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General discussion (archive)New release: The Zork Anthology(216 posts)(216 posts)
(216 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted January 18, 2011
Today's second release is, beyond doubt, the most oldschool one in GOG.com's history. Read below to find out why.

The Anthology includes Zork I, Zork II, Zork III, Beyond Zork, Zork Zero, and Planetfall. This means six titles in total, all hailing from the 1980s, weighing in at a whopping nine megabytes. Yep, that means just around one floppy disk per game.
That means plain text and gameplay based on text input, but beneath the rough exterior lies a beauty that's hard to find in more modern games. Countless unforgettable situations and descriptions from the Zork series have become iconic in more contemporary fiction, both printed and interactive.
With such timeless and absolutely enthralling games, set in a crazy, surreal world, packed with a witty narrative and sarcastic, dark humor, what's there not to love?
So light your bronze lantern, pick up that Elvish sword of great antiquity and embark on a journey to (re)discover the world of Zork. You will not be disappointed.
Posted January 18, 2011
Oh yes, excellent! :D

I used to have Beyond Zork but I sold it with my Atari ST collection years ago. I kept the map though, I just need to remember where I put it...

I hope this means more Infocom adventures will follow!

Thanks GOG!
Post edited January 18, 2011 by Ulalume
Posted January 18, 2011
Just out of curiousity, are the games bundled with DOSBox?
Posted January 18, 2011
GOG needs to add as many Infocom games to its catalogue as it can, starting with Enchanter, Sorcerer and Spellbreaker (the trilogy taking place after the Zork trilogy - Spellbreaker also ties in to Beyond Zork), and Planetfall's sequel Stationfall. There was also Wishbringer, a spin-off, and three graphical games, Return to Zork, Zork:Nemesis and Zork: Grand Inquisitor. The latter two might be difficult to get to run on modern systems, but Return to Zork works in DOSbox.
Post edited January 18, 2011 by BiggerJ
Posted January 18, 2011
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dreammaster: Just out of curiousity, are the games bundled with DOSBox?
I see configfiles of dosbox in each of the zork games. So I think so.
Posted January 18, 2011
I actually never played the text adventures of Zork. I was just too young at the time; didn't understand English nearly well enough to play without graphical output. I did play and love the graphical adventures though, and hope to see those here on GOG at some point. Meanwhile, this package looks intriguing, and is a definite purchase for me. I am curious about what I have missed...
Posted January 18, 2011
Didn't play the Zork games, but I have played text-based adventures before. The biggest memory I have of them is typing the same thing in different ways in order to find the exact wording needed to do something...
Posted January 18, 2011
Planetfall is a....weird choice. I know it's heavily implied that they take place in the same universe, and the Zork references are far more explicit in that game than in others, but I never felt like Planetfall was a "Zork Game" proper. Considering the genre difference and difference of tone(in some ways), I'd be more apt to say that Wishbringer or the Enchanter games are more like mainstream "Zork" games(Though I don't think they make that cut either). I would have preferred a $10 "Infocom Anthology", honestly, or at least something that didn't split up a game and its sequel.

Also, nothing on the graphical ones? I know Beyond Zork is the last one(...okay, so Zork Zero was released later, but I'd prefer to think Zork went out with a bang rather than a "meh, that's good I guess"), but for completionist's sake maybe it'd be nice to have all games to bear the Zork name. Certainly would make more sense than PLANETFALL.

For someone who bought this anthology, how are the "additional documents"? I can't buy this if I don't know the feelies are very well recorded, especially ones that are, you know, required to beat the game.
Posted January 18, 2011
I like text adventures, but I'm afraid you need a certain (high) english level to enjoy the Zork Anthology, so I will have to pass on this classic :(.
Posted January 18, 2011
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Greylord: I like text adventures, but I'm afraid you need a certain (high) english level to enjoy the Zork Anthology, so I will have to pass on this classic :(.
Incluso con muy buen Inglés, Zork es muy difícil.

(Mi Español es terrible. Lo siento.)
Post edited January 18, 2011 by TheEnigmaticT
Posted January 18, 2011
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RatherDashing: Planetfall is a....weird choice. I know it's heavily implied that they take place in the same universe, and the Zork references are far more explicit in that game than in others, but I never felt like Planetfall was a "Zork Game" proper. Considering the genre difference and difference of tone(in some ways), I'd be more apt to say that Wishbringer or the Enchanter games are more like mainstream "Zork" games(Though I don't think they make that cut either). I would have preferred a $10 "Infocom Anthology", honestly, or at least something that didn't split up a game and its sequel.
Weird it is, but it was also in the Zork Antology CD released bak in 94. It is basically the same product.
Posted January 18, 2011
i don't have a clue about what Zork is, but the banner is fucking awesome.
Posted January 18, 2011
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Completely off topic, but your post reminded me of my old senior school German teacher. He spoke 12 different languages fluently. And went start raving insane a few years after I left that school.

As for this pack, I might pick it up later for Planetfall, but I have no real interest in Zork. But hopefully this could pave the way for Level 9 games to appear too.... (ScapeGhost would be nice =))
Posted January 18, 2011
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USERNAME:TheEnigmaticT#Q&_^Q&Q#GROUP:1#Q&_^Q&Q#LINK:25#Q&_^Q&Q#Incluso con muy buen Inglés, Zork es muy difícil.#Q&_^Q&Q#LINK:25#Q&_^Q&Q#
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I can get by Spanish (although upon reflection my grammar in the above Spanish sentence was incorrect), and since I learned Latin in high school (huzzay, Catholic school), and can read and write Italian and French, but never learned to speak 'em. I'm also fluent in American Sign Language. And English, oddly enough. :P

I am currently trying Polish, but sweet zombies is it throwing me for a loop. At least in part because I'm not studying it with the kind of focus I should be. The siren song of video games keeps distracting me.
Posted January 18, 2011
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dquadros: Weird it is, but it was also in the Zork Antology CD released bak in 94. It is basically the same product.
I actually never owned the Zork Anthology CD, so I was unaware. Still, seems weird that GOG of all places would carry over mistakes(or at least really confusing decisions) from one release to the next. I thought they were better than that.
Posted January 18, 2011
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I moved here in November to take the job as head of PR and marketing. I'm a US native.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)New release: The Zork Anthology(216 posts)(216 posts)
(216 posts)