Zorkis a text - basedvideo plot , a genre also have a go at it as “ interactive fiction , ” whose defining feature is the absence seizure of typical video game graphics . Instead , the game ’s environs and the actions you take are delineate for you . For deterrent example , the first strain ofZorkis , “ You are standing in an assailable field west of a white house , with a boarded front door . There is a modest mailbox here . ”
Using a serial publication of dim-witted statement , you direct the main character to do something , like “ open postbox . ” To which the game will reply , “ Opening the small-scale letter box bring out a leaflet . ” of course , you would then “ take leaflet , ” “ read leaflet ” , and then possibly “ take the air east ” to get to the business firm . The story spread out from there as you pull in point , like a sword , a lantern , roofy , and other chance necessary , before entering a immense , belowground cave where you ’ll face enemies inspired byThe Lord of the Rings , like elves , trolls , and the duskiness - lurking grue .
How old is Zork?
Zorkwas written between 1977 and 1979 by MIT pupil Tim Anderson , Bruce Daniels , Dave Lebling , and Marc Blank .
The young oddball got the idea forZorkfrom the first text - based video game , Adventure(also calledColossal Cave AdventureorADVENT , because the electronic computer it run on could only use so many letter in the command line).Adventurewas created in 1976 by Will Crowther , a pupil at Stanford , as a pretense of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky , with a few Tolkien - esque fantasy elements thrown in by fellow Stanfordite Don Woods . The MIT bozo were n’t impressed withAdventure ’s modified two - Bible command structure ( “ kill troll ” ) , so they wroteZorkto empathise thoroughgoing sentences ( “ kill troll with sword ” ) .
Most people didn’t have computers back then, so who played Zork?
Originally , ZorkandAdventurewere both written for the PDP-10 , a elbow room - sized computer C.P.U. that was pop with universities in the late-1970s . Adventurewas written in a very common programming nomenclature called FORTRAN , so copy of the game spread rapidly among C.P.U. users . Zork , however , was written with MDL , a more specialized oral communication that was n’t as pop . So , for a while , the only way to playZorkwas to log on to the MIT PDP-10 through ARPAnet , an early version of the net , and run it remotely . Zorkwas never officially announced to the world ; people just take heed about it through ARPANet , making it an early viral sensation .
Just as home computers were becoming more commonplace , a commercial rendering ofZorkwas released by Infocom , a company founded by Anderson , Lebling and Blank . However , they did n’t ab initio intend to sellZork . They set out to create serious productivity software for the place and business grocery store , but when they realise they did n’t actually have any of those programs write yet , they decidedZorksales could fund their future endeavors .
Since the game was too big to operate on these former home computer , they had to transgress it into three parts : Zork I : The Great Underground Empire(1980),Zork II : The Wizard of Frobozz(1981 ) , andZork III : The Dungeon Master(1982 ) . AlthoughZorkwas first release for the TRS-80 computing machine , it was eventually ported to just about every place computing equipment , like Apple II , Atari Computers , and the IBM PC . It was a fairly enceinte hit , selling over a million copies .
The success ofZorkcompelled Infocom to bury their original plan of create business package and focus on text video game throughout much of the 1980s , issue over 40 games across a variety of fancied genres . Of course some of these secret plan wereZorksequels and twirl - offs , like theEnchantertrilogy ( 1983 - 1985),Beyond Zork : The Coconut of Quendor(1987 ) , and the prequel , Zork Zero : The Revenge of Megaboz(1988 ) .
What made Zork such a hit?
There are quite a few affair that setZorkand other Infocom games aside from the competition . For one , Infocom games had creative , addictive puzzler and maze that drove players batty . Some gamers even write Infocom letters , involve for a hint to help oneself them get past specially problematical learning ability tormentor . This became so coarse that Infocom create a monthly newssheet for lover , called theNew Zork Times , where they doled out clues , but also recount players about upcoming games . Later , Infocom soldInvisiclueshint books . The books were printed with invisible ink that could only be revealed with a special marker , so players could get clues as - needed without spoiling anything farther in the game .
