• Re: Canonical Adventure Game List

    From KP2 KP2@21:1/5 to Nathan Torkington on Sat Sep 23 17:55:37 2023
    On Thursday, October 15, 1992 at 7:27:16 PM UTC-7, Nathan Torkington wrote:
    Archive-Name: adventure-games
    Maintained-By: Nathan.T...@vuw.ac.nz <Nathan Torkington>
    Version: $Revision: 1.2 $
    ----------------------------------------
    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
    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
    %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. ----------------------------------------
    41. Miscellaneous Companies
    Companies listed here are Penguin, Accolade, Interplay, Activision, Lucasfilm, Broderbund.
    ----------------------------------------
    41. Miscellaneous Games
    %T Oo Topus
    %D
    %C Penguin
    %A Michael Berlyn
    %S
    %Z May not be adventure
    %T Cyborg
    %D 82?
    %C
    %A Michael Berlyn
    %S
    %Z May not be adventure
    %T Tass Times In Tonetown
    %D 1986
    %C Interplay
    %A Michael Berlyn
    %A Muffy Berlyn
    %S
    %Z May not be adventure
    %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
    ----------------------------------------
    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).
    nice list

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  • From Kerr-Mudd, John@21:1/5 to kyonshi on Tue Dec 26 09:34:29 2023
    On Mon, 25 Dec 2023 11:05:22 +0100
    kyonshi <gmkeros@gmail.com> wrote:

    On 9/24/2023 2:55 AM, KP2 KP2 wrote:
    nice list

    nice feat of necromancy, but I'm not sure Mr. Torkington will see this
    31 years later :D


    I like that it took you 3 months to notice. Me, I'm looking forward
    to the Great Google Switchoff.


    --
    Bah, and indeed Humbug.

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