Infocom: Difference between revisions

From WE Computers Museum
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   company_name  = Infocom |
   company_name  = Infocom |
   company_logo  = [[File:Infocom logo.png|300px]]|
   company_logo  = [[File:Infocom logo.png|300px]]|
   company_type  = Subsidiary of [[Activision]]|
   company_type  = Former subsidiary of [[Activision]]|
   foundation    = June 22, 1979 (closed on May 5, 1989)|
   foundation    = June 22, 1979 (closed on May 5, 1989)|
   location      = Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.|
   location      = Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.|
   key_people    = [[Tim Anderson]], founder<br />[[Joel Berez]], founder<br />[[Marc Blank]], founder<br />[[Mike Broos]], founder<br />[[Scott Cutler]], founder<br />[[Stu Galley]], founder<br />[[Dave Lebling]], founder<br />[[J. C. R. Licklider]], founder<br />[[Chris Reeve]], founder<br />[[Al Vezza]], founder|
   key_people    = [[Tim Anderson]], founder<br />[[Joel Berez]], founder<br />[[Marc Blank]], founder<br />[[Mike Broos]], founder<br />[[Scott Cutler]], founder<br />[[Stu Galley]], founder<br />[[Dave Lebling]], founder<br />[[J. C. R. Licklider]], founder<br />[[Chris Reeve]], founder<br />[[Al Vezza]], founder|
   num_employees  = not disclosed |
   num_employees  = Not disclosed|
   industry      = Video games |
  products      = [[Zork|''Zork'' series]]|
   industry      = Video games|
   homepage      = N/A|
   homepage      = N/A|
}}
}}
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It was founded to commercially produce ports of ''[[Zork (video game)|Zork]]'' for home [[computer]]s of the time. Because of its size, ''Zork'' was split into three parts.
It was founded to commercially produce ports of ''[[Zork (video game)|Zork]]'' for home [[computer]]s of the time. Because of its size, ''Zork'' was split into three parts.


It created a scripting language known as ZIL to quickly port the games to multiple systems. This language was extended and used for their other text adventure games until the company's closure.
A scripting language known as ZIL, or [[Z-code]] was created to quickly port the games to multiple systems. The ZIL scripts were executed by an interpreter known as [[Z-code|Z-machine]]. This language was extended and used for their other text adventure games until the company's closure.


==Acquisition by Activision and closure==
==Acquisition by Activision and closure==
[[Activision]] acquired Infocom on June 13, [[1986]]. Infocom was closed on May 5, [[1989]].
[[Activision]] acquired Infocom on June 13, [[1986]]. Infocom was closed on May 5, [[1989]].


==Retail Infocom games owned by WEC Museum==
==Infocom games==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
!| Title
!| Title
!| Release
!| Release
!| System
!| System
!| Added to museum
!| Notes
!| Notes
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork I]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork I]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1980
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1980
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 16]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Commodore 128]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[PC-9000 series|PC-9800]], [[PC-8000 series|PC-8000]], [[PlayStation (video game console)|PlayStation]], [[Plus/4]], [[Tatung Einstein]], [[TRS-80]], [[TRS-80 Color Computer|TRS-80 CoCo]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork II]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork II]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1981
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1981
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 16]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Commodore 128]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[PC-8000 series|PC-8000]], [[PlayStation (video game console)|PlayStation]], [[Plus/4]], [[Tatung Einstein]], [[TRS-80]], [[TRS-80 Color Computer|TRS-80 CoCo]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork III]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1982
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Deadline]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Deadline]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1982
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1982
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[Osborne 1]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Starcross]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Starcross]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1982
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1982
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[Plus/4]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Suspended: A Cryogenic Nightmare]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork III]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1982
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 16]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[PC-8000 series|PC-8000]], [[PlayStation (video game console)|PlayStation]], [[Plus/4]], [[Tatung Einstein]], [[TRS-80]], [[TRS-80 Color Computer|TRS-80 CoCo]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[The Witness]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Enchanter]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[APC]], [[Apple II]], [[Apricot PC]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[CP/M]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Kaypro II]], [[Mac OS]], [[Osborne 1]], [[PC-9801]], [[Rainbow 100]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Infidel]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Infidel]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Planetfall]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Planetfall]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[APC]], [[Apple II]], [[Apricot PC]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[CP/M]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Kaypro II]], [[Mac OS]], [[Osborne 1]], [[PC-9800 series|PC-9801]], [[Rainbow 100]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Spellbreaker]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Suspended: A Cryogenic Nightmare]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[Plus/4]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Enchanter]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[The Witness]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Seastalker]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1984
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Cutthroats]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1984
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Sorcerer]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (video game)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1984
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1984
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Apricot PC]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Flash|Browser]], [[Commodore 64]], [[CP/M]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Kaypro II]], [[Mac OS]], [[Osborne 1]], [[QX-10]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe (video game)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Sorcerer]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1984
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1984
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[APC]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Kaypro II]], [[Mac OS]], [[Osborne 1]], [[RT-11]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Suspect]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Suspect]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1984
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1984
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Kaypro II]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Ballyhoo]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Ballyhoo]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1985
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 128]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[A Mind Forever Voyaging]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1985
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[TRS-80 Color Computer|TRS-80 CoCo]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Wishbringer]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1985
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 128]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Hollywood Hijinx]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1986
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Leather Goddesses of Phobos]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1986
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1986
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Moonmist]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Moonmist]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1986
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1986
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]], [[TI-99|TI-99/A]], [[TRS-80]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Border Zone]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Apple II]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Bureaucracy (video game)|Bureaucracy]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 128]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[The Lurking Horror]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[The Lurking Horror]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Amstrad PCW]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Commodore 128]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Beyond Zork]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 128]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Plundered Hearts]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork I|Mini Zork I: The Great Underground Empire]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Commodore 64]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | A shrunken ''[[Zork I]]'' designed to fit on a [[compact cassette|cassette tape]].  Sold commercially and included for free in the issue #67 of ''[[Zzap!64]]'' magazine.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Stationfall]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Stationfall]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Beyond Zork]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1988
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Commodore 64]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork Zero]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork Zero]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1988
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1988
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | August 1, 2023
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included on ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''.
|-
|}
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur]]''
 
