The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (video game)
The Hitchhiker 's Guide to the Galaxy is a text adventure, the content focuses on the novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. The game was developed by Douglas Adams and Infocom programmer Steve Meretzky. It was released in 1984 for home computers Apple II, Macintosh, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, MSX and the IBM PC. In the computer game, it acted around the 14th game of Infocom.
Action
The game is about the back story of the TV series. It begins with the imminent destruction of Arthur Dent's house and the subsequent destruction of the Earth by the Vogons.
After the player was saved by the Heart of Gold from outer space and found out how to activate the infinite improbability drive, he is hurled through space and time, and at certain times he adopts the role of Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Trillian. ( The question of the actual identity of the player can be answered by the command WHO AM I). Most of the time the game is over the player Arthur Dent.
A built- in the game, virtual version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy explains a number of persons, objects and concepts ( topics ) of the television series.
The command CONSULT GUIDE ABOUT
The objective of the game is to find the legendary lost planet Magrathea.
While the other persons of the game in the heart of the sauna to relax in gold, Arthur has a number of tasks done: he must gather a collection of bizarre tools and four different kinds of fluff before the Heart of Gold comes into the vicinity of the planet Magrathea.
The problem that continues to get ever-growing collection of articles in the handle, can be solved with the help of a funny defined, strange object names " That thing your aunt gave you Which you do not know what it is". This object has two important characteristics: an almost limitless capacity for additional objects, as well as the habit again owned by the player to emerge after it had gone seemingly lost.
If the people of the game finally land on Magrathea, the game ends with the never fulfilled promise of a sequel.
" Feelies "
Infocom always published his games with so-called " Feelies ", small additions such as pipes, sunglasses, etc. were the allusions to the respective game.
In this game, the following " Feelies " were included:
- A Ansteckbutton with the words " Do not Panic! "
- A plastic bag, in a "pocket fluff" was (a small cotton ball )
- A printed statement to the destruction of Arthur Dent's house
- A printed statement to the destruction of the earth ( in Vogonisch )
- An official microscopic space fleet ( an empty plastic bag)
- " Peril Sensitive Sunglasses" ( A pair of sunglasses made of opaque black box)
- How Many Times Has This Happened to You?, A promotional brochure for the fictional Guide " Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
- No tea
Reception
"The Hitchhiker 's Guide to the Galaxy" was a major commercial success; a total of 250,000 copies were sold.
In German game reviews of the 1980s, "The Hitchhiker 's Guide to the Galaxy" called a "must" for every adventure gamer and as a " showpiece " of each Adventure Collection. Particular mention was made of the extraordinary wit and irony of the plot.
"The Hitchhiker 's Guide to the Galaxy" was also addressed in studies on computer game history and theory with. Nelson ( 2001) assessed the Adventure one hand as attractive, but on the other hand criticized the insufficient in his view, depth of play ( " solidly mediocre, charming but insubstantial "). Maher ( 2006) also came to a differentiated Rating: Positive are the precise language of great humor and provocative disregard of the typical gameplays of Interactive Fiction ( "the game is required playing even today for its sharp writing, great good humor, and general subversion of sacred IF principals "). On the negative side, however, it considers that a large number of illogical puzzles and play the part, nachvollziehbarern action sequences to book.