While I was studying at Northern Illinois University in 1979, I had an account that allowed me to dial into Southern Illinois University's computer, ostensibly to write programs on their system. I found their games pretty quickly and fell in love with the text game "Colossal Cave Adventure" (which was simply labelled "Adventure" while I was playing it.)
I soon discovered that I was going to need to draw a map in order to find my way around the adventure. On a spare piece of computer paper, I started sketching my way through the cave.
I soon discovered that I was going to need to draw a map in order to find my way around the adventure. On a spare piece of computer paper, I started sketching my way through the cave.
(click on the image to see it full size)
For some reason I drew the start building in the upper right and I never indicated the 3 "south" moves to get to the grate room to enter the cave. On the map the grate room is at the bottom right. Later I constantly used "xyzzy" to get to the cave.
The map has all sorts of notations on it as to where various objects are.
I cannot remember why I have "z'zzz" circled at the top. I think it was a magic word in the version I was playing, similar to "xyzzy". This map does not correspond exactly with instructions and maps I found on the Colossal Cave Adventure page. I'm not sure if I was dealing with an earlier version or a student rewrite or if my own mapping found different passageways.
There are much better maps online nowadays, but I was sketching mine in 1979 as I was playing.
For some reason I drew the start building in the upper right and I never indicated the 3 "south" moves to get to the grate room to enter the cave. On the map the grate room is at the bottom right. Later I constantly used "xyzzy" to get to the cave.
The map has all sorts of notations on it as to where various objects are.
I cannot remember why I have "z'zzz" circled at the top. I think it was a magic word in the version I was playing, similar to "xyzzy". This map does not correspond exactly with instructions and maps I found on the Colossal Cave Adventure page. I'm not sure if I was dealing with an earlier version or a student rewrite or if my own mapping found different passageways.
There are much better maps online nowadays, but I was sketching mine in 1979 as I was playing.
(click on the image to see it full size)
The "all alike" maze was entered from the stalactite room (up from "bedquilt" on the main map and marked "stalag"). You can see "maze" in pencil just below the "stalag". The maze was mapped by dropping items various places. The key to the maze map is on the image below.
(click on the image to see it full size)
I don't remember how I figured out the vending machine maze. Once I figured out the mazes, I wrote down the directions to navigate to the various treasures.
The original map is ready to fall to pieces. I've been telling myself I needed to scan it and post it for years now. Finally got around to doing it, 30 years after first playing the game.
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