Adventure Game History (please help!)
Hans Persson
-------------------------------------------
This file is a compilation of various posts to rec.arts.int-fiction and
rec.games.int-fiction and some things added by myself. I would like to
see it grow into a history of the entire genre of interactive fiction. If
you have more information on any of the games in the file (what machines
they ran on, when they were published, etc), find errors or omissions,
please let me know.
I have excluded the entire Infocom line since there are already at least
two excellent information files about them on ftp.gmd.de, directory
if-archive/infocom.
Thanks to the following people for help and/or helpful postings.
Brendon Wyber (b.w...@csc.canterbury.ac.nz)
Ville Lavonius (lavo...@cc.helsinki.fi)
Jon Thackray (jo...@harlqn.co.uk)
Hans Persson
uni...@lysator.liu.se
Last update: 23 Jul 1993
Level 9:
*******
An English company that produced over a dozen adventure games. These
were mainly for the 8 bit micro market (Spectrum, Commodore 64, BBC,
Amstrad) and consisted of basic verb-noun parsers (until the very last
batch of games).
Early Games
===========
Verb-noun, 200+ locations:
The Middle-Earth Trilogy (later renamed The Jewels of Darkness)
------------------------
Colossal Adventure
This was an expanded version of the original ADVENTURE. At the start
there was no mention of it being the first part of a trilogy as far as I
can remember. For Commodore 64.
Adventure Quest
For Commodore 64.
Dungeon Adventure
For Commodore 64.
The Silicon Dreams Trilogy
--------------------------
Snowball
I don't think this was meant to be part one of a trilogy from the start
either. For Commodore 64.
Return to Eden
For Commodore 64.
(The?) Worm in Paradise
For Commodore 64.
Miscellaneous
-------------
Lords of Time
For Commodore 64.
Red Moon
This one had graphics on the top two-thirds or so of the screen, but I
don't think there was anything on them that you *had* to notice. For
Commodore 64.
Price of Magik
For Commodore 64.
Emerald Isle
For Commodore 64.
Later Games
===========
Which deteriorated as they tried a new game engine, which although more
powerful reduced the size of the games.
Knight Orc
This game had, as far as I can remember, quite a lot of graphics. For
Commodore 64.
Gnome Ranger
Gnome Ranger II: Ingrid's Back
Lancelot
ScrapeGhost
Magnetic Scrolls:
****************
English company that wrote adventure games with a very powerful (but
sometimes unusually picky) parser, and very nice 16 colour hi-res pictures.
Magnetic Scrolls are still existant.
The Pawn
For Commodore 64, Amiga.
Guild of Thieves
For Commodore 64, Amiga.
The Corruption
Fish
Wonderland
Jinxter
Myth
This is a short game that hasn't been released to the general public, but
was given as a welcome present in some british adventure club/mailorder
firm.
The Legacy
This is a Horror RPG from MicroProse that they have had a hand in
developing.
Acornsoft:
*********
At some point in time, Acornsoft decided not to publish adventure games
so the authors took their games with them to Topologica.
The Doom trilogy (Science Fiction adventure)
----------------
Countdown
Return
Last Days of Doom
Miscellaneous
-------------
Acheton
Large adventure in the Colossal Cave style
Hamil
Small adventure with some Mathematical bias
Philosophers' Quest
Medium sized game.
Sphinx
Castle of Riddles
Topologica Ltd:
**************
A number of the games here were originally written by Acornsoft but
their authors took the games to Topologica when Acornsoft decided not to
publish adventure games and converted them for other computers.
This company is still present in Peterborough, Britain, contactable on +44
733 244682 They publish for BBC, Electron, Master, Archimedes, PC, Amstrad
CPC, Amstrad PCW, Spectrum +3 and soon Atari ST.
Small here means up to around 150 locations, large means over 400,
medium means in between.
The Doom trilogy (Science Fiction adventure)
----------------
Countdown
Originally written by Acornsoft.
Return
Originally written by Acornsoft.
Last Days of Doom
Originally written by Acornsoft.
Miscellaneous
-------------
Acheton
Large adventure in the Colossal Cave style. Originally written by Acornsoft.
Hamil
Small adventure with some Mathematical bias. Originally written by Acornsoft.
Philosophers' Quest
Medium sized game. Originally written by Acornsoft.
Monsters of Murdac
Small adventure
Avon
Small Shakespearian adventure
Hezarin
Large adventure in Colossal Cave style
SpySnatcher
Whodunnit adventure in MI7
Giant Killer
Mathematical adventure for secondary education
Sphinx
Originally written by Acornsoft.
Castle of Riddles
Originally written by Acornsoft.
Various companies:
*****************
Castle of Terror
Graphical adventure in two parts (the second one loaded automatically
when you entered the castle; there was no turning back then). Had
graphics for all rooms, but I don't think they were necessary in more
than a few places.
For Commodore 64.
The Colour of Magic
Based on the book of the same title by Terry Pratchett (and possible some
more of his books). Had graphics in at least a few places, I can't
remember. I think this was written with the adventure game generator the
Quill.
For Commodore 64.
Info on Scott Adams adventures, anyone?
I know of Adventureland but nothing more.
--
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
! Hans Persson / The Pink Unicorn !
! uni...@lysator.liu.se, d88h...@und.ida.liu.se !
