Vintage Chemistry Computer Game - Periodic Table of Videos

Periodic Videos

24 May 201809:02

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn this nostalgic journey, a chemistry professor revisits his innovative idea from 30 years ago: creating computer games for chemistry education. He hired two students to develop games on a floppy disk, which he sold at a conference. Years later, with the help of a computer science colleague, Steve Bagley, he attempts to revive the games on an old BBC microcomputer. The video showcases the process of loading the vintage disk, playing the games, and reflecting on the educational potential of the period, all while sparking a sense of nostalgia and the excitement of rediscovering lost gems.

Takeaways

😀 A chemistry professor had the innovative idea of creating computer games for chemistry education 30 years ago.
👨‍🎓 The professor hired two schoolboys to develop the games, which were stored on a floppy disk.
💡 The games were sold at a science teachers' conference in Nottingham, generating significant income for the University.
📚 The floppy disks were kept in the professor's filing cabinet for nostalgic reasons, with the belief they would never be used again.
🖥️ Steve Bagley from the computer science department offered to try and make the old floppy disk games work on an old computer.
🛠️ Steve had a BBC micro or BBC master, which are vintage computers that are still collectible and sometimes used today.
📀 The floppy disk was in good condition, increasing the chances of successfully retrieving the data.
🎮 The games were successfully loaded and played on the BBC micro, bringing back memories for the professor.
🌐 The disk contained games such as 'Periodic Table Multiple-Choice' and 'Chemistry at Nottingham'.
🏆 The games were sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, aiming to distribute them to schools for educational purposes.
🔍 The games were quite technical, with some elements possibly reused due to storage limitations on the floppy disk.
🕒 The games included a time challenge where players had to fill in blanks on the periodic table, testing their knowledge.

Q & A

What inspired the chemistry professor to create computer games for chemistry?
-The professor's inspiration came from observing their children playing computer games, which led them to the idea of creating educational games for chemistry.
How did the professor initially develop the chemistry computer games?
-The professor hired two schoolboys during the summer to create the games, which were initially stored on a floppy disk.
What was the outcome of the professor's first attempt to sell the chemistry games at a conference?
-The professor sold the computer disks for two pounds each and was so successful that they made a significant amount of money, to the point where their pockets gave way.
How long did the professor keep the original floppy disks before revisiting them?
-The professor kept the disks in their filing cabinet for 30 years before revisiting them.
Who approached the professor about making the old chemistry games work again?
-Steve Bagley from the computer science department approached the professor after seeing the old floppy disk.
What type of computer did Steve Bagley use to attempt to run the old chemistry games?
-Steve Bagley used a BBC micro or BBC master, which he had in his office in the computer science department.
What was the condition of the floppy disk when it was first examined for potential use?
-The floppy disk was in relatively pristine condition, which was hopeful for its potential to still work.
What was the welcome screen like when the games were successfully loaded on the BBC micro?
-The welcome screen displayed a stylized picture of a university campus, including the chemistry department and people boating on a lake.
Which game did the professor and Steve decide to play first from the chemistry games?
-They decided to play the 'Periodic Table Multiple-Choice' game first.
What was the nature of the 'Periodic Table Multiple-Choice' game?
-The game involved displaying the full periodic table and answering technical questions about the elements, with some elements having the same information possibly due to storage space limitations.
How did the professor perform in the 'Fill in the Blanks on the Periodic Table' game?
-The professor scored 232 points for getting 5 out of 7 blanks correct within 100 and 11 seconds.
What was the professor's final thought on the experience of revisiting the old chemistry games?
-The professor felt like it was a trip back to their youth and was excited about the opportunity to play the games again, thanks to Steve Bagley's help.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Reviving Vintage Chemistry Games

A chemistry professor reminisces about creating computer games for chemistry education 30 years ago. The professor hired two schoolboys to develop games on a floppy disk, which were then sold at a science teachers' conference. Despite the nostalgic value, the professor never expected to see the games again until a chance encounter with Steve Bagley from computer science, who offered to try and run the old disk on an old computer. The professor visits Steve's office, where they attempt to play the games on a BBC micro or BBC master, a rare but still operational vintage computer. The process of loading and starting the game is described, including the use of an Atari monitor due to the BBC micro's monitor being non-functional. The games, sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, feature a stylized depiction of the University campus and offer educational content such as a periodic table quiz.

