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What
is interactive fiction?
If you are unfamiliar
with Infocom, you will wonder what this site is all about.
Well, have you ever read a good book and in your fantasy you
spun the story further? You imagined what it would be like
to be part of it?
That is what "interactive
fiction" is all about. And Infocom is all about interactive
fiction - writing literature you don't only read, your actions
ultimately decide what happens!
There are no graphics
and no sound - we are not talking movies here or the usual
computer game. Or do you read a book because of the nice pictures?
With interactive
fiction it is your fantasy that creates the greatest sights
& sounds of all. So far there is no video- or soundcard
as powerful as the human brain, right?
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another Infocom site?
Numerous websites
about Infocom are already out there. Carried together with
lots of love and dedication, which in itself tells you what
an impact Infocom programs had on people, they offer a great
variety of information about the company.
So, why another
site, you might want to ask, when there are already so many
around?
The driving thought
behind this one was: what would it have looked like if Infocom
had made it to the Internet age? How would the company have
presented itself? Probably simplistic but stylish.
The most beloved
Infocom games had no graphics, no sound, were simple to use
and easy to get into. And doesn't simplicity carry the greatest
style of all?
Infocom probably
would have carried that vision through to their website and
what you see before is my vision of what it might have looked
like.
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What
is your connection to Infocom?
In 1988, at age
15 I picked up my first Infocom game, "Moonmist,"
on a flea market, at a time when the company already had to
struggle very hard. Long before that I had heard how great
the games were supposed to be, but never got around buying
one. But this one it had to be. The seller asked for $15,
I had only $10 on me and was short to stomping on the ground
if he wouldn't sell it to me for those ten. Thankfully he
gave in, otherwise I might have missed the fun of Infocom
games altogether.
Back at home I
carefully read through the realistic looking letters, looked
at the tourist map of "Tresyllian Castle" and soon
my mind was all set to enter Cornwall and get into a fascinating
story. After starting to play it didn't take me long to find
out that this for me new thing, so different from all games
I had played before, was exactly what I needed. I loved (and
of course still do) reading books and this was like becoming
one of the major characters.
From that point
on, whenever I had the money and chance to buy one, I collected
Infocom games. Little did I know that the company was almost
dead already at that time and I still think it's regrettable
that I didn't find out how much I liked their games when they
were on the zenith of their success.
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Will
this site be expanded?
Yes, it will be,
whenever I can spare the time I will include more information
from the Infocom material I got. First of all I am thinking
about author biographies, enhancing the game descriptions
with reviews and technical information, etc. And of course
finally completing information on all games that are still
blank!
I also plan a section
with miscelleanous Infocom material, like artwork used in
the manuals and... but, let yourself be surprised...
Just recently this
site was and still is redone, to make it viewable for as many
browsers as possible in as many resolutions as possible. That,
naturally, halted the expansion of the site, so please bear
with me if things seem to progress slowly.
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Is
there an official Infocom site?
For the original
company it can't be, as it ceased existence in 1989 (see Company).
For the label, as used by Activision, there is none either.
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Will
you send me game "XYZ"?
No, for several
reasons.
First, the games
are still copyrighted material. The only ones available on
this site are those that Activision made freely distributable.
Second, they also
are much more fun when you play them with all the goodies.
Third, I think
Infocom games deserve better than to be treated like an email
attachment.
What Infocom afficionados
usually do is to collect the original releases of the games
and try to get hold of one of the Infocom Collections, especially
the "Masterpieces" and play them on their PC or
Mac. Have a look a the buying guide
for details.
I also won't send
you a game if you tell me you got the original and it's broken
or you don't have the accompanying computer anymore - how
could I prove that?
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Do
you have vacancies?
In a better, brighter
world, where I'd have loads of money, I'd buy the rights to
anything Infocom from Activision, persuade Steve Meretzky,
Dave Lebling, Marc Blank et. al. with a Porsche in favorite
color and shell out fantastic new Infocom text adventures,
no matter how profitable they would be on nowadays gaming
market.
In other words,
no, no vacancies. Though I occasionally get passionate pleads
from aspirating young software artists, as you can tell from
the guestbook.
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