Adventure Game Scene of the Day - Fri - Dec 22 2006

QFG · 12-21-2006, 02:20 PM

A little in advance, but here we go:

First adventure game I ever played, did horribly - but I was eight, and it was exceedingly difficult. My dad was a big fan of the book, so there's a hint.

Boneho Chane · 12-21-2006, 02:27 PM

Sounds pretty good. I like stories were the character's identity is gone. Kind of sanitarium. I sort of wish you guys would just say what the game is though.

*Melanie68* · 12-21-2006, 02:31 PM

I agree. I haven't played a lot of these older games so I'm typically in the dark.

Others have a different philosophy. They like to guess what it is but I never saw this as a guessing game, more of a launching point to discuss the game.

QFG · 12-21-2006, 02:36 PM

Fair enough, it IS kind of obscure.

"Nine Princes in Amber" based on the novel by Roger Zelazny. I think it came to DOS around 1987 or 1988.

Stain · 12-21-2006, 02:37 PM

I remember playing a text adventure game on my dad's old TRS-80 (cira 1978). It was called Asylum. It did not have graphics, but it was the same idea though... trapped in an asylum with no memories.

It was a hard, unforgiving game with death around every corner. The funny thing I remember is if you ever typed "Look up", a piano would immediately fall on your head and you would die. Strange humour on that one since the game was not a comedy, but it is the only real thing I remember from that game. Funny how some things get "memory-burn" in your mind.

Cheers,
Stain

QFG · 12-21-2006, 02:41 PM

Nine Princes in Amber was also ridiculously unforgiving. It was my first experience with a parsar, and to quote one review I just found:

"Telarium deserves credit for sheer chutzpah if nothing else. Indeed, the game’s team of twenty or so authors studiously avoids easy solutions like those employed by the Fahrenheit 451 team, choosing instead to chronicle the events of the novel in a fairly straightforward fashion. To facilitate character interaction, a bewildering list of communication verbs is provided in the documentation. The player can, just for starters, “snarl,” “flatter,” “calm,” “spit,” “bribe,” “wink,” or “plead.”

They're not kidding.

I remember seeing screenshots in magazines of the Commodore 64 version and being VERY jealous. Much more colorful!

*stepurhan* · 12-21-2006, 02:41 PM

I remembet reading the series of books but I don't think I've ever heard of the computer game. There was a diceless "Amber" role-playing game as well I think.

QFG · 12-21-2006, 04:10 PM

Interesting! I remember seeing the colorful paperbacks of Nine Princes and Guns of Avalon around my Dad's apartment as a kid, opening them up, being interested but in over my head, and putting them back down.

It may have been the first computer game I ever encountered, come to think of it. Although very quickly afterward came the Sierra games (found at yard sales back then for $1... in box... sometimes played only once...), Hard Ball, Test Drive, and many many others.

It seems the gaming industry in the late 80s moved VERY quickly... and continued to do so into the mid-90s. Compared to today, when the industry is very slow, and most games are carbon copies of other, more-successful games.

Jazhara7 · 12-22-2006, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QFG

Fair enough, it IS kind of obscure.

"Nine Princes in Amber" based on the novel by Roger Zelazny. I think it came to DOS around 1987 or 1988.

Couldn't you have waited a little more?! I knew that! That's Corwyn in the hospital bed.

I did not play the game, but I read the book.

The Complete Amber Chronicles is on my wishlist this year.

-

GoT · 12-22-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QFG

It may have been the first computer game I ever encountered, come to think of it. Although very quickly afterward came the Sierra games (found at yard sales back then for $1... in box... sometimes played only once...), Hard Ball, Test Drive, and many many others.

Watch out for pit holes!

UnityOfGoals · 02-08-2008, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QFG

Fair enough, it IS kind of obscure.
"Nine Princes in Amber" based on the novel by Roger Zelazny. I think it came to DOS around 1987 or 1988.

