Category: Others

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Individual Software GAME PUBLISHER:Individual Software Copyright 1992, Individual Software What Are You Doing Today, Charlie Brown? is a nice calendar program for Windows that features hundreds of Peanuts comic strips. You can create to-do lists, set reminders for events, and group different kinds of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Knowledge Adventure GAME PUBLISHER:Knowledge Adventure Copyright 1993, Knowledge Adventure Tale of Peter Rabbit is a decent interactive storybook for kids based on a classic tale that unfortunately isn’t very interactive, although it has excellent illustrations that bring the story to life. The format is…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Greg Copley GAME DEVELOPER:MECC GAME PUBLISHER:MECC Copyright 1991, MECC Another excellent entry in MECC’s “Muncher” series of educational games, Super Munchers is a fun Jeopardy clone featuring cute graphics and fun arcade-influenced gameplay. You basically control Muncher, a Pac-Man relative. You must “munch” the correct answers…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Don Rawitsch & Wayne Studor GAME DEVELOPER:MECC GAME PUBLISHER:MECC Copyright 1992, MECC Probably the least known entry in MECCs famous Oregon Trail series that is now up to the fourth edition, Oregon Trail Deluxe is a solid VGA remake of the 1988 original Oregon Trail release…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:N. Gregory Mankiw GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Worth Publishing 2005: A Game of Macroeconomics is an excellent free game that achieves what many expensive releases have tried and failed: teach basic concepts of macroeconomics in an accessible and fun package. Designed by N. Gregory…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:J.D. Berry GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, J.D. Berry My vote for the best game name ever devised award, Jacks or Better to Murder, Aces to Win is a fresh and original game from J.D. Berry, one of my favorite underdog IF designers of our…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:J.D. Berry GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, J.D. Berry Chico And I Ran is a rollicking, very funny game that parodies famous American pop culture. Steven Howards excellent review is much better than I could ever write, so Ill just quote him here: “J.D. Berry’s…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robb Sherwin GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Robb Sherwin Fallacy of Dawn is a great game from Robb Sherwin, designer of A Crimson Spring, my most favorite underdog of the 6th Annual Interactive Fiction Competition, and is undoubtedly his best yet. Like his previous games,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Cody Sandifer GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1997, Cody Sandifer Zero Sum Game is in my opinion one of the most underrated games of the IFComp. It’s a fun, original, and well-designed game that deserves better than the 11th place in the competition. The capsule review…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Neil Brown GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Neil Brown The Wedding is a charming and funny game that emphasizes character interaction over abstract puzzles. The plot: your friend Malcolm disappears just before his wedding, and you suspect foul play. It’s of course up to you…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Colm McCarthy GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1995, Colm McCarthy The Light: Shelby’s Addendum is a well-written, “dark” sci-fi game that is unfortunately bogged down with poor puzzle design (especially the annoying do-or-die timed puzzle early in the game). Gareth Rees’ review for SPAG says it…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Neil DeMause GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1995, Neil DeMause One of the first “experimental” IF of the modern day, Undo is a very short, very strange game with a simple premise: you’re playing an adventure game on a corrupted disk. All you need to do…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Gentry GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1998, Michael Gentry Anchorhead is an excellent horror IF in the tradition of Infocom’s much-loved The Lurking Horror. Although not as scary as that classic, Anchorhead has more than enough atmosphere and unnerving plot twists to glue horror fans…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ralph Lombreglia & Kate Bernhardt GAME DEVELOPER:Mind in Motion GAME PUBLISHER:Penguin Electronic Copyright 1995, Penguin Electronic Jack Kerouac, icon of the Beat Generation, novelist and poet, is one of the most influential writers of the twentieth-century. Not surprisingly, his thoughts have had a growing impact on…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:J.D. Berry GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, J.D. Berry Ribbons is, similar to Ian Finley’s Exhibition, an interesting puzzle-less story centering on four exhibits at an art show. Duncan Steven’s review for SPAG says it all: “As in Exhibition, you’re in an art gallery, checking…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Sean Barrett GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Sean Barrett The Weapon is a fun one-room game that is strongly reminiscent of Andrew Plotkin’s classic Spider and Web. Both games require an extensive use of gadgets, both games have one non-player character who is your nemesis.