Microsoft Adventure

Microsoft Adventure is a 1979 computer game from Microsoft.

Microsoft Adventure
TRS-80/Apple II front cover
Developer(s)Softwin Associates
Publisher(s)
Programmer(s)Gordon Letwin
Platform(s)TRS-80, Apple II, IBM PC
Release
  • TRS-80, Apple II
    1979
  • IBM PC
    1981
Genre(s)Text adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Release

Microsoft Adventure is an implementation for personal computers of the PDP-10 mainframe game Colossal Cave Adventure. Microsoft originally released Microsoft Adventure in 1979 for the TRS-80 and the Apple II under its new division, Microsoft Consumer Products. It was written for the company by Gordon Letwin of Softwin Associates, and was available for the list price of US$30.[1] IBM later included Microsoft Adventure as the only game in the initial software release for the IBM Personal Computer.[2] It was released in 1981 as a launch title, making it one of the first two games available for the new computer,[3] along with DONKEY.BAS (which was included in the operating system.) It was released on a single-sided 5​1⁄4 inch disk, required 32K RAM, and booted directly from the disk; it could not be opened from DOS.

Gameplay

Microsoft Adventure is a text game of cave exploration and treasure gathering where the player enters one- or two-word commands to direct the computer to move and manipulate objects, and points are awarded for areas explored and for treasure acquired.[2] It contained 130 rooms, 15 treasures, 40 useful objects and 12 problems to be solved. The progress of two games could be saved on a diskette.[4]


Reception

Carrington Dixon reviewed Microsoft Adventure in The Space Gamer No. 49.[2] Dixon commented that "No game that exists on several different computers can fully demonstrate the potential of any one computer. Even so, your [money] buys many hours of cave exploring and treasure snatching. There is only one 'set-up' but that one is rich and complex enough to keep anyone busy for many games. I suspect that many people will come back to the one after some flashier games have been permanently set aside."[2] PC Magazine also reviewed the game positively, writing, "This hoary old classic should be included in any player's collection of games for the IBM PC."[5]

IBM PC version manual cover

References
  1. "Microsoft Consumer Products Continuing the Microsoft Tradition". Byte. 4 (12): 179. December 1979. Only Microsoft offers Adventure complete, as originally written for the DEC PDP-10, now implemented on personal computers. The ultimate fantasy/logic game, Adventure allows you to explore the depths of the "Colossal Cave,' [...] Adventure fills an entire disk with everything you need for your exploration. Written by Gordon Letwin, of SOFTWIN, Associates. Adventure for the TRS-80 requires a single-disk, 32K system. For the Apple II" a single-disk, 32K system with either the standard disk or language card system. For just $29.95.
  2. Dixon, Carrington (March 1982). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer. Steve Jackson Games (49): 34.
  3. Lemmons, Phil (October 1981). "The IBM Personal Computer / First Impressions". BYTE. p. 36. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  4. "IBM Archives: Product fact sheet". 03.ibm.com. 1981-08-12. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  5. "Adventure (Microsoft)". PC Magazine. 1 (8): 179–180. December 1982.
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