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Nathan Torkington
the scale:
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Canonical Adventure Game List
From: gn...@kauri.vuw.ac.nz (Nathan Torkington)
Distribution: world
Reply-To: games...@vuw.ac.nz
Followup-To: rec.games.int-fiction
Archive-Name: adventure-games
Maintained-By: Nathan.T...@vuw.ac.nz <Nathan Torkington>
Version: $Revision: 1.3 $
----------------------------------------
0. Introduction
This is a list of as many adventure games as I could find. I keep
track of Title, Date, Company, Author(s), Scenario(s), and any other
Comments that may be needed. A list of contributors appears at the
end of this file.
This file is ordered by company. A short introduction to each company
and the games they wrote appears before the list of games. An index
is provided at the start. Sections are separated by lines with 40
hyphens (-) on. Inside each section, games are separated by blank
lines. Each line in that paragraph represents some piece of
information about that game.
This list is posted infrequently to rec.arts.int-fiction. It is not
currently available by anonymous FTP. It is maintained by Nathan
Torkington and all mail about it should be directed to
games...@vuw.ac.nz
Games about which I need a lot of information are probably those in
the Miscellaneous section at the end.
----------------------------------------
1. Index
0. Introduction
1. Index
2. Infocom
2.1 Interactive Zorks
2.2 Interactive Mystery
2.3 Interactive Science Fiction
2.4 Interactive Adventure
2.5 Interactive Comedy
2.6 Interactive Horror
2.7 Interactive Romance
2.8 Interactive Espionage
2.9 Later games
3. Magnetic Scrolls
3.1 Games
4. Legend Entertainment
4.1 Spellcasting
4.2 Other Games
5. Adventions
5.1 Existing Games
5.2 Upcoming Games
6. Level 9 Adventures
6.1 Time & Magik Trilogy
6.2 Other Games
7. Scott Adams
7.1 Adventures
41. Miscellaneous Companies
42. Credits
----------------------------------------
2. Infocom
Infocom are often praised as popularising interactive fiction. Their
games often blended humour with a complex cunning required to solve
the puzzles. Infocom were bought by Activision in February 1986, and
are now only a label on which several (often thought inferior) games
have been released.
Since the Activision buyout, things have changed. As of March 1992,
the authors were:
Bob Bates is president of Legend Entertainment.
Mike Berlyn writes SEGA games for Accolade.
Marc Blank owns a ComputerLand store in Bend.
Amy Briggs is a PhD. candidate in Experimental Psychology at the
University of Minnesota.
Stu Galley works at Thinking Machines Corporation.
Dave Lebling writes a spreadsheet.
Steve Meretzky writes adventures for Legend Entertainment.
Brian Moriarty works at Lucasfilm Games.
----------------------------------------
2.1 Interactive Zorks
%T Wishbringer
%D 1985
%C Infocom
%A Brian Moriarty
%S
%Z Zmachine versions 3 and 5. Infocom code IZ0
%T Zork I
%D 1981
%C Infocom
%A Mark Blanc
%A Dave Lebling
%S Exploring an underground empire.
%Z Zmachine versions 3 and 5. Infocom code IZ1. Available in _Lost
%Z Treasures of Infocom_ package.
%Z The first part of the Zork trilogy (later 5 parts) that was the
%Z commercial expansion of a game written on an MIT machine for fun.
%Z (See the Definitive History of Zork).
%Z A German version was begun by Jeff O'Neill in 1988 but was never
%Z completed.
%T Zork II
%D 1981
%C Infocom
%A Marc Blanc
%A Dave Lebling
%S Exploring an underground empire.
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IZ2. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%Z See Zork I.
%T Zork III
%D 192
%C Infocom
%A Marc Blanc
%A Dave Lebling
%S Exploring an underground empire.
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IZ3. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%Z See Zork I.
%T Enchanter
%D 1983
%C Infocom
%A Mark Blanc
%A Dave Lebling
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IZ4. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T Sorcerer
%D 1984
%C Infocom
%A Steve Meretzky
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IZ5. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T Spellbreaker
%D 1985
%C Infocom
%A Dave Lebling
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IZ6. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T Trinity
%D 1986
%C Infocom
%A Brian Moriarty
%S
%Z Zmachine version 4. Infocom code IZ7.
%T Beyond Zork
%D 1987
%C Infocom
%A Brian Moriarty
%S
%Z Zmachine version 5. Infocom code IZ8. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package. Has on-line hints.
%Z One of the later extensions to the Zork trilogy. It covers ground
%Z not in the original Zork game. See Zork I and Zork Zero.
%T Zork Zero: The Revenge of Megaboz
%D 1988
%C Infocom
%A Steve Meretzky
%S
%Z Zmachine version 6. Infocom code IZ9?. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package. Has graphics.
%Z One of the later extensions to the Zork trilogy. It covers ground
%Z not in the original Zork game. See Zork I and Beyond Zork.
----------------------------------------
2.2 Interactive Mystery
%T Deadline
%D 1982
%C Infocom
%A Marc Blanc
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IM1. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T The Witness
%D 1983
%C Infocom
%A Stu Galley
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IM2. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T Suspect
%D 1984
%C Infocom
%A Dave Lebling
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IM3. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T Ballyhoo
%D 1986
%C Infocom
%A Jeff O'Neill
%S Circus setting.
