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Zork seriesOverpriced?(31 posts)(31 posts)
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Posted January 18, 2011
Considering that Zork 1 through 3 are available for free (legitimately, from the publisher), I think this particular anthology is a bit overpriced.

I'm used to seeing outstanding deals from GOG. I'd have snapped this up if it included most or all of the Infocom games. Pile in the Enchanter series, Starcross, Suspended... then you'd be approaching the value-for-money I'd have expected.

I know, I know. $6. Still...
Posted January 18, 2011
From wiki:

"Activision briefly offered free downloads of Zork I as part of the promotion of Zork: Nemesis, and Zork II and Zork III as part of the promotion for Zork Grand Inquisitor, as well as a new adventure: Zork: The Undiscovered Underground".


Doesn't look like they're free, they were offered for free for a set period of time in order to promote other games, huge difference.
Posted January 18, 2011
I know what u mean Fracture especially when you go to wikipedia looking for Zork history and find reference links that allow you to freely play these games which also include their manuals.

http://www.accardi-by-the-sea.org/

All of them are available in some "browser" type form to play. It is six dollars, but for 3 more you can get something like the Police Quest games.

If they throw in Leather Goddesses of Phobos 1 or 2 and Stationfall, or just maybe a really old graphic adventure game like the mentioned LGoP2, that could sweeten the deal.
Post edited January 18, 2011 by Wealin
Posted January 18, 2011
high rated
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING OPINION MIGHT BE CONSIDERED CRUEL BY SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO SENSITIVE TO ACCEPT ANY CRITICISM. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

My opinion:

I'm just glad Activision has found a simple way to re-release some of the early Zork games. I think, considering that we are getting several games for the lowest price value GOG sells games for is wonderful. The fact that people are being so nitpicky about prices and the amount of games in the package is frustrating to me because it ignores the importance of this release.

These games haven't been available legally for over a decade (The free download of the original Zork trilogy was obviously intended to be a short term promotion). I bought the Zork Anthology even though I had already downloaded (Yar! I be a pirate!) most of the games previously. Why? Because I want to support the Zork franchise and all the rest of Infocom's work. If anyone who is a fan of the Infocom library hasn't bought this collection, it's for one of two reasons:

1. They already have purchased the games in some other format that they still use.

or

2. They're selfish jerks with hearts as black as a Grue's lair.

Let's go through all of the arguments about why this collection sucks and knock them out, one by one.

Selfish Jerk: Oh! This collection is so pricey! It's a whole six dollars! I'm not going to pay THAT much!

Me: Oh, right. Because five fun games from one of the most historically-important computer game franchises of all time, plus a bonus game which is also really good, none of which having been legally available for over a decade, are not worth one hour of work at minimum wage.

Selfish Jerk: Well, I WOULD get it, but it's just not enough bang for my buck!

Me: These games cost FORTY BUCKS EACH when they first came out, and they sold like hotcakes. How is it not worth getting six of them for six bucks total? That's about a dollar each!

Selfish Jerk: Well, I'm mad that Activision is trying to profit so much from this release!

Me: First of all, for a dollar each, it probably cost more to pay the Activision employee to rummage around to find these games than it costs you to buy them. At such a low price, they might be losing money for all I know! Second, even if they were trying to profit, they ARE a company; that's their JOB!

Selfish Jerk: That's EVIL!

Me: Nope, it's just the most successful type of economy in the world in action. Welcome to America. Have a nice day.

All of these minor criticisms are silly. They take away from the fact that Activision cared enough to re-release these games AT ALL. It's yet more proof that the company hasn't forgotten about the classics (They even hid a full copy of Zork I in Call of Duty: Black Ops, and released a casual RPG based on the series, Legends of Zork).

For all you know, they might be testing the waters to see if a new Zork game is commercially viable, and if this collection doesn't sell well...it would be a real shame if the Zork legacy ended here.

Those who refuse to buy this collection because of a couple dollars too much or a couple games too few are completely missing the point.
Posted January 19, 2011
I think it's more than worth it. As far as I know, the last time the Infocom games were for sale was in the mid-to-late-90s. A lot of people have been waiting a decade or more to be able to buy them.
Posted January 19, 2011
I would gladly pay for the other ones(Inquisitor & Nemesis), besides if those two become available they would probably have the same price or just 3 dollars more. Although I giggled at the "selfish jerks" comment ;p harharhar.

