Enhanced text adventures for the Beeb

[lurkio]

Just creating a "holding thread" for the text adventures that Lee and I have been making "enhanced" versions of. The idea is that these .SSD disc images will be archived here and hopefully also made available on bbcmicro.co.uk.

This is all part of my and Lee's continuing quest to produce enhanced versions of Beeb text adventures by making sure that they're all as bug-free as possible, that they run on a range of machines and emulators, and that they include full, long, and painstakingly digitised and proofread instructions, for which we're using our patented (i.e. ripped-off) MODE 7 text-scroller program. This is obviously an epic task that's unlikely to be completed in our lifetimes. We are clearly insane.

Anyway, see the following posts in this thread to download the actual games.

[lurkio]

The Seventh Star box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... tarFIN.ssd

Download here:

• SeventhStarFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of The Seventh Star

  (25.87 KiB) Downloaded 250 times

Here are some features of this version of The Seventh Star:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source we used was the UEF tape image found in the STH archive.)
• Comes with full original instructions, including original hints.
• You can QUIT and restart the game without error.
• On a Model B, you can save and restore your position to and from tape.
• On a Master 128, or any machine with an &E00 DFS, you can save and restore your position to and from disc. (An &E00 DFS is a disc filing system that leaves PAGE at &E00.)

More details here:

• http://www.stardot.org.uk/forums/viewto ... 44#p146363

[lurkio]

Castle Of Riddles box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... lesFIN.ssd

Download here:

• CastleRiddlesFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Castle Of Riddles

  (19.23 KiB) Downloaded 239 times

Here are some features of this version of Castle Of Riddles:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. The source we used was version 2 of the game (found in the STH UEF archive), which seems to be an official Acornsoft release.
• Comes with full original instructions.
• On a Model B, you can save and restore your position to and from tape.
• On a Master 128, or any machine with an &E00 DFS, you can save and restore your position to and from disc. (An &E00 DFS is a disc filing system that leaves PAGE at &E00.)

[lurkio]

Gateway To Karos box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... rosFIN.ssd

Download here:

• KarosFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Gateway To Karos

  (23.84 KiB) Downloaded 228 times

Here are some features of this version of Gateway To Karos:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source we used was the UEF tape image found in the STH UEF archive.)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• On a Model B, you can save and restore your position to and from tape.
• On a Master 128, or any machine with an &E00 DFS, you can save and restore your position to and from disc. (An &E00 DFS is a disc filing system that leaves PAGE at &E00.)

[lurkio]

Sphinx Adventure box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... ureFIN.ssd

Download here:

• SphinxAdventureFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Sphinx Adventure

  (13.2 KiB) Downloaded 229 times

Here are some features of this version of Sphinx Adventure:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Acornsoft disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Compatible with a Model B and a Master 128.
• The opening banner "WELCOME TO THE SPHINX ADVENTURE / GOOD LUCK IN YOUR EXPLORATIONS HERE!!" (which appears in other versions) isn't displayed at the start of a new game in this version. I don't know why.

[denni505]

Thanks for the disc images save me doing it and keep up the good work

[flaxcottage]

If anyone is interested I have a version of the Sphinx that runs on a lot of platforms natively. So far it has worked on;

BBC micro,
Master,
Electron,
Archimedes variants,
Raspberry Pi using RISCOS,
Z88,
IBM PC clones running XP or lower (compiled using Richard Russell's BBC BASIC 86 Plus)
Linux computers inside DOSbox.

[lurkio]

Thanks, denni505!

John, please do post the multiplatform Sphinx Adventure!

[lurkio]

Philosopher's Quest box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... estFIN.ssd

Download here:

• PhilQuestFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Philosopher's Quest

  (16.35 KiB) Downloaded 237 times

Here are some features of this version of Philosopher's Quest:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Acornsoft disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Runs on a Model B and on a Master 128.
• You can save and restore your position to and from disc on a Model B and on a Master 128.
• Uses mixed-case text! Previous versions used ALL-CAPS (as did Castle Of Riddles). This version also seems faster than previous ones.

[lurkio]

Acheton box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... TONFin.ssd

Download here:

• ACHETONFin.zip

  .SSD disc images for Acheton

  (138.49 KiB) Downloaded 227 times

Here are some features of this version of Acheton:

• It's been transferred to two .SSD DFS disc images, one for the game and the other for the hints. (The source was a copy of the original Acornsoft disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Runs on a Model B and on a Master 128.
• You can save and restore your position to and from disc on a Model B and on a Master 128.