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IM4. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T Moonmist
%D 1986
%C Infocom
%A Stu Galley
%A Jim Lawrence
%S Murder mystery in country house.
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IM5. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
----------------------------------------
2.3 Interactive Science Fiction
%T Starcross
%D 1982
%C Infocom
%A Dave Lebling
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IS1. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T Suspended
%D 1982
%C Infocom
%A Michael Berlyn
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IS2. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T Planetfall
%D 1983
%C Infocom
%A Steve Meretzky
%S
%Z Zmachine versions 3 and 5. Infocom code IS3. Available in _Lost
%Z Treasures of Infocom_ package.
%Z The original packaging for this game had a disk jacket where the
%Z writing on the back of the disk sleeve had something like:
%Z (Picture of disk being bent): No! Nicht! Nidni-nik*nik
%Z (Picture of disk with magnet): No! Nie! Phruka-nik*nik
%Z (Picture of disk being touched): No! Nicht! Nidni-nik*nik*
%Z (Picture of disk being inserted into computer): Insert
%Z Carefully! [something in German] Nik*oopxi-daxi
%Z (Picture of disk beside thermometer)
%Z 45 F -- 96F
%Z 10 C -- 25C
%Z 15,000 Q -- 25,000 Q
%Z (the last item on each list is the Alien translation).
%T The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
%D 1983
%C Infocom
%A Douglas Adams
%A Steve Meretzky
%S Space.
%Z Zmachine versions 3 and 5. Infocom code IS4. Available in _Lost
%Z Treasures of Infocom_ package.
%Z A successor to this, called _The Restaurant At The End of the
%Z Universe_ was begun by Stu Galley in 1990, but was never finished.
%T A Mind Forever Voyaging
%D 1985
%C Infocom
%A Steve Meretzky
%S
%Z Zmachine version 4. Infocom codeIS5.
%T Stationfall
%D 1987
%C Infocom
%A Steve Meretzky
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IS6. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
----------------------------------------
2.4 Interactive Adventure
%T Infidel
%D 1983
%C Infocom
%A Michael Berlyn
%A P. Fogelman
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IA1. Available in _Lost Treasures
%Z of Infocom_ package.
%T Seastalker
%D 1984
%C Infocom
%A Stu Galley
%A Jim Lawrence
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IA2.
%T Cutthroats
%D 1984
%C Infocom
%A Michael Berlyn
%A J. Wolper
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code AI3.
%T Hollywood Hijinx
%D 1986
%C Infocom
%A Dave Anderson
%A
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code AI4.
----------------------------------------
2.5 Interactive Comedy
%T Leather Goddesses of Phobos
%D 1986
%C Infocom
%A Steve Meretzky
%S
%Z Zmachine versions 3 and 5. Infocom code IC1.
%Z A sequel was released under the Activision label. See "Leather
%Z Goddesses of Phobos 2: The Gas Pump Girls".
%Z Notable for the changable level of smut (lewd mode, etc).
%T Bureaucracy
%D 1987
%C Infocom
%A Douglas Adams
%S
%Z Zmachine version 4. Infocom code IC2.
%T Nord and Bert Couldn't Made Head or Tail of It
%D 1987
%C Infocom
%A Jeff O'Neill
%S
%Z Zmachine version 5. Infocom code IC3.
----------------------------------------
2.6 Interactive Horror
%T Lurking Horror
%D 1987
%C Infocom
%A Dave Lebling
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IH1.
----------------------------------------
2.7 Interactive Romance
%T Plundered Hearts
%D 1987
%C Infocom
%A Amy Briggs
%S
%Z Zmachine version 3. Infocom code IR1.
----------------------------------------
2.8 Interactive Espionage
%T Border Zone
%D 1987
%C Infocom
%A Marc Blanc
%S
%Z Zmachine version 5. Infocom code IE1.
----------------------------------------
2.9 Later Games
%T Sherlock: Riddle of the Crown Jewels
%D 1988
%C Infocom/Activision.
%A Bob Bates
%S
%Z Zmachine version 5. Infocom code CS1.
%T Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur
%D 1989
%C Infocom/Activision.
%A Bob Bates.
%S
%Z Zmachine version 6. Graphics.
%T Quarterstaff
%D 1989
%C Infocom/Activision.
%A Scott Schmidt
%A Ken Updike
%S
%Z Graphics.
%T Battletech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception
%D 1988
%C Infocom/Activision
%A Westwood Associates
%S
%Z Graphics.
%T Battletech 2
%D 1990
%C Infocom/Activision
%A Westwood Associates
%S
%Z Graphics.
%T Journey
%D 1989
%C Infocom/Activision
%A Marc Blanc
%S
%Z Graphics.
%T Shogun
%D 1989
%C Infocom/Activision
%A James Clavell
%A Dave Lebling
%S
%Z Graphics.
%T Circuit's Edge
%D 1990
%C Infocom/Activision
%A George Alec Effinger
%S
%Z
%T Mines of Titan
%D
%C Infocom/Activision
%A
%S
%Z
----------------------------------------
3. Magnetic Scrolls
An English company, they are noted for their complex parsers and
intricate puzzles. They are often regarded as the UK's Infocom. Like
Infocom, they have moved with the times to graphic adventures, but
unlike Infocom they have managed to retain their fans.
