That's a Fact, Jack! (lost edutainment game predecessor to "You Don't Know Jack"; 1996-1999): Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
In 1989, Harry Gottlieb founded ''Learn Television'', an educational learning company. ''Learn Television'' first released the 1991 movie "The Mind's Treasure Chest", but | In 1989, Harry Gottlieb founded ''Learn Television'', an educational learning company. ''Learn Television'' first released the 1991 educational comedy movie "The Mind's Treasure Chest". It won several awards, but according to Harry Gottlieb in an interview, it was never used in its intended purpose, mostly being used as something to distract the students while teachers grade their stuff. | ||
''Learn Television'' partnered with ''Follett Software Company'' to create "That's a Fact, Jack!" for Macintosh systems.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/19970117082246/http://www.fsc.follett.com/products/system-requirements/tfj-sr.html</ref> At the same time, ''Jellyvision'' partnered with ''Berkeley Systems'' to make "You Don't Know Jack" | A friend of Harry, called Dean Blackadder, gave the idea and motivation to make "That's a Fact, Jack!". Around the same time the mockup was finished, another friend from ''Berkeley Systems'', called Ivor Gasowski, tried encouraging Harry to make something like TFJ but with adult humor.<ref>https://www.cbr.com/interview-jackbox-harry-gottlieb-mike-bilder/ (thanks AnnaBanna06)</ref> Then in 1994, Gottlieb also founded the company ''Jellyvision'', a video game development company. | ||
''Learn Television'' partnered with ''Follett Software Company'' to create "That's a Fact, Jack!" for Macintosh systems.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/19970117082246/http://www.fsc.follett.com/products/system-requirements/tfj-sr.html</ref> At the same time, ''Jellyvision'' partnered with ''Berkeley Systems'' to make "You Don't Know Jack" for Windows and Macintosh systems. Both games were in development simultaneously, but YDKJ released in September 1995, and TFJ released in April 1996.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20071009021543/http://www.jellyvision.com/about/TimeLine.swf</ref> | |||
TFJ first released with around 25 books covered.<ref name=":0">https://web.archive.org/web/19990128191842/http://www.jellyvision.com/stuff/tfj/somefacts.html</ref> Later down the line, ''Follett Software Company'' gave the distribution rights to ''Tom Snyder Productions'' at January 29th, 1999,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19990208010526/http://tfj.fsc.follett.com:80/ https://web.archive.org/web/19990208010526/http://tfj.fsc.follett.com]</ref> after around 300 books were covered and a total of 60 CDs were released.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/19991103034118/http://www.jellyvision.com/stuff/tfj/titles.html</ref> After the change of distribution rights, the title got changed to "That's a Fact, Jack! Read", the game got releases on Windows systems and the CDs were reissued with new logos and 10 books covered per CD instead of just 5. Afterwards, 150 more books were covered and the amount of released CDs shrinked to just 45 CDs.<ref name=":1">https://web.archive.org/web/20001028103728/http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/ProductDetail.asp?PS=TFJTFJ</ref> There were plans for ''Tom Snyder Productions'' to make 100 more titles, but that never happened.<ref name=":0" /> | TFJ first released with around 25 books covered.<ref name=":0">https://web.archive.org/web/19990128191842/http://www.jellyvision.com/stuff/tfj/somefacts.html</ref> Later down the line, ''Follett Software Company'' gave the distribution rights to ''Tom Snyder Productions'' at January 29th, 1999,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19990208010526/http://tfj.fsc.follett.com:80/ https://web.archive.org/web/19990208010526/http://tfj.fsc.follett.com]</ref> after around 300 books were covered and a total of 60 CDs were released.