10Rogue

Appeared : 1984
Developer : ???
Editor : N/A
Distributor : N/A
Official Web Site : ??
My opinion : It had all the frills of a true adventure game - minus the graphics.

The start page		List of commands		Symbols used

1984, folks !

Well, well. Unless you are a fanatic of old games, there is little chance that you have anything older than this. Even CD compilations rarely present anything this old - God knows they try, though.

So, what is 10Rogue ? A text-based adventure game. Why was it interesting ? Well, check this out :

automatic random level generator
game character has Experience, Strength, Health, Armor and Hunger attributes
game character can use Magic (via Scrolls & weapons)
game character can use all sorts of weapons, from swords to clubs, crossbows, arcs, staffs, etc ..
26 in-game monsters (with amoebia-level AI - but they follow you if they can!)
hidden doors, secret passages, traps of all kinds (sleep, teleport, restraint, ...)
increasing level difficulty with monster type selection process
magic can be used to enhance weapons and armor permanently
magic spells ressembling AD&D spell books (only suitable for indoor use, though)

Well, that's already a nice list. The only thing missing is the graphics and real-time monster reactions. Game time is based on player actions, so if the player does not move, nothing does. Speed is also rather basic - one square per player movement. So monsters go as fast as the player (unless immobile). Whether they fly, walk or crawl is irrelevant.

So, ladies and gentlemen, this is vintage programming at the height of its power. Just think of the thrills that one could experience with the state-of-the-art 8088 PC of old ! Think of the hours some forlorn individual passed, locked up in a room to produce this gem of inestimable wealth.

Yeah, I hear you. Thank God for 3dfx !

Yet, in 1985, I was happy to have it.