I've always wanted to play a Zork game but after buying more than 10 games in GOG I'm not sorry for saying:
for the same price or 3 dollars more I would pay for Nemesis or Inquisitor not $5.99 for exactly 6 text based games, it hurts me more when I can play them in internet browsers.
Posted January 19, 2011
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Arjak: <snip>
*slow clap -- hard clapping -- slowly stands -- standing ovation for 2 minutes*
Posted January 19, 2011
The fact that Zork was released here is so huge that I can't complain about the price. Zork is old but it's certainly a contender for the prize of The Most Important Game Ever. Whether you agree that it is or not is, of course, beyond the point.

The problem with Infocom games was that they couldn't be bought anywhere. It's as if they didn't exist. You could buy ridiculously expensive boxes on eBay or overpriced copies of Lost Treasures, but that meant only that there was a limited number of (legal) copies out there and the games could at most swap hands. This release sets these games free again and, hopefully, forever.

Also, I am sure the rest of the Infocom games are coming to GOG and I am sure they will hold a holiday promo once the games are all here .
Posted January 19, 2011
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Arjak: <Wall of text>
I love you, will you marry me?
Posted January 19, 2011
I respect Arjak and all that, but I do think there is a legitimate reason someone might not buy this set(I did, personally, though it feels...bittersweet).

The handling of manuals and extra documents feels uncharacteristically slipshod and haphazard by GOG standards. Infocom has had so many mismanaged releases, it would have been excellent to have ONE that was, in all senses, perfect. As it is, GOG has put out a release with many of the mistakes and errors of old releases, with many missing pieces that might have made up the full package.
Posted January 19, 2011
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RatherDashing: I respect Arjak and all that, but I do think there is a legitimate reason someone might not buy this set(I did, personally, though it feels...bittersweet).

The handling of manuals and extra documents feels uncharacteristically slipshod and haphazard by GOG standards. Infocom has had so many mismanaged releases, it would have been excellent to have ONE that was, in all senses, perfect. As it is, GOG has put out a release with many of the mistakes and errors of old releases, with many missing pieces that might have made up the full package.
They'll fix it. I bet on it.
Posted January 19, 2011
Wow, I was expecting a huge response from my speech, but to be honest, I was afraid it would be negative!

@ Vagabond:

Thank you for your kind applause. It means a lot to me.

@ Emualynk:

I appreciate the offer, but maybe we should talk about it first. ;-)

@ RatherDashing:

I agree, I was actually slightly disappointed by the handling of extras as well. I hope they can fix that soon. Even if it was like this in the original collection, there's no excuse to leave something broken that was such an important facet of the original packaging.
Posted January 20, 2011
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RatherDashing: I respect Arjak and all that, but I do think there is a legitimate reason someone might not buy this set(I did, personally, though it feels...bittersweet).

The handling of manuals and extra documents feels uncharacteristically slipshod and haphazard by GOG standards. Infocom has had so many mismanaged releases, it would have been excellent to have ONE that was, in all senses, perfect. As it is, GOG has put out a release with many of the mistakes and errors of old releases, with many missing pieces that might have made up the full package.
I totally agree.
Even though i think it's not overpriced, i'll wait to see what happens with the bonus contents before i buy.
I hope they fix it.

Edit: I'm such a crybaby, i've just bought the games.
Post edited January 20, 2011 by spege
Posted January 20, 2011
What... um...

What's the issue with the manuals and extra documents?

I download them. I open them. I read them.

Are some missing?
Posted January 20, 2011
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rrussell: What... um...

What's the issue with the manuals and extra documents?

I download them. I open them. I read them.

Are some missing?
Unfortunately, yes. The manuals for Zork 1-3 are missing and so is...well, everything except a map for Planetfall.

This was the one thing that disappointed me about this collection. I hope they find some way to fix it. They also need to fix the fact that Zork 3 has a Zork Zero icon on the desktop.
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Zork seriesOverpriced?(31 posts)(31 posts)
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