The source code for 45 Infocom text adventures is now available in its native ZIL (Zork Implementation Language) from GitHub.

I've uploaded the entirety of source code of all Infocom text adventures/interactive fiction to Github. https://t.co/p0K8MRKoTN If you don't understand ZIL, and you probably don't, read this instruction manual. https://t.co/H8nl1fxWcv

— Jason Scott (@textfiles) April 16, 2019

According to the code repository’s readme file, “This collection is meant for education, discussion, and historical work, allowing researchers and students to study how code was made for these interactive fiction games and how the system dealt with input and processing. It is not considered to be under an open license.” But notes Gamasutra, “… Activision, which purchased Infocom in 1986, still owns the company IP, meaning it could eventually clamp down and halt Scott’s preservation efforts.”

To commemorate the release of this code, GitHub will host the live event “Game On I: The Great Quest for Imagination“, on the afternoon of Friday, April 26, 2019, 3–6:30 PM PDT (UTC-7) at its headquarters at 88 Colin P Kelly Jr St, San Francisco, California, USA. Steve Meretzky, the sole or lead designer on such Infocom games as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, A Mind Forever Voyaging, Planetfall, and Leather Goddesses of Phobos, will be the guest of honor. The event will be moderated by Kevin Savetz of the Eaten by a Grue podcast. Topics will include Infocom, working with ZIL, putting the source code on GitHub, and the evolution of software and version control. Following the discussion will be a happy hour, during which game stations will be set up all where people can have fun with Infocom titles and multiplayer games. The event is open to the public; free registration is required. It will also be livestreamed online.

For more on the history of Infocom, watch Jason Scott’s Infocom documentary, included as part of Get Lamp.
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UPDATE 2: Due to other commitments arising QFest 12 has been postponed.

UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, I unfortunately have to postpone WOzFest 12:00 – the new date is Saturday 25 May 2019, all other details remain the same. Steve in Brisbane has decided to also postpone QFest 12 to the same date.

From the europlus zone blog:

From our Northern Apple ][ Compadres comes the following announcement:

I am very happy to announce QFest 12, to be held in Brisbane on Saturday 27 April 2019, concurrent with WOzFest 12:00 and GORF, starting around midday Brisbane time (UTC+10:00).

As with previous QFests, there will be projects to work on, and an Applesauce on hand. We will enjoy video hook-ups with our Apple II brothers and sisters at other events around Australia. All food and drink will be provided.

Steven Kazoullis

Further details on the announcement post, and updates will be posted under the europlus zone’s WOzFest tag.

UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, I unfortunately have to postpone WOzFest 12:00 – the new date is Saturday 25 May 2019, all other details remain the same. Steve in Brisbane has decided to also postpone QFest 12 to the same date.

From the europlus zone blog:

I’m very happy to announce the date for the next WOzFest, WOzFest 12:00 – Saturday 27 April 2019, starting around midday Sydney time (UTC+10:00).

The primary theme for WOzFest 12:00 is “time” – encompassing, among other things, time-related hardware and software, the ravages of time and what we might (or might not) do about them, and strategies for finding time to have fun with our retrocomputers.

Something new this WOzFest is a theme-related hardware project for attendees – it’ll be a treat to have the first WOzFest-branded product for attendees to work on, and the first product release at a WOzFest for some time. It’s an international collaboration which spans the timezones, and all I can say about the release of this particular product is: it’s about time!

For several reasons, there’ll be a secondary theme this time, and one not unrelated to prior WOzFests – preservation with the Applesauce. Applesauce is John Morris’ phenomenal USB interface for Apple ][ disk drives which takes Apple ][ software preservation to new heights by capturing magnetic flux-level images of disks. My interest in such devices goes back a way.

I’m still to organise any Skype calls but I am hoping we’ll be able to organise some sort of video hookup to GORF – The Great Oz Retro-Technology Festival – being held in Melbourne 24-28 April 2019 and organised by frequent WOzFest attendees Melody and April. There’ll definitely be another video hookup, which I hope to share details of shortly.

Further details on the announcement post, and updates will be posted under the europlus zone’s WOzFest tag.

Update: Unfortunately GORF was cancelled in early April due to lack of registrations.

The Great Oz Retro-Fest, (GORF) is a multi-day event celebrating the personal computing platforms of the 1970s, 80s and 90s including the Apple, Microbee, Commodore, Atari, Sinclair and other 8- and 16-bit computer lines. GORF is being produced by Teaching Electronics and Computing History (TECH) Inc. which is an Australian not-for-profit association.

