Yep, I think it’s the end of the world. For those who remember, Infocom had the best adventure games, and the Zork trilogy was a standout. Now, an Irish company is bringing Zork online, as - I hate to write this - a casual MMO.
Jolt Online Gaming of Dublin, Ireland is the company. The CEO claims to be a “Zork geek”. I have my doubts. The Zorks (and those beyond the first three) weren’t designed for people who wanted a quick “fun break”. They were tough games and you really needed to think to get through them.
But now, we’re going to be presented with a “persistent online adventure”, which will be browser-based. And there’s just nothing like being a traveling salesman and “part-time loot gatherer.” In a world full of “trolls, kobolds and other dangerous creatures.”
Funny the press release doesn’t mention THE dangerous creature. You know, the Grue. And what are kobolds doing in there? Trolls, yeah, there was a troll in the first game. I don’t recall any others.
The website is pretty new, and has no info beyond the press release that I could find. For instance, there’s no mention of when this might be coming along (I’m in no hurry; take all the time you need, like 50 years).
Zork, The Casual MMO. GAAAHHH! I need a drink. Maybe more than one. [sob]
You’re just bitter because that Fountain of Dreams MMO never took off…
Doesn’t this remind you of the movie industry, with the constant remakes of classic - and not so classic - movies, mostly changed out of all recognition? In both cases, it shows a lack of imagination.
I enjoyed the Zork games, but I never did get very far. I’m not good with puzzles, and I’m too easily frustrated.
Fountain of Dreams? Heh, heh. Funny! But I guess I’m still bitter about that game, myself. After Wasteland? What a disappointment!
hello hello
didn’t Zork I have several monsters that weren’t repeated in the later games? Mostly the evil monsters were just the Grues.
Zork II did have a dragon and that Junk yard dog on a chain (or was it one of those 3 headed types found in the caverns under NYC) in Zork 0.
So there is a precedent for some, the occassional, oddball creature besides GRUEs. However not for kobolds and other dangerous D&D/AD&D types of monsters.
I think this Irishman/men have had a few pints too many.
Ag, far as I recall, in Zork I the only monsters were the ogre and the thief. Grues, of course, were ever present, just waiting for the lights to go out.
WCG, yeah, remakes are usually terrible. This doesn’t seem so much a remake as a sort of extension, or something. It may have the Zork name, but the content, from what little we know, seems far from the originals.
As for Fountain of Slime, I mean Dreams, the less said, the better.
A drink? “Want some rye? Course ya do!”
Hahaha! Good one, Katy. Not that that one was on my list of “Zork favorites” ;) Then again, it wasn’t a text adventure, either.