Battling through the various dimensions the Balrog arrives to
ponder on the marvels of the worlds of adventure.
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News
Topologika Special
Last months Topologika offer is still open - so you can
buy any three Topologika games for only £27!
The games available are - Acheton (AA29 - 69%), Avon (AA51
- 87%), Monster of Murdac (AA11 - 75%), Countdown to Doom (AA26 - 59%),
Return to Doom (AA35 - 70%), Last Days of Doom (AA62 - 82%), Giant Killer, Kingdom
of Hamil, Philosophers Quest (AA26 - 58%) and Hezarin.
To take advantage of the offer, just send Topologika a cheque
for £27. Their address is PO Box 39, Stilton, Peterborough
PE7 3RL. Offer closes January 1st.
PAW Pictures
Gilsoft have now finally released a program that lets you write
graphic adventures. The new upgrade allows any adventure you have
written, which has about 2.5K of TPA space available, to have
disc based graphics added. The package allows anything from 2
to 20 lines of the screen to be reserved for graphics, the remainder
is then turned into a text window for the game. The package is
supplied as three extra programs. It is available ONLY as an upgrade
by direct mail from Gilsoft. At £5.99 + 50p p&p it's
an excellent addition to the PAW authors library. For more details
write to Gilsoft at 2 Park Crescent, Barry, South Glamorgan, CF6
8HD or telephone them on (0446) 732765.
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Reviews
Over the past few months the Balg's postbag has overflowed
with new home-brew adventures written by various readers. Some
of the games are of poor quality, some are good and there is just
no way that the Balg has the space or the time to give all of
them full reviews. However, so that you do not miss out on any
adventures, the Balg has decided to write mini-reviews on each
game - these reviews, though short, pull no punches...
City for Ransom
£1.99 tape, £4.50 disc
John Packham, 60 Hightown Towers, Warburton Road, Southampton,
Hants, SO2 6HH.
Somewhere in London is an atom bomb and terrorists are holding
the city for a ransom of five million pounds. The Prime Minister
has decided not to give in to the terrorists demands but has instead
sent you to find and defuse the bomb (it's a dirty job, but somebody's
got to do it!) - the bomb will detonate in twelve hours, taking
most of London with it if you don't succeed...
GACed by the same author as 'Panic Beneath the Sea' (reviewed
AA51), City is a better game, the scenario still isn't very original although
the actual game is well written. As with most GAC games the graphics aren't
anything to rave about, but as always they can be switched off if you want.
City is a good logical adventure which should appeal to most people.
The Balgs version of City for Ransom had some minor bugs but John
assures me that they have all been rectified. Overall, it's well
worth the asking price of £2 but it doesn't have any major
selling points.
Videoworld
£2 tape only
Graham Perry, 19 Nile Street, Norwich, NR2 4JU.
Imagine sitting in front of your television watching the Great
Escape for the umpteenth time. Slowly you start to nod off and
before you know it you're asleep. Suddenly you're awoken by shouting
"Stand-by, studio! Two minutes! Make-up, can you do something
about our friend?"
A powder puff is dabbed on your forehead and people are shouting
on all sides. By a quirk of fate and not to mention a devious
imagination, you have become an active participant in a new production...
Videoworld. You are the star of the show...
After a few minutes exploring you will find that you are on the
set of a POW compound complete with perimeter fence, tunnels,
German guards and, of course, a Steve McQueen look-alike!
Videoworld is the oldest, yet most professional produced game
on offer - it was originally released way back in 1987 and Graham
has decided to sell it again. The game is text-only and was written
on the Quill. It comes in two parts - the first is mostly set
in the POW camp, whilst the second is set on the London Underground.
In both parts you must escape.
For some reason the Pilgrim never reviewed Videoworld when it
was first released which is a shame as it is actually quite good.
The whole game is played as a scripted film and this effect is
well implemented. Whilst exploring Videoworld you will visit Grange
Hill, see the royal coronation, go to the Bank of England and
meet, amongst others a Triffid, John Cole (the TV reporter) and
Sooty and Sweep!
The game is humorous and well written and certainly worth buying
- don't be put off by the age!
ZED
£2 tape only
Paul Robson, 23 Park Lane, Middlesbrough, TS1 3LQ.
You're settling down to play your favourite game when a poor quality
pirate program appears which you can't get rid of. This is the
threat posed by Madstar Satellite Industries, owned by Dr. Kryptic.
You take the part of 'The Controller' of ISIS, the Institute for
the Suppression of Inferior Software. You must save the world
by destroying the transmitter responsible for this threat. Confused?
So was the Balrog! What the transmitter has to do with my CPC
and how the pirate program got on the machine I have no idea about!
To help you on your quest you have a droid called ZED (Zetetic
Enumerative Droid) which is controlled by a ZIP (Zetetic Instruction
Parser unit). By using this ZIP you can swap control between yourself
and ZED. This makes for some very clever puzzles where you swap
between two totally different characters - a little like the robots
in Infocoms 'Suspended'.
