The Magic Show ============== Copyright 2004 Jason Mac Innes Email : jasonmacinnes@yahoo.com Website : http://www.geocities.com/jasonmacinnes/if.htm Version : 1.9g Release date : December 11, 2004 Written for : Adrift 4.00.45 This story may be freely distributed or archived, so long as no charge is levied against the reader for access to it. Game Description ---------------- A skilled magician, you expect it'll just be another night working at the dinner theatre. Or so the evening begins as you head out onto the stage to perform your usual feats of magic. But the night will be longer than you think and your magical skills will become a matter of life and death. General Information on Play --------------------------- * If you need help, try asking other characters about objects or about other characters. For example, on stage you could "ask tiffany about cabinet" to get some guidance. Otherwise the Adrift "hint" system will produce some general guidance from time to time. * The game will never put your character into a dead end situation. Puzzles generally have multiple solutions. Look around for alternate means related to the items carried. * Your character may die if careless, but you will be forewarned of impending doom. * The game employs multiple endings, both winning and losing. If you don't like how it worked out, or the path chosen, you can restart and make different choices. * You can, and are encouraged to, interact with your own clothing. However, the game will not recognize references to other people's clothing. On a related point, the standard inventory command will only inform you of what's in your hands. * This is not a magic simulator and I'm not a magician. The magic in this game takes the form of puzzles. * The "score" command presents your ranking in two parts. Your "Magic Score" denotes your success/skill as a magician. Your overall score tracks your progress through the game. * Please email any bugs/problems to me at jasonmacinnes@yahoo.com. Unfortunately, I can not assist with those who play the game on a third party Adrift interpreter. Esoteric Points of Interest --------------------------- * Thanks go out to beta testers Anthony H, Mystery and THoiA for providing invaluable feedback. * This game is the end result of some 20 years of intending to write an adventure game. At the very least, I can now say that I have written a text adventure. * Finally, the advice of Jenny Tyler and Les Howarth in their book "Write your own Adventure Programs" (1983) has paid off. * The "riddle" in the game was originally intended to be a holding spot until I thought up something better. I don't know its origin, but it appears anecdotally in Dave Morris' "Dragon Warriors" RPG game (1985). Enjoy! Jason