Zork... the 8-bit legend... now open source

[Maxmars]

One of my earliest gaming memories involving "games I bought" rather than typed into a BASIC compiler, was 

the legendary ZORK ... and (Zork II, and Zork III)...

Now Microsoft open sources Infocom’s Zork trilogy
 

Microsoft, in conjunction with Activision, Team Xbox, and its Open Source Programs Office, has announced plans to open source some of Infocom’s most iconic interactive fiction. Zork I, Zork II, and Zork III will be released under the MIT License, placing the code for one of the most recognisable early computer game series into accessible public repositories. As someone who spent many hours playing the Zork trilogy (and other Infocom games) over the years, this is fantastic news.

Developers, students, and researchers will be able to examine the structure of the original titles directly rather than relying on secondary documentation or archived binaries. It will also provide a clearer view of how Infocom’s early work was built, maintained, and adapted across platforms.

Of course, Zork is more nostalgia and education now than entertainment...

Nostalgia, ho!

[dragonsdemesne]

I should go over that source code, if for no other reason than to kill that INCREDIBLY annoying thief... I could never figure out what to do about him.

[BeTheGoddess]

After typing the fkn shit out, it was more disappointing than a Jewish child's Christmas.

[charlyv]

I remember seeing FORTRAN source, when at DEC. The Decus library had the sources on 9 track tape and we loaded it on a PDP11.  It must have been early proto stuff, because it was not public.