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Interactive fiction on the iPhone

by Mike Schramm Aug 15th 2007 at 6:30PM

Before the iPod and the iPhone, there was iFiction-- err, interactive fiction, which is what we now call what I used to know of as "text adventures," those text-based games where you moved "north," "look," and then "pick up phone."

But now, interactive fiction has met the iPhone-- spathiwa has created a z-machine interpreter for the iPhone, which means that (once you've jailbroken it), you too can play all the old favorites-- Hitchhiker's Guide and Zork, and even newer (relatively) stuff like So Far. I never even considered the idea of typing "eat analgesic" with the iPhone's text entry, but combining old school gaming with new school gadgetry is always cool.

The latest version (.2) even saves games when the iPhone is put to sleep, so now you can play your favorite text adventure till the end where ever you take your iPhone.

Thanks, Mark!

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Before the iPod and the iPhone, there was iFiction-- err, interactive fiction, which is what we now call what I used to know of as "text...
 

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Julian

Hey here's World Of Warcraft as a text adventure
No joke :)
http://www.gwonder.com/World_of_Wonder/World_Of_Wonder_Info/Wow_Text_Adventure_2007011366/

August 17 2007 at 7:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

I think it would have really tickled Douglas Adams to see his game on an iPhone. :)

August 16 2007 at 9:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Macroy

I was holding out for a more automated means of installing applications before trying any, but this might be worth installing Installer.app for!

August 15 2007 at 11:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Peter Payne

"It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue."

Yess!

August 15 2007 at 10:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
arkowi

i have yet to install any of this "third party" stuff on my iphone...but i will as soon as i can play space quest.

August 15 2007 at 8:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fred

Totally justifies the $600 I paid for my iPhone

August 15 2007 at 7:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tony

I have a z-machine interpreter on my Treo. Totally rocks. If you want to create your own adventures, download Inform: http://www.inform-fiction.org/Welcome.html

August 15 2007 at 6:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Donald Burr

This package is also available through the Installer.app beta, but you will need to install the "Community Sources" package before it becomes available to you.

August 15 2007 at 6:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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