JoeP
03-12-2006, 08:50 PM
Some of y'all - ok, Moosie mainly - have got suitably excited over Zork. But here's a text adventure that is new to me. I'd heard of it, of course, but I assumed it was a rubbishy rip-off. But no! Turns out Douglas Adams wrote more than half of it, and it seems like he had a lot of fun.
Windows users, get the Frotz interpreter here (http://mirror.ifarchive.org/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/frotz/WindowsFrotz2002Installer.exe) (plays any number of Z-code games). Interpreters available for lots of other systems too.
And download the Hitchhiker game from here (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=3486) (scroll down to "Where to get it: Here! [111KB].").
You can also play online here (http://www.xcalibur.co.uk/games/hitchhik.html).
THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
Infocom interactive fiction - a science fiction story
Copyright (c) 1984 by Infocom, Inc. All rights reserved.
Release 31 / Serial number 871119 / Interpreter 4 Version F
You wake up. The room is spinning very gently round your head. Or at least it would be if you could see it which you can't.
It is pitch black.
More transcript ...
>look
It is pitch black.
>out
You'll have to get out of the bed first.
>get out of bed
Very difficult, but you manage it. The room is still spinning. It dips and sways a little.
>look
It is pitch black.
>light
(light)
Good start to the day. Pity it's going to be the worst one of your life. The light is now on.
Bedroom
The bedroom is a mess.
It is a small bedroom with a faded carpet and old wallpaper. There is a washbasin, a chair with a tatty dressing gown slung over it, and a window with the curtains drawn. Near the exit leading south is a phone.
There is a flathead screwdriver here.
There is a toothbrush here.
>i
You have:
a splitting headache
no tea
>take toothbrush
You're certainly picking the tough tasks. The floor acts like a trampoline on an ice rink, or like something they've been working on for years at Disneyland.
>take screwdriver
It dances by you like a thing possessed.
>take gown
Luckily, this is large enough for you to get hold of. You notice something in the pocket.
>open pocket
It's hard to open or close the pocket unless you're wearing the gown.
>wear gown
You are now wearing your gown.
>open pocket
Opening your gown reveals a buffered analgesic, pocket fluff, and a thing your aunt gave you which you don't know what it is.
>take analgesic
You swallow the tablet. After a few seconds the room begins to calm down and behave in an orderly manner. Your terrible headache goes.
>take phone
You pick up the receiver. A moment later, the dialing tone is suddenly cut off. Glancing through the window you can't help but notice the large old oak tree of which you are particularly fond crashing down through the phone cable.
>out
You make your way down to the front porch.
Front Porch
This is the enclosed front porch of your home. Your front garden lies to the south, and you can reenter your home to the north.
On the doormat is a pile of junk mail.
>read mail
There are many pieces of mail. Most are from some computer company called Infocom which wants you to buy their games. Hidden underneath is an official letter from the local council, dated some two years ago and inexplicably not delivered till now, explaining that a demolition order has been served on your home. The date of demolition is today's date.
>out
Front of House
You can enter your home to the north. A path leads around it to the northeast and northwest, and a country lane is visible to the south. All that lies between your home and the huge yellow bulldozer bearing down on it is a few yards of mud.
Mr. Prosser, from the local council, is standing on the other side of the bulldozer. He seems to be wearing a digital watch. He looks startled to see you emerge, and yells at you to get out of the way.
The bulldozer rumbles slowly toward your home.
>s
Country Lane
The road runs from your home, to the north, toward the village Pub, to the west.
The bulldozer piles into the side of your home.
Your home collapses in a cloud of dust, and a stray flying brick hits you squarely on the back of the head. You try to think of some suitable last words, but what with the confusion of the moment and the spinning of your head, you are unable to compose anything pithy and expire in silence.
>quit
You keep out of this, you're dead. An ambulance arrives.
>quit
You keep out of this, you're dead and should be concentrating on developing a good firm rigor mortis. You are put in the ambulance, which drives away.
>quit
For a dead person you are talking too much. As the ambulance reaches the mortuary a fleet of Vogon Constructor ships unexpectedly arrives and demolishes the Earth to make way for a new hyperspace bypass.
We are about to give you your score. Put on your peril-sensitive sunglasses now. (Hit RETURN or ENTER when ready.) >
Your score is 10 of a possible 400, in 16 turns.