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rob Noyes GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Rob Noyes Similar to Undo, Pick Up The Phone Booth and Die is a self-proclaimed classic of minimalist design. The premise is simple: there is a phone booth in front of you. If you pick it up, you…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Anssi Raisanen GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Anssi Raisanen Bugged is a short but clever game with a unique premise: your cousin has written a terrible text adventure in a generic fantasy setting, riddled with bugs which make it impossible to progress by normal means.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Suzanne Britton GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Suzanne Britton One of the most ambitious piece of IF ever written, Worlds Apart is Suzanne Britton’s magnum opus that took 3 years to complete. The capsule review at Baf’s Guide to IF Archive captures the charms of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jim Aikin GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1999, Jim Aikin Not Just an Ordinary Ballerina is a highly underrated piece of IF that slipped unnoticed past most gamers’ radar screens when it was released in 1999. The capsule review at Baf’s guide to IF Archive sums…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brian Uri GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Brian Uri Emily Shorts review says it all about this funny, well-coded game cast in the mold of Infocoms Enchanter series: “Augmented Fourth is a fairly easy puzzle romp whose appeal lies in wackily charming worldbuilding and sly…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:J. Robinson Wheeler GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, J. Robinson Wheeler First Things First is a very ambitious game by J. Robinson Wheeler, author of the popular tongue-in-cheek IFComp game Being Andrew Plotkin. FTF is a very different game from Being Andrew Plotkin, however. It…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Eyeware Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Byron Preiss Multimedia Copyright 1996, Eyeware Interactive Strategy Plus says it all about one of the most intriguing CD-ROMs ever made about M.C. Escher, one of the most interesting and reclusive artists of the modern day: “Escher Interactive: Exploring the Art…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Knowledge Adventure GAME PUBLISHER:Knowledge Adventure Copyright 1993, Knowledge Adventure Dinosaur Adventure is a fun edutainment title from Knowledge Adventure, third in its Adventure series. In addition to a solid encyclopedia about dinosaurs based on the same engine as Knowledge Adventure and Sport Adventure, Dinosaur…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Compu-Teach GAME PUBLISHER:Compu-Teach Copyright 1984, Compu-Teach One of the earliest “interactive storybook” for kids, Tinker Tales is an excellent title designed for young readers. The program contains 3 different stories, all centered around a young girl. The stories come complete with attractive pictures (albeit…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Dinosoft GAME PUBLISHER:Dinosoft Copyright 1992, Dinosoft Einstein Jr.’s Classroom is a fun edutainment title that teaches a wide variety of subjects in easy-to-learn mini-games (although most of them are some form of quiz). Designed for age 8 and up, the program teaches math, science,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jan Davidson GAME DEVELOPER:Davidson & Associates GAME PUBLISHER:Davidson & Associates Copyright 1987, Davidson & Associates Another excellent edutainment title from Davidson & Associates, designed by Jay Davidson himself. The description on MobyGames says it all: “An updated version of the older Math Blaster! educational game. Unlike…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Davidson & Associates GAME PUBLISHER:Davidson & Associates Copyright 1988, Davidson & Associates Reading and Me is a collection of games and activities designed for beginner readers, ages 4 to 7. The game is not as fun as Davidson’s other games– perhaps because the company…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Faye Schwartz GAME DEVELOPER:Davidson & Associates GAME PUBLISHER:Davidson & Associates Copyright 1989, Davidson & Associates Solid edutainment program from Davidson & Associates. Design for age 9 to adult, Spell It Plus! helps students master of 1000 commonly misspelled words in a format that makes spelling so…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jan Davidson GAME DEVELOPER:Davidson & Associates GAME PUBLISHER:Davidson & Associates Copyright 1988, Davidson & Associates Another excellent edutainment title from Davidson & Associates. Designed for ages 9 to adult, Word Attack Plus helps you become a better writer and speaker via a number of fun mini-games.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Simon & Schuster GAME PUBLISHER:Simon & Schuster Copyright 1994, Simon & Schuster At a time when other companies were trying to make “interactive movies”, Star Trek TNG: Interactive Technical Manual (STTNG:TM) proves that at least one publisher knew how to make truly effective use…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Human Edge GAME PUBLISHER:Human Edge Copyright 1984, Human Edge One of the many “psychoanalytical” programs released in mid-1980s, Mind Prober by Human Edge is an intriguing piece of software that tries to pinpoint your personality and gives advice based on your answers to questions,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chuck Benson & Gary Thompson GAME DEVELOPER:Sierra On-Line GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1984, Chuck Benson & Gary Thompson A true precursor to Sierra’s blockbuster hit Leisure Suit Larry series, Softporn Adventure was designed in 1983 for the Apple II computer by Chuck Benson, a database programmer who…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Patricia Relf & Deborah Kovacs