[net.micro] Adventure Survey RESULTS

djm@ariel.UUCP (06/23/84)

[Ahhh]

The results of the Unofficial Adventure Game Survey are in!! They
are as follows:

**Note: The number in parrentheisis is the average difficulty rating.

Best Adventure Game Manufacturer:
  1. Infocom  (No contest)

  Far behind were:
  2. Adventure International
  3. Avalon Hill

Best Overall Game:
  1. Zork Series (6.3)  Infocom
  2. Enchanter   (7.5)  Infocom
  3. Suspend     (8.5)  Infocom

  Most all of the Infocom games were high up in the standings.
  The only non-Infocom games that were anywhere close to being the best
  were Empire Over Mind by Avalon Hill and the origianl Adventure game
  (collosal cave).

Most Diificult Game:
  1. Suspend            (8.5)  Infocom
  2. Empire over mind   (8.5)  Avalon Hill
  3. Enchanter          (7.5)  Infocom

  Again, the Infocom games were high up in the standings.

Most Humerous Game:
  1. Planetfall   (7.0)  Infocom
  2. Suspend      (8.5)  Infocom
  3. Zork Series  (6.3)  Infocom

  Does it really surprize you that the top three were all Infocom?!!

Most Realistic Game:
  1. Enchanter    (7.5) Infocom
  2. Sorcerer     (7.5) Infocom
  3. Suspend      (8.5) Infocom

  Infocom all the way...

All the above mentioned games are prose type. The Infocom games have the best
parser. Although the graphic games lack the quality of prose games some
do have good graphics. In the survey it was noted that Demon Forge by Boone
has some excellent graphics.

Although I did not ask for the best D&D type adventure game I did get a few
reponses. The games often mentioned were:

   			Wizardry            Sir-Tec(?)
			Knights of Diamond  Sir-Tec(?)
			Temple of Apshi     Epyx
			Dunzhin             Screenplay

I believe all these games have some sort of graphics.

In summary, *NOTHING* comes close to Infocom. They have superior parser and
although lack graphics their descriptions are excellent They let you imagine the
setting. Every Infocom game has its good points and its bad points (mostly good)They are all worth the 40-50 dollars that they cost. Below is a short
description of the object of each Infocom game:

Zork Series:
Like the original Adventure game but better. great for beginners.

Enchanter,Sorcerer Series
Like AD&D. Very Exciting and challenging.

Mystery Series (Deadline and Witness):
A neat twist from the normal type of adventure game. In these games
you try to solve a murder and actually interact with the characters
in the game. (i.e. You can question them, etc...)

Starcross:
A game like Zork but in space.

Suspend:
This game is different in that you must maunever six robots to perform
actions for you. A truly great game.

Planetfall:
A space adventure.


This concludes the survey. All the above opinions were that of people
who responded to my survey. i liked to thank these dozen or so people
for responding.

So long, I have got to run ( to the store to get some Infocom games)

Tom Morgan
ariel!djm