MC Frontalot (and to a similar extent, the video editor Jason Scott) demonstrates an understanding of what makes the text adventure so very fun.
Which is sort of the odd thing, text adventures aren’t really gone, they’ve just had to adapt to a changing world. Unfortunately, the only game of the type I can readily come up with an example for has lewd content. Originally titled Softporn Adventure, Leisure Suit Larry was a “classic” text adventure of the time, and several games later it has had two unsuccessful (pornographic games don’t sell well) outings in 3D, with both traditional text adventure elements and the introduction of coordination tests. Who knew watching X-play back when it was on techTV could come in handy. Interestingly, according to wikipedia, the latest game in the series features no nudity or explicit sexual situations.
After that little sidetrack, let’s get back to the point.
Interactive Fiction is mostly worth noting as, while not the first form of video game, it was the most prolific for a long period of time, and helped flesh out the concept of a video game, as more than just a coordination test, a la Pac Man; Asteroids; etc. This bleed-back can be seen as early as the game Sinistar. Compare:
Asteroids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZfsnA7dAHI
Sinistar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcyBtVwAsfg – Please watch Sinistar with SOUND
What I am arguing here is that interactive fiction not only made puzzling a part of video games, but also made story an integral function. Sinistar is not merely a particularly powerful and frustrating opponent, but also an entity. He has a philosophy: http://onastick.net/drew/sinistar/ yet ultimately the gameplay is functionally on par with that of Asteroids.
He is also beyond terrifying in a video-game concept. Dwarfing your ship, Sinistar is an organic entity with a single-minded purpose, being to destroy you, and he is faster than you. Fortunately, you have ranged weapons he lacks, and his cornering could use some work.
I’m honestly not sure what else I can say about Interactive Fiction. It’s another genre of gaming, an old genre that many feel is dead. I almost feel like they’re more interesting for their narrative choices and incomprehensible methodology than as a game.
I’ll leave you with a few gems from interactive fiction:
One of the King’s Quest games allowed you to pick locks, and become proficient at it. You could also pick your nose. If you were below a certain skill level, you would jam the lockpick up your nose and into your brain, killing you instantly. Above that level, you could practice your lockpicking skill by picking your nose. “Your Nose Is Now Open”
Another game had you meet a dragon, as many games did.
>Kill Dragon
What with, your bare hands?
>Yes
Congratulations! You killed a dragon! Ain’t that something? ~(this line is paraphrased)