Thank you for this excellent article! Thought provoking not only in its examination of A Mind Forever Voyaging, but also in the possibilities of what a game can do. I think of mediums like games, novels, TV shows, songs, rpgs, and more as "story delivery systems." They deliver stories in different ways and with different levels of interactivity, yet they all center around a story. The possibilities and variations fascinate me, and learning about AMFV really made me think.
I'm a little late to the party. While researching the critical landscape of AMFV--I'm documenting my playthrough of the entire Infocom catalog--I came across your astute write-up. I have seen pieces--all predating 2016--that suggest that Meretzsky's imagined future is horrific beyond all credibility. Nowadays, AMFV seems, perhaps, less naïve than such criticisms--so many impossible things seem possible, now. The guide from Gamefaqs was deeply moving in an unexpected way. I'm grateful for the link and grateful for all the historical background. Thanks.
You may have lost some subscribers due to this installment, but you’ve gained at least one.
I grew up on Adventure International and Infocom games, mis-spent countless hours helping run TinyMUDs and their ilk, and have accumulated a collection of IF games over the years that I never took the time to play.
I’m making time to play (or re-play) them now, thanks to you, and it’s glorious.
Thank you for this excellent article! Thought provoking not only in its examination of A Mind Forever Voyaging, but also in the possibilities of what a game can do. I think of mediums like games, novels, TV shows, songs, rpgs, and more as "story delivery systems." They deliver stories in different ways and with different levels of interactivity, yet they all center around a story. The possibilities and variations fascinate me, and learning about AMFV really made me think.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mark Boss
I'm a little late to the party. While researching the critical landscape of AMFV--I'm documenting my playthrough of the entire Infocom catalog--I came across your astute write-up. I have seen pieces--all predating 2016--that suggest that Meretzsky's imagined future is horrific beyond all credibility. Nowadays, AMFV seems, perhaps, less naïve than such criticisms--so many impossible things seem possible, now. The guide from Gamefaqs was deeply moving in an unexpected way. I'm grateful for the link and grateful for all the historical background. Thanks.
Thanks, just read this. Well written and well researched. It's amazing how much about the game that I've forgotten...
AMFV was my favorite of all the Infocom games. I was probably around 14 when I played it and it made a big impression on me.
You may have lost some subscribers due to this installment, but you’ve gained at least one.
I grew up on Adventure International and Infocom games, mis-spent countless hours helping run TinyMUDs and their ilk, and have accumulated a collection of IF games over the years that I never took the time to play.
I’m making time to play (or re-play) them now, thanks to you, and it’s glorious.
Thank you.