Pitch Dark, the popular frontend for exploring and playing Infocom text adventures on the 8-bit Apple II, has just released Revision 5. Developed by famed Apple II hackers, 4am and qkumba, this latest update brings a host of new features and improvements, enhancing the gaming experience for Apple II enthusiasts.
Pitch Dark serves as a user-friendly interface, specifically designed to navigate and play Infocom text adventures on the Apple II.
Some of the changes included in Pitch Dark Revision 5 include:
- Fixed spurious error when viewing Zork II hints
- Added support for last Z4 revision [fixes Bureaucracy r160]
With Pitch Dark Revision 5, users can expect a range of notable features that enhance the overall experience. The interface provides an intuitive browsing system, allowing players to effortlessly explore all available games and set global options. A visually appealing UI enables smooth navigation and selection of games.
One standout feature of Pitch Dark is the inclusion of multiple versions for each game. This feature allows players to choose from different editions or versions of a specific game, catering to individual preferences and providing a more personalized gaming experience.
Pitch Dark also removes in-game protections that were originally designed to challenge players. Manual lookups, code wheels, and other obstacles have been eliminated, allowing for a smoother and more immersive gameplay experience. In addition, interactive hints based on the original Invisiclues have been incorporated into the frontend, providing players with helpful guidance whenever needed.
To enhance the visual aspect, Pitch Dark features double hi-res box art for every game, with Apple IIgs users enjoying the privilege of super hi-res artwork. This attention to detail adds an extra layer of immersion and nostalgia to the gaming experience.
One of the significant improvements in Pitch Dark is the integration of the On Beyond Z-Machine! interpreter. With this feature, players can run games directly from ProDOS, eliminating the need to swap floppies during gameplay. This enhancement streamlines the gaming process and offers a more seamless and convenient way to enjoy Infocom text adventures on the Apple II.
To run Pitch Dark Revision 5, a minimum of 128K RAM and an enhanced Apple //e, Apple //c, or Apple IIgs system is required. Additionally, users need a mass storage device capable of mounting a 32 MB ProDOS hard drive image. This functionality is supported by most major emulators, and for those users fortunate enough to actually be in possession of a working Apple //e, the CFFA3000 card or a similar mass storage device can be used to mount the storage image.
Pitch Dark also optionally supports the Apple mouse if you have one (Mouse card or IIgs or emulated mouse if you are running on an emulator)
All original code for the project is available on GitHub at https://github.com/a2-4am/pitch-dark
With its array of new features, improvements, and a commitment to preserving the charm of classic text adventures, Pitch Dark Revision 5 solidifies its position as an essential tool for fans of Infocom games on the 8-bit Apple II platform.
