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Text Adventures

Back in the eighties, before I even had an EGA monitor, there were these games. They weren't processor intensive, didn't have killer sound effects, no 3D graphics -- hell they didn't even have pictures! But they were addictive. They forced me to use my mind. I got immersed in a whole new world, exploring, solving puzzles and facing my fears against who knew what creatures that lurked in the dark passages laying before me.

Otherwise known as Interactive Fiction (IF), these once-popular games are not so much in the mainstream. Nowadays it's rare to find one in a store. But they still have a following. They can be just as exciting as any adventure game you've played. But much more engaging. And with as good of graphics and sound as you can imagine. It should be noted, however, that if you're unable to enjoy a good book, you may not enjoy a good text adventure...

What Interactive Fiction is all about

Since this page was originally put up to host the crappy 'games' at the bottom, and I'm too lazy right now to do up a proper explanation, here are some much better introductions to the genre:

• A Brief Introduction to Interactive Fiction by Michael J. Roberts, the author of TADS
• An Introduction to Interactive Fiction (aka Text Adventures) by Emily Short
• Stephen Granade Introducing Interactive Fiction
• (I'm sensing a theme here.)
• Or Google™ for many more.

Thank you for not clicking on the links below.

Some poor examples, not worth downloading

Here are a couple I've written. You'll need a TADS interpreter to play them.

Wheel Of Inspiration
      A way to get ideas for your next game (or story, or film).
Some of the results are wild and bizarre, but some work rather well!
I think it's hilarious to spin the wheel and try to figure out the story
that would go with the randomly-generated synopsis. Tons of fun!

Actually, you'd probably rather Brainstorm On-line.

Now that you've seen the sorts of things my programs come up with on their own, you've seen all I have to offer. For your own sake, go no further.

Insanity Cubed
      Basically my implementation of Rubik's Cube in a text adventure. But there are other amusing things contained within, for those of you (like me) who are unable to solve it in real life. The randomly-generated hallucinations are pretty neat. And Verbose Mode is something to be reckoned with.

Okay, so maybe the figments had their own merit. But the puzzle (tho well known) is simply evil -- especially in text form. Now that you know better, you'll avoid the one below which, quite honestly is lacking in any puzzles, and is rather "linear, and barely a game really". It's also been described as "A moment of hope in a lifetime of self loathing. The pain, the pain." One player pointed out that "the main character [is] a little bit over acted." and another warned: dear god, why would anyone want to write about it? ...I'm quite capable of producing angst on my own, thanks. " And Adam Cadre, author of Photopia (1st place winner of the 1998 Interactive Fiction Competition) is paraphrased saying, somewhat sarcastically, "I think for my next piece of IF, I'll take mundane events from my life and write about them."

You have been warned.

A Moment of Hope
      This was my entry to the 5th Annual Interactive Fiction Competition. It had mixed reviews. Not too many in the middle of the fence; mostly people who really loved it or those who despised it. Okay, I admit it. It's based on a true story. And, no, you can't effect the ending. So you might call this "Not-so-interactive non-fiction"... But I think it's worth a play.