Vintage Chemistry Computer Game - Periodic Table of Videos

TL;DR

Chemistry professor revives old chemistry computer games on BBC micro.

Transcript

I'm in the computer science building at the University you might wonder what's a chemistry professor doing here and the answer is that 30 years ago I had a mad idea my children had just started playing computer games and I suddenly thought why don't we make computer games for chemistry I hired two schoolboys during the summer they made a floppy dis... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Chemistry education can be made engaging through computer games.
• 🥺 The professor's entrepreneurial spirit led to a successful venture with the chemistry games.
• 🎮 Technology advancements allow for reviving and playing old computer games.
• 🥺 Collaborations between different departments can lead to innovative projects.
• 💾 Preserving old media like floppy disks requires care to prevent data loss.
• 🎮 Nostalgia and memories play a significant role in revisiting old computer games.
• 💾 The evolution of technology from floppy disks to emulation shows progress.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the chemistry professor get the idea to create computer games for chemistry?

The professor got the idea when his children started playing computer games, leading him to hire schoolboys to create chemistry games on floppy disks.

Q: How did the professor sell the computer games originally?

The professor sold the computer games at a conference of science teachers by setting up a stall and having his children duplicate the disks as fast as they could.

Q: What are the challenges in reviving old disks like the one the professor had?

Challenges include potential data degradation, mold growth, and finding a drive that can still read the media on the old disks.

Q: How did the professor finally manage to play the old chemistry games?

With the help of the computer science department, the professor used a BBC micro and emulator to revive and play the old chemistry games from the disk.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Chemistry professor had a mad idea 30 years ago to create computer games for chemistry.

• He hired schoolboys to make floppy disks with games, sold them at conferences.

• Professor revives old chemistry games on BBC micro with help from computer science department.