----------------------------------------
3.1 Games
%T Guild of Thieves
%D
%C Magnetic Scrolls
%A
%S
%Z
%T Pawn
%D
%C Magnetic Scrolls
%A
%S
%Z
%T Fish
%D
%C Magnetic Scrolls
%A
%S
%Z
%T Jinxter
%D
%C Magnetic Scrolls
%A
%S
%Z
%T Wonderland
%D
%C Magnetic Scrolls
%A
%S
%Z
%T Corruption
%D
%C Magnetic Scrolls
%A
%S
%Z
----------------------------------------
4. Legend Entertainment
A spin-off from Infocom.
----------------------------------------
4.1 Spellcasting
%T Spellcasting 101: Sorcerers Get All The Girls
%C Legend
%D 1990
%A Steve Meretzky
%S Wizard's College.
%Z A graphical adventure, but with an option to play text-only.
%T Spellcasting 201: The Sorcerer's Appliance
%C Legend
%D 1992
%A Steve Meretzky
%S Wizard's College.
%Z A graphical adventure, but with an option to play text-only.
%T Spellcasting 301: Spring Break
%C Legend
%D 1992
%A Steve Meretzky
%S
%Z A graphical adventure, but with an option to play text-only.
----------------------------------------
4.2 Other Games
%T Timequest
%C Legend
%D 1991
%A Dave Anderson
%S
%Z
%T Gateway
%C Legend
%D 1992
%A Dave Anderson
%A F. Pohl
%S
%Z Based on Pohl's book of the same name.
----------------------------------------
5. Adventions
Adventions is ....
The games are available via anonymous FTP. There are no Amiga or Unix
versions because the system the games are written in (TADS) is not
ported to other platforms.
----------------------------------------
5.1 Existing Games
%T Unnkulian Underworld: The Unknown Unventure
%D 1990-1
%C ADVENTIONS
%A D.A. Leary <76440...@compuserve.com>, ADVENTIONS on GEnie
%S Send up of dungeon-style adventures
%Z Shareware for US$10
%Z Written in TADS 1.0.
%Z Runs on PC, Mac, Atari ST. Available via FTP as
%Z PC: msdos.archive.umich.edu:/msdos/games/adventure/unnkul12.arc
%Z Mac: mac.archive.umich.edu:/mac/games/adventure/unnkulian1.03.sit.hqx
%Z ST: atari.archive.umich.edu:/atari/games/tads/unnkul12.arc
%T Unnkulian Unventure II: The Secret of Acme
%D July 1991
%C ADVENTIONS
%A David M. Baggett <d...@ai.mit.edu> <76440...@compuserve.com>,
%A ADVENTIONS on GEnie
%S Send up of dungeon-style adventures.
%Z Shareware for US$10
%Z Written in TADS 1.0
%Z Runs on PC, Mac, Atari ST. Availabe via anonymous FTP as
%Z PC: msdos.archive.umich.edu:/msdos/games/adventure/unnk2v20.zip
%Z Mac: mac.archive.umich.edu:/mac/games/adventure/unnkuliantwo2.0.sit.hqx
%Z ST: atari.archive.umich.edu:/atari/games/tads/unnkul2v20.arc
----------------------------------------
5.2 Upcoming Games
%T Unnkulia Zero: The Search for Amanda
%C ADVENTIONS
%D Winter 1992 (scheduled)
%A D. A. Leary <76440...@compuserve.com>, ADVENTIONS on GEnie
%S Send up of dungeon-style adventures
%Z PC, Mac, Atari ST
%Z Written in TADS 2.0
%T Unnkulia One-Half: The Salesman Triumphant
%C ADVENTIONS
%D Winter 1992 (scheduled)
%A D. A. Leary <76440...@compuserve.com>, ADVENTIONS on GEnie
%S
%Z Runs on PC, Mac, Atari ST
%Z Written in TADS 2.0
%Z Freeware
%T The Legend Lives! (an Unnkulian Universe Unventure)
%C ADVENTIONS
%D 1993 (scheduled)
%A David M. Baggett <d...@ai.mit.edu>, <76440...@compuserve.com>,
%A ADVENTIONS on GEnie
%S
%Z Runs on PC, Mac, Atari ST
%Z Written in TADS 2.0
%T Unnkulian Unventure III
%C ADVENTIONS
%D 1993 (scheduled)
%A Chris Nebel <ne...@wam.umd.edu>, <76440...@compuserve.com>,
%A ADVENTIONS on GEnie
%S
%Z Runs on PC, Mac, Atari ST
%Z Written in TADS 2.0
----------------------------------------
6. Level 9 Adventures
Level 9 were/are a British company, producing interesting and amusing
adventures.
[...]
----------------------------------------
6.1 Time & Magik Trilogy
%T Lords of Time
%C Level 9 Adventures
%D
%A
%S
%Z Pretty illustrations, and a nice parser.
%T Red Moon
%C Level 9 Adventures
%D
%A
%S
%Z Pretty illustrations, and a nice parser.
%T The Price of Magik
%C Level 9 Adventures
%D
%A
%S
%Z Pretty illustrations, and a nice parser.