Marketing was also a vast cistron in Infocom ’s success . In the early 80s , computer game were principally trade through chain armour order or at specialised computing equipment computer storage . Zorkand other Infocom titles , though , also embellish the shelf of bookshop . Readers were n’t of necessity implicated about the modish whiz - bang graphics , but they did appreciate the deeper storyline , descriptions , and character available with Infocom titles . In fact , Infocom became so well known for its committal to writing that when Douglas Adams , author ofThe Hitchhiker ’s Guide to the Galaxy , was approached to adapt his novel as a video recording game , he said he would n’t work with anyone but Infocom . The resultingHitchhiker’sgame , unfreeze in 1984 , became one of Infocom ’s biggest sellers .
at last , during the development of the 1982 mystery gameDeadline , the programmers realized they could n’t tally everything into the game . So they make a portfolio of physical item , like mock criminal offense aspect photos and police theme , and include them in the box with the plot ’s 5.25 ” floppy disks . musician note that these “ feelies , ” as they became known , added to the overall plot experience , so Infocom embark on include them with all their titles . Sometimes feelies were useful , like maps and blueprints , while others were just there for fun , like an empty moldable bag in theHitchhiker ’s Guidegame that purportedly contained a microscopical space fleet .
To capitalize on the succeeder of feelies , new editions of theZorkgames were put out with items like change of location brochures to fictitious lands , a guide to an surreptitious amusement ballpark , a chronicle of the Great Underground Empire , shares of FrobozzCo stock , and even a Zorkmid coin , the official currency of the Great Underground Empire . As you might expect , many sports fan purchased theZorkseries all over again , just so they could add the feelies to their collection .
Is Infocom still around?
Sadly , no . In 1984 they finally aim around to work on serious business software package and released a database program send for Cornerstone . The company sink a good deal of money into Cornerstone ’s development , but it was n’t very well received by consumers . On the brink of failure , Infocom accepted a buy - out crack in 1986 from Activision , the caller behind video game classic likePitfallandChopper Command . Unfortunately , due to the increase emphasis on art in video game , as well as wretched management at Activision , Infocom was shutter in 1989 .
After fold Infocom , Activision proceed to use the beloved Infocom name andZorkbrand to create additional sequels , likeReturn to Zork(1993),Zork Nemesis(1996 ) , andZork : Grand Inquisitor(1997 ) . These game were a big departure from the original text - only gameplay . The newZorksfeatured extensive graphic and even full - motion picture scenes star thespian , like Dirk Benedict , Rip Taylor , and Michael McKean . Hardcore Infocom fan generally do n’t even acknowledge that these game live .
What doesZorkmean?
The wordZorkdoesn’t really mean anything . It ’s just a hokum word the MIT guys sometimes used as an exclamation ( “ Zork ! ” ) , but also as a proxy name for a program that was still being write . However , the game was briefly calledDungeon , until TSR , the company behindDungeons & Dragons , jeopardize to litigate . They reverted back toZorkand the name simply stick .
Does anyone remember Zork?
Just about anyone who had a computer in the early eighties playedZorkor one of its Infocom progeny . In addition , because of its mainframe line , it was a handsome hit with early cyber-terrorist and programmers , who let in references to the game in their own program . Zorkis also a major subject of the 2010 documentary , Get Lamp , an in - depth story of the synergistic fable musical style , including interview with almost all of the major trailblazer of schoolbook adventures .
Perhaps one ofZork ’s longest persistent legacies is the grue , a “ sinister , lurking comportment in the colored place of the earth , ” whose insatiable appetite for adventurer is only temper by its fear of Light Within from a lamp . One of the most famed lines fromZork — “ It is pitch pitch-dark . You are likely to be eaten by a grue ” — can be plant referenced all over the internet , in old and new video games , and in nerdcore rapper MC Frontalot ’s homage toZork , " It is Pitch Dark " ( the euphony TV even has a cameo from Steve Meretzky , one of the lead game designers at Infocom ) .
Can you still play Zork?
Thanks to the internet , good picture games never die . A straightaway Google hunt will direct you to hundreds of site that host an on-line version ofZork , and some even have it useable for download . If you ’re a modern gamer with a copy ofCall of responsibility : Black Ops , an Easter Egg on the primary computer menu lets you playZorkon your gaming console . ( Bonus : If you find it , you ’ll get the “ eat by a Grue ” accomplishment . ) you’re able to also playZork , as well as many new synergistic fabrication game .
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This post originally appeared in 2011 and was updated in 2025 .
