Haunted House

The game

'Haunted House' is a text adventure in the classic style for the 48K ZX Spectrum. It is an expanded version of the game of the same name that was presented as a type-in program in "Write your own adventure programs" published by Usborne in 1983. This version — which marks 40 years since that publication — features graphics for selected locations, music, 42-column text, save and load to tape routines, expanded descriptions and several additional puzzles.

The story

In an old book you come across a description of '...a weird house standing on the edge of a sheer cliff. Its strange twisted turrets loom out of an always gloomy sky. No wall seems straight, no corner a right angle. People say the richest man in the world spent his last days there. Strangely, no-one ever saw his body...' The house still stands after all these years. Being a rather nefarious type, the possibility that there remain valuables to plunder within those walls intrigues you. Sure, the book goes on to hint at otherworldly pacts and a curse on those who linger there after midnight, but that is just poppycock, right?  So, late one night, you find yourself skulking by the gate...

How to play

The game's parser understands simple ACTION and ACTION OBJECT commands. For example, GO NORTH (or just N) will take you north as long as there is an exit in that direction at your current location. TAKE (or GET) AMULET will make you pick up an amulet if there is one lying around. INVENTORY (or indeed just I) will list all the items you are currently carrying or wearing. LOOK will redescribe the current location. HELP will list the more common actions known by the game. There are clues to be found concerning other actions.

Tips

• Make a map. Yes, with a pencil and paper. It's fun.
• All objects that you can interact with are printed in capitals.
• EXAMINE everything.

Downloads

The download package contains the game in both .tap and .wav format. If you don't have a physical Spectrum computer, you can use the .tap file to play the game using one of numerous free emulators available online. If you do have one, you can play the .wav file and save the audio to a cassette tape. For those of you who like things to make and do, there is also a cassette inlay that you can print out.

Credits

• Programming and graphics: Philip Perrin 2023
• Original concept and design: Jenny Tyler and Les Howarth 1983
• Text compression routine: F. Boulton 1984
• Graphics compression with zxsc v3e: Tom Dalby 2018/2020
• Written and compiled using Boriel's ZX BASIC v1.16.4 and associated library routines
• Music played with the QChan engine by Shiru
• Additional routines originally by Jonathan Cauldwell, Andrew Hewson and ChibiAkumas

Usborne have granted permission for programs in their 1980s computer books to be adapted. In accordance with their conditions, this adaptation of the original game listed in "Write your own adventure programs" (Usborne, 1983) is here made freely available. For more details, see: https://usborne.com/gb/books/computer-and-coding-books.