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1989
==Digital Infocom games owned by WEC Museum==
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
!| Title
!| Release
!| System
!| Added to museum
!| Notes
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork I]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[James Clavell's Shōgun]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1980
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1989
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Windows]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | December 29, 2012
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included in ''[[The Zork Anthology]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork II]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Journey]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1981
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1989
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Windows]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | December 29, 2012
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" |  
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included in ''[[The Zork Anthology]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork III]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[The Lost Treasures of Infocom]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1982
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1991
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Windows]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[DOS]], [[iOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | December 29, 2012
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Includes ''[[Ballyhoo]]'', ''[[Beyond Zork]]'', ''[[Deadline]]'', ''[[Enchanter]]'', ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (video game)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'', ''[[Infidel]]'', ''[[The Lurking Horror]]'', ''[[Moonmist]]'', ''[[Planetfall]]'', ''[[Sorcerer]]'', ''[[Spellbreaker]]'', ''[[Suspect]]'', ''[[Starcross]]'', ''[[Stationfall]]'', ''[[Suspended: A Cryogenic Nightmare]]'', ''[[The Witness]]'', ''[[Zork I]]'', ''[[Zork II]]'', ''[[Zork III]]'', and ''[[Zork Zero]]''.
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included in ''[[The Zork Anthology]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Planetfall]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[The Zork Anthology]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1983
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1994
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Windows]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]], [[Mac OS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | December 29, 2012
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Includes ''[[Beyond Zork]]'', ''[[Planetfall]]'', ''[[Zork I]]'', ''[[Zork II]]'', and ''[[Zork III]]''.
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included in ''[[The Zork Anthology]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Beyond Zork]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork: The Undiscovered Underground]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1987
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1997
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Windows]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | December 29, 2012
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Created by Infocom co-founder Marc Blank, as well as Michael Berlyn and G. Kevin Wilson for [[Activision]] under the Infocom label.
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included in ''[[The Zork Anthology]]''.
|-
|-
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Zork Zero]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | ''[[Milliways]]''
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 1988
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | 2008
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[Windows]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | [[DOS]]
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | December 29, 2012
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Prototype of a ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (video game)|Hitchhiker's Guide]]'' sequel developed in [[1988]].
| style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; text-align:center" | Included in ''[[The Zork Anthology]]''.
|}
|}


[[Category: Companies and organizations]]
[[Category: Companies and organizations based in the United States of America]]
[[Category: Companies and organizations based in the United States of America]]
[[Category: Companies and organizations closed in 1989]]
[[Category: Companies and organizations formed in 1986]]
[[Category: Companies and organizations formed in 1986]]
[[Category: Companies and organizations closed in 1989]]
[[Category: Computer and console manufacturers]]
[[Category: Computer and console manufacturers]]
[[Category: Mergers and acquisitions in 1986]]
[[Category: Mergers and acquisitions in 1986]]
[[Category: Video game publishers]]
[[Category: Video game publishers]]
[[Category: Video game developers]]
[[Category: Video game developers]]

Latest revision as of 14:31, 7 November 2024

Infocom logo.png
Infocom
Type Former subsidiary of Activision
Founded June 22, 1979 (closed on May 5, 1989)
Headquarters Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Key people Tim Anderson, founder
Joel Berez, founder
Marc Blank, founder
Mike Broos, founder
Scott Cutler, founder
Stu Galley, founder
Dave Lebling, founder
J. C. R. Licklider, founder
Chris Reeve, founder
Al Vezza, founder
Industry Video games
Products Zork series
Number of people Not disclosed
Website N/A

Infocom was an American video game developer and publisher.

