The Long, Winding History of The Oregon Trail

"Dillenberger and Heinemann had each taken a few computer programming classes at Carleton, and began volleying ideas back and forth about how to digitize the board game. Instead of rolling dice, players could select one of three speeds for their ox to travel at. Instead of drawing cards, the program would select misfortunes—a lost ox, an ambush, a deathly illness. A couple of simple formulas dictated the weather based on the time of year."