----------------------------------------
6.2 Other Games
%T Gnome Ranger
%C Level 9 Adventures
%D
%A
%S
%Z
----------------------------------------
7. Scott Adams
Scott Adams wrote plenty of [commercial?] 8-bit adventures in a
variety of exotic settings. He epitomises the way in which writing
adventures at home took off around 1980. His games were mainly
verb-noun, but had exciting plots and were well designed.
Some of his games were co-written with his wife.
----------------------------------------
7.1 Adventures
%T Pirate Adventure
%C Scott Adams?
%D
%A Scott Adams
%S
%Z
----------------------------------------
41. Miscellaneous Companies
Companies listed here are Penguin, Accolade, Interplay, Activision,
Lucasfilm, Broderbund, Rainbird Entertainment, and the prolific
"Unknown".
----------------------------------------
41. Miscellaneous Games
%T Oo-Topos
%D
%C Penguin
%A Michael Berlyn
%S
%Z May not be adventure
%T Cyborg
%D 82?
%C
%A Michael Berlyn
%S
%Z
%T Tass Times In Tonetown
%D 1986
%C Interplay
%A Michael Berlyn
%A Muffy Berlyn
%S
%Z
%T Dr. Dumont's Wild P.A.R.T.I.
%D
%C First Row
%A Michael Berlyn
%S
%Z May not be adventure
%T Altered Destiny
%D
%C Accolade
%A Michael Berlyn
%S
%Z May not be adventure
%T Leather Goddesses of Phobos 2: The Gas Pump Girls
%D 1992
%C Activision
%A Steve Meretzky
%S
%Z Graphics only, generally accepted as not as good as the original.
%T Loom
%C Lucasfilm
%D 1990
%A Brian Moriarty
%S
%Z
%T Kabul Spy
%C Broderbund
%D
%A
%S
%Z
%T Advent
%C Never commercially released.
%D ?
%A Crowther
%A Woods
%S Examining an underground world.
%Z The original adventure game.
%T TimeQuest
%C
%D
%A
%S
%Z
%T The Paradox Effect
%C
%D
%A
%S
%Z A straightforward text adventure with a very simple parser, based
%Z on time travel, although I didn't see any time-based puzzles.
%T Legend of the Sword
%C Rainbird Entertainment
%D
%A
%S
%Z A very nice adventure game with a pretty good parser and an optional,
%Z non-exhaustive graphical interface. i.e: you could do most things
%Z by selecting icons, menu items and lists, but not everything.
%Z Fantasy setting, get a magical sword and shield in order to allow
%Z killing the big bad guy.
%T battlestar
%C
%A
%D 1979
%S
%Z UNIX based, this may be part of the standard System V games
%Z distribution.
----------------------------------------
42. Credits
Nathan.T...@vuw.ac.nz (Nathan Torkington), htc@dcl-nxt01 (htc),
Doh...@Germanistik.hu-berlin.dbp.de (Paul David Doherty),
bo...@cs.buffalo.edu (Daniel F. Boyd), rdip...@qualcom.qualcomm.com
(Ron Dippold), ro...@basser.cs.su.oz.au (Ronald Cook).
Hans Persson
-------------------------------------------
This file is a compilation of various posts to rec.arts.int-fiction
and rec.games.int-fiction and some other things added by myself and
those listed at the end. I would like to see it grow into a history of
the entire genre of interactive fiction. If you have more information
on any of the games in the file (what machines they ran on, when they
were published, etc), find errors or omissions, please let me know.
I have excluded the entire Infocom line since there are already at least
two excellent information files about them on ftp.gmd.de, directory
if-archive/infocom.
Hans Persson
uni...@lysator.liu.se
Last update: 28 Jul 1993
Accolade:
********
Altered Destiny
By Michael Berlyn (1990). May not be an adventure.
Acornsoft:
*********
At some point in time, Acornsoft decided not to publish adventure games
so the authors took their games with them to Topologica.
Countdown
Acheton
Large adventure in the Colossal Cave style.
Hamil
Small adventure with some Mathematical bias.
Philosophers' Quest
Medium sized game.
Sphinx
Castle of Riddles
Some of the puzzles in Castle of Riddles came from the original
version of Philosophers' Quest (see Topologika) and now appear in the
Topologika version of Philosophers' Quest.
Activision:
**********
Borrowed Time
Graphical. For Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga.
Mindshadow
Graphical. For Commodore 64, Atari ST.
Leather Goddesses of Phobos 2: The Gas Pump Girls
By Steve Meretzky. Graphics. (1992)
Adventions:
**********
These games are available by anonymous ftp. They can be played on all
machines that have had the TADS language ported to them (currently PC
and clones, Macintosh, Atari ST/TT/Falcon, Sun 3, Sparc, DEC
MIPS-based workstations running Ultrix, NeXT, Silicon Graphics
workstations running Irix and 386+ PCs running Linux). Their games can
be found on ftp.gmd.de, /if-archive/games/adventions (?).
Shareware/commercial?
Unnkulian Unventure Series
==========================
Humorous fantasy adventures in the style of the original adventure.
Freeware/Shareware
------------------
Unnkulian Underworld: The Unknown Unventure (v3.01)
By David A. Leary. Shareware US$10. (1990-1)
Unnkulian Unventure II: The Secret of Acme (v3.0)
By David M. Baggett. Shareware US$10. (July 1992)
Unnkulia One-Half: The Salesman Triumphant (v1.0)
By David A. Leary. Freeware.