The earlier version was for the Commodore 64 by two years approximately and has better colors (for the 1980's). There is also a Spanish version that I do not know the original date and release information, but I have seen screen shots and they are much nicer for an (XMS) machine I think it is called. They look like VGA graphics and would have been nice to see a VGA version conversion to english as the one they had! Another idea would be for someone to get the copyrights and make a full color version, and maybe redo the entire game updated, or a company to make a brand new game of The Nine Princes in Amber with up to date graphics!

Most of all, there are tens of thousands of variations according to the back of the box and article write ups about the game, and 40 various endings! Does anyone have any clues as to the game or walkthroughs different than the only two that I have been able to find online?

I have only found one by EShultz (popularly found) and another by an unknoan author with more tips and clues, a larger but still vague walkthrough. Anyone played this game have any clues, tips, hints, answers to variations in play and how to get to other various game endings they could share?

UnityOfGoals

12-21-2006, 02:20 PM	#1
QFG Senior Member Last Online: 05-25-2010 01:02 AM Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 515	Adventure Game Scene of the Day - Fri - Dec 22 2006 A little in advance, but here we go: First adventure game I ever played, did horribly - but I was eight, and it was exceedingly difficult. My dad was a big fan of the book, so there's a hint. Last edited by QFG; 12-21-2006 at 02:24 PM.. Reason: wrong date!

12-21-2006, 02:27 PM	#2
Boneho Chane Adventure Lover Last Online: 05-02-2012 10:19 PM Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 522	Sounds pretty good. I like stories were the character's identity is gone. Kind of sanitarium. I sort of wish you guys would just say what the game is though. __________________ Salesman: "Hey, you missed the party last night." Bernard: "You and the CLOWN where having a party!?!"

12-21-2006, 02:41 PM	#7
stepurhan Freeware Co-ordinator Last Online: 03-12-2018 06:31 AM Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South East England. Posts: 7,309	I remembet reading the series of books but I don't think I've ever heard of the computer game. There was a diceless "Amber" role-playing game as well I think. __________________ No Nonsense Nonsonnets #43 Cold Topic A thread most controversial, that’s what I want to start Full of impassioned arguments, of posting from the heart And for this stimulation all will be thankful to me On come on everybody it won’t work if you agree

12-21-2006, 02:31 PM	#3
Melanie68 Super Moderator Last Online: 05-19-2012 11:09 AM Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,907	I agree. I haven't played a lot of these older games so I'm typically in the dark. Others have a different philosophy. They like to guess what it is but I never saw this as a guessing game, more of a launching point to discuss the game.

12-21-2006, 02:36 PM	#4
QFG Senior Member Last Online: 05-25-2010 01:02 AM Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 515	Fair enough, it IS kind of obscure. "Nine Princes in Amber" based on the novel by Roger Zelazny. I think it came to DOS around 1987 or 1988.

12-21-2006, 02:37 PM	#5
Stain Baddest Badguy Ever Last Online: 05-04-2012 10:39 PM Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 135	I remember playing a text adventure game on my dad's old TRS-80 (cira 1978). It was called Asylum. It did not have graphics, but it was the same idea though... trapped in an asylum with no memories. It was a hard, unforgiving game with death around every corner. The funny thing I remember is if you ever typed "Look up", a piano would immediately fall on your head and you would die. Strange humour on that one since the game was not a comedy, but it is the only real thing I remember from that game. Funny how some things get "memory-burn" in your mind. Cheers, Stain

12-21-2006, 04:10 PM	#8
QFG Senior Member Last Online: 05-25-2010 01:02 AM Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 515	Interesting! I remember seeing the colorful paperbacks of Nine Princes and Guns of Avalon around my Dad's apartment as a kid, opening them up, being interested but in over my head, and putting them back down. It may have been the first computer game I ever encountered, come to think of it. Although very quickly afterward came the Sierra games (found at yard sales back then for $1... in box... sometimes played only once...), Hard Ball, Test Drive, and many many others. It seems the gaming industry in the late 80s moved VERY quickly... and continued to do so into the mid-90s. Compared to today, when the industry is very slow, and most games are carbon copies of other, more-successful games.