the story, the user can choose to save or discard the picture and then view it back in full.

Additional features within the game include "Make A Storybook" where the player can create their own series of scenes and type text to make up their own story, while there is also a "Doodle Pad" for practicing drawing skills.[4]

Stories

Each story has a unique storyline and the player is asked to design different objects and scenes for each one.

  • "The Ugly Troll People"
  • "The Strange Princess"
  • "Lancelot, Bug Eater"
  • "One Big Wish"

Reception

The game received positive reviews from video game reviewers, as well as prestigious non-gaming publications such as Computer Life and Newsweek, but was not a market success.[6] Allgame's Lisa Karen Savignano wrote "This is a game full of ideas that will spark wonderful and creative stories from your child, both onscreen and off." She went on to say "The game is much better than most contemporary drawing games on the market... Don't be surprised if the game uncovers the storyteller in your own child and you are treated to some very imaginative stories."[4] The Independent listed the game as one of the 50 best ways of boosting a child's brainpower in 1999.[7]

Awards

After its release, Orly's Draw-A-Story won an award at the inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards in 1998 for "PC Creativity Title of the Year", triumphing over Disney's Magic Artist, Barbie Cool Looks Fashion Designer, Print Artist Platinum and The American Girls Premiere.[1]

Educational release

The game was repackaged in 2001 by The Learning Company as an educational game for use in schools.[8]

References
  1. "AISA Annual Awards -> 1st Annual Awards". interactive.org. AISA. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  2. "SuperKids software review of Orly's Draw a Story". superkids.com. SuperKids. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  3. "Stories spring to life as children draw with Orly's Draw-A-Story". BNET. 14 January 1997. Archived from the original on 8 May 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  4. "Orly's Draw-A-Story - Review". allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  5. "Orly's Draw-A-Story". The Atlanta Constitution. October 26, 1997. p. 287. Retrieved June 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "There's Never Enough Bass in Space". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 105. Ziff Davis. April 1998. p. 24.
  7. Haughton, Emma (21 August 1999). "The 50 Best: How to boost your child's brainpower". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  8. "IGN: Orly's Draw-A-Story". ign.com. IGN. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
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