Would you like to start over, restore a saved position, get hints or end this session of the game?
(Type RESTART, RESTORE, HINTS or QUIT):
>
Windows users, get the Frotz interpreter here (http://mirror.ifarchive.org/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/frotz/WindowsFrotz2002Installer.exe) (plays any number of Z-code games). Interpreters available for lots of other systems too.
And download the Hitchhiker game from here (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=3486) (scroll down to "Where to get it: Here! [111KB].").
You can also play online here (http://www.xcalibur.co.uk/games/hitchhik.html).
THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
Infocom interactive fiction - a science fiction story
Copyright (c) 1984 by Infocom, Inc. All rights reserved.
Release 31 / Serial number 871119 / Interpreter 4 Version F
You wake up. The room is spinning very gently round your head. Or at least it would be if you could see it which you can't.
It is pitch black.
More transcript ...
>look
It is pitch black.
>out
You'll have to get out of the bed first.
>get out of bed
Very difficult, but you manage it. The room is still spinning. It dips and sways a little.
>look
It is pitch black.
>light
(light)
Good start to the day. Pity it's going to be the worst one of your life. The light is now on.
Bedroom
The bedroom is a mess.
It is a small bedroom with a faded carpet and old wallpaper. There is a washbasin, a chair with a tatty dressing gown slung over it, and a window with the curtains drawn. Near the exit leading south is a phone.
There is a flathead screwdriver here.
There is a toothbrush here.
>i
You have:
a splitting headache
no tea
>take toothbrush
You're certainly picking the tough tasks. The floor acts like a trampoline on an ice rink, or like something they've been working on for years at Disneyland.
>take screwdriver
It dances by you like a thing possessed.
>take gown
Luckily, this is large enough for you to get hold of. You notice something in the pocket.
>open pocket
It's hard to open or close the pocket unless you're wearing the gown.
>wear gown
You are now wearing your gown.
>open pocket
Opening your gown reveals a buffered analgesic, pocket fluff, and a thing your aunt gave you which you don't know what it is.
>take analgesic
You swallow the tablet. After a few seconds the room begins to calm down and behave in an orderly manner. Your terrible headache goes.
>take phone
You pick up the receiver. A moment later, the dialing tone is suddenly cut off. Glancing through the window you can't help but notice the large old oak tree of which you are particularly fond crashing down through the phone cable.
>out
You make your way down to the front porch.
Front Porch
This is the enclosed front porch of your home. Your front garden lies to the south, and you can reenter your home to the north.
On the doormat is a pile of junk mail.
>read mail
There are many pieces of mail. Most are from some computer company called Infocom which wants you to buy their games. Hidden underneath is an official letter from the local council, dated some two years ago and inexplicably not delivered till now, explaining that a demolition order has been served on your home. The date of demolition is today's date.
>out
Front of House
You can enter your home to the north. A path leads around it to the northeast and northwest, and a country lane is visible to the south. All that lies between your home and the huge yellow bulldozer bearing down on it is a few yards of mud.
Mr. Prosser, from the local council, is standing on the other side of the bulldozer. He seems to be wearing a digital watch. He looks startled to see you emerge, and yells at you to get out of the way.
The bulldozer rumbles slowly toward your home.
>s
Country Lane
The road runs from your home, to the north, toward the village Pub, to the west.
The bulldozer piles into the side of your home.
Your home collapses in a cloud of dust, and a stray flying brick hits you squarely on the back of the head. You try to think of some suitable last words, but what with the confusion of the moment and the spinning of your head, you are unable to compose anything pithy and expire in silence.
>quit
You keep out of this, you're dead. An ambulance arrives.
>quit
You keep out of this, you're dead and should be concentrating on developing a good firm rigor mortis. You are put in the ambulance, which drives away.
>quit
For a dead person you are talking too much. As the ambulance reaches the mortuary a fleet of Vogon Constructor ships unexpectedly arrives and demolishes the Earth to make way for a new hyperspace bypass.
We are about to give you your score. Put on your peril-sensitive sunglasses now. (Hit RETURN or ENTER when ready.) >
Your score is 10 of a possible 400, in 16 turns.
Would you like to start over, restore a saved position, get hints or end this session of the game?
(Type RESTART, RESTORE, HINTS or QUIT):
>