The scenario put the Balg straight off the game but I gave ZED
a chance and was pleasantly surprised - the dual character control
is an original idea (it has only been used once before on a CPC
game) and the game area is large - over 100 locations. Added to
all this is a cunning 3D maze and you've got a difficult but addictive
adventure. There are even two versions to the game depending if
you use the male or the female toilet near the start (bit of a
rip off from Leather Goddesses methinks!)
The only problem is that the game may be too difficult - some
of the clues it gives for a code (which is needed to turn off
the above mentioned transmitter) are very obtuse and even misleading.
All in all a good game to buy if you like difficult games, otherwise
steer clear.
Ghost House
£2.99 tape, £4.99 disc
Andrew Price, Prisoft, 48 Lockington Crescent, Dunstable, Beds.
LU5 4SU. Tel: (0582) 609533
While glancing through a local newspaper, you read a small article
detailing the history of an old haunted house which lies at the
top of Cemetery Hill. You are a ghost hunter (buster?) and decide
to investigate.
The object of the game is to search the grounds and inside the
house for the four parts of a seal to stopper a genies lamp.
Ghost House is GACed with some (poor) graphics. It's well written
and would be a good game if it were not due to lack of playtesting
- there are spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and various
bugs. The examine command very rarely gives a response while 'drop'
isn't even recognised! The puzzles aren't too hot either and Andrew
has fallen into a fairly common trap - he has described all his
locations as if they have just been visited for the first time.
For example, in the moonlit garden, you hear a 'rustling, but
it is only a black cat which scuttles into the undergrowth' each
time you enter the location! Another example is a location where
it describes 'your torchlight illuminating the area' even if the
torch is switched off or not even carried!
The Balg sees many games that are ruined by lack of proper playtesting
and Ghost House is yet another example...
| Atmosphere
| Interaction
| Challenge
| Overall
|
| City for Ransom | 60
| 59 |
62 | 62
|
| Videoworld | 72
| 63 |
62 | 70
|
| ZED | 44
| 69 |
75 | 64
|
| Ghost House | 32
| 30 |
41 | 28
|
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Balrog Post
'...Why don't you do a section on how to get started
on home-brew adventure games, including the best writing systems
to your knowledge, legal advice and even how to go about packaging,
writing instructions and the best places to get reviews?...'
Gwynn Hopkins, Llandre.
Nice idea Gwynn, but unfortunately I just don't have the space
in these illustrious pages - however the magazine Adventure Coder
should answer all your questions. For more information write to
the editor
Chris Hester at 3 West Lane, Baildon, Near Shipley, West Yorkshire,
BD17 5HD.
'...I have recently completed Heavy on the Magick, and have searched
everywhere for the next game. Can you tell me if Gargoyle Games
did a sequel to Heavy on the Magick, I have written to them but
to date have had no reply...'
E. Heather, Raddyke.
Although three follow-up games were promised (Collodon's Pile,
Tombs of Taro and Paradise Reglossed) they never appeared - in
fact Heavy on the Magick was Gargoyle's last game...
'...I am currently writing my first adventure on GAC. My problem
is that I'm not sure about the ratio of puzzles to rooms and objects
to rooms. Can you help?
Also are there any things which are considered nearly essential
in adventures now?...'
David Mackie, Leeds.
If the Balg knew how to write a best seller - he would do so and
have made loadsagold! But seriously, the ratio is entirely up
to you - although be careful not to go to extremes - large adventures
with no puzzles are very boring (a recent adventure on the Spectrum
had over a million locations - but little action!) whereas small
adventures with many puzzles some people enjoy. It's all up to
individual tastes - some people like solving puzzles, others exploring...
Ask your friends for their opinions and remember to get the game
playtested! As to essential features in adventures... Mmmm...
That's a toughy! - It used to be a lamp and sword, then there
just had to be a maze in the game - nowadays the trend seems to
be that a game should feature many interactive characters - which,
although not essential, can, if programmed well, add a lot to
the game. Of course it's up to you what you put in the game but
try to look at the features which make a good game (ie good parser,
atmospheric descriptions etc.) Good luck with your game David,
and who knows, you may be the Level 9 of the future!
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Bard's Tale Club
D Kirkwood is another intrepid adventurer offering his
knowledge of the Bards Tale.
11 Redvers Street, Ardwick, Manchester M11 3WU.
Nick Taylor has joined the club - what his 94th level Monks and
Archmages can't sort out, no-one can!
20 Lightborne Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 5EA
'...I would like to know where the secret stairs are on Level
4 of Mangars Tower...'
Mark Foster, 9 Park View Terrace, Llanelli, Dyfed, South Wales.
Kenneth Cheng is another reader who want to join the Bards Tale
club.
1 Roseworth Close, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1SW.
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Clue Sniffing with the Balrog
Thanks for this months heady aroma of clues go to Angela
Allum, Adrian
Forbes, Simon Avery, Simon Netherwood, Gareth Jones, David Page,
Stuart Whyte and Paul & Timothy Stitt.
