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You ... the reluctant hero. Armed only with your wits and any weapon you may find lying around, you’re off in search of adventure. |
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The squatter You’ll find him in the unlikeliest of places, T-square and teapot in hand. |
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Jake ... a charter member of the APBB (the Adventurers’ Protective and Benevolent Brotherhood, better known by its slogan, Always Pillage Before you Burn). Sooner or later he’ll get himself into a mess that only you can get him out of. |
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Zainab Sultan’s daughter by birth, research biophysicist by profession... but what does she see in Jake? Your life would be a lot simpler if only she could drag herself away from the lab long enough to keep him out of trouble. |
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| ...not to mention a variety of animals both natural and supernatural, gods, genies and ordinary mortals. Some are on your side, some aren’t. | ||
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Grey Tower (b/w The Tower) Jake invited you to join him in exploring an abandoned castle, said to be filled with forgotten treasures. Naturally, you refused to have anything to do with the project. Well, that was weeks ago, and you haven’t heard from Jake, so you reluctantly set off to find out what happened to him. |
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In version 1.3 and later you’ll notice changes in small-scale
animations: matchlight, flickering flames, the sun/moon hanging... You’ll find the latest version of Grey Tower on the downloads page. |
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Palace of Sand (b/w The Sultan’s Palace) Blame it all on Jake. It was his idea to check out (that means “loot” or perhaps “plunder”) the Sultan’s Palace... even though it has many occupants, not all of them human. And why can’t you find him at the marketplace where he said he’d meet you? |
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In version 1.3 and later the fountains bubble more
refreshingly, background music stays in the background... and be sure
to admire Zainab’s ceiling! To visit the Palace, go to the downloads page. |
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Muddy Water (b/w Canal District) This time you’re on your own. While Jake’s enjoying a busman’s honeymoon in Revenue City, Nevada, you learn about a stolen sceptre—and, more important, a major reward. But can you drink the water? |
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Version 1.3 tackles some of those pesky “plausibility” questions:
How come the salesclerk doesn’t even notice when I drop all my treasures
right in front of his nose? Why doesn’t anyone try to steal my pack when
I’m sleeping? If the ship is supposed to be in harbor “the rest of the
afternoon” how come it’s still there two days later? See for yourself at the downloads page. |
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(Color) Pavilion ...the mini-game, just for people who want to learn more about my graphic style and how my mind works, without investing too much download time in a full-size game. The house may look like gingerbread, but where’s the witch? Unlike the full-size games, Pavilion is strictly e-mail-ware. |
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In version 1.4 you’ll see changes in the closet door, the
witch’s book, the initial bump on the head... and the unicorn is back! Check it out. |
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Color by Number (b/w Double Trouble) The architect of The Tower designed other buildings as well, but he didn’t always have the Tower’s budget. What’s become of Jake now... and just how many squatters are there? |
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In version 1.1 and later the ghosts are a little ghostlier,
the blurry doors a little blurrier... and you can do a lot more
with your different light sources. You’ll find the latest version of Color by Number on the downloads page. |
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coming attractions... Watch for Xanadu, a departure from the architectural themes of my earlier games. Zainab’s experiments in time and space have created an alternative reality... and Jake thought he was just the person to check it out. Dig for fairy gold, talk to a vendor by the gates of Troy, copy files from a computer-within-a-computer... |
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Xanadu is coming... well, let’s say in some year with a “2” in it. More about Xanadu. |
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Shareware is software that is freely distributed—but with a catch. Game designers and other shareware authors invest weeks or months of our own time creating something we think others will enjoy. So we include a request for a registration fee, typically in the $10-$20 range. Some games operate on the honor system; others are released as “crippleware,” meaning that you can only play up to a certain level without registering.
If you register, you’ll get a complete set of maps, a list of treasures, and assorted hints and helps.
In most games, you won’t be allowed to reach the Happy Ending unless you’ve registered—or you’ll have to get there by roundabout means, and it may not be so happy after all. Details depend on the individual game. Once you’re registered, you may find a new source of treasure... or a safer way of doing something that almost got you killed the last time you tried it... or just the satisfaction of seeing your name on another Easter-egg list.
If you’ve paid for any game in its World Builder (b/w) form, you’re automatically registered for the color version; just write and ask for a registration code.
No.
Each game’s manual (ReadMe) includes payment instructions for people who simply want to send me a check from a US bank. If you live outside the US, or if you prefer to pay by credit card, contact me to ask about other options.
Glad you asked. If you want to know more about how I made my games, and what your options are if you’d like to make your own, proceed to the game design page.
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