Re: Apple II Z-Code Interpreter

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Tail Kinker writes ...
> 
> Anyone know of a good one?  I can't get InfoComPro to work...

     A package with a name like "InfocomPro" does sound like an Infocom
interpreter; but, it isn't. InfocomPro includes two programs. One, Infosnarf,
is for reading and converting a game's data file to a bin file on a ProDOS
disk. The other, Infoload, is used with an interpreter to play the game.

     The interpreter is something you get from an Infocom game disk. It must
be the "B" version interpreter. This interpreter was used around 1984. It is
included on five 1984 releases: Sorceror, Suspect, HHGTTG, Seastalker,
Cutthroats, and, possibly, some others. (Later issues of these games probably
will use a different interpreter.)


     If your Apple II is a IIgs, there are three interpreters you can use to
play just about all of the Infocom adventures. Two are Big Red interpreters
originally included with The Lost Treasures of Infocom. Another is the IIgs
version of "Zip" done by Matt Ackeret.

     The Big Red interpreters are Lost1.sys16 and Lost2.sys16. Lost1' has
more features (lets you use different fonts and remembers the current
scroll-back buffer); but, it works for just .z3 games. Lost2' is basically
plain Text; but, it works for .z3 and .z5 games. Both interpreters are
standard IIgs applications which launch from the Finder.

     Zip is said to work for .z3 and .z5 games and looks something like the
Big Red Lost2 interpreter. Zip is still under development and has a few rough
edges. For one thing, it is a shell application which needs to be run under
Orca-- e.g. you can start ORCA.sys16 from ORCA/M and launch Zip. You can find
Zip for IIgs on the Interactive Fiction archive as an .sea file at ...

ftp://ftp.gmd.de/if-archive/interpreters-infocom-zcode/zip/ .


     At present, the most versatile Apple II interpreter for Infocom games is
Big Red's Lost2.sys16. It can use all of the game data files from Lost
Treasures I and II (except Zork Zero) as well as the ones for Leather
Goddesses' and Zork Undiscovered Underground. It can also be used to play
many other non-Infocom adventures available in .z3 and .z5 form.

     For more about Infocom and Infocom-style games see the series of
articles in GS WorldView starting with the August 1999 issue at ...

http://www.grin.net/~cturley/gsezine/GS.WorldView/v1999/Aug/ .

Click on "InfocomTypeGames.htm" .

     You can find many games and the Lost2' interpreter (LOST2SYS16.SHK) on
the Ground archive at ...

ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/apple16/Games/InfocomTypeGames/



Rubywand