A copy of the original hint list is available here:

• http://mocagh.org/loadpage.php?getgame=acheton

[lurkio]

Quondam box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... damFIN.ssd

Download here:

• QuondamFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Quondam

  (19.28 KiB) Downloaded 225 times

Here are some features of this version of Quondam:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Acornsoft disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Runs on a Model B and on a Master 128.
• You can save and restore your position to and from disc on a Model B and on a Master 128.

[lurkio]

Kingdom Of Hamil box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... milFIN.ssd

Download here:

• KingdomOfHamilFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Kingdom Of Hamil

  (18.39 KiB) Downloaded 226 times

Here are some features of this version of Kingdom Of Hamil:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Acornsoft disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Runs on a Model B and on a Master 128.
• You can save and restore your position to and from disc on a Model B and on a Master 128.

[lurkio]

Countdown To Doom box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... oomFIN.ssd

Download here:

• CountdownToDoomFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Countdown To Doom

  (19.03 KiB) Downloaded 218 times

Here are some features of this version of Countdown To Doom:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Acornsoft disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Runs on a Model B and on a Master 128.
• You can save and restore your position to and from disc on a Model B and on a Master 128.

[lurkio]

Spooky Manor box cover

Play online:

• http://bbc.godbolt.org/?autoboot&disc=h ... norFIN.ssd

Download here:

• SpookyManorFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Spooky Manor

  (22.22 KiB) Downloaded 221 times

Here are some features of this version of Spooky Manor:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was Mick Brown's collection. Thanks, Mick!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Runs on a Model B and on a Master 128.

[leenew]

Good work polishing up these Acornsoft Adventures Mr. Lurkio
These are now the best versions available

Lee.

[flaxcottage]

Yes, very good work.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of the text adventure game Snowball by Level 9, which is Part 1 of what Level 9 would come to call the Silicon Dreams Trilogy. (The trilogy as such doesn't appear to have been released for the Beeb, but the three individual games therein were released separately.)

Snowball box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=2303

Download here:

• SnowballFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Snowball

  (33.1 KiB) Downloaded 210 times

Here are some features of this version of Snowball:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Level 9 disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Includes the original "loading" tune, which plays on the title screen.
• On a machine with an 8271 disc controller, which effectively means a BBC Micro Model B with 8271 disc interface and DFS installed, you can save and restore your position to and from disc.
• On a Master 128 with a 1770 disc interface, you can load and play the game but you can't save or restore your position.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of the text adventure game Return To Eden by Level 9, which is Part 2 of what Level 9 would come to call the Silicon Dreams Trilogy. (The trilogy as such doesn't appear to have been released for the Beeb, but the three individual games therein were released separately.)

Return To Eden box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=2312

Download here:

• RtEfin.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Return To Eden

  (43.39 KiB) Downloaded 213 times

Here are some features of this version of Return To Eden:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Level 9 disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Includes the original "loading" tune, which plays on the title screen.
• Includes a slideshow of the graphics that are displayed during gameplay in versions of the game for other machines. (The source of the graphics was the tape image of Return To Eden from the Stairway To Hell archive. Thanks, Arcadian!)
• On a machine with an 8271 disc controller, which effectively means a BBC Micro Model B with 8271 disc interface and DFS installed, you can save and restore your position to and from disc.
• On a Master 128 with a 1770 disc interface, you can load and play the game but you can't save or restore your position.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of the text adventure game The Worm In Paradise by Level 9, which is Part 3 of what Level 9 would come to call the Silicon Dreams Trilogy. (The trilogy as such doesn't appear to have been released for the Beeb, but the three individual games therein were released separately.)

The Worm In Paradise box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=1673

Download here:

• WormParadiseFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of The Worm In Paradise

  (28.43 KiB) Downloaded 197 times

Here are some features of this version of The Worm In Paradise:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was Mick Brown's collection. Thanks, Mick!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• On a BBC Micro Model B or a Master 128, you can save and restore your position to and from tape.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of the text adventure game Lords Of Time by Level 9. (This game would eventually be revised and re-released as Part 1 of the Time And Magik trilogy by Mandarin Software. But the version of the game in this post is the original non-trilogy release.)

