H.P. Lovecraft with all his unspeakable horrors, indescribable oddities and non-euclidean angles never really helped any visual artists, uhh, visualize his stories and -apparently- that's one of the reasons many -mostly Cthulhu- HPL inspired games failed to capture that distinctly Lovecraftian atmosphere and/or cosmic horror. The fact, mind you, that most of his protagonist were on the asthmatic academic side of humanity didn't help with the necessary video game action bit either.Interactive fiction (text-adventures) and HPL's kind of horror, on the other hand, seem like a match made in a particularly tentacled heaven. Don't believe me? Why, better try the excellent freeware Anchorhead and see what I mean. Good writing, vaguely described ominous things and interactivity, without the distraction of anavoidably underwhelming visuals, make for quite an experience. And atmospheric horror too of course. Problem is such games are rather rare and The Lurking Horror is almost ancient history.
Enter the Illuminated Lantern, interactive fiction publishers extraordinaire, creators of the award winning 1893: A World's Fair Mystery and driving force behind the Commonplace Book Project. The purpose of said project is both simple and frankly quite noble: create interactive adventures based on the unfinished story ideas that H.P. Lovecraft collected in his "Commonplace Book". The first seven games (including Dead Cities, Ecdysis, The Cellar and the Handyman Wanted point-and-clicker) have already been made available here and are ready to provide you with hours of relatively disturbing entertainment. For free. Hip, hip...Oh, and Windows users will probably have to download the excellent and very freeware Gargoyle interactive fiction player. Possibly even have a look at a beginner's guide to interactive fiction.
Related @ Gnome's Lair: Text is King, Guide to the indy adventure, Vilyl LP text adventures, lovely i-f maps
I came across this a while back, while searching for something else. Then I forgot to go back to it.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since I used Adrift runner on Windows . . . is Gargoyle better than Adrift?
If anyone is new to interactive fiction, check out this PDF introduction from this IF blog.
(the door creaks on his touch.. opening slowly to reveal in the flickering candlelight a dragon and a Gnome... and he thought as oft he had thought before when faced with such situations... fecking brilliant!!)
ReplyDeleteActually guttertalk Gargoyle is easily the best of the if interperter lot. It's compatible with almost anything and features some impressive typography features... Besides it can even be used to play such retro favs as Wonderland or them Level 9 games.
ReplyDeleteFor a moment there I felt threatened. But, hey, I know.. There aren't any dragons or gnomes. BTW, glad you licked it dear Elderly.
threatened? thouest say.. nay sayeth it aint so... tis I .. elderly what speaketh, surely this yonder door what has feared you so.. but twer not me... nay never....
ReplyDelete(applause)
ReplyDeleteThat was impressive!
..were it?.. for i sets no store in mere words of fetid feebles... pray say thouest not scared no moreee...
ReplyDelete(standing ovation; the stadium is delirious & the groupies wet)
ReplyDelete..wet groupies .. your kiddin me?... really... scuse me I better freshen up.. erm ...forsooth i must away about my toiletries....
ReplyDelete(pandemonium.... the cheering crowds get hysterical and the bisexual groupies naked)
ReplyDeleteJayzus! Lovecraft and Elderly together in one post... AND wet groupies
ReplyDeleteYes, I know, it's grand but I got more of 'em. Even got some more dry Elderlies and a wet cat...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting - I used to play a lot of interactive fiction adventures, and I'm gonna check these out.
ReplyDeleteBut here's what I *have* to ask (somewhat ironically): Where does that fantastic 'Shadow over Innsmouth' picture come from?
Thanks! -Sam-
Glad you appreciate the post Sam, but I'm afraid I'll have to dissapoint you... Simply typed Innsmouth/Lovecraft in google images...
ReplyDelete