Lucas Learning Explained

Lucas Learning
Type:	Video game developer Educational technology
Industry:	Educational software
Founded:	February 1996 (original) 2024 (current)
Founder:	George Lucas Susan Schilling
Defunct:	June 2001 (original)
Hq Location City:	San Rafael, California
Hq Location Country:	United States
Parent:	LucasArts (original) George Lucas Educational Foundation (current)
Website:	lucaslearning.com (archived; original) lucaslearning.org (current)

Lucas Learning is an initiative of the George Lucas Educational Foundation with a mission to work with partners to combine research-validated project-based learning principles with modern simulation technology for pre-K-12 schools.

History

In its initial iteration, started in 1996,^[1] the Lucas Learning company was founded by George Lucas as a spin-off to LucasArts in order to provide challenging, engaging and fun educational software for classrooms.^[2] Many of their award-winning titles were based on the national curriculum.^[3] The company was located in San Rafael, California,^[4] and was headed by former MECC senior vice president of development and creative director Susan Schilling.^[5] Shilling asserted that Lucas was personally involved with the products and that a company mantra was to stay away from violence.^[6] They released games from 1998 until announcing their cancellation of a Mac version of Star Wars Super Bombad Racing in mid 2001, the year Lucas Learning decided to leave the market.^[7]

Games

Title	Platform	Release date
Star Wars: DroidWorks	PC/MAC	October 21, 1998
	PC/MAC	May 24, 1999
Star Wars: Yoda's Challenge Activity Center	PC/MAC	August 17, 1999
	PC/MAC	September 18, 1999
Star Wars: Anakin's Speedway	PC/MAC	March 20, 2000
Star Wars: Early Learning Activity Center	PC/MAC	August 15, 2000
	PC/MAC	September 1, 2000
Star Wars: Jar Jar's Journey	PC/MAC	November 15, 2000
(published by LucasArts)	PS2	April 23, 2001

Critical reception

The Boston Herald wrote that the company was "setting a new standard in software development with a unique cooperative effort between Lucas' film and software sides".^[8]

External links

• • Web Archive of First Lucas Learning Site
• Interview with Lucas Learning's Jane Boston about company's philosophy and direction, The Journal

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lucas getting into education via CD-ROM. Armstrong. David. February 23, 1996. SFgate. May 2, 2024.
2. Web site: Lucas Learning - Company Mission . 2001-12-20 . 2017-02-20 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20011220052520/http://www.lucaslearning.com/aboutus/about_mission.htm . 2001-12-20.
3. Web site: Lucas Learning - Letter to Educators . 2002-02-08 . 2017-02-20 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20020208041204/http://www.lucaslearning.com/aboutus/about_letter.htm . 2002-02-08.
4. Web site: Lucas Learning - George Lucas' Vision . 2002-02-08 . 2017-02-20 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20020208123642/http://www.lucaslearning.com/aboutus/about_george.htm . 2002-02-08.
5. Alexander. Steve. February 24, 1996. MECC executive to join Lucas firm. https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010100/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62625345.html. dead. February 21, 2017. Star Tribune.
6. Olson. Karen Torme. May 17, 2000. Game developers dazzle E3 crowds with new titles and technology.. https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010348/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-122189613.html. dead. February 21, 2017. Chicago Tribune.
7. Web site: Lucas Learning axes Mac game, exits consumer market. Macworld Staff. June 20, 2001. Macworld. en. 2017-02-20.
8. Cardwell. Annette. May 18, 1999. Colo. shootings dominate talk at electronic games trade show.. https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010231/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-57114036.html. dead. February 21, 2017. The Boston Herald.