Infocom
Created | Updated Feb 16, 2002
Infocom was a computer software company that created, arguably, some of the most
intelligent, interactive and imaginative games ever written. These games
popularized the genre known as "interactive fiction".
The "interactive fiction" genre had its humble beginnings with the creation
of a computer program known only as "Adventure" by Willie Crowther and
Don Woods. The premise was simple -- the computer described a location to
you in plain english, and the player told the computer what actions he/she
wished to take using one or two word commands. Since it was available
only on large mainframes, the game caused many people to lose precious
work hours in their efforts to finish it.
In 1977, a group of MIT students wrote an unnamed game
called "Zork" utilizing an MIT developed programming language known as MDL.
Interestingly enough, the previous statement is not an error. "Zork" was a
working name given to programs whose programmers couldn't think of something
better to call it. In this case, however, the name seemed to stick.
"Zork" expanded on the "Adventure" formula in two ways. The descriptions given
to the player became much more prose-like and descriptive. Additionally, it
allowed the player to direct the
computers actions by using complete English sentences. This afforded the player
a greater feeling of "interactivity" and a great deal less aggravation in trying
to communicate their intentions to the game.
Infocom was founded two years later by 10 people associated with the same
MIT group that wrote MDL. Due to the size constraints of microcomputers at
the time, the original "Zork" was broken up into three seperate games
and became Infocom's first product.
Soon after, Infocom came up with a brilliant idea. Rather than write their
programs over and over for the many different computers that were popular
at the time, they decided to do something a little different. They
wrote their programs for an "imaginary" computer which they called
a "Z-Machine". All that was left to do was write a program for each
computer they wished to support that made it act just like their
"Z-Machine". Thus, in one fell swoop, they were able to make all their
games run on any computer they wanted.
As Infocom's popularity and finances grew, the "Z-Machine" went through
several iterations. Each one allowed more locations, commands and text.
In its final incarnations, and to many people's disappointment, it would
include graphics as well.
Infocom created well ofter fifty computer games, most of which were in the
"interactive fiction" genre. Nonetheless, their games' wit and humor will
no doubt make Infocom's name synonymous with computer gaming for a long time.
intelligent, interactive and imaginative games ever written. These games
popularized the genre known as "interactive fiction".
The "interactive fiction" genre had its humble beginnings with the creation
of a computer program known only as "Adventure" by Willie Crowther and
Don Woods. The premise was simple -- the computer described a location to
you in plain english, and the player told the computer what actions he/she
wished to take using one or two word commands. Since it was available
only on large mainframes, the game caused many people to lose precious
work hours in their efforts to finish it.
In 1977, a group of MIT students wrote an unnamed game
called "Zork" utilizing an MIT developed programming language known as MDL.
Interestingly enough, the previous statement is not an error. "Zork" was a
working name given to programs whose programmers couldn't think of something
better to call it. In this case, however, the name seemed to stick.
"Zork" expanded on the "Adventure" formula in two ways. The descriptions given
to the player became much more prose-like and descriptive. Additionally, it
allowed the player to direct the
computers actions by using complete English sentences. This afforded the player
a greater feeling of "interactivity" and a great deal less aggravation in trying
to communicate their intentions to the game.
Infocom was founded two years later by 10 people associated with the same
MIT group that wrote MDL. Due to the size constraints of microcomputers at
the time, the original "Zork" was broken up into three seperate games
and became Infocom's first product.
Soon after, Infocom came up with a brilliant idea. Rather than write their
programs over and over for the many different computers that were popular
at the time, they decided to do something a little different. They
wrote their programs for an "imaginary" computer which they called
a "Z-Machine". All that was left to do was write a program for each
computer they wished to support that made it act just like their
"Z-Machine". Thus, in one fell swoop, they were able to make all their
games run on any computer they wanted.
As Infocom's popularity and finances grew, the "Z-Machine" went through
several iterations. Each one allowed more locations, commands and text.
In its final incarnations, and to many people's disappointment, it would
include graphics as well.
Infocom created well ofter fifty computer games, most of which were in the
"interactive fiction" genre. Nonetheless, their games' wit and humor will
no doubt make Infocom's name synonymous with computer gaming for a long time.
