Talk:Zork

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Contents

[edit] General ambience

Hmm. This article should have a bit more about the general ambience of Zork. A few catchphrases, what it feels like to play. It's been too long for me to really remember, since I only played the game a few dozen times. (Moria all the way for me :) -- Cimon Avaro on a pogostick

[edit] Template sidebar

I've just created and added the Zork universe template sidebar (based on the Myst franchise one), which contains links to many of the Zork-related articles. It's designed to go on all the Zork pages. I hope this will be seen as a positive addition to the page, and not "clutter". I'm going to refrain from adding it to all the other pages until it receives some sort of approval. —EatMyShortz 03:20, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)

  • I support 100%. It looks great! -- BRIAN0918  03:22, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)
  • Thanks very much. I see you've been busy adding it in already ;) —EatMyShortz 06:25, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Zorkmid looks wrong, there is a big empty space before the rest of the content begins - I almost missed it. Is there a way to fix that? Grue 11:26, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)

  • I don't see the empty space in Internet Explorer or Mozilla. Can you take a screenshot and upload it here? -- BRIAN0918  11:33, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)
  • Here it is: Image:Zorkmidshot.png. The browser is IE 6.0. Grue 11:45, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)
  • I don't see that at all; mine looks fine in IE 6.0. We're using the same monitor resolution too, so I'm not sure what the problem is. -- BRIAN0918  11:52, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)
  • It looks fine for me too, but there could be a potential problem for lower resolutions than 1024x768 - because then the images all go behind the bar and it gets really ugly. Perhaps we could move the bar lower on that page? --EatMyShortz 12:39, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I've created stubs for Sorcerer and Spellbreaker because I couldn't stand the red links on every page. However I don't really know anything about these games. If you do, go and add some information. —EatMyShortz 23:56, 29 Mar 2005 (UTC)

  • Done! Thanks for the work on these. -DynSkeet 14:54, Apr 11, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Separate articles?

For some reason, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth whenever I see the individual Zork games redirecting to this page. Is there any argument against reducing this to a page discussing the history and "flavor" of the series in general, and creating an individual article for each of the three games? -DynSkeet 14:56, Apr 11, 2005 (UTC)

  • I believe they were intended to be a one game, but were split due to size limits of storage devices of these times. Most series of games have only one article on them (FIFA Series, Rollercoaster Tycoon and so on). Perhaps the template should be modified so it would show only one link instead of three? Grue 15:55, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)
  • I think they should each have their own articles, or that all 3 should have one separate article, something like Zork trilogy. --brian0918™ 16:04, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)
  • The original game is actually called "Dungeon" and is still available online (not to download, just to play), but commercial sale they split and slightly changed it into three games so it would be smaller. Some things were added to Zork I, II, and III, and others were cut out completely and not used until Sorcerer or Wishbringer. 71.10.48.39 (talk) 03:12, 13 February 2008 (UTC) (usually Alinnisawest)

[edit] What do I need to play zork

Okay i tried to install it but i'm receiving some weird messages. Is this game made for dos? Or do I need some kind of interpreter/emulator ? Thanks Xhami

You need an interpreter. There are several freeware ones available, and a couple of the more popular ones are Frotz and Nitfol. (There should be links to download them in each article.) -DynSkeet 12:21, Apr 29, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Zork Trilogy is not freeware; the link should be removed.

This article currently links to http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/ stating: "These downloaded games can be played on almost any platform using an appropriate Z-machine interpreter."

The Zork Trilogy is NOT freeware. Activision made downloads of the games available as a promotion following the release of Zork: Nemesis and Zork Grand Inquistor. Each download contained the following license:


GRANT. Activision, Inc. ("Activision") hereby grants you a non-exclusive license to use the accompanying computer game, Zork: The Great Underground Empire, provided that you may not:

a. modify or create derivative works based on the Game;

b. copy the Game (except for back-up purposes);

c. rent, lease, transfer or otherwise transfer rights to the Game;

d. or remove any proprietary notices or labels on the Game.


Sweetandy: Brief note, man! If you simply place your own copy (not a copy you make) in your webserver folder, other people can download it without you ever doing any copying. Also, you aren't transfering any rights at all; you're transfering the game. Yar.

After C|Net published an article that listed the Zork Trilogy among the Top 10 freeware games (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6464_7-6300449-1.html), I phoned Activision's legal department to ask if the games were really free when the license clearly states that the game can't be copied. They replied:


Back when we released either Zork: Nemesis, Return to Zork, Zork Undiscovered Underground, Zork: Grand Inquisitor and Zork 0 (all of which were back in the mid 90's), Activision did a sort-of "promotion" to help boost interest in the "new Zork" title. They released for a very short time, the three (3) Zork titles for D/L off their website.

As the "new Zork" title fazed away, Activision removed the titles from their website. Hence, the user could no longer download the games.

