~3 minute readNew Titles from Infocom to Feature Graphics
This fall will mark the debut of a new group of Infocom games featuring color graphics, animation, and a redesigned, friendlier parser. The changes have been made carefully, heeding the desires and suggestions of Infocom fans as well as making use of the new hardware technologies available today. The company promises that the changes will not compromise the quality and depth that have been the hallmark of Infocom's all-text interactive fiction since 1979. The new programs are made possible by Infocom's new development system, a local-area network (LAN) of Macintosh II systems utilizing A/UX, Apple Computer Inc.'s UNIX-based operating system.
New Infocomic Plus Four Brand-New Works of Interactive Fiction
Later this month, Infocom will release the fourth Infocomic designed in collaboration with Tom Snyder productions. ZORKQUEST II: THE CRYSTAL OF DOOM follows the tale begun in ZORKQUEST I: ASSAULT ON EGRETH CASTLE. Like the first three Infocomics, this one will be available for Commodore 64/128, Apple II and IBM/compatibles (MSR $12). For many fans of the traditional Infocom blend of masterful storytelling and mind-stretching puzzles, the company has four brand-new challenges in development, beginning with another Zork tale. First there was the ZORK TRILOGY, then BEYOND ZORK, and now get ready for Steve Meretzky's ZORK ZERO, the prequel to the trilogy which will answer all those burning questions about the collapse of the Great Underground Empire. ZORK ZERO is Infocom's largest game ever, with over 200 locations and as many puzzles as the entire trilogy, and your job will be to save the kingdom from the curse of Megaboz. The program will include new graphical "games within games" such as Peggleboz, Snarfem and Double Fanucci, and it will introduce the new Infocom parser. Also featured are a mouse interface, on-screen hints, and an on-screen map. ZORK ZERO (MSR $49.95) will be available initially for Macintosh and Apple II, followed by Apple IIGS and IBM versions. The game will be released for Atari ST, Amiga and Cmoodore 128 in 1989.
New Styles of Gaming from Infocom
Also to be released for the same systems as ZORK ZERO (and at about the same time by system) are SHOGUN and JOURNEY ($49.95 each). SHOGUN is written by Dave Lebling in collaboration with James Clavell, author of the best-selling book that inspired the popular TV mini-series. The game casts the player in the role of John Blackthorne, and English sea pilot on an uncharted route to the Japans. This game relies less on the player's ability to solve puzzles than on his or her ability to think and make decisions as Blackthorne would. Graphics in this game are in traditional 16th-century Japanese style and used as text borders, story illustrations, and as rewards for solved puzzles and successfully handled situations. JOURNEY introduces a new category of interactive storytelling, which Infocom calls Role-Playing Chronicles. Written by ZORK co-author, Marc Blank, JOURNEY is a fantasy epic in Tolkien tradition which combines elements from interactive fiction with traditional role-playing gameing. Commands are selected from a menu in this game which incorporates over 100 graphic illustrations and includes theme music. The player guides a four-member party, taking part in their strategies and problem-solving, although the characters can (and do) act on their own. The |fourth new program from Infocom is a 31st-century role-playing game entitled BATTLETECH: THE CRESCENT HAWK'S INCEPTION, based on a popular series of entertainment products from FASA Corporation. Infocom states that BATTLETECH is the largest computer role-playing game ever, with over four million locations to which your party may travel. And Infocom emphasizes that BATTLETECH is unlike typical "hack-and-slash" role-playing games because it is "rich in storyline and plot." Graphic techniques in this game include emotive outtakes in the style of Monga, a type of Japanese comic, and zoom-ins on particular battle action sequences as your character goes head-to-head with an enemy BattleMech (30-foot-tall combat robot). BATTLETECH will be released first for IBM/compatibles (CGA/EGA/VGA/MCGA/Tandy graphic formats), and in early 1989 for Apple II and C64/128 ($49.95 except $39.95 for C64/128).
These historical, out-of-print articles and literary works have been GNUSTOed onto InvisiClues.org for academic and research purposes.
