Greetings all!
As mentioned in prior updates we’ve been busy working on the game. We decided to enhance the heck out of our VR version, and roll it to several more platforms (SteamVR, PS VR2, PicoVR). We also on the precipice of releasing the PS4 and Xbox versions. Both have passed certification and will be launched soon. We’re also tinkering with our user interface to allow effortless and intuitive gameplay on touch-screen tablets and phones with touch screens. Lots to come!
We’ve also been updating the core game, largely to make the game more fun for the player. One update I’m particularly proud of that we added is a television that players can discover near the beginning of the game. Roberta is featured on the television, personally giving guidance for how to maximize enjoyment as you play. We also had the idea to write and produce a short documentary on the history of the game. We added that, too. In doing our research for the video we were surprised by all we found. This game is deep. More on that later in this newsletter.
In this edition…
- “Historic” Update
- A livestream interview with Roberta Williams!
- We have an exhibit on Colossal Cave at the VCF East 2023 show!
Thank you for reading.
Howdy, Colossal Cavers!
Over 300,000,000 years ago, water started tricking through some limestone, eventually carving what is currently known to be the longest known, connected cave system on the planet: Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky, USA.
Did you know that the woman who made this discovery was a tiny programming caver, named Patricia Crowther? This tiny, but colossal discovery is known as being the speleological equivalent of summiting Mount Everest, for the first time.
Did you know that her husband, William Crowther, also a programming caver, had an integral role in programming the packet switching between the first 4 connected “routers” (Interface Message Processors) making up the ARPANET (the precursor to today’s internet)? Will played a pivotal role in the invention of the Internet. Yes, that internet.
Did you know that Will Crowther built the first text-adventure game around muddy little maps he’d made with his wife? Inspired by 60’s style AI (known as ELIZA) and made as a bonding exercise with his young daughters, ADVENT (as it was known at the time) would be one of the first viral games, as it spread across the ARPANET, shutting down entire departments for weeks at a time, as people were so entranced with the depth, light whimsy, and whisps of Dungeons & Dragons style fantasy.
There is so much more to this story. And you can learn all about it, in today’s update!
Please Note: This auto-update is currently only available in the version found through Steam, Epic Games, and GOG.com. We are working on ways to add it to the other consoles.
Behind the scenes, fanciful little elves are endlessly hard at work polishing the experience of playing and navigating Colossal Cave. The most recent addition is that of a dilapidated, fuzzy, old television set. We’ve added some fun and informative goodies to this TV, like a look back at the history of ADVENT and Colossal Cave. We’ve included a fully realized documentary to the game, narrated by Roberta Williams. We’ve set it up for more programs in the future. Grab a TV dinner and stay tuned!
While we’re thrilled to include this little nugget of history directly to the game, for ease of access, we’ve also added it to YouTube, for those who may prefer to watch it, online.
Live Interview
with Roberta Williams
at VCF East 2023
On April 7th , at 2pm PST / 5pm EST, Jeff Brace, showrunner for VCF East, will interview Roberta Williams. They will focus on the early days of Sierra Online, as well as her new project: Colossal Cave 3D.Visit here to watch the livestream.
The VCF East Show runs from April 14-16th, at InfoAge Science and History Museums, 2201 Marconi Road, Wall, NJ 07719M.
ABOUT OUR EXHIBIT AT VCF EAST 2023
Colossal Cave Adventure, originally created by Will Crowther and Don Woods in 1976, is considered one of the first and most influential text-based adventure games. Roberta Williams, co-founder of Sierra Online and designer of Kings Quest and Phantasmagoria has come out of retirement and created a newly rendered version of Colossal Cave in full 3D, which is now available wherever games are sold.
Visitors to our exhibit can experience the original Colossal Cave game as it was played in the late 70s on the Teletype Model 33 and in the 80s on Apple III computers, as well as the IBM DOS versions that were released over the years. For those who prefer a more tactile experience, we also have the original retail boxed games on display for visitors to examine and appreciate.
But that’s not all – for those who want to take their exploration of the Colossal Cave to the next level, we offer a Virtual Reality version of the game designed by Roberta Williams. This exciting new format allows players to fully immerse themselves in the game’s world and interact with its locations and treasures in a way that was not possible with the original text-based game.
Whether you are a seasoned adventurer looking to relive the nostalgia of the original game, or a curious newcomer eager to explore one of the earliest examples of interactive storytelling, the Colossal Cave exhibit has something for everyone to enjoy.
in summary
- A “historic” update to Colossal Cave is now available on Steam, GOG & Epic.
- Livestream interview with Roberta Williams April 7th!
- Visit our Exhibit at the Vintage Computer Federation East Show April 14-16 in Wall, NJ
