Microsoft Adventure
| Microsoft Adventure | |
|---|---|
| File:Microsoft adventure.jpg TRS-80/Apple II cover | |
| Developer | Softwin Associates |
| Publishers |
|
| Programmer | Gordon Letwin |
| Platforms | Apple II, IBM PC, TRS-80 |
| Release | 1979: TRS-80, Apple II 1981: IBM PC |
| Genre | Interactive fiction |
| Mode | Single-player |
Microsoft Adventure is an interactive fiction game published in 1979 by Microsoft for the TRS-80 and Apple II, then released in 1981 by IBM for the IBM PC. It is based on the PDP-10 mainframe game Colossal Cave Adventure. It was programmed for Microsoft by Gordon Letwin of Softwin Associates.[1]
Gameplay
[edit | edit source]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] The environment consists of 130 rooms containing 15 treasures, 40 useful objects and 12 problems for the players to solve.[3] The progress of two separate games can be saved on a diskette.[3] The game features most of the content from Colossal Cave Adventure, along with a few locations unique to this version.
Release
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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 'setup' but that one is rich and complex enough to keep anyone busy for many games. I suspect that many people will come back to this 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
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