The Game of the Month Club is now playing one of the earliest text adventure games, Zork! And we are playing it as close to its original form as possible. For this meeting we will have a special host, local expert and friend of Babycastles, Nick Montfort.

7:00pm Play Zork with us
8:00pm Discussion begins

"A huge number of people were introduced to the idea of the "adventure game" (named after Adventure) by the follow-up game Zork. In the form of the Zork Trilogy, it was the first hit of the nascent entertainment software industry and the first major franchise. The all-text game was originally developed at MIT during 1977-1979; it was then adapted for home computers and sold by Infocom for the wide variety of early platforms. The game connected wacky geek humor to a fantasy setting while making significant technical and narrative advances.

Even though a loving reimplementation of the MIT Zork is available, it's practically impossible to play it today in any sort of authentic way. People at the time played using interfaces that ranged from Imlac smart terminals (the lucky ones) to DECwriter II print terminals. They had no hint files or walkthroughs to bail them out. (Admittedly, Infocom did later offer "Invisiclues" for purchase once the Zork trilogy hit the consumer market.) To interact with Zork was like talking with a dungeon master, albeit in a rather stilted way. Those who played appreciated the brilliant technical accomplishment, the challenge, and the laughs; they usually had to work with each other to win. While much about computing has changed, some things remain true: Zork is a game of adventure, danger, and low cunning. In it you will explore some of the most amazing territory ever seen by mortal man." - Nick Montfort

How do I play this?
For Windows, Mac, or Linux: (Free)

1. Download the .z5 file from here
http://penguincentral.com/retrocomputing/zdungeon/

2. Download the Lectrote interpreter for your system from here:
https://github.com/erkyrath/lectrote/releases

3. Open the interpreter and select the ZDungeon as the game to open.

For Mobile: (Free)

1) Get the Frotz App
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/frotz/id287653015?mt=8

2) Open Frotz and Select Zork (MIT version)

Also checkout Nick's totally relevant book:
https://nickm.com/twisty/

This event is all ages and open to the public.
$5 Suggested donation at the door.