Alan K. Lipton
Fictioneer, Script Writer, Content Developer
email: fiction@lmi.net
voice: 510.528.4960

Sample Excerpts from
"Arthur's Kindergarten: Trouble with Arthur's Treehouse"

a CD-ROM by Presage Software/Human Code for The Learning Company
text by Alan K. Lipton

© 1999 by The Learning Company, and its affiliates and licensors, and © 1999 by Marc Brown.
Used by permission as portfolio material.

Game Cycle
Game Instructions
Level 1(4 variations)

Mrs. Brain: I need [letter].

Mrs. Brain: Would you please hand me [letter].

Mrs. Brain: Now I could use [letter].

Mrs. Brain: Arthur, would you find me [letter].

Level 2 (4 variations)

Mrs. Brain: I need a letter that makes [phonic].

Mrs. Brain: Please hand me a letter that makes [phonic].

Mrs. Brain: Now I could use a letter that makes [phonic].

Mrs. Brain: Arthur, would you find me a letter that makes [phonic].

Level 3 (4 variations)

Mrs. Brain: Arthur, would you find me the first letter of the word [word].

Mrs. Brain: I need the first letter of the word [word].

Mrs. Brain: Please hand me the first letter of the word [word].

Mrs. Brain: Now I could use the first letter of the word [word].

Correct Answer (5 variations)

Mrs. Brain: Thank you.

Mrs. Brain: Thanks, Arthur.

Mrs. Brain: Good.

Mrs. Brain: Just what I wanted.

Mrs. Brain: Good work!

Incorrect Answer (3 variations)

Mrs. Brain: No, that's not the letter I need here.

Mrs. Brain: Sorry, that's not it.

Mrs. Brain: I'm afraid this isn't the right letter.

Reset/Transition (3 variations)

Mrs. Brain: We're doing fine so far. And you're good at this. Let's keep going.

Mrs. Brain: You're a big help. Ready to pick more letters?

Mrs. Brain: Very good. Now can you help me find more letters?

Exit - Goal Met (3 variations)

Arthur: If you're going, remember to come back. We still need those ice cream tubs for chairs in the treehouse.

Arthur: Okay, go if you want to, but be sure to come back. We're not done here yet.

Arthur: Hey, don't forget to come back. We still have more work to do if we want those empty ice cream tubs.

Exit - Snub

Arthur: Hey, where are you going? The Brain's Mom won't give us those ice cream tubs if we don't finish helping!

Exit - Goal Almost Met

Mrs. Brain: Oh, you're going? If you still want those empty ice cream tubs, come back soon. We're almost done here.

Exit - Certification Point (3 sequential lines)

Mrs. Brain: Well, I think that just about does it! Thanks for all your help. Ready for those empty ice cream tubs now?

Arthur: Great. Thank you! (to player) And thanks to you, too! These are the perfect chairs for our treehouse.

Arthur: You're really a big help today!

Ice Cream Naming Sequence
(Note: this condition includes all letters of the alphabet. It begins with Mrs. Brain's prompt. Then Arthur reads the 3-word ice cream name and reacts accordingly. The first 2 words describe the ingredients, and the last word describes the style. There are 11 each of tasty and disgusting ingredients, some flagged for use as first or second word only. For added variety, Disgusting + Tasty = Disgusting or Tasty + Disgusting = Disgusting.)

Prompt (3 variations)

Mrs. Brain: And here's the name of my newest flavor.

Mrs. Brain: Well, what do you think of my newest flavor?

Mrs. Brain: I'm sure the world is ready for this flavor. What do you think, Arthur?

Tasty Ingredients (11 variations total)

Word #1 or 2 okay

Arthur: Berry

Arthur: Honey

Arthur: Sugar

Arthur: Melon

Arthur: Lemon

Arthur: Apple

Word #2 only

Arthur: Nut

Arthur: Mint

Arthur: Jelly

Arthur: Cake

Arthur: Spice

Disgusting Ingredients (11 variations total)

Word #1 or 2 okay

Arthur: Okra

Arthur: Olive

Arthur: Onion

Arthur: Squid

Arthur: Liver

Arthur: Beef

Arthur: Tuna

Arthur: Beet

Word #1 only

Arthur: Salt

Word #2 only

Arthur: Chive

Arthur: Pizza

Ice Cream Style (11 variations)

Word #3

Arthur: Swirl

Arthur: Cream

Arthur: Crush

Arthur: Whip

Arthur: Treat

Arthur: Slush

Arthur: Dream

Arthur: Snow

Arthur: Ice

Arthur: Mix

Arthur: Blend

Arthur's "Yum" Response (5 variations)

Arthur: Mmm!

Arthur: I'd try that kind.

Arthur: Wow, that sounds good.

Arthur: Yum, what's in that?

Arthur: Mmm-mmm. Sounds great!

Arthur's "Yuck" Response (5 variations)

Arthur: Oh, yuck!

Arthur: No thanks!

Arthur: Uh... I don't think so.

Arthur: Do you think kids would eat that?

Arthur: Who'd eat that?