(thing) by admiralh Fri Oct 25 2002 at 6:19:14

The first of the Scott Adams Adventures, this computer game, a text adventure, was written by Scott Adams in 1978, and then published by his company, Adventure International, in 1979.

The object of the game is to acquire 13 treasures and return them to a specific location. The way you control the actions of the game is through a command line. The game can accept two-word noun-verb type commands, such as "GO CAVE" or "GET MUD". The terseness and limited vocabulary of the game could get frustrating, but Adams made a tradeoff. Better parsers required more space, and that would have severly limited the size of the game, given the primitive computers of the time.

The package blurb reads as follows:

You wander through an enchanted world trying to recover the 13 lost treasures. You'll encounter wild animals, magical beings, and many other perils and puzzles. Can you rescue the Blue Ox from the quicksand? Or find your way out of the maze of pits? Happy Adventuring...

This game was one of the first commercial computer games. Now you can play this game for free. There are Java versions on the web, or you can download the game binary and the ScottFree interpreter from the Interactive Fiction Archive. Scott Adams retains the copyright, but allows distribution. He does ask for donations.

Hints

Here are the hints that can help you if you get stuck. I find it interesting that Adams wrote the questions very tersely, much like the text of the game itself, even though it was unnecessary here.

Read the questions until you get to where you are stuck. The numbers underneath refer to the dictionary listed at the end. Match each number with its associated word and you'll find an Adventure clue or solution!

  1. Stuck in the forest?
    • 4 71 40 11 142 56 22 122
  2. More help for above problem.
    • 137 148
  3. Solution to above problem.
    • 80 5
  4. Can not find where to store your treasures?
    • 137 40 57 148 56 40 8
  5. More help for above problem.
    • 138 40 145
  6. Solution to above problem.
    • 106 46 40 57 148 150 102 40 54
  7. Can not catch the fish?
    • 43 44 75 133 96 103 49 40 38
  8. More help for above problem.
    • 22 73 71 86 31
  9. Solution to above problem.
    • 138 40 6 49 77 126 40 73
  10. Can not wake the dragon?
    • 85 63 123 61 56 40 141 72 58 34 109 49 40 62 118 75 13
  11. More help for above problem.
    • 151 71 56 40 90
  12. Solution to above problem.
    • 67
  13. Is it too dark to see?
    • 102 35 81
  14. More help for above problem.
    • 138 40 116 126 82 126 94 20 54
  15. Solution to above problem.
    • 135 40 78 108 116 126 82
  16. Stuck in the pit?
    • 75 139 3
  17. More help with above problem.
    • 87 40 3 95 108 40 42 142
  18. Solution to above problem.
    • 87 114 115 121 66 91
  19. Can not get the ox out of the bog?
    • 75 139 3
  20. More help for above problem.
    • 26 71 98 9 126 100 52 45 138 100 129
  21. Solution to above problem.
    • 87 53 121 66 145 126 9 126 89 105 59
  22. Brick wall a problem?
    • 10 145 32 26
  23. More help for above problem.
    • 147 26 125
  24. Solution to above problem.
    • 65 83 108 8 132 126 147 125 40 19 108 26
  25. Need to cross a chasm?
    • 26 71 50 70 55 16 80 30 26
  26. More help for above problem.
    • 113 75 58 1 26
  27. Solution to above problem.
    • 144
  28. Bear a problem?
    • 112 71 60
  29. More help for above problem.
    • 75 104 24 22 124 28 56 40 90
  30. Solution to above problem.
    • 111 90 61 91
  31. Bear still using up a treasure?
    • 25 13 75 143 47 32 88
  32. More help for above problem.
    • 152 84 117 126 101
  33. Solution to above problem.
    • 2 32 40 92
  34. Bees a problem?
    • 85 16 110 16 56 36 48
  35. More help for above problem.
    • 75 139 99 20 40 8
  36. Solution to above problem.
    • 93 15
  37. Mud dries up a lot?
    • 130 26 79
  38. More help for above problem.
    • 93 77
  39. Solution to above problem.
    • 93 6 49 77
  40. Lava a problem?
    • 90 71 41 30 29 134
  41. More help for above problem.
    • 127 20 40 19
  42. Solution to above problem.
    • 27 7 108 68 127
  43. Dragon still snoring?
    • 138 90 30 22 151
  44. More help for above problem.
    • 147 125 40 140 12 21 71 23 28
  45. Solution to above problem.
    • 67
  46. Bees dying on you?
    • 138 39 97
  47. More help for above problem.
    • 6 40 67 126 138 3
  48. Solution to above problem.
    • 138 40 91 126 107 149 22 81 40 6
  49. Missing some diamond treasures?
    • 40 78
  50. More help for above problem.
    • 17 74 16 12 50 51 33 119
  51. Solution to above problem.
    • 131 78 115
  52. Missing a crown?
    • 76 64 22 37 136
  53. More help for above problem.
    • 26 71 69 40 92
  54. Solution to above problem.
    • 80 18 14 146 128 92 120 61
Dictionary

