Zork

***Zork*** was one of the first interactive fiction computer games and a descendant of Colossal Cave Adventure. The first version of _Zork_ was written in 1977–1979.

"Zork" was originally MIT hacker slang for an unfinished program. The creators named the completed game _Dungeon_, but changed it back to _Zork_ after receiving a trademark violation notice from the publisher of _Dungeons & Dragons_. Zork has also been adapted to a book series.

Three of the original _Zork_ programmers joined with others to found Infocom in 1979. That company adapted _Zork_ into _Zork I-III_, a trilogy of games for most popular small computers of the era. Personal Software published what would become the first part of the trilogy under the name _Zork_ when it was first released in 1980, but Infocom later handled the distribution of that game and their later games. Part of the reason for splitting Zork into three different games was that, at the time, micros did not have enough memory and disk storage to handle the entirety of the original game. In the process, more content was added to Zork to make each game stand on its own. A version of _Zork I_ was issued as a hidden 'easter egg' in _Call of Duty: Black Ops_. It has exactly the same text and rules as the original.

## Setting

_Zork_ is set in "the ruins of an ancient empire lying far underground". The player is a nameless adventurer "who is venturing into this dangerous land in search of wealth and adventure". The goal is to return from the "Great Underground Empire" alive with the treasures, ultimately inheriting the title of Dungeon Master. The dungeons are stocked with many novel creatures, objects and locations, among them grues, zorkmids, and Flood Control Dam #3—all of which are referenced by subsequent Infocom text adventures.

FrobozzCo International is a fictional monopoly from the game. FrobozzCo products are littered throughout all _Zork_ games, often with humorous effect.

### The original Zork Trilogy

- _Zork I: The Great Underground Empire_ (1980, Infocom)
- _Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz_ (1981, Infocom)
- _Zork III: The Dungeon Master_ (1982, Infocom)

### Later additions to the series

All these are text-only unless otherwise noted.

- The Enchanter trilogy:
    - _Enchanter_ (1983, Infocom)
    - _Sorcerer_ (1984, Infocom)
    - _Spellbreaker_ (1985, Infocom)
- Games that take place somewhere in the Zork universe:
    - _Wishbringer: The Magick Stone of Dreams_ (1985, Infocom)
- The _Zork Quest_ series:
    - _Zork Quest: Assault on Egreth Castle_ (1988, Infocom, interactive computer comic book)
    - _Zork Quest: The Crystal of Doom_ (1989, Infocom, interactive computer comic book)
- The _Zork Anthology_ comprises the original Zork Trilogy plus:
    - _Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor_ (1987, Infocom)
    - _Zork Zero: The Revenge of Megaboz_ (1988, Infocom, text with some graphics)

After a six year hiatus, the following games were produced:
- _Return to Zork_ (1993, Infocom/Activision, graphical)
- _The Philosopher's Stone (Activision, unfinished text prequel to Zork Nemesis)
- _Zork Nemesis: The Forbidden Lands_ (1996, Activision, graphical)
- _Zork: The Undiscovered Underground_ (1997, written by Michael Berlyn and Marc Blank (original Infocom implementors) and released by Activision to promote the release of _Zork Grand Inquisitor_)
- _Zork Grand Inquisitor_ (1997, Activision, graphical)

## Related pages

- _Legends of Zork_, an online, browser-based spin-off
- 69105, a number that became somewhat of an in-joke in several Infocom games
- _The Lurking Horror_, another Infocom IF, that references _Zork_.
- Grue, the infamous _Zork_ monster
- _The Meteor, the Stone and a Long Glass of Sherbet_, the winner of the 1996 Interactive Fiction Competition, is strongly influenced by the _Zork_ universe and includes many elements.

## References

- Montfort, Nick. _Twisty Little Passages.'' MIT Press. 2003. .

## Other websites

- Play Zork online  at THCNET's interactive 404 error page.
- Play Zork I online  at Infocom, the place where it all started.
- Download and play the original mainframe version of Zork, as well as a 1982 map of the Zork universe.
- Zork I, II, III and The Undiscovered Underground  Download Zork I, II and III for Win, DOS or Mac (no Z-interpreter needed), and The Undiscovered Underground (Z-machine interpreters included). Includes "The New Zork Times"
- Infocom-IF.org, Infocom history, authors, etc.; often updated with any news from Activision; also downloads of games ready for Z-Machine interpreters like frotz.
- Article at The Dot Eaters , featuring an extensive history of the Zork games and Infocom
- The History Of Zork – Article
- The Zork trilogy on Iron Realms.
- Retroist Zork Podcast