I’m back from my honeymoon, so it’s time to catch ya’ll up on how things are going in Survivor. I wrote two stories while on the plane and did no editing, so please forgive me. This week we had to write about someone who takes elements of their old job and puts it into their new job.
Continue reading Survivor XV, Challenge 12: Old Job, New Job
This week we got to choose to write a story where all the characters fail at everything they do, or all the characters succeed at everything they do. I took the latter. Word Limit: 700
Publisher: Infocom
Developer: Infocom
Year: 1981
Platform: Everything
The second installment in this landmark text series is a definite improvement over the original, though still has some maddening features that would never be tolerated today.
We had 100 words to tell the beginning of the story that introduces no characters.
Publisher: Infocom
Developer: Infocom
Year: 1980
Platform: Everything
Yes, Zork was the most important computer game of the early 1980’s. Perhaps even more important than King’s Quest. You are standing in an open field, west of a white house, is quite possibly the most well-known line in adventure games. It laid the foundation for many wonderful things to come. And it was an incredibly impressive, engaging adventure when it was released. But other than nostalgia, it has little going for it after all these years.
So we have a guy who’s developed a superpower, but ends up not dealing with it so well. Word limit of 300.
Publisher: Infocom
Developer: Infocom
Year: 1985
Platform: Everything
Touted as an adventure game for beginners by Infocom, and Wishbringer certainly fits the bill. I played this text adventure when I was fourteen and required no hints for the duration. But this romp is still enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities.
Publisher: Access Software
Developer: Access Software
Year: 1994
Platform: Windows; DOS; Mac; Linux
It took a few years after Martian Memorandum for Chris Jones to release another sequel in the Tex Murphy series, but considering he had to figure out how to utilize that new-fangled CD-ROM thingy, it is no surprise. The series has championed, or at least further developed, new software to enhance the gaming experience, and things are no different in this incarnation. Being released on four CD’s, Under A Killing Moon was the largest computer game in history at the time, while also sidestepping pitfalls seen in future FMV games (e.g. Phantasmagoria). Sadly, however, the innovations weren’t enough to elevate the game quality above the previous offerings.
This we had a choice. We could either write a eulogy about someone the character disdained, or write a wedding toast where the toaster had been romantically involved with the bride or groom. I chose the latter.
Publisher: Microids
Developer: Microids
Year: 2005
Platform: Windows, Xbox
These days I have little worry that when I pick up an adventure game that the production values are going to be fantastic. Sure, there’s going to be the occasional lemon, but with the glutton of previews to be found on the internet, you pretty much know what you’re getting into. Most people seem to agree on what constitutes passable visuals and I can shop accordingly. Unfortunately, the standards for character development do not seem to be so widely agreed upon. In a game where the focus in on the interactivity between the characters, those playing the parts must be charming, engaging, and memorable. Just like when I read a book of fiction, if I don’t care about who I’m watching, little of what’s left is going to affect me. Needless to say, I felt Victoria and the rest of the cast in Still Life left me wanting.
Death By Troggles 
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