 1 MAKE              40 THE              79 MOIST            118 THINGS
 2 YELL              41 GOOD             80 GO               119 NOW
 3 MAGIC             42 RIGHT            81 HOLE             120 WAS
 4 WHAT              43 WAIT             82 STEEL            121 WHILE
 5 EAST              44 UNTIL            83 BLADDER          122 FOREST
 6 BOTTLE            45 SO               84 YOUR             123 LATER
 7 LAVA              46 DOWN             85 TRY              124 BETTER
 8 SWAMP             47 MAD              86 VERY             125 UP
 9 OX                48 HIVE             87 SAY              126 AND
 10 THROW            49 OF               88 SOMEONE          127 BRICKS
 11 MAIN             50 NOT              89 SEARCH           128 LEDGE
 12 BUT              51 TOO              90 MIRROR           129 TOOL
 13 DO               52 GROVE            91 RUG              130 KEEP
 14 ROOM             53 BUNYON           92 BEAR             131 RUB
 15 MUD              54 STUMP            93 CARRY            132 GAS
 16 -                55 FAR              94 SOMETHING        133 HAVE
 17 REMEMBER         56 IN               95 WORD             134 CLUES
 18 THRONE           57 CYPRESS          96 GOTTEN           135 LIGHT
 19 WALL             58 CAN              97 TRANSPORTATION   136 BELONG
 20 FROM             59 GROUND           98 PAUL'S           137 CLIMB
 21 THERE            60 HUNGRY           99 PROTECTION       138 USE
 22 A                61 ON               100 HIS             139 NEED
 23 ANOTHER          62 LAST             101 ...             140 DRAGON
 24 FIND             63 AGAIN            102 ENTER           141 ADVENTURE
 25 HOW              64 DOES             103 OUT             142 OBJECT
 26 IT               65 FILL             104 WILL            143 GET
 27 DAM              66 HOLDING          105 ABOVE           144 JUMP
 28 WAY              67 BEES             106 CHOP            145 AX
 29 MANY             68 FIRE             107 OR              146 BY
 30 FOR              69 NEAR             108 WITH            147 BLOW
 31 HANDY            70 THAT             109 ONE             148 TREE
 32 AT               71 IS               110 HELP            149 PUNCH
 33 GREEDY           72 THIS             111 DROP            150 THEN
 34 BE               73 NET              112 HE              151 CLUE
 35 BOTTOMLESS       74 ALADIN           113 REALLY          152 LOSE
 36 BEE              75 YOU              114 AWAY           
 37 CROWN            76 WHERE            115 TWICE          
 38 PITS             77 WATER            116 FLINT          
 39 FASTER           78 LAMP             117 TEMPER

Walkthrough

Only use this if you're absolutely stuck, or for entertainment value after you've finished the game. This walkthough is anonymous, and was downloaded from the Interactive Fiction Archive.

Here you stand in a forest, about to start your adventure. Move along East, and tiptoe past the sleeping dragon. Go East again to the lake. Get the axe >leave the fish for now, since you have no way of getting them yet>, then head North into the quicksand bog. Pick up the blue ox >WOW! A treasure already!>, then say the magic word on the axe. Gee, where did everything go? Well, look at it this way: at least you can "Swim" back to the lake.

Now go South to the bottomless hole. Carefully "Go Hole," and pick up the flint and steel. Go up >easy, it's a long way down!>. Then it's West into the swamp, and West again to the hidden grove. Surprise! There's the axe and the ox, along with another treasure. Get everthing, and go back East. Climb the tree, get the keys, and climb down again. Now, "Chop Tree." Drop the axe >you won't need it again>, get the mud, then, "Go Stump." Once inside the stump, drop the mud, ox and fruit. Go down to the root chamber, pick up the rubies, then go up and drop them off. Easy, isn't it?

