Software:Microsoft Adventure
| Microsoft Adventure | |
|---|---|
 TRS-80/Apple II cover | |
| Developer(s) | Softwin Associates |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Programmer(s) | Gordon Letwin |
| Platform(s) | Apple II, IBM PC, TRS-80 |
| Release | 1979: TRS-80, Apple II 1981: IBM PC |
| Genre(s) | Interactive fiction |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Microsoft Adventure is a 1979 interactive fiction game from Microsoft, based on the PDP-10 mainframe game Colossal Cave Adventure, and released for the TRS-80, Apple II, and later for the IBM PC. It was programmed for the company by Gordon Letwin of Softwin Associates.[1]
Gameplay
Microsoft Adventure is a text game in which the player explores caves and acquires treasure, using one- or two-word commands to move or manipulate objects, and the game awards points for successfully exploring areas and gathering treasure.[2] It contains 130 rooms, 15 treasures, 40 useful objects and 12 problems to be solved. The progress of two games can be saved on a diskette.[3] The game features most of the content as Colossal Cave Adventure, along with a few locations unique to this version.
Release
Microsoft originally released Microsoft Adventure in 1979 for the TRS-80 and the Apple II under its new division, Microsoft Consumer Products. IBM later included Microsoft Adventure as the only game in the initial software releases for the IBM Personal Computer,[2] making it one of the first two games available for the new computer[4] along with DONKEY.BAS (which was included in the operating system). It was released on a single-sided 51⁄4 inch disk, required 32K RAM, as a self-booting disk; it could not be opened from DOS.
Reception
Carrington Dixon reviewed Microsoft Adventure in The Space Gamer No. 49.[2] Dixon commented that "No game that exists on several different computers can fully demonstrate the potential of any one computer. Even so, your [money] buys many hours of cave exploring and treasure snatching. There is only one 'set-up' but that one is rich and complex enough to keep anyone busy for many games. I suspect that many people will come back to the one after some flashier games have been permanently set aside."[2] PC Magazine also reviewed the game positively, writing, "This hoary old classic should be included in any player's collection of games for the IBM PC."[5]
References
- ↑ "Microsoft Consumer Products Continuing the Microsoft Tradition". Byte 4 (12): 179. December 1979. "Only Microsoft offers Adventure complete, as originally written for the DEC PDP-10, now implemented on personal computers. The ultimate fantasy/logic game, Adventure allows you to explore the depths of the "Colossal Cave,' [...] Adventure fills an entire disk with everything you need for your exploration. Written by Gordon Letwin, of SOFTWIN, Associates. Adventure for the TRS-80 requires a single-disk, 32K system. For the Apple II" a single-disk, 32K system with either the standard disk or language card system. For just $29.95.".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Dixon, Carrington (March 1982). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer (Steve Jackson Games) (49): 34.
- ↑ "IBM Archives: Product fact sheet". 03.ibm.com. 1981-08-12. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc25/pc25_fact.html. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ↑ Lemmons, Phil (October 1981). "The IBM Personal Computer / First Impressions". BYTE: p. 36. https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1981-10/1981_10_BYTE_06-10_Local_Networks#page/n27/mode/2up. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ↑ "Adventure (Microsoft)". PC Magazine 1 (8): 179–180. December 1982.
External links
- Review in Compute!'s Guide to Adventure Games
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