Since then ALOT of people have READ INTO this as being that we've essentially given these particular titles away, and that we have no interest in them. (ie- "Hey! They're giving it away.")

This simply isn't the case.

You'll also note that MOST, if not ALL of the Infocom titles are considered to be Public Domain as well, which also isn't the case.


They also said that they "reserve all our rights to pursue any legal measures we deem appropriate against the offending site(s)." I contacted C|Net and they contacted Activision to confirm. They removed the link with the following explanation:


Editor's note: CNET has been advised by Activision that the company's release of the original Zork titles was a limited promotion, and that the company "has since removed them from that 'free' status." As such, we have removed the download link that was originally presented here.


The Zork games on that site are still under copyright and cannot legally be distributed. Activision is a member of the ESA. Wikipedia should NOT be encouraging piracy by linking to this site. The University of Western Ontario, Activision and the ESA are now aware of the copyright infringement on that site, so hopefully Wikipedia can continue to link to the page for its valuable information once the illegal downloads have been removed.

In the meantime, anyone wishing to help make the Zork Trilogy available again, either for sale or as freeware, can sign the Zork Trilogy Petition.

If they don't sell it and they don't let us copy it and they don't let us download it, what do they expect us to do?! The reason for copyrights is so A) they won't lose profits and B) no one else will steal it and make money off it. They don't sell it any more so they aren't making profits anyway and no one else has stolen it and is selling it for money. It's abandonware, and while it's true that there's no legal standing for abandonware, there should be. If they don't want to sell it to us, then we're just going to copy it for free! 71.10.48.39 (talk) 14:04, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

PS: I removed the link to the petition because it's blacklisted by Wikipedia. 71.10.48.39 (talk) 14:04, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Mistaken identity

The link to Bruce Daniels in the first paragraph of the page is wrong. I know Bruce Daniels (or knew him 25 years ago, anyway...) and I can assure you he is not an African-American, openly gay standup comedian who opens for Margaret Cho. Trust me. — Dimwit Flathead the Excessive 19:56, 20 Jan 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Its own Wiki

Who's with me on thinking that Zork could very well have its own Wiki? I'd be willing to start it up.

Sweetandy: I was going to do this, but I didn't because of the copyright issues I found in the back of the Encyclopedia Frobozzica. The first run of the wiki was going to be the Frobozzica, and the rest was going to be additional knowledge as found by fans. But the idea went down when, although there are MANY COPIES OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA FROBOZZICA ONLINE ALREADY, there are copyright laws concerning it in the back of the Frobozzica itself. I have a letter ready to send in to Activision, but my new printer refuses to print envelopes properly and I'm not hand-writing this business letter requesting the rights to put the Frobozzica on the internet with the intention of linking directly to the Activision website and stating that the rights are Activisions and Activision alone... blah de blah... but they're going to say no, I garuntee you, so give up now. I'll post back if it ever happens.

TiddlyWiki seems to be the best for this kind of project, though, if it does ever happen.

[edit] MEH!

Where's a walkthrough of Zork?! 15:51, 7 May 2006 (UTC) (by the way I put 5 tildes there on PURPOSE hahaha)

ΧYLOPHONE!!! XYLOPHONE!!!

Check out the if Archive at [ifarchive.org/if-archive/games]. If that looks a little daunting, try Baf's Guide, or just google 'walkthrough zork'. The first result I came up with had a good walkthrough. 14:07, 1 February 2008 (UTC) (by the way I put 4 tildes in there on PURPOSE... not that anyone cares hint hint...)

[edit] Zork at Ucyclopedia

Did anyone else know that Uncyclopedia has a Zork minigame? It can be found here:[1]

It's mentioned in the article, at the end of this section. Cheers, CWC(talk) 19:08, 2 June 2006 (UTC)
There is a whole slew of games in Uncyclopedia's Zork game series. the one known on both Uncyclopedia and the Homestar Runner Wiki as Neox 14:28, 2 March 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.247.22.237 (talk)

[edit] Graphical Zork I remake for Saturn / Playstation 1

Not much is known about it, since only a Japanese-language release was published, but some intrepid delver should be able to unearth more information and complete this page on the series. If it helps, it was also released as a two-game pack with Return to Zork for those late consoles. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Pseudo Intellectual (talk • contribs) 09:13, 7 January 2007 (UTC).

Well, no one here was of any help, but we got a stub entry for it up at Mobygames. Something to make reference to if anyone does decide to take it on here. Cheers! Pseudo Intellectual 02:08, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Inform 7 Port

http://i7-dungeon.sourceforge.net/

http://sourceforge.net/projects/i7-dungeon

Should this be included in the article somehow? 75.49.115.72 (talk) 15:28, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

I'm not seeing the value. The original games are easily available online and are linked. Since it's a re-implementation, it will vary from the originals in at least minor ways. — Alan De Smet | Talk 20:41, 25 November 2007 (UTC)