After playing Oregon Trail for 30 minutes, I got the knowledge of what it was to go through that experience.
I played as a Farmer, a poor guy traveling with 4 other people. All you got was $800 to make the trip. What i learned from this was, how tough it actually was to make the trip in such little amount of money. You had to buy food by the pound, enough for all five of your crew, you had to buy repairs for your wagon, the ox to pull it, and repairs and clothing. You go through your crew members dying, one of you ox breaking a foot, hunting, visiting towns and villages, and even getting snake bites.
The game teaches you the rough times they went through. It really is a learning experience. It even gives you the days travelled and how many miles till you reach your next location.
