Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2
Lee, Thanks for that. :) Just as an aside, that was the first of two Activision attempts to resurrect Planetfall; the second, as I recall, didn't involve Steve M. Peter
[SWCollect] Planetfall 2
Remember a while back when Jim posted a preview of Planetfall 2? Well, today I found a copy of a "CD Mag" called Interactive Entertainment. It contains a story on the game, which it calls Return to Planetfall: Floyd Strikes Back. (It's IE #6, Sep 1994.) Here's the text of it. ---BEGIN--- Lately, the computer adventure game market seems to be a contest to see who can come up with the best rendered graphics and who can hire the best band to record the CD stereo soundtrack. It's hard to believe that, not too many years ago, the field was dominated by text-only games. These products had only one aspect that kept them selling: great stories. There was no question that the dominating company in this text-game universe was Infocom. While they were best known for the Zork fantasy games, another of their most popular products was a hilarious science-fiction comedy adventure called Planetfall, and its sequel, Stationfall, both written by Steve Meretzky. Meanwhile, on another consumer electronics front, the Atari 2600 was kicking the butts of all the other home entertainment systems. The credit for this can not go entirely to Atari, however. Everyone knew that the best games for the system were produced by an independent company named Activision. Most folks bought the 2600 so they could play games like Pitfall and MegaMania. They sure didn't buy it for Space Invaders. Flash forward 10 years, and Steve Meretzky is still very much in demand in the computer game world. His work has been compared with that of Douglas Adams. (Appropriately enough, since the two of them collaborated on the text game version of Adams' Hitchihker's Guide to the Galaxy.) Meretzky's latest project, Superhero League of Hoboken, was reviewed in the last episode of IE. Infocom no longer exists, but Activision is stronger than ever. They bought the rights to all those great Infocom games, and had a major hit on their hands with a graphic continuation of the Zork series, Return to Zork. Now, they're hoping to enjoy even greater success with Return to Planetfall: Floyd Strikes Back. For those unfamiliar with the original Planetfall games, Floyd was a robot with the enthusiasm of a ten-year old. He followed the player around everywhere, not being very useful, but always eager to play a quick game of hider-seeker. Floyd was easily the most popular character in the entire text-game medium. In an uncharacteristically tragic moment in Stationfall, the player must kill Floyd to save the universe. Many players wrote to Infocom testifying their tearful experiences playing those last moments of the game. The new game's content is very much in keeping with the humor of the original series. The player returns to his unnamed role as an Ensign Seventh Class, working this time on an insterstellar cruise ship overrun by yuppies. So, not only do you have to perform menial chores from scrubbing floors to filling out requisition forms to clearing glasses at the piano bar, you also have to deal politely with tourists in Hawaiian shirts. Fortunately, your good robot friend Floyd has unexpectedly returned from the dead, and he is as eager as ever to accompany you on your adventures. Yes, adventures. You didn't think the whole game would be kitchen duty, did you? Among other things, you get to uncover an ancient robot religion, a secret scientific technology that could transform the universe, and an insidious plot to reduce all human life to a zombie-like existence, much like your current job. Of course, however good the story, this wouldn't be much of an update if the new Planetfall was nothing but text. The graphics on Return to Planetfall are nothing short of spectacular. Activision promises a cast full of celebrity actors to flesh out the population on board the cruise ship, and all through the game. As this cast list develops, you can count on IE to keep you posted. On top of this, there's lots of beautifully rendered animations that bring Meretzky's twisted vision to life. Speaking of Steve Meretzky, he is the designer of this latest Planetfall installment, but his other current projects have kept him too busy to write the entire game. Instead, Activision brought in the team of Hans Beimler and Richard Manning, the head writers from the recent television hit Star Trek: The Next Generation. One of the things that made "Next Gen" really stand out, not just as science fiction, but overall, was the excellent scriptwriting. Since the show's conclusion in April, it's hard to imagine a better choice of writers to follow in Meretzky's rather imposing footsteps. Between the phenomenal graphics and the cast of celebrities, not to mention the ever-important writing, Return to Planetfall will certainly be successful, both economically and artistically. Activision plans to release this update in the second quarter of 1995. ---END--- Shame it wasn't completed. And in the interest of clarification, I mus
RE: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2
Yes, works fine...thanks again. Looks great...shows its age, but looks great. -Original Message- From: Jim Leonard [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2000 8:58 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2 Hugh Falk wrote: > > Got it...thanks, Jim! Yes, but does it work for you? -- http://www.MobyGames.com/ The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2
Hugh Falk wrote: > > Got it...thanks, Jim! Yes, but does it work for you? -- http://www.MobyGames.com/ The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
RE: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2