Commercial
----------
Unnkulia Zero: The Search for Amanda (v1.0)
By David A. Leary. For MS-DOS, Macintosh.
Unnkulian Unventure III
By Chris Nebel. (1993 (scheduled))
Unnkulian Unventure IV
(work in progress)
Unnkulian Universe Unventure Series
===================================
Set in the same universe as the Unnkulian Unventure Series, but 500
years later.
Commercial
----------
The Legend Lives! (an Unnkulian Universe Unventure)
By David M. Baggett. (Fall 1993 (scheduled))
Miscellaneous
=============
Freeware/Shareware
------------------
Colossal Cave Revisited (v1.0)
A remake of Crowther and Woods' original adventure. Released with
complete TADS source code. Freeware. By David M. Baggett.
Commercial
----------
The Horror of Rylvania
By David A. Leary. (Currently in beta-testing)
Adventure International:
***********************
Secret Mission
By Brian Howarth. For Commodore 64, Plus 4.
Adventure 1-12
For Atari 400/800.
Preppie
For Atari 400/800.
Preppie II
For Atari 400/800.
Diskey
For Atari 400/800.
Sea Dragon
For Atari 400/800.
Analog Comp.:
************
Adventure in the Fifth Dimension
By Brian Moriarty (ca 1983).
Crash Dive!
By Brian Moriarty (ca 1983).
Artic:
*****
The Ship of Doom
For Spectrum 48K.
Inca Curse
Text. For Spectrum.
ASP:
***
Demon Knight
For Spectrum.
Automata UK Ltd:
***************
Pimania
Graphics. Written in Basic. For Spectrum.
Broderbund:
**********
Kabul Spy
Bug-Byte:
********
Twin Kingdom Valley
Graphical (drawn) adventure. For Commodore 64.
Carnel Software:
***************
Black Crystal
Graphic adventure in six parts. You move you character with the arrow
keys. Written in Basic. For Spectrum.
Channel 8:
*********
English company specializing in adventure games.
Mysterious Adventures
By Brian Howarth.
The Golden Baton
Drawn Graphics. For Commodore 64.
Circus
Graphics. For Commodore 64.
Datasoft:
********
The Dallas Quest
Based on the TV series. Graphics. For Commodore 64.
Firebird:
********
The Pawn
For Atari ST. See under Magnetic Scrolls.
First Row:
*********
Dr. Dumont's Wild P.A.R.T.I.
By Michael Berlyn. May not be an adventure.
Hewson Consultants:
******************
Quest
Graphics. For Spectrum.
High Energy Software:
********************
Commercial
----------
Perdition's Flames
Deep Space Drifter
Freeware/Shareware
------------------
Ditch Day Drifter
By Michael J. Roberts. Included (with source) in the TADS adventure
design language distribution.
IJK Software:
************
Fantasy Quest
Text. For Oric-1.
Interplay:
*********
Tass Times in Tonetown
By Michael Berlyn, Muffy Berlyn (1986). For Amiga.
Legend:
******
Valhalla
Very graphical adventure with pictures of all locations and a lot of
small stickmen walking around and doing things. For Commodore 64,
Spectrum 48K.
Legend Entertainment:
********************
A spin-off company from Infocom.
Spellcasting
------------
Spellcasting 101: Sorcerers Get All the Girls
A Graphical adventure with an option to play text-only. By Steve
Meretzky (1990) For PC.
Spellcasting 201: The Sorcerer's Appliance
A Graphical adventure with an option to play text-only. By Steve
Meretzky (1991) For PC.
Spellcasting 301: Spring Break
A Graphical adventure with an option to play text-only. By Steve
Meretzky (1992) For PC.
Miscellaneous
-------------
Timequest
By Bob Bates or by Dave Andersson (?). (1991) For PC.
Gateway
By Bob Bates, G. Dahlgren, M. Lindner, Mike Verdu, D. Beck or based on
the book with the same name by Frederick Pohl. (1992) For PC.
Eric the Unready
By Bob Bates. For PC.
Level 9:
*******
An English company that produced over a dozen adventure games. These
were mainly for the 8 bit micro market (Spectrum 48K, Commodore 64,
Acorn BBC B, Enterprise 64, Memotech MTX-512, NASCOM, Nimbus, Oric
48K, Spectravideo 328, MSX, Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Amstrad) and
consisted of basic verb-noun parsers (until the very last batch of
games).
Early Games
===========
Verb-noun, 200+ locations:
The Middle-Earth Trilogy (later renamed The Jewels of Darkness)
------------------------
Colossal Adventure
This was an expanded version of the original ADVENTURE. At the start
there was no mention of it being the first part of a trilogy as far as I
can remember. For Commodore 64, Spectrum, MSX, MS-DOS, Atari ST, Amiga.
Adventure Quest
For Commodore 64, Spectrum, MSX, MS-DOS, Atari ST, Amiga.
Dungeon Adventure
For Commodore 64, Spectrum, MSX, MS-DOS, Atari ST, Amiga.
The Silicon Dreams Trilogy
--------------------------
Snowball
I don't think this was meant to be part one of a trilogy from the start
either. Snowball had more than 7000 rooms. For Commodore 64.
Return to Eden
For Commodore 64.