Lords Of Time box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=2295

Download here:

• LOTfin.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Lords Of Time

  (28.53 KiB) Downloaded 205 times

Here are some features of this version of Lords Of Time:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Level 9 disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Includes the original "loading" tune, which plays on the title screen.
• On a machine with an 8271 disc controller, which effectively means a BBC Micro Model B with 8271 disc interface and DFS installed, you can save and restore your position to and from disc.
• On a Master 128 with a 1770 disc interface, you can load and play the game but you can't save or restore your position.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of the text adventure game Red Moon by Level 9. (This game would eventually be revised and re-released as Part 2 of the Time And Magik trilogy by Mandarin Software. But the version of the game in this post is the original non-trilogy release.)

Red Moon box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/jsbeeb/play.php?a ... oonFIN.ssd

Download here:

• RedMoonFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of Red Moon. (UPDATED March 2017 with Mick Brown's save-game fix. Previous attachment downloaded 12 times.)

  (26.41 KiB) Downloaded 190 times

Here are some features of this version of Red Moon:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was Mick Brown's collection. Thanks, Mick!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Includes the original "loading" tune, which plays on the title screen.
• On a BBC Micro Model B or a Master 128, you can save and restore your position to and from disc.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of the text adventure game The Price Of Magik by Level 9. (This game would eventually be revised and re-released as Part 3 of the Time And Magik trilogy by Mandarin Software. But the version of the game in this post is the original non-trilogy release.)

The Price Of Magik box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/jsbeeb/play.php?a ... gikFIN.ssd

Download here:

• PriceOfMagikFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of The Price Of Magik

  (26.52 KiB) Downloaded 197 times

Here are some features of this version of The Price Of Magik:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was Mick Brown's collection. Thanks, Mick!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• On a BBC Micro Model B or a Master 128, you can save and restore your position to and from tape.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole by Level 9 -- more of a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure type of game than a classic text adventure, but still a Level 9, so here you go.



Play online:

• On bbcmicro.co.uk or via Dropbox (backup)

Download here:

• SDOAMfin.DSD.zip

  New .DSD disc image of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole

  (233.68 KiB) Downloaded 196 times

• UPDATE, May 2017 - I've uploaded a new version of the disc-image (above) because the previous version (below) didn't work properly on a DataCentre, though I've no idea why! None of the actual files have changed in this new version -- only their arrangement on the disc has! Weird. For completeness, here's the older disc-image, which doesn't work properly on a DataCentre:
  

  • sdoamFIN.dsd.zip

    Old .DSD disc image of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole

    (154.31 KiB) Downloaded 198 times

Here are some features of this version of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole:

• It's been transferred to a .DSD DFS disc image. (The source was Mick Brown's collection. Thanks, Mick!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• Now Master-compatible.
• On a BBC Micro Model B or a Master 128, you can save and restore your position to and from disc.

-

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of The Growing Pains Of Adrian Mole by Level 9 -- more of a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure type of game than a classic text adventure, but still a Level 9, so here you go.

The Growing Pains Of Adrian Mole box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/jsbeeb/play.php?a ... OAMfin.ssd

Download here:

• GPOAMfin.ssd.zip

  .SSD disc image of The Growing Pains Of Adrian Mole

  (74.47 KiB) Downloaded 191 times

Here are some features of this version of The Growing Pains Of Adrian Mole:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was the STH archive. Thanks, Arcadian!)
• Comes with original instructions.
• The game is text only, because the BBC Micro version never had graphics.
• On a BBC Micro Model B or a Master 128, you can save and restore your position to and from disc.

[flaxcottage]

Thanks, denni505!

John, please do post the multiplatform Sphinx Adventure!

Whoops! Sorry I put this on my list then lost the list.

I have attached two versions of the program. The BBC BASIC for Windows version runs on BBCB4W on a PC and probably a Macintosh. It loads on the Android version of BBC BASIC but bombs out at Line 274, which is a complex IF ... THEN ... ELSE IF ... THEN ... statement that appears to confuse the compiler. I have not tested this on the Pi under the Linux version of BBC BASIC yet (I should imagine it will work in a similar manner to the Android version). It should run under BBC Basic86 in DOSbox and on a DOS PC.

