2026年9月19日，《Version History》的主持人Travis Larchuk和Andrew Marino，与一众Verge明星嘉宾一起，开启了一场直播旅程，玩的是1985年Apple II版本的《The Oregon Trail》。该活动是《Version History》第五季的宣传启动，其首集内容就聚焦在这款经典的教育娱乐游戏上。这次直播有一个独特的规则：如果参与者在游戏中的角色死亡，他们将立即被“踢出直播”，预示着这将是一次“残酷的体验”。 小组成员包括Jen Tuohy，她是一名高级智能家居记者，也是《Leap Pad》一集的参与者，因其“最漂亮的帽子”而被指定为首位马车队长。Addie Robertson，The Verge的技术和政策编辑，曾出现在《One Not Talk Per Child》一集中，她承认以前玩过这款游戏，甚至在现实生活中也“得过痢疾”。V. Song，来自TI-84计算器那一集的资深“诅咒科技”评论员（Senior Cursed Tech Reviewer），专攻可穿戴设备。最后，通常在幕后工作的《Version History》的监制Victoria Barrios也加入了大篷车队。 在简要查看了俄勒冈前10名分数并回顾了积分获取方式（农民和木匠可获得倍数加成）后，团队选择扮演一名“来自俄亥俄州的木匠”，以平衡起始资金和潜在的积分奖励。他们决定在四月出发，权衡是选择早春草料喂牛，还是避免晚季降雪。 在Matt's General Store进行资源管理耗费了初期游戏时间的大部分。预算800美元，团队最终决定购买：8头牛（4对）160美元，1500磅食物300美元，10套衣服100美元，10盒弹药20美元（后来增加了），以及包括3个马车轮、2根车轴和3根牵引杆在内的备件80美元。这使得他们旅途中只剩下关键的100美元现金。 旅程开始时，Jen担任马车队长。他们的第一个重大决定是在前行102英里后的堪萨斯河渡口。面对一条5.9英尺深的河流，聊天室观众通过投票选择了渡船，渡船花费5美元并耗时两天，最终顺利通过，没有发生任何事故。不久之后，一头牛受伤了，但团队继续前进。 在大蓝河渡口，河水深2.7英尺。尽管聊天室投票结果不一，团队仍尝试“徒步涉水”过河，导致补给品损失并延误了一天。扮演游戏的Travis经常承担狩猎任务，结果喜忧参半，从一只松鼠到熊都有捕获，但也不可避免地浪费了宝贵的子弹。团队尝试了不同的行进速度（稳定、艰苦、严酷）和口粮分配（充足、微薄），随着健康状况恶化和补给品减少，他们经常在这些选项之间切换。他们频繁休息，通常是两天，以从各种疾病中恢复，例如V. Song的精疲力竭、Andrew的腿骨折以及Addy的胳膊和腿骨折。 一个重大挫折是所有牛都被偷走了。团队无法移动，并花了好几个游戏日尝试交易。最终，他们用两套衣服换来一头牛，得以继续前进。在险恶的蛇河，他们选择雇佣一名“印第安”向导，用两套衣服作为报酬，成功地穿越了深水区。 随着旅程进入深秋和冬季，俄勒冈小径的残酷现实开始显现。首先，Addy死于痢疾，并被“踢出”直播。不久之后，V. Song死于精疲力竭，接着Victoria因发烧去世。最后，最后一位幸存的嘉宾Andrew也去世了，Travis独自一人留在了小径上。 直播以Travis作为最后的幸存者，带着他仅存的一头牛，在严重的暴风雪和浓雾中继续前行为终结。这次经历突显了游戏的挑战性以及生存所需的战略选择。Travis感谢观众，并鼓励他们观看《Version History》第五季，强调了即将播出剧集的质量。

On September 19, 2026, Version History hosts Travis Larchuk and Andrew Marino, along with a panel of Verge all-stars, embarked on a live stream journey playing the 1985 Apple II version of *The Oregon Trail*. The event served as a promotional kick-off for Version History Season 5, with its first episode focused on the classic edutainment game. A unique rule for the stream dictated that if a participant's in-game character died, they would be immediately "kicked out of the live stream," promising a "brutal experience." The panel included Jen Tuohy, Senior Smart Home Reporter and participant in the Leap Pad episode, who was designated the first wagon leader due to her "best hat." Addie Robertson, The Verge's Tech and Policy Editor and featured in the One Not Talk Per Child episode, admitted to having played the game before and even "had dysentery" in real life. V. Song, Senior Cursed Tech Reviewer from the TI-84 calculator episode, specialized in wearables. Finally, Victoria Barrios, Supervising Producer for Version History, typically behind the scenes, joined the wagon train. After a brief check of the Oregon Top 10 scores and a review of how points are earned (with farmers and carpenters receiving multipliers), the team chose to play as a "carpenter from Ohio" to balance starting funds and potential point bonuses. They decided to depart in April, navigating the trade-off between early grass for oxen and late-season snow. Resource management at Matt's General Store consumed a significant portion of the initial game time. With an $800 budget, the team ultimately decided on: 8 oxen (4 yoke) for $160, 1500 pounds of food for $300, 10 sets of clothing for $100, 10 boxes of ammunition for $20 (later increased), and a stock of spare parts including 3 wagon wheels, 2 axles, and 3 tongues for $80. This left them with a crucial $100 cash for the journey. The journey began with Jen as the wagon leader. Their first major decision came at the Kansas River Crossing, 102 miles in. Faced with a 5.9-foot deep river, the chat audience, via a poll, voted for the ferry, which cost $5 and took two days, successfully crossing without incident. Soon after, an ox was injured, but the team pressed on. At the Big Blue River Crossing, the river was 2.7 feet deep. Despite the chat's mixed vote, the team attempted to "ford" the river, resulting in lost supplies and a day's delay. Travis, playing the game, often took on hunting duties, with mixed results ranging from a single squirrel to bears, though not without wasting precious bullets. The team experimented with pace (steady, strenuous, grueling) and rations (filling, meager), often cycling between them as health deteriorated and supplies dwindled. Frequent rests, typically two days, were taken to recover from various ailments like V. Song's exhaustion, Andrew's broken leg, and Addy's broken arm and leg. A major setback occurred when all oxen were stolen. The team was unable to move and spent several in-game days attempting to trade. Eventually, they traded two sets of clothing for one ox, allowing them to continue. At the treacherous Snake River, they opted to hire an "Indian" guide for two sets of clothing, successfully navigating the deep waters. As the journey progressed into the late fall and winter months, the brutal realities of the Oregon Trail set in. First, Addy succumbed to dysentery and was "kicked out" of the live stream. Shortly after, V. Song died of exhaustion, followed by Victoria due to a fever. Finally, Andrew, the last remaining panelist, also died, leaving Travis alone on the trail. The stream concluded with Travis, the last survivor, pushing on through severe blizzards and heavy fog with his single remaining ox. The experience highlighted the game's challenging nature and the strategic choices required for survival. Travis thanked the viewers and encouraged them to watch Version History Season 5, emphasizing the quality of the upcoming episodes.