05:01

🔬 Interactive Periodic Table Game

The video script continues with the professor and Steve exploring one of the vintage chemistry games, which is an interactive periodic table quiz. The game offers various modes, including a full periodic table display, a technical information lookup, and a fill-in-the-blanks challenge. The players choose to play a timed game with a partially blank periodic table, attempting to fill in the missing elements within a set time limit. The game is both educational and nostalgic, bringing back memories for the professor. The video also mentions the possibility of playing these games online and the process of transferring the game data from the floppy disk to a modern computer using an emulator. The summary ends with a playful note about the professor's performance in the game and an invitation for viewers to explore the games further through provided links.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Computer Science Building

The 'Computer Science Building' is the setting where the video's narrative takes place. It is significant because it is not the usual environment for a chemistry professor, which piques the viewer's curiosity about the story's premise. In the script, the building is where the professor meets with Steve to attempt playing old chemistry games on a BBC microcomputer.

💡Mad Idea

'Mad Idea' refers to the professor's innovative thought of creating computer games for chemistry education, which was unconventional at the time. This idea is central to the video's theme of blending education with technology and nostalgia, as it led to the creation of the games on floppy disks that the video revolves around.

💡Floppy Disk

A 'Floppy Disk' is an old data storage medium that the professor used to distribute the chemistry games. It is a key element in the video, symbolizing the dated technology of the past and the challenge of accessing data from such an obsolete format, as seen when they attempt to read the disk on a modern computer.

💡Science Teachers

'Science Teachers' are the target audience for the professor's initial game distribution at a conference in Nottingham. This term is important as it highlights the educational purpose of the games and the professor's intent to reach educators who could integrate the games into their teaching.

💡BBC Micro

The 'BBC Micro' is a vintage computer model used in the video to play the old chemistry games. It is a central element as it represents the technology of the time when the games were created and is necessary for demonstrating the feasibility of playing the games today.

💡Emulator

An 'Emulator' is a software that mimics the function of a specific computer system, in this case, the BBC micro. It is relevant to the video as it provides a modern alternative to play the vintage games, showcasing the intersection of old and new technology.

💡Periodic Table

The 'Periodic Table' is a fundamental concept in chemistry and a key feature in one of the games. It is used in the script to demonstrate the educational content of the game, where players are tested on their knowledge of the elements.

💡Multiple-Choice

'Multiple-Choice' refers to the format of one of the games, where players select answers from a set of options. This concept is important as it represents a common educational tool used to test knowledge and is a gameplay mechanic featured in the video.

💡Nostalgia

Nostalgia is a sentiment that permeates the video, as the professor reflects on the past and the old technology. It is evident when the professor recalls the experience of selling the game disks and the excitement of playing the games again after many years.

💡Storage Space

'Storage Space' is mentioned in the context of the limitations of the floppy disk's capacity. It is relevant as it explains the constraints the game developers faced, such as providing information for elements like francium, which might have been limited due to space.

💡Gameplay

The term 'Gameplay' encompasses the interactive experience of playing the chemistry games. It is central to the video's narrative as it demonstrates the functionality of the old games and the educational experience they provided, as seen when the professor plays the periodic table game.

Highlights

A chemistry professor's idea to create computer games for chemistry education 30 years ago.

Hiring two schoolboys to develop the games on a floppy disk.

Successful sales of the chemistry game disks at a science teachers' conference in Nottingham.

The professor's nostalgic view of the game disks stored in his filing cabinet for 30 years.

Steve Bagley's interest in reviving the old games using an old computer.

The use of a BBC micro or BBC master computer for testing the old floppy disk.

Steve Bagley's collection of vintage computers, including the BBC micro.

The challenges of retrieving data from an old floppy disk due to potential degradation.

The successful loading of the chemistry game from the floppy disk on the BBC micro.

The game's welcome screen featuring a stylized University campus.

Sponsorship of the game disk by a pharmaceutical company for educational distribution.

Gameplay involving the periodic table with multiple-choice questions.

Technical issues with the game's storage space, possibly affecting content quality.

Playing the game and testing knowledge of the periodic table with time constraints.

The emotional impact of revisiting these games after nearly 30 years.

The connection between the chemistry professor and Steve Bagley through their shared interest in computing.

Opportunities for viewers to try playing the game online through emulators.

Transcripts

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Takeaways

Q & A

What inspired the chemistry professor to create computer games for chemistry?

How did the professor initially develop the chemistry computer games?

What was the outcome of the professor's first attempt to sell the chemistry games at a conference?

How long did the professor keep the original floppy disks before revisiting them?

Who approached the professor about making the old chemistry games work again?

What type of computer did Steve Bagley use to attempt to run the old chemistry games?

What was the condition of the floppy disk when it was first examined for potential use?

What was the welcome screen like when the games were successfully loaded on the BBC micro?

Which game did the professor and Steve decide to play first from the chemistry games?

What was the nature of the 'Periodic Table Multiple-Choice' game?

How did the professor perform in the 'Fill in the Blanks on the Periodic Table' game?

What was the professor's final thought on the experience of revisiting the old chemistry games?