Special thanks to Dave Harvard for the map of Sorceror.
Avon
If you are put in jail a second time you get a tone-deaf
jailer. You have to arrange your order of actions.
In June, find the skull before going to see the witches.
While wearing the asses head, do something asses do.
Base
On the catwalk, wait a turn before going south. Dont
play the cassette in the governors stereo, play it in the cars
one. Read the book, and collect the card, use this to open the
steel door with the slot - just put it in the slot. Search the
rubbish in the attic to find the broom handle.
Boggit
In the Goblins Dungeon:- Examine torch, insert battery.
The battery will be inserted into the He-man sword found in the
troll's cauldron.
Classic Adventure
To get rid of the snake, find and get the cage, now get
the bird (you must NOT have the black rod when you collect the
bird) then go to snake and drop bird.
To dispense with the troll - pay him a toll the first time and
then feed the bear, unlock the bear with the keys and get the
bear, go back to the bridge and throw (!) the bear at the troll.
Mindshadow
Cut the anchor chain with the meat cleaver to stop the
boat.
Say the password to the store keeper.
Search the sleeping man.
Duck as soon as you go into room 202.
Souls Of Darkon
At start, Pull metal.
Examine altar. Examine stone. Push carving. Turn plaque.
Give axe to woodsman.
Climb the tree.
Smashed
Search pit, take money and find Cleancrazy, take book
and when asked for a donation 'donate money'.
To get the key to the medical stores, get cat (from VIP tent)
and take to chopper, get in, switch on ignition and pull joystick
- the cat will be sick and bring up the key (Yuk!)
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Help!
If you're stuck in an adventure and can't find anyone
at all to come to your aid then write to the Balrog...
David Page is stuck in Mindshadow - Has the man in the shower
or the woman hat keeper got any significance?
Lee Graham needs help in the Hobbit - 'I have the golden key,
rope and sword but I am now stuck - I can't get past the waterfall
or portcullis.'
Simon Avery is bogged down with problems in the Boggit - How do
you cross the stream, get out of the goblins dungeon and escape
the elves hall?
Patrick Dyson is stuck in Lancelot - he has found four knights
but he cannot get past the giant to get the key.
Fred Collins is still stuck in Slaine - does anyone know how to
kill the water demon?
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Lords & Ladies of Adventure
Six more valiant adventurers to answer your every SSAE.
Don't forget to phone only during sociable hours.
Base, Hollywood Hijinx, Infidel, Island, Test, Wishbringer &
help for PAW programmers.
Ken Bond, 17 Adel Park Gardens, Adel, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS16
8BN.
Tel: (0532) 672278.
Cricket Crazy, Lifeterm, Smashed, Mindshadow & Rigel's Revenge.
Paul Daykin, 93 Hummersknott Avenue, Darlington, Co. Durham DL3
8RR
Adventure Quest, Dungeon Adventure, Gnome Ranger, Imagination,
Kobyashi Naru, Jewels of Babylon, Lancelot, Lords of Time, Mystery
Indus Valley, Price of Magik, Redmoon, Return to Eden, Shadows
of Mordor, Snowball, Souls of Darkon & Venom.
Wendy Watters, 82 Booth Road, Stacksteads, Bacup, Lancashire OL13
OSF.
Tel: (0706) 877518
Classic Adventure, Fantasia Diamond, Hobbit, Hollywood Hijinx,
Inca Curse, Mountains of Ket, Planet of Death & Sorceror.
Dave Havard, 21 Belvoir Close, Fareham, Hants PO16 OPJ.
Forest at World's End, Jewels of Babylon & Seabase Delta.
James Mackle, 45 Kenure Park, Rush, Co Dublin, Ireland.
Big Sleaze, Boggit, Forest at World's End, Hitchhiker's Guide,
Hobbit, Jewels of Babylon, Lurking Horror, Mindfighter, Never
Ending Story, Rigel's Revenge, Scapeghost & Very Big Cave
Adventure.
Simon Netherwood, 36 Toothill Bank, Rastric, Brighouse, West Yorkshire
HD6 3EZ. Tel: (0484) 719326
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Programming with the Balrog
Aron Watson from New Zealand has a great tip for PAW
users trying to get that little bit extra out of their adventure
creator...
When creating a large adventure on the PAW, sooner or later you
will run out of message space. That's after using 255 messages
and 195 free system messages, giving you a total of 450 messages.
But, when implementing half a dozen good characters, they could
take up 255 messages rather fast, and that's excluding any other
game messages.
The routine below allows you to use location text as messages.
Note: TEST should be a verb in the vocabulary.
/PRO 0
TEST _ COPYFF 38 10 ; Copies players loc. into flag 10
GOTO 1 ; Goto message
DESC ; Displays message
/PRO 1
_ _ AT 1
COPYFF 10 38 ; Copies flag 10 to players flag 38
DONE
Location 1 = "Change to your own message!"
So, if you had an adventure with 100 locations and used the spare
locations as messages, this would give you a total of 602 messages!