Okay, time for more treasures. Get the lamp and rub it twice. Each time you rub the lamp, a genie appears and leaves a treasure. Just make sure you don't rub it more than two times, or the genie will come out and *TAKE AWAY* a treasure! >Can't win the game that way!> Now, go down into the root chamber, and "Go Hole." Open the door and drop the keys. Light the lamp >it's dark up ahead>, and "Go Hall." Then continue down to the cavern. From the cavern, trek South and pick up the bladder. Now it's time for a return trip, so move along North, then up until you're out of the stump and back in the swamp again >by the way, any time the chiggers chomp on you, just get the mud, then drop it again. Also, "Unlight Lamp" when you get back to the root chamber...energy conservation helps!>. "Get Gas," then "Go Stump."

Now head back down to the cavern >remember to light the lamp before going into the hallway!>, then go South and up. Drop the bladder and "Ignite Gas." *BOOOOM!* You just blew a hole in the bricked-up window. "Go Hole," then jump >don't worry, you can make it to the other side safely>. Ummmm, hello, bear! Well, he doesn't look too mean, but it's better not to take any chances, so "Yell." As the startled bear falls down towards the bottom of the chasm, pick up the magic mirror >carefully, it's *VERY* fragile!>, then "Go Throne." Grab the crown and go West to the ledge. Jump over again, then West. Pick up the fire bricks on your way out >heavy stuff, but you'll be needing them soon>, and go down and North. After that, make your way up again to the treasure room in the stump.

Drop off *ONLY* the crown. *DO NOT* drop the mirror! Okay, now get the bottle of water, and go down again. This time, drop the flint just before you go into the hallway. Go down to the cavern, and from there, down again into the maze of pits. From the "Opposite of Light" sign, go down, West, and down. Pick up the rug, then go down again and you're at the bottom of the chasm. "Build Dam," then drop the remaining bricks >you had a few left over>. "Look Lava," and there's a firestone. It's still pretty hot, so "Pour Water." Now get the stone and the golden net. Hmmmm, but how to get out of here? Well, that sign might help. "Say Away" twice and, voila! you're in the meadow again >ahhh! fresh air!>. Unlight the lamp, then go South >to the swamp> and over to the stump.

Drop the firestone, the rug, and the mirror. Make sure that you drop the rug *BEFORE* you drop the mirror! >Otherwise, seven years of bad luck and you won't be able to finish the game!> Now, get out of the stump, go East to the hole, and North to the lake. "Get Water," then "Get Fish" >can't get them without the net, you see>. Return to the stump, and drop off the fish and the net, in that order. Pick up the mud, and head back down to the cavern. Remember to get the flint and light the lamp before entering the hallway!

Once in the cavern, go North. At this point, you should save the game. Up ahead are the African bees, which you will need to get rid of the dragon. Unfortunately, this part of the game seems to be random, and sometimes the bees will suffocate and die before you can bring them out. I have never found a surefire method for keeping the bees alive, so save the game here and hope you won't have to restore it too many times! >If anyone does find a way to keep the bees alive, please let me know!> Okay, now that the game is saved, go North again. Get the honey, pour out the water, and get the bees. >If the bees sting you, and you find yourself in limbo, either restore your saved game or "Go Up" to return to life in the outdoors.>

Once you have the bees, head back South to the cavern, then all the way back up to the swamp. If the mud hasn't fallen off yet, drop it here before going on >the dragon *HATES* the smell of mud, and will most certainly kill you if you go near her with it -- yes, *HER*!>. All right, now head North and "Drop Bees." The dragon will become annoyed and fly away, leaving behind some precious and rare eggs. Pick up the eggs, then return to the stump. Drop the eggs and the honey, then say "Score."

*** YIPPPPEEEE! ***

You did it!! >Whew! You deserve to take some time out now and relax! But wait...could that be a pirate flag I see on the horizon...?>

Sources:
http://www.ifarchive.org/
http://www.msadams.com
http://www.if-legends.org/~aimemorial/aland.html

I like it! 2 C!s