The RISCOS version runs on RISCOS 3.1x and RISCOS 5.x. It also runs on a BBC micro, Master and BeebEm. It should run on any version of RISCOS from 2 upwards.

The Z88 version is on a floppy somewhere though from memory if the RISCOS version is SPOOLed to disc it can then be transferred to the Z88 and EXECed as a working program.

I remember BITD we had the Sphinx running across our Level 1 Econet. This was quite an achievement considering the 12K file size limit of the server. We had to split the code into three sections and write a loader program that *LOADed each section to the right place in memory to rebuild the program and then move it down in memory to &E00. Sounds like this could be a fun project to do on my Econet ...

[fuzzel]

I have a question regarding the enhanced version of Castle of Riddles.
I'm playing the Master 128 version so that I can save my position to disc. Could someone tell me if the INIT file which stores the opening position also stores the saved game position? I notice it isn't locked so I presume it does.
Fantastic work everyone on creating these version by the way ! I especially love the cover art of the Acornsoft games, anyone know who designed them?

[lurkio]

I have a question regarding the enhanced version of Castle of Riddles. I'm playing the Master 128 version

There's no "Master 128 version" as such. There's just one version of the game (in this thread), and it's Master-compatible.

Could someone tell me if the INIT file which stores the opening position also stores the saved game position? I notice it isn't locked so I presume it does.

The INIT file is non-existent until you save your position for the first time.

I especially love the cover art of the Acornsoft games, anyone know who designed them?

Good question! I don't know.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of the text adventure game Colossal Adventure by Level 9 (an adaptation of (possibly) the very first text adventure game ever, Colossal Cave Adventure -- also known as ADVENT, Colossal Cave, or Adventure -- by Crowther and Woods).

Colossal Adventure is the first part of what Level 9 would come to call the Jewels Of Darkness Trilogy (formerly known as the Middle-Earth Trilogy). The trilogy as such doesn't appear to have been released for the Beeb, but the three individual games therein were released separately.

Colossal Adventure box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/jsbeeb/play.php?a ... salFIN.ssd

Download here:

• ColossalFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD DFS disc image of Colossal Adventure

  (25.64 KiB) Downloaded 192 times

Here are some features of this version of Colossal Adventure:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Level 9 disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• On a machine with an 8271 disc controller, which effectively means a BBC Micro Model B with 8271 disc interface and DFS installed, you can save and restore your position to and from disc.
• On a Master 128 with a 1770 disc interface, you can load and play the game but you can't save or restore your position.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of the text adventure game Adventure Quest by Level 9, the second part of what Level 9 would come to call the Jewels Of Darkness Trilogy (formerly known as the Middle-Earth Trilogy). (The trilogy as such doesn't appear to have been released for the Beeb, but the three individual games therein were released separately.)

Adventure Quest box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/jsbeeb/play.php?a ... estFIN.ssd

Download here:

• AdvQuestFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD DFS disc image of Adventure Quest

  (25.96 KiB) Downloaded 199 times

Here are some features of this version of Adventure Quest:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Level 9 disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• On a machine with an 8271 disc controller, which effectively means a BBC Micro Model B with 8271 disc interface and DFS installed, you can save and restore your position to and from disc.
• On a Master 128 with a 1770 disc interface, you can load and play the game but you can't save or restore your position.

[lurkio]

Here's a copy of the text adventure game Dungeon Adventure by Level 9, the third part of what Level 9 would come to call the Jewels Of Darkness Trilogy (formerly known as the Middle-Earth Trilogy). (The trilogy as such doesn't appear to have been released for the Beeb, but the three individual games therein were released separately.)

Dungeon Adventure box cover

Play online:

• http://bbcmicro.co.uk/jsbeeb/play.php?a ... ungFIN.ssd

Download here:

• DungFIN.ssd.zip

  .SSD DFS disc image of Dungeon Adventure

  (26.79 KiB) Downloaded 196 times

Here are some features of this version of Dungeon Adventure:

• It's been transferred to a .SSD DFS disc image. (The source was a copy of the original Level 9 disc release belonging to BillCarr, who deprotected and transferred it. Thanks, BillC!)
• Comes with full original instructions.
• On a machine with an 8271 disc controller, which effectively means a BBC Micro Model B with 8271 disc interface and DFS installed, you can save and restore your position to and from disc.
• On a Master 128 with a 1770 disc interface, you can load and play the game but you can't save or restore your position.