Has anyone been on the Choice of Games website? I just discovered it lately and it's got some really interesting CYOD style adventures. http://www.choiceofgames.com/category/user-made-games/

asgardian
Thu Jan 26 13:01:48 2012
General Chat

Yes, this has always been true of man. When we perform an act of kindness, or create something such as art, film or literature, we transcend the mortal clay and exist in our noblest, purest form.

Robert Douglas
Wed Jan 25 01:24:39 2012
General Chat

@ asgardian
@ duffmeister

Thanks for the kind words. Your comments are very interesting - especially how it's society that affects human nature as opposed to human nature itself being the culprit. However, I've often wondered whether we're prone to animal instincts, i.e: tribal wars fought over territory, or jealous because somebody has their eyes on a potential partner, and so on.

Perhaps the one thing that sets us apart from the animal kingdom is our ability to imagine: allowing us to ask questions, search for the right answers, manipulating science and the elements to our advantage. At times, such a precious thing can be abused by those with evil intent (spreading lies and discord).

Very few - like ourselves - also use it to create fantastic stories. Entertaining...and hopefully inspiring others to excel.

That's why I believe FF gamebooks, alongside other great works such as Dickens, Shakespeare, and countless authors throughout the ages contribute to our lust for adventure and exploration. That moment of FF discovery in 1987 no doubt changed my life; I wouldn't be writing this or any gamebooks if it wasn't for Steve and Ian inspiring me. I'm not normally one for heaping an avalanche of praise, but credit where it's due...

Stuart Lloyd
Mon Jan 23 19:04:32 2012
Publicity

Hi all! I review Resurrection of the Dead (the first Fighting Fantazine adventure) on the Lone Tiger blog -

http://lonetigerreviews.blogspot.com/2012/01/resurrection-of-dead-by-alexander.html

duffmeister
Sun Jan 22 16:43:47 2012
General Chat

Very well said Robert. I often feel concerned about the delight so many people in our society take in the suffering of others. There seems to be a fashioble trend for saying words to the effect of 'Human nature is essentailly sadistic', a claim that is not only depressing and a lazy excuse for inactivity when facing problems, but also a displayal of complete ignorance of evolutionary biology. No 'inherently sadistic' species could ever survive, let alone flourish, because within a handful of generations they would bring about their own destruction. While humanity is hardly an ancient species, the fact that it has persisted for hundreds of millennia (Exactly how many depends on what you specifically define as 'human') proves that it is not as inherently self destructive or sadistic as proponents of an increasingly fashionable cynical attitude insist without any actual evidence to back up their claims. There have been many cultures at different periods which have been selfless and charitable to the point of self neglect. Even in todays world there are numerous cultures far more compassionate and charitable and far less selfish and sadistic than our own. The issue is not one of human nature, but of society, and I like to gain some solace in the fleeting nature of societies and cultures, in which a culture if it lasts a millenium, and even then is likely to have changed so much as to become completely unrecogniseable in the process. So whilst I often feel very concerneed by the selfishness, cynicism and sadism popular in our culture and society I think that it is a tragic but brief period in human history. And I think people like yoursleves are probably essential in bringing us out of it :)

asgardian
Sun Jan 22 05:36:12 2012
General Chat

Robert, very true. Just don't lose hope - there are also good people in the world and I believe things ultimately balance out. The very fact that you are saying these things gives me hope :)

Robert Douglas
Fri Jan 20 16:08:18 2012
General Chat

I envy hermits. At least, the people who are able to become hermits. In today's society it's easier said than done. The only way it can be achieved is through a vast amount of wealth and the sanctuary of a private residence - even then, I fear currency will no longer hold any meaning within ten years time. Best to have a vegetable patch and orchard, just in case!

But what has triggered this need for solitude? Perhaps the current social and economic climate has affected my judgement of people. Or that the seeds were sown during my youth. I disliked school. Intensely. Never fitted in, and was never given the chance. The only good thing about it were those lunchtime discos in the assembly hall. Mind you, these were only held every Friday. School trips were enjoyable (visiting Ironbridge museum or a pantomime) but, few and far between, stuck with the same, tiresome people.... I rest my case.

Society sickens me. One of my pet hates is Big Brother - not the one from George Orwell's '1984', but an entity even worse that blights our television screens. When viewers delight in the misery of others, I have to ask: WHY? What's with all this wasted energy? In a sense, I can understand the reason for those volunteering - the excitement and lust for fame - but derision of the public exacts too heavy a price in return. I suppose we can gain valuable information from observing social interaction and personality clashes...but at the expense of people's sanity? REAL people. What really disturbs me is the audience's attitude. How they rub their hands with glee, anticipating the horrors to come, slavering at the maw.

