Seastalker is an interactive fiction game written by Stu Galley and Jim Lawrence[1] and published by Infocom in 1984. It was released simultaneously for several popular computer platforms of the time, such as the Commodore 64, Apple II, and IBM PC compatibles (as a self-booting disk). The game was marketed as an introduction to interactive fiction for preteen players, having difficulty rating of "Junior." It was the only game to ever use this rating, which was replaced by the "Introductory" label given to games such as Wishbringer. It is Infocom's twelfth game.
The player's character is a young inventor and marine scientist. A research facility called the Aquadome issues a call for help, indicating that the undersea structure is being attacked by a sea monster. With helpful assistant Tip, the player must navigate to the Aquadome in the new untested two-person submarineScimitar and investigate the problem. But that isn't all... it looks like there may be a saboteur within the Aquadome as well.
The package includes the following physical items:
A logbook for the Scimitar, including a letter from "The President" congratulating the player on acceptance into the Discovery Squad
Four double-sided "top secret Infocards", containing hints printed in blue ink beneath a pattern of red ink
A decoder featuring a small square of red plastic to reveal the hints on the Infocards
A nautical chart of Frobton Bay for navigation
A "Discovery Squad "badge" sticker
Receptionedit
Computer Gaming World noted Seastalker's easiness, recommending it only as a beginner's text adventure, particularly for young kids. Exemplifying this are the numerous tips dropped by both in-game characters and the game itself, directing the player to the included Infocards. The review complained of minor inconsistencies like items that could not be interacted with until an in-game character told the player of its existence.[3]
PC Magazine gave Seastalker 10.0 points out of 12. It also noted the game's relatively low difficulty level, praised the prose, and stated, "I enjoyed myself immensely".[4]
Referencesedit
^ abHague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
^Fitzgibbons, Patricia (October 1984). "Micro-Reviews: Seastalker" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. Vol. 4, no. 5. p. 38. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
^Wiswell, Phil (1984-10-30). "Trolls and Snarks". PC Magazine. p. 273. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
External linksedit
Seastalker in the Interactive Fiction Database
Seastalker package, documentation, and feelies
Seastalker at Infocom-if.org
January 01, 1970
seastalker, interactive, fiction, game, written, galley, lawrence, published, infocom, 1984, released, simultaneously, several, popular, computer, platforms, time, such, commodore, apple, compatibles, self, booting, disk, game, marketed, introduction, interact. Seastalker is an interactive fiction game written by Stu Galley and Jim Lawrence 1 and published by Infocom in 1984 It was released simultaneously for several popular computer platforms of the time such as the Commodore 64 Apple II and IBM PC compatibles as a self booting disk The game was marketed as an introduction to interactive fiction for preteen players having difficulty rating of Junior It was the only game to ever use this rating which was replaced by the Introductory label given to games such as Wishbringer It is Infocom s twelfth game SeastalkerDeveloper s InfocomPublisher s InfocomDesigner s Stu GalleyJim LawrenceEngineZ machinePlatform s Amiga Amstrad CPC Apple II Atari 8 bit Atari ST Commodore 64 IBM PC TRS 80 Coco TI 99 4A MacintoshReleaseRelease 15 May 1 1984 Release 15 May 22 1984 Release 16 May 15 1985 Release 16 June 3 1985Genre s Adventure Interactive fictionMode s Single player Galley and Lawrence later wrote Moonmist for Infocom 1 Contents 1 Plot 2 Release 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot editThe player s character is a young inventor and marine scientist A research facility called the Aquadome issues a call for help indicating that the undersea structure is being attacked by a sea monster With helpful assistant Tip the player must navigate to the Aquadome in the new untested two person submarine Scimitar and investigate the problem But that isn t all it looks like there may be a saboteur within the Aquadome as well The game has 30 locations 2 Release editThe package includes the following physical items A logbook for the Scimitar including a letter from The President congratulating the player on acceptance into the Discovery Squad Four double sided top secret Infocards containing hints printed in blue ink beneath a pattern of red ink A decoder featuring a small square of red plastic to reveal the hints on the Infocards A nautical chart of Frobton Bay for navigation A Discovery Squad badge stickerReception editComputer Gaming World noted Seastalker s easiness recommending it only as a beginner s text adventure particularly for young kids Exemplifying this are the numerous tips dropped by both in game characters and the game itself directing the player to the included Infocards The review complained of minor inconsistencies like items that could not be interacted with until an in game character told the player of its existence 3 PC Magazine gave Seastalker 10 0 points out of 12 It also noted the game s relatively low difficulty level praised the prose and stated I enjoyed myself immensely 4 References edit a b Hague James The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers Infocom Fact Sheet Section VI Game Statistics Fitzgibbons Patricia October 1984 Micro Reviews Seastalker PDF Computer Gaming World Vol 4 no 5 p 38 Retrieved 21 February 2017 Wiswell Phil 1984 10 30 Trolls and Snarks PC Magazine p 273 Retrieved 25 October 2013 External links editSeastalker in the Interactive Fiction Database Seastalker package documentation and feelies Seastalker at Infocom if org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seastalker amp oldid 1223885489, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,