Seastalker
Encyclopedia
Seastalker is an interactive fiction
computer game designed by Stu Galley
and Jim Lawrence and published by Infocom
in 1984. Like most of Infocom's works, it was released simultaneously for several popular computer platforms of the time, such as the Commodore 64
, Apple II
, and IBM PC
. The game was marketed as an introduction to interactive fiction for pre-teen players. It is Infocom's twelfth game.
Scimitar and investigate the problem. But that isn't all... it looks like there may be a saboteur
within the Aquadome as well.
noted the game's easiness, recommending it only as a beginner's text adventure, particularly for young kids. Exemplifying this are the numerous tips dropped by both in-game characters and the game itself, directing the player to the included Infocards. The review complained of minor inconsistencies like items that could not be interacted with until an in-game character told the player of its existence.
Interactive fiction
Interactive fiction, often abbreviated IF, describes software simulating environments in which players use text commands to control characters and influence the environment. Works in this form can be understood as literary narratives and as video games. In common usage, the term refers to text...
computer game designed by Stu Galley
Stu Galley
Stu Galley is an American developer of interactive fiction who was an Implementor at Infocom. He also served as corporate clerk from incorporation in 1979 to merging with Activision in 1986. He wrote three of Infocom's original interactive fiction titles, The Witness , Seastalker and Moonmist...
and Jim Lawrence and published by Infocom
Infocom
Infocom was a software company, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that produced numerous works of interactive fiction. They also produced one notable business application, a relational database called Cornerstone....
in 1984. Like most of Infocom's works, it was released simultaneously for several popular computer platforms of the time, such as the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
, and IBM PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
. The game was marketed as an introduction to interactive fiction for pre-teen players. It is Infocom's twelfth game.
Plot
The player's character is a young inventor and marine scientist. A research facility called the Aquadome issues a call for help, indicating that the undersea structure is being attacked by a sea monster. With helpful assistant Tip, the player must navigate to the Aquadome in the new untested two-person submarineSubmarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
Scimitar and investigate the problem. But that isn't all... it looks like there may be a saboteur
Saboteur
A saboteur is someone who commits sabotage.It may also refer to:*Morituri , a 1965 film also known as The Saboteur*Saboteur , a card game by Frederic Moyersoen, published in 2004...
within the Aquadome as well.
Feelies
With nearly every game, Infocom included extra objects and items called feelies. The Seastalker package held the following feelies:- A logbook for the Scimitar, including a letter from "The PresidentPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
" congratulating the player on acceptance into the Discovery Squad - Four double-sided "top secret Infocards", containing hints printed in blue ink beneath a pattern of red ink
- A decoder featuring a small square of red plastic to reveal the hints on the Infocards
- A nautical chart of Frobton Bay for navigation
- A "Discovery Squad badge", a sticker depicting an orcaOrcaThe killer whale , commonly referred to as the orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas...
and the motto "Dive deep, dive far"
Reception
A review in Computer Gaming WorldComputer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
noted the game's easiness, recommending it only as a beginner's text adventure, particularly for young kids. Exemplifying this are the numerous tips dropped by both in-game characters and the game itself, directing the player to the included Infocards. The review complained of minor inconsistencies like items that could not be interacted with until an in-game character told the player of its existence.