Thus, I shun society's values and enshroud myself in reading and writing, watching documentaries, quiz shows, people who can impress us with knowledge and talents, comedians with the ability to make us laugh...

It's very sad we're living in a world where many enjoy the suffering of poor, wretched souls who have suffered enough.

adam
Thu Jan 19 08:46:06 2012
A Strange Week For King Melchion The Despicable

Just played a strange week for Melchion, what a great story, fun and a touching ending

adam
Thu Jan 19 07:29:20 2012
Sharkbait's Revenge

Just played sharkbait, loved the Deadliest warrior and Family Guy references!!!! Oggityboogityboo!!!

adam
Thu Jan 19 05:52:46 2012
General Chat

Hey everyone, just checked in after a few months and saw a few more books have been added. Cant wait to check them out, thanks again for all the work putting them on the site.

Robert Douglas
Thu Jan 19 01:10:48 2012
General Chat

I've finished a mini-gamebook (90 entries) for the next Windhammer Competition. That won't be for some time, however.

Regards as to new gamebooks...looking forward to Ian Livingstone's next adventure!

It's a shame Steve Jackson is no longer active in FF circles. I'm glad he's doing well (lecturing on games design at a university in London) but it would be fantastic if he reprised his old writing pen for another epic adventure.

FishFingers Fri Jan 13 00:06:07 2012 The Curse Of Drumer	Will 'The Curse of Drumer' be appearing in the 'gamebooks' section? Just wondering how the riddle and combination code would work in this system.
	Funny you should mention it, that's going to be the next one. The riddle and combination will be handled the same way as that sort of thing usually is : for example the Kiasyd's riddles in Outsider or the floor selection in Wrong Way Go Back.

Robert Douglas
Wed Jan 11 23:46:50 2012
General Chat

Life is full of plus and minus. Sorry to hear Julius wanted his adventure removed.

ffproject
Tue Jan 10 00:14:43 2012
News

On Balance, One More Gamebook To Download

I've added two gamebooks by Zachary Carango to the downloads page : Red World and Above The Waves. These were his entries for the last two Windhammer competitions (the latter winning a Merit award).

Stuart Lloyd's review of Above The Waves is here : http://virtualfantasies.blogspot.com/2011/12/windhammer-review-part-4-above-waves-by.html.

On the minus side, I have removed Julius Lee's Welcome To Blackheart Asylum at the author's request.

Robert Douglas
Sat Jan 7 14:43:28 2012
General Chat

2012...

What on earth could happen?
The Mayans understood calendars, cycles, the sun...
Massive solar flare.
Not fatal like the one featured in 'Knowing'.
Life-changing, however.

Meantime, we might make films...and gamebooks
About a future cataclysm.
Because we humans are strange creatures indeed.

Gordon MacLeod
Fri Jan 6 11:25:32 2012
Hunger Of The Wolf

I have been playing a few of these adventures recently (i managed to finish Beggars Of Blacksand and Tomb Of The Ancients) and have to say i am very impressed with the authors efforts! I started with House of Horror and, by the Pit, its as hard as House Of Hell any day!!! Still not beaten it yet....however, special mention must go to Hunger Of The Wolf. Truly great stuff! Really enjoyed it and i must have been so close to finishing it! Not had that FF feeling as much in a while....ah well,my bleached bones will rest in Scorpion Swamp for the next foolhardy adventurer to wonder over....

Phil Sadler
Thu Jan 5 11:09:51 2012
Hellfire

I don't think the beast stops you from using the spell? Just use it where you get the other spells and follow the above spoilers. You can use the time spell anywhere, mind you.

Bill
Thu Jan 5 01:10:18 2012
Hellfire

Thanks for the rusty gauntlets help. But now I have a follow- up question.
Once I meet the Trinitour I am asked for Plate Armour but I believe if you defeat the Bloodbeast and obtain the Armour then you are unable to travel to get the timespell or am I doing someting wrong?

Andrew Wright
Wed Jan 4 22:22:22 2012
Publicity

Zork 1: The Forces of Krill gets reviewed here:

http://lonetigerreviews.blogspot.com/2012/01/zork-1-forces-of-krill-by-s-eric.html

cheers

Andy

Phil Sadler
Wed Jan 4 09:21:01 2012
Hellfire

Bill. For the rusty gauntlets you need to do the things in the above spoiler, this will get you the things you need.

Then you need to travel west after the

SPOILER

END SPOILER

and head to the

SPOILER

END SPOILER

Use the reveal invisible spell spell there and then the open door spell.

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