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/19991103034118/http://www.jellyvision.com/stuff/tfj/titles.html</ref> After the change of distribution rights, the title got changed to "That's a Fact, Jack! Read", the game got releases on Windows systems and the CDs were reissued with new logos and 10 books covered per CD instead of just 5. Afterwards, 150 more books were covered and the amount of released CDs shrinked to just 45 CDs.<ref name=":1">https://web.archive.org/web/20001028103728/http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/ProductDetail.asp?PS=TFJTFJ</ref> There were plans for ''Tom Snyder Productions'' to make 100 more titles, but that never happened.<ref name=":0" /> |
Revision as of 10:42, 19 April 2024
That's a Fact, Jack!, also known as That's a Fact, Jack! Read and TFJ, is a 1990s interactive edutainment CD-ROM game made for grades 3-10. The game takes 5/10[1] school books and turns them into game-show styled questions to test the students' reading and thinking skills using writing questions, inferential questions, hypothetical questions, and "Use It or Lose It", which is basically a true-or-false question.[2][3]
This game is accompanied by a host called Jack Patterson (acted and voiced by Patrick Heupel)[4] who talks in a way that interacted with the students realistically. The game was a fan favourite among students and teachers[5] and won awards in its time,[6] but that isn't to say it didn't have any flaws.[7][8]
History
In 1989, Harry Gottlieb founded Learn Television, an educational learning company. Learn Television first released the 1991 educational comedy movie "The Mind's Treasure Chest". It won several awards, but according to Harry Gottlieb in an interview, it was never used in its intended purpose, mostly being used as something to distract the students while teachers grade their stuff.
A friend of Harry, called Dean Blackadder, gave the idea and motivation to make "That's a Fact, Jack!". Around the same time the mockup was finished, another friend from Berkeley Systems, called Ivor Gasowski, tried encouraging Harry to make something like TFJ but with adult humor.[9] Then in 1994, Gottlieb also founded the company Jellyvision, a video game development company.
Learn Television partnered with Follett Software Company to create "That's a Fact, Jack!" for Macintosh systems.[10] At the same time, Jellyvision partnered with Berkeley Systems to make "You Don't Know Jack" for Windows and Macintosh systems. Both games were in development simultaneously, but YDKJ released in September 1995, and TFJ released in April 1996.[11]
TFJ first released with around 25 books covered.[12] Later down the line, Follett Software Company gave the distribution rights to Tom Snyder Productions at January 29th, 1999,[13] after around 300 books were covered and a total of 60 CDs were released.[14] After the change of distribution rights, the title got changed to "That's a Fact, Jack! Read", the game got releases on Windows systems and the CDs were reissued with new logos and 10 books covered per CD instead of just 5. Afterwards, 150 more books were covered and the amount of released CDs shrinked to just 45 CDs.[15] There were plans for Tom Snyder Productions to make 100 more titles, but that never happened.[12]
Availability
Currently, all 45 titles are lost. The only things that remain of the game itself are these screenshots and this demo video which was taken from this flash file. Only 2 discs have actual images online, showcased in the gallery.
Since they're more updated, as well as for the sake of simplicity, the following list will use Tom Snyder's titles. You may feel free to read up on Follett's titles here.
This list isn't definitive, and may be updated at any time with new libraries/schools or new discoveries. This list is also as accurate as WorldCat is, so its status could be incorrect.