Foundation

Infocom was founded on June 22, 1979 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students and staff including Tim Anderson, Joel Berez, Marc Blank, Mike Broos, Scott Cutler, Stu Galley, Dave Lebling, J. C. R. Licklider, Chris Reeve, and Al Vezza.

It was founded to commercially produce ports of Zork for home computers of the time. Because of its size, Zork was split into three parts.

A scripting language known as ZIL, or Z-code was created to quickly port the games to multiple systems. The ZIL scripts were executed by an interpreter known as Z-machine. This language was extended and used for their other text adventure games until the company's closure.

Acquisition by Activision and closure

Activision acquired Infocom on June 13, 1986. Infocom was closed on May 5, 1989.

Infocom games

Title Release System Notes
Zork I 1980 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 16, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, DOS, iOS, Mac OS, PC-9800, PC-8000, PlayStation, Plus/4, Tatung Einstein, TRS-80, TRS-80 CoCo
Zork II 1981 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 16, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, DOS, iOS, Mac OS, PC-8000, PlayStation, Plus/4, Tatung Einstein, TRS-80, TRS-80 CoCo
Deadline 1982 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, iOS, Mac OS, Osborne 1, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Starcross 1982 Amiga, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Plus/4, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Zork III 1982 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 16, Commodore 64, DOS, iOS, Mac OS, PC-8000, PlayStation, Plus/4, Tatung Einstein, TRS-80, TRS-80 CoCo
Enchanter 1983 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, APC, Apple II, Apricot PC, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, CP/M, DOS, iOS, Kaypro II, Mac OS, Osborne 1, PC-9801, Rainbow 100, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Infidel 1983 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, iOS, Mac OS, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Planetfall 1983 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, APC, Apple II, Apricot PC, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, CP/M, DOS, iOS, Kaypro II, Mac OS, Osborne 1, PC-9801, Rainbow 100, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Spellbreaker 1983 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac OS
Suspended: A Cryogenic Nightmare 1983 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, iOS, Mac OS, Plus/4, TI-99/A, TRS-80
The Witness 1983 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, iOS, Mac OS, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Seastalker 1984 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, iOS, Mac OS, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Cutthroats 1984 Amiga, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac OS, TI-99/A, TRS-80
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 1984 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Apricot PC, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Browser, Commodore 64, CP/M, DOS, iOS, Kaypro II, Mac OS, Osborne 1, QX-10, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Sorcerer 1984 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, APC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, iOS, Kaypro II, Mac OS, Osborne 1, RT-11, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Suspect 1984 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, iOS, Kaypro II, Mac OS
Ballyhoo 1985 Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 128, DOS, Mac OS
A Mind Forever Voyaging 1985 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, TRS-80 CoCo
Wishbringer 1985 Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 128, DOS, Mac OS
Hollywood Hijinx 1986 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac OS, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Leather Goddesses of Phobos 1986 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac OS, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Moonmist 1986 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, iOS, Mac OS, TI-99/A, TRS-80
Border Zone 1987 Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac OS
Bureaucracy 1987 Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 128, DOS, Mac OS
The Lurking Horror 1987 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, DOS, Mac OS
Beyond Zork 1987 Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 128, DOS, iOS, Mac OS
Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It 1987 Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac OS
Plundered Hearts 1987 Amiga, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac OS
Mini Zork I: The Great Underground Empire 1987 Commodore 64 A shrunken Zork I designed to fit on a cassette tape. Sold commercially and included for free in the issue #67 of Zzap!64 magazine.
Stationfall 1987 Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, DOS, iOS, Mac OS
Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels 1988 Amiga, Apple II, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac OS
Zork Zero 1988 Amiga, Apple II, DOS, iOS, Mac OS
Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur 1989 Amiga, Apple II, DOS, Mac OS
James Clavell's Shōgun 1989 Amiga, Apple II, DOS, Mac OS
Journey 1989 Amiga, Apple II, DOS, Mac OS
The Lost Treasures of Infocom 1991 Amiga, Apple II, DOS, iOS, Mac OS Includes Ballyhoo, Beyond Zork, Deadline, Enchanter, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Infidel, The Lurking Horror, Moonmist, Planetfall, Sorcerer, Spellbreaker, Suspect, Starcross, Stationfall, Suspended: A Cryogenic Nightmare, The Witness, Zork I, Zork II, Zork III, and Zork Zero.
The Zork Anthology 1994 DOS, Mac OS Includes Beyond Zork, Planetfall, Zork I, Zork II, and Zork III.
Zork: The Undiscovered Underground 1997 DOS Created by Infocom co-founder Marc Blank, as well as Michael Berlyn and G. Kevin Wilson for Activision under the Infocom label.
Milliways 2008 DOS Prototype of a Hitchhiker's Guide sequel developed in 1988.
Retrieved from "https://wecmuseum.org/index.php?title=Infocom&oldid=25208"