Microsoft Adventure is a text game in which the player explores caves and acquires treasure, using one- or two-word commands to move or manipulate objects, and the game awards points for successfully exploring areas and gathering treasure.[2] There are 130 rooms containing 15 treasures, 40 useful objects, and 12 problems for the player to solve.[3] The progress of two separate games can be saved on a diskette.[3] The game includes most of the content from Colossal Cave Adventure, along with a few locations unique to this version.
Release
Microsoft originally released Microsoft Adventure in 1979 for the TRS-80 and the Apple II under its new division, Microsoft Consumer Products. IBM later included Microsoft Adventure as the only game in the initial software releases for the IBM Personal Computer,[2] making it one of the first two games available for the new computer[4] along with DONKEY.BAS (included with the operating system). It was released on a single-sided 51⁄4 inch self-booting disk.
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 'setup' but that one is rich and complex enough to keep anyone busy for many games. I suspect that many people will come back to this 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]
References
↑"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.