Titles | Books | Status |
---|---|---|
TFJ Read 01:
Examining Values (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, listed in Columbus, Ohio and Mansfield, Ohio |
TFJ Read 02:
Coping with Fear (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 03:
The Ways Families Work (Grades 8-10) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 04:
Fitting in at School (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 05:
Adventures in Exciting Places (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 06:
Sports and Life (Grades 8-10) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 07:
Self Discovery (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 08:
Struggles for Acceptance (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 09:
Fantasy and Adventure (Grades 8-10) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 10:
Magic and Imagination (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 11:
Family Life (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 12:
Family Glue (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 13:
Loyalty and Honor (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 14:
Growing up in Difficult Situations (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 15:
Worlds That Could Be (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 16:
Nature and Survival (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 17:
World History (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 18:
Mystery and Adventure (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, listed in Mansfield, Ohio |
TFJ Read 19:
Lessons We Learn from Others (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 20:
Discrimination and Prejudice (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 21:
Ethnic Identity (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, listed in Raleigh, North Carolina |
TFJ Read 22:
Dealing with Disabilities (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 23:
Fantastic Adventure (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 24:
Animal Stories (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 25:
Love and Its Problems (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 26:
American History Before 1900 (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 27:
The American Civil War (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, listed in Pueblo, Colorado |
TFJ Read 28:
Learning Our Strengths (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 29:
Survival (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, listed in Mansfield, Ohio |
TFJ Read 30:
Adventure (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 31:
Jewish Experiences in World War II (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 32:
Other Worlds (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 33:
Discrimination and Prejudice in America (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 34:
Surprising Animals (Grades 3-5) |
|
Lost, doesn't have a proper WorldCat page |
TFJ Read 35:
The 19th Century in America (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 36:
Struggles and Disabilities (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 37:
European and Asian Experiences in World War II (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 38:
Freedom and Revolution (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 39:
Difficult Friendships (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 40:
The 20th Century American Family (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 41:
Learning to Be an Adult (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 42:
Difficult Truths (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 43:
Lessons From and About Sports (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 44:
Mysteries and the Supernatural (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read 45:
Family and Other Kinds of Love (Grades 6-8) |
|
Lost, not listed |
TFJ Read: A Guide
(Tom Snyder Productions) |
N/A, unknown what it's about | Lost, not listed |
TFJ Write
(Follett Software Company) |
N/A, unknown what the difference is | Lost, not listed |
TFJ Title Discs
(Follett Software Company) |
N/A, needs to be looked further into | Lost, listed in Columbus, Ohio and Madison, Wisconsin |
Gallery
Unnamed TFJ CD taken from Strong Museum of Play.
TFJ Disc 31: Jewish Experiences in World War II taken from Strong Museum of Play.
TFJ ad with an earlier logo taken from Media and Methods January/February 1996.
TFJ ad with the alternate logo (TFJ is H.O.T.!) taken from Media and Methods May/June 1996.
TFJ ad mentioning the awards it won taken from Media and Methods May/June 1997 (Credits to Kepler for finding the ads).
External Links
- Jellyvision's TFJ page (archived)
- Follett Software Company's TFJ page (archived)
- Tom Snyder Production's TFJ page (archived)
- SideKeys promoting TFJ (archived)
- CurrentWorkSinc showcasing TFJ (archived)
- TFJ wins National Parenting Centers Seal of Approval
- Brown University Library mentioning Harry Gottlieb working on TFJ
- TFJ page on Jackbox Fandom Wiki
- Modern Jackbox Games talking about TFJ
- More sources and info (Special thanks to Highlighter Garrick, Tere-Zander and Kepler)
See Also
References
- ↑ It was 5 books per CD when Follett had the distribution rights, and then it moved to 10 books when Tom Snyder took rights.
- ↑ https://macworld.com/article/158586/16reviewsjack.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19970117073745/http://www.fsc.follett.com/products/tfj/
- ↑ Jack Patterson is taken from the 1991 movie "The Mind's Treasure Chest" who was credited in the movie as Patrick Heupel.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19990128203023/http://www.jellyvision.com/stuff/tfj/teachers.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19991103003429/http://www.jellyvision.com/stuff/tfj/awards.html
- ↑ https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF02771937.pdf
- ↑ https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED434339.pdf [PAGE 63]
- ↑ https://www.cbr.com/interview-jackbox-harry-gottlieb-mike-bilder/ (thanks AnnaBanna06)
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19970117082246/http://www.fsc.follett.com/products/system-requirements/tfj-sr.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20071009021543/http://www.jellyvision.com/about/TimeLine.swf
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://web.archive.org/web/19990128191842/http://www.jellyvision.com/stuff/tfj/somefacts.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19990208010526/http://tfj.fsc.follett.com
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19991103034118/http://www.jellyvision.com/stuff/tfj/titles.html
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20001028103728/http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/ProductDetail.asp?PS=TFJTFJ
- ↑ https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=+That%27s+a+fact+Jack&author=Tom+Snyder+Productions&limit=10&offset=1