GAME DEVELOPER:Tom Snyder Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Spinnaker Copyright 1982, Spinnaker One of the world’s first detective games for kids, Snooper Troops is a great edutainment title that truly stands the test of time. Second and last in a short-lived series from Tom…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Davidson & Associates GAME PUBLISHER:Davidson & Associates Copyright 1994, Davidson & Associates No, this is not the classic Taito game of the same name. Rather, Zoo Keeper is another excellent edutainment title from Davidson & Associates. Designed for toddlers aged 1-6, Zoo Keeper teaches…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:KV Graphics GAME PUBLISHER:Inline Design Copyright 1994, KV Graphics Swamp Gas Visits The USA is one of the best edutainment products ever made for home computers. More famous on the Macintosh, this Windows version has unfortunately been overlooked despite winning a faire share of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:KV Graphics GAME PUBLISHER:Luxenberg Copyright 1994, KV Graphics Alien Arcade for Windows is a great PC conversion of a classic Macintosh game. The game is essentially a collection of six different non-violent arcade games from the depths of outer space for children ages 5…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jim Bayers GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2001, Jim Bayers Stranded is an excellent interactive fiction game that manages to be what many other games, IF or not, fail to be: a fun game that educates as well as entertains. The premise is simple: you are…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Leigh Rothschild GAME DEVELOPER:Capstone GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1993, Capstone Discoveries of The Deep is an okay simulation of deep-sea exploration that suffers from the same syndrome as most Capstone games: great concept but poor execution. The concept in this case is novel enough: your goal is…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Gregory Janson GAME DEVELOPER:Software Visions GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1998, Freeware One of the best game-related applications ever made, MegaZeux is a versatile Game Creation System (GCS) created by Gregory Janson, creator of acclaimed ZZT games Code Red and many more. Essentially a souped-up version of ZZT,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Anne Popkess & Fergus McNeill GAME DEVELOPER:Abstract Concepts GAME PUBLISHER:Abstract Concepts Copyright 1988, Abstract Concepts Mindfighter is one of the best post-apocalyptic adventures ever made, although sadly not many people played it when the game was released in 1988 for the PC, Atari ST, and most…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brian Sanders GAME DEVELOPER:Castle Technologies GAME PUBLISHER:Castle Technologies Copyright 1989, Castle Technologies One of the best text-based RPGs ever made, Advanced Xoru is an excellent but little-known shareware dungeon romp that is reminiscent of Infocom’s Beyond Zork, but with a much more effective use of RPG…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Sue Medley GAME DEVELOPER:Castle Technologies GAME PUBLISHER:Castle Technologies Copyright 1992, Sue Medley Sergeant Oklib himself “volunteered” you to find the King’s missing staff. You are off on a classic quest vowing that you’ll find your way back and show Oklib just what you think of him…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Virtuo GAME PUBLISHER:Macmillan Interactive Publishing Copyright 2000, Virtuo One of the best CD-ROMs about famous artists, The Mystery of Magritte is an excellent reference CD that goes above and beyond what most CDs do: present the artist’s life and works in creative hypermedia format…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Corbis Publishing GAME PUBLISHER:Corbis Publishing Copyright 1997, Corbis Publishing One of the best CD-ROMs ever made in any genre, period. The review of this outstanding CD in Business Week hit the spot so well I’d like to transcribe it here in full: “When Microsoft…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Corbis Publishing GAME PUBLISHER:Corbis Publishing Copyright 1995, Corbis Publishing One of the best CD-ROMs ever made about art, Passion for Art gives you a look inside the private collection of Dr. Albert Barnes, the irascible art collector whose museum in Philadelphia is among the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Christopher Engel GAME DEVELOPER:Sadie Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Sadie Productions Copyright 1999, Sadie Productions No doubt one of the best CD-ROMs ever made about an artist’s life, Vincent van Gogh: Straight from the Heart is a true labor of love by Christopher Engel, himself an artist, who spent…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Corbis Publishing GAME PUBLISHER:Corbis Publishing Copyright 1996, Corbis Publishing As an enthusiast in the history of art, I’ve been an avid collector of art-related CD-ROMs since the early days of the medium, around 1993. After dozens of CDs later, I can honestly say that…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:J. Robinson Wheeler GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2000, J. Robinson Wheeler Four In One is a funny game that fans of the Marx Brothers will tremendously enjoy, although I must admit some of the game’s references and jokes are a bit too obscure for my…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stephen Granade GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1998, Stephen Granade A quirky, fun game about alien abduction starring you as a kid, The Arrival is one of the first HTML TADS IF titles, The Arrival is also the first IF Competition game ever to include pictures…