A downloadable game

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.

More information

Status	Released
Author	bwganblack
Genre	Interactive Fiction, Adventure
Tags	8-Bit, chiptune, Gothic, Halloween, Pixel Art, Retro, Singleplayer, Spooky, ZX Spectrum

Download

hauntedv1.0.zip 846 kB

Comments

flopping@gmail.com4 days ago

Hi, I’m contacting you because I want to make a homebrew tribute USB. I’m collecting as many content creators as possible. I also want to include a profile for each one, with a few details, such as their logo, avatar, name, work completed, projects, etc., so you can see who’s behind their creations.

That profile, along with any material you allow me to upload, will be placed on a USB drive. This will act as a database of creators and their creations, and will be updated as I connect with new people.

The USB I’m thinking of creating will be one of those rubber-type USBs, shaped like a Spectrum computer, something that looks really nice. The idea is that those who contribute material, and if they want to buy one or more, will get it at cost price, and those who just want to buy one, it will cost a little more.

The idea is that if enough are sold, enough to recover the initial investment, the profits that the rest of the USBs could generate will be distributed among the people who have contributed material to the project, via transfer, PayPal, or however possible, even if possible, that the USB will be free. Obviously, you can buy more than one, but only one of them can be free.

It’s not necessary or mandatory to buy the USB, only if you like it or want it.

If you’re interested in this project, you can contact me at this email, flopping@gmail.com. If you have any questions or concerns, let me know and I’ll answer them. Do you think the idea is a good one? Would you like to participate in the project? Let me know. Best regards.

Juan.

toseva241 days ago (1 edit)