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The first thing worth mentioning is that nearly all the games (especially the free
ones), are completely unreliant on the type of game platform you have. This means that the
same game can be played on a Windows PC, a MacIntosh computer, a Linux, etc.. The key
to this is a set of little programs called 'interpreters'.
The most commonly required interpreters are for the game formats known as Z-code
and TADS2. There are others, however.
Putting it simply, once you've downloaded the game of your choosing, you will usually need
to download an interpreter for your particular platform (for example, Windows). Think of it as
a 'player' for your game.
For instance, if you want to play the game 'Anchorhead', you may well end up downloading
the 'anchor.z8' file. For this game to run on your machine you'll need a Z-code interpreter.
A wide selection of interpreters, together with full instructions on how to install and use
them, can be found on this very useful IFWiki page .... Here, and also at the excellent
Brass Lantern website .... Here. Brass Lantern has an entire section devoted to text adventures
and how to play them using interpreters.
Once you have the correct interpreter for your platform, you can play hundreds of similar
games without having to install the appropriate interpreter again. By the way, I
neglected to mention that 'Anchorhead' is one heck of a good adventure, with a cracker of
a story. It's not, however, for the faint hearted.
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Rather than document a full step-by-step guide to every possible keystroke, maneouvre
and thought process involved in playing text adventures, I have, instead, elected to recommend
that you head off in the direction of the excellent two-part guide offered on the
Brass Lantern website; Here and Here. Whereas, it's not absolutely essential that
you familiarise yourself with the mechanics first, it can save you a little time in finding your feet.
Text Adventure Heaven
Go TO ... Page 1
... Page 3
Where Can I Find These Games?
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On the next page you'll see a list of some of the finest IF games that the folks here at
Adventure Point have had the great pleasure to discover. Most of the text you'll see in the list is clickable, and is either a link to somewhere you can find information about a particular text
adventure, or an actual download location for the game itself. And remember! The vast
majority of these games are freely available to download and play.
Okay! I Have The Game. Now How Do I Get It To Run?
How To Play Your Game
Help! I'm Stuck!
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Last but not least, when you hit that proverbial brick wall, can't seem to find a way of
pulling that lever, or you're having a heck of a job squeezing that pussy cat into that itsy-bitsy
glass bottle, help is nearly always at hand in the form of handy hints, or even, occasionally,
complete walkthroughs.
Any, or all, of the following meticulously created websites should be capable of providing you
with that ever-so-slight push in the right direction.
IF-Archive/solutions
Pretty Reliable Invisiclues for Z-Machine
The Classic Adventures Solution Archive
Remember, though, that if you're tempted to uncover too many hints, you'll be depriving
yourself of that sensation of self-congratulation and accomplishment that the game's
author probably intended for you to be rewarded with when he created the game. Namely,
that "Yes! I've got it!" experience that often makes that extra little bit of struggle and
endeavour all the more worthwhile.
With some adventures you may be extra lucky in that there may be an in-built hint system
to nudge you along when needed. Don't be tempted to use these more than sparingly,
however. They can sometimes spoil the fun.
And Finally .... A Few More Very Useful Links . . .
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Baf's Guide to the IF Archive
Inform
Society for the Promotion of Adventure Games (SPAG)
IFComp
The Interactive Fiction Archive
XYZZYnews
iFiction
Okay? So what are you waiting for?
GO EAST to Page 3 (the list)
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