(The?) Worm in Paradise
For Commodore 64.
The Time and Magik Trilogy
--------------------------
Lords of Time
Graphical. For Commodore 64.
Red Moon
This one had graphics on the top two-thirds or so of the screen, but I
don't think there was anything on them that you *had* to notice. For
Commodore 64.
The Price of Magik
For Commodore 64.
Miscellaneous
-------------
Emerald Isle
For Commodore 64.
Eric the Viking
I think this is one of the old ones. Had graphics. For Commodore 64.
Later Games
===========
Which deteriorated as they tried a new game engine, which although more
powerful reduced the size of the games.
Knight Orc
This game had, as far as I can remember, quite a lot of graphics. For
Commodore 64, Amiga, PC.
Gnome Ranger
Gnome Ranger II: Ingrid's Back
Lancelot
ScapeGhost
Lucasfilm:
*********
Loom
By Brian Moriarty (1990).
Magnetic Scrolls:
****************
An English company that wrote adventure games with a very powerful
(but sometimes unusually picky) parser, and very nice 16 colour hi-res
pictures. Magnetic Scrolls are still existant. Games are listed in
chronological order. Since Wonderland, they are using a new GUI called
Magnetic Windows.
The Pawn
For Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, PC.
Guild of Thieves
For Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, PC.
Jinxter
Corruption
Fish!
Myth
This is a short game that hasn't been released to the general public, but
was given as a welcome present in some british adventure club/mailorder
firm.
Wonderland
For Amiga.
Magnetic Scrolls Collection, Volume I
Contains Guild of Thieves, Corruption and Fish! remade using Magnetic
Windows.
The Legacy
This is a Horror RPG from MicroProse that they have had a hand in
developing.
Corruption
Melbourne House:
***************
The Hobbit
By Philip Mitchel. Graphical (drawn) adventure. For Commodore 64,
Spectrum 48K, Oric-1.
Lord of the Rings
Pseudo-graphical adventure with a lot of different viewpoint characters
to choose from. For Commodore 64.
Sherlock Holmes
By Philip Mitchel. For Commodore 64, Spectrum. Graphics.
Classic Adventure
A remake of the original adventure. Text only. For Commodore 64,
Spectrum.
Mindscape & Icom Simulations:
****************************
All of these are very graphical adventures where you point and click
in the pictures to get things, etc.
Dij` Vu
For Macintosh, Amiga.
Uninvited
For Macintosh, Amiga, Atari ST.
Shadowgate
For Macintosh, Amiga.
Dij` Vu II
For Macintosh, Amiga.
Penguin:
*******
Oo-Topos
By Michael Berlyn, Muffy Berlyn (1981). May not be an adventure.
Pixel Games:
***********
Trader
For Spectrum.
Quicksalva:
**********
Smugglers Cove
Graphics. For Spectrum.
Velnors Lair
Text. For Spectrum.
Rainbird Entertainment:
**********************
Legend of the Sword
A very nice adventure game with a pretty good parser and an optional
non-exhaustive graphical interface. You could do most things by
selecting icons, menu items and lists, but not everything. Fantasy
setting, get a magical sword and shield in order to allow killing the
big bad guy.
The Pawn
See Magnetic Scrolls. Distributed in America by Rainbird.
Guild of Thieves
See Magnetic Scrolls. Distributed in America by Rainbird.
Knight Orc
See Level 9. Distributed in America by Rainbird.
Richard Shepherd Software:
*************************
Invincible Island
Graphics. For Spectrum 48K.
Devils in the Deep
3D graphics. Written in Basic. For Spectrum 48K.
Transylvanian Tower
3D maze adventure. For Spectrum 48K.
Salient:
*******
Cyborg
By Michael Berlyn (ca 1982).
Scott Adams:
***********
Scott Adams wrote plenty of 8-bit adventures in a variety of exotic
settings. He epitomises the way in which writing adventures at home
took off around 1980. His games are mainly verb-noun, but had exciting
plots and were well-designed. Some of his games were co-written with
his wife.
Pirate's Island (2)
The Sorcerer of Claymore Castle (13)
Return to Pirate's Island (14)
Spiderman
Graphical. For Commodore 64.
The Hulk (Questprobe featuring The Hulk)
Graphical. For Commodore 64, Spectrum.
Voodoo Castle
Graphical. For Commodore 64.
Adventureland
For Commodore 64.
Screenplay:
**********
Asylum
Graphical. For Commodore 64, Atari 400/800, PC.
Severn Software:
***************
Moria
Graphics. Based on "The Lord of the Rings". For Spectrum 16K/48K.
Sierra (Online?)
******
All (I think) of their games are graphical and have an image of yourself
that you have to move around the screen to do things.
Kings Quest
For PC.
Kings Quest II
For PC.
Kings Quest III
For PC.
Kings Quest IV
For PC.
Leisure Suit Larry
For PC.
Leisure Suit Larry II: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards
For PC.
Leisure Suit Larry III
For PC.
Leisure Suit Larry V
(The author swore after completing part III that he would never write
part IV.) For PC.
Space Quest I-?
For PC.
Police Quest I-?
For PC.
Sunshine Press:
**************
The Eye of the Star Warrior
Published in listing form in the book "Spectrum Adventures". The
entire program is carefully explained. Graphics. For Spectrum.