Got it...thanks, Jim! -Original Message- From: Jim Leonard [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2000 12:33 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2 Okay, it's done. You can find the ripped demo at: http://www.oldskool.org/archives/ Enjoy. Jim Leonard wrote: > > Okay, I'll do the deed tonight and send out the location when I'm done (I have > to "rip" it a bit since it's part of a CD and includes DOS sound card support). > > "C.E. Forman" wrote: > > > > I second that. > > > > - Original Message - > > From: Trantor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 3:46 PM > > Subject: Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2 > > > > > I would love to see it, if you could upload it somewhere and send out > > > the URL, I'd be there in no time. > > > > > > Jim Leonard wrote: > > > > > > > As we all know, this was never completed, dropped by Activision in > > > > 1995. But I recently ran across a non-interactive demo (a movie, > > > > essentially) that Activision put together to 'demo' Planetfall 2. It's > > > > 7MB zipped up; would anyone like me to make it available via an FTP or > > > > website? > > -- > http://www.MobyGames.com/ > The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. > > -- > This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to > the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' > Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ -- http://www.MobyGames.com/ The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2
Okay, it's done. You can find the ripped demo at: http://www.oldskool.org/archives/ Enjoy. Jim Leonard wrote: > > Okay, I'll do the deed tonight and send out the location when I'm done (I have > to "rip" it a bit since it's part of a CD and includes DOS sound card support). > > "C.E. Forman" wrote: > > > > I second that. > > > > - Original Message - > > From: Trantor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 3:46 PM > > Subject: Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2 > > > > > I would love to see it, if you could upload it somewhere and send out > > > the URL, I'd be there in no time. > > > > > > Jim Leonard wrote: > > > > > > > As we all know, this was never completed, dropped by Activision in > > > > 1995. But I recently ran across a non-interactive demo (a movie, > > > > essentially) that Activision put together to 'demo' Planetfall 2. It's > > > > 7MB zipped up; would anyone like me to make it available via an FTP or > > > > website? > > -- > http://www.MobyGames.com/ > The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. > > -- > This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to > the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' > Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ -- http://www.MobyGames.com/ The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2
Okay, I'll do the deed tonight and send out the location when I'm done (I have to "rip" it a bit since it's part of a CD and includes DOS sound card support). "C.E. Forman" wrote: > > I second that. > > - Original Message - > From: Trantor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 3:46 PM > Subject: Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2 > > > I would love to see it, if you could upload it somewhere and send out > > the URL, I'd be there in no time. > > > > Jim Leonard wrote: > > > > > As we all know, this was never completed, dropped by Activision in > > > 1995. But I recently ran across a non-interactive demo (a movie, > > > essentially) that Activision put together to 'demo' Planetfall 2. It's > > > 7MB zipped up; would anyone like me to make it available via an FTP or > > > website? -- http://www.MobyGames.com/ The world's most comprehensive historical PC gaming database project. -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2
I second that. - Original Message - From: Trantor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 3:46 PM Subject: Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2 > I would love to see it, if you could upload it somewhere and send out > the URL, I'd be there in no time. > > Jim Leonard wrote: > > > As we all know, this was never completed, dropped by Activision in > > 1995. But I recently ran across a non-interactive demo (a movie, > > essentially) that Activision put together to 'demo' Planetfall 2. It's > > 7MB zipped up; would anyone like me to make it available via an FTP or > > website? > > > > -- > > This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to > > the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' > > Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ > > > > > > > > > > -- > - > _ ___ _ __ _ __ ___###, > /_ _// | /// \ / file://_ _// __ // \ _,.--"###*. > / / / // // // // /\ / / / / / / // // /,-~(##-. > / / / _// _ // / / / / / / /_/ // _/ ,^___{###^. > /_/ /_/\_\/_//_//_/ /_/ /_/ /_//_/\_\ /~" ~" }##""###%. > Y ,--._I".-==- "###, > | Y ~-. }. ...###^\ > | | }: ( O ) "#( ) > .~ (__,.--" .^. #: | > He who troubleth his own house (/ | ?"\ ) > shall inherit the wind. \, / ; ;=/ >^ \__: ) ] > -- Someplace in the bible| |T ~\[~~ l > | |l _ _ _#! } > | l \/V V V _ _/;#! ! > Visit:l \ \|_|_|/|## | >\ \[T T T ___;'##;! > http://www.trantornator.com \ `^_^_^l'##" > \@#. ### > Home of the TRANTORNATOR! \. ### ##; > "^-._"###.### > "##; > "#; > > > -- > This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to > the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' > Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ > -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
Re: [SWCollect] Planetfall 2
I would love to see it, if you could upload it somewhere and send out the URL, I'd be there in no time. Jim Leonard wrote: > As we all know, this was never completed, dropped by Activision in > 1995. But I recently ran across a non-interactive demo (a movie, > essentially) that Activision put together to 'demo' Planetfall 2. It's > 7MB zipped up; would anyone like me to make it available via an FTP or > website? > > -- > This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to > the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' > Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ > > > > -- - _ ___ _ __ _ __ ___###, /_ _// | /// \ / //_ _// __ // \ _,.--"###*. / / / // // // // /\ / / / / / / // // /,-~(##-. / / / _// _ // / / / / / / /_/ // _/ ,^___{###^. /_/ /_/\_\/_//_//_/ /_/ /_/ /_//_/\_\ /~" ~" }##""###%. Y ,--._I".-==- "###, | Y ~-. }. ...###^\ | | }: ( O ) "#( ) .~ (__,.--" .^. #: | He who troubleth his own house (/ | ?"\ ) shall inherit the wind. \, / ; ;=/ ^ \__: ) ] -- Someplace in the bible| |T ~\[~~ l | |l _ _ _#! } | l \/V V V _ _/;#! ! Visit:l \ \|_|_|/|## | \ \[T T T ___;'##;! http://www.trantornator.com \ `^_^_^l'##" \@#. ### Home of the TRANTORNATOR! \. ### ##; "^-._"###.### "##; "#; -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
[SWCollect] Planetfall 2
As we all know, this was never completed, dropped by Activision in 1995. But I recently ran across a non-interactive demo (a movie, essentially) that Activision put together to 'demo' Planetfall 2. It's 7MB zipped up; would anyone like me to make it available via an FTP or website? -- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/