Topologica Ltd:
**************
A number of the games here were originally published by Acornsoft but
their authors took the games to Topologica when Acornsoft decided not to
publish adventure games and converted them for other computers.
This company is still present in Peterborough, Britain, contactable on +44
733 244682 They publish for BBC, Electron, Master, Archimedes, PC, Amstrad
CPC, Amstrad PCW, Spectrum +3 and soon Atari ST.
Small here means up to around 150 locations, large means over 400,
medium means in between.
The Doom trilogy (Science Fiction adventure)
----------------
Countdown
Originally written by Acornsoft. Expanded by about 50% when
republished by Topologika.
Return
Last Days of Doom
Miscellaneous
-------------
Acheton
Large adventure in the Colossal Cave style. Originally written for an
IBM 370 at Cambridge University, and available on several other 370
compatible sites. Later published by Acornsoft, and later still by
Topologika. Acheton predates most published adventures barring
Colossal Cave (by which its authors were inspired) and Zork (the
original Vax version). Acheton was first written in 1978.
Hamil
Small adventure with some Mathematical bias. Originally written for an
IBM 370 at Cambridge University, and available on several other 370
compatible sites. Later published by Acornsoft, and later still by
Topologika. Acheton predates most published adventures barring
Colossal Cave (by which its authors were inspired) and Zork (the
original Vax version). Acheton was first written in 1978.
Philosophers' Quest
Medium sized game. Originally written for an IBM 370 at Cambridge
University, and available on several other 370 compatible sites. Later
published by Acornsoft, and later still by Topologika. Acheton
predates most published adventures barring Colossal Cave (by which its
authors were inspired) and Zork (the original Vax version). Acheton
was first written in 1978. The Acornsoft version was a cutdown of the
original, the Topologika version is the full thing.
Monsters of Murdac
Small adventure. Originally produced for the IBM 370 system, later
converted for Topologika.
Avon
Small Shakespearian adventure. Originally produced for the IBM 370
system, later converted for Topologika.
Hezarin
Large adventure in Colossal Cave style. Originally produced for the
IBM 370 system, later converted for Topologika.
SpySnatcher
Whodunnit adventure in MI7
Giant Killer
Mathematical adventure for secondary education
Castle of Riddles
Originally written by Acornsoft.
Trillium:
********
Amazon
Various companies:
*****************
Castle of Terror
Graphical adventure in two parts (the second one loaded automatically
when you entered the castle; there was no turning back then). Had
graphics for all rooms, but I don't think they were necessary in more
than a few places. Graphics drawn.
For Commodore 64.
The Colour of Magic
Based on the book of the same title by Terry Pratchett (and possible some
more of his books). Had graphics in at least a few places, I can't
remember. I think this was written with the adventure game generator The
Quill.
For Commodore 64.
Eureka
Graphical adventure in five parts. Since each part was in a different
time, it did not matter which one you played first. If you managed to
solve it all, you got a telephone number to call and the first person
to do so would win a large amount of money (10.000 pounds?). I don't
know if anyone ever did.
The Golden Fleece
Graphical. For Commodore 64.
Law of the West
Graphical. For Commodore 64.
Brattacas
Graphical. For Atari ST.
Adventure Twinpack
I don't know what's in this. For Atari ST.
Sundog
Graphical. For Atari ST.
Hacker
Graphical. For Atari ST.
Hacker II
Graphical. For Atari ST.
Top Secret
For Atari ST.
Hunchback Adventure
For Commodore 64.
PSI-5 Trading Co
For Commodore 64.
Robin of Sherwood
For Commodore 64.
Advent
The Original adventure game. By Willie Crowther and Don Woods. Never
commercially released in the version, although a lot of commercial
adaptions of this game exists.
The Paradox Effect
A straightforward text adventure with a very simple parser, based on
time travel, although I didn't see any time-based puzzles.
Battlestar
Unix based. This may be part of the standard System V games
distribution. (1979)
Zork
Later split up in three parts and released commercially by Infocom.
The Secret of Monkey Island
Graphic. For Amiga.
Alice in Wonderland
Very advanced graphical interface.
Token of Ghall
Graphics. For Commodore 64.
Tomb of Xeiops
Text. For Commodore 64.
Fabulous Wanda
Graphics, some arcade game-like sequences. For Commodore 64.
Black Sanctum
Text. For Dragon.
The Quest of Merravid
For VIC-20 16K, Commodore 64.
Curses
By Graham Nelson. Written in Z-code with Inform.
Thanks to the following people for help and/or helpful postings.
Brendon Wyber (b.w...@csc.canterbury.ac.nz)
Ville Lavonius (lavo...@cc.helsinki.fi)
Jon Thackray (jo...@harlequin.co.uk)
Paul David Doherty (d.do...@bamp.berlinet.in-berlin.de)
Nathan Torkington (Nathan.T...@vuw.ac.nz)
htc@dcl-nxt01
Daniel F. Boyd (bo...@cs.buffalo.edu)
Ron Dippold (rdip...@qualcom.qualcomm.com
Ronald Cook (ro...@basser.cs.su.oz.au
Darryl O'Neill (Darryl....@Waterloo.NCR.COM)
Magnus Timmerby (pi9...@pt.hk-r.se)
Ben Muckenhoupt (muck...@math.rutgers.edu)