GORF is happening from April 24th-28th 2019 at Urban Camp in Melbourne, Australia. Similar to KansasFest there is bunk-style accommodation provided on-site and participants are encouraged to live-in for the duration of the event.

Keynote speakers include Owen Hill, an original employee of Microbee Systems; Ewan Wordsworth Director of Microbee Technology Pty Ltd; as well as retro-technology researcher Dr. Melanie Swalwell from the Play It Again project.

Participants are also encouraged to give sessions, so the format will be very similar to the well known KansasFest and OzKFest events.

The cost of the event will be AU$360 (~USD$260) which includes 4 nights bunk style accommodation and most meals. Day passes will also be available.
Registrations close April 1st.

The GORF organizing committee includes Melody Ayres-Griffiths, the editor of Paleotronic Magazine, and past participant at Kansasfest and OzKFest events.

While in Melbourne, visit the Play-It-Again exhibition of a playable history of Australasian games at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

About TECH Inc
Teaching Electronics and Computing History (TECH) Inc. is an Australian not-for-profit association incorporated in the state of Victoria. The purposes of the association are to promote awareness and understanding of the fundamentals and history of electronics-based technologies such as computers through various means, including the creation of software, print and web-based materials, the holding of events and exhibitions, acquisition of items of historical significance for restoration and display, and any other activities as deemed appropriate by its members.

Last week, at the largest gathering of Apple II users since 1994, the dates for KansasFest 2019 were announced. Retrocomputing enthusiasts are invited to Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, next July 15–21 for the 31st annual KansasFest — featuring a week of sessions, workshops, announcements, demos, releases, games, podcasts, and more!

Registration for the next KansasFest is expected to open sometime in Q1 2019. Subscribe to the event’s blog, email list, or Twitter feed for updates about the longest-running annual convention for Apple II users.

From the europlus zone blog:

Yes, I know I’ve been slack not posting my WOzFest DB9 Recap and Photos Galleries, but I am able (and happy) to announce the date for the next WOzFest, WOzFest X – Saturday 21 July 2018, starting around midday Sydney time (UTC+10:00).

I haven’t set a theme for WOzFest X – however, I have organised the usual Kansas Fest video hookup we try for each year. The Skype call is slated to start at around 14:00 local time (23:00 Friday Kansas City time). Frequent WOzFest and Kansas Fest attendees Melody & April, publishers of Paleotronic Magazine (and authors of the microM8 emulator), will be hosting the Kansas City end of the Skype call.

Further details on the announcement post, and updates will be posted under the europlus zone’s WOzFest tag.

From the europlus zone blog:

I’m very happy to announce the date for the next WOzFest, WOzFest DB9 – Saturday 28 April 2018, starting around midday Sydney time (UTC+10:00).

The theme for WOzFest DB9 is “Communications” – serial, networked, wireless, and wired.

Further details on the announcement post, and updates will be posted under the europlus blog’s WOzFest tag.

Recaps and photo galleries have also been posted for WOzFest S7,D2 and WOzFest 8-bit.

From the europlus zone:

As I’ve previously alluded to, there was an Oz KFest this year, held on Bribie Island, which is an hour’s drive north of Brisbane, Queensland. I didn’t spend the time blogging from the event as I had originally intended to (those following my Retrochallenge entries will know where my intentions sometimes end up), so rather than a series of shorter blog posts, this will be a long post covering the whole event.

Read the full recap here.

From the europlus zone blog:

I’m very happy to finally announce the date for the next WOzFest, WOzFest 8-bit – Saturday 18 November 2017, starting around midday Sydney time (UTC+11:00).

The theme for WOzFest Slot 7: Your Card was the Apple IIgs, Apple’s only non-8-bit Apple ][. It therefore seemed appropriate to set the theme for WOzFest 8-bit to all the other Apple ][s (which were 8-bit)…and the Apple-1, Apple /// and Apple ///+.

Further details on the announcement post, and updates will be posted under the europlus blog’s WOzFest tag.

Oz KFest 2017, the Australian retro computing gathering, is now open for registration. Oz KFest is happening at Bribie Island, Queensland, Australia between August 30th and September 3rd 2017

Oz KFest provides a similar experience to the well known and admired Kansasfest Apple II convention. For the first time, Oz KFest will be held at a venue with on-site accommodation. Also for the first time, due to popular demand, Oz KFest will run for longer than a weekend.

Australian Apple II enthusiasts have a long history of innovation and Oz KFest provides an opportunity for them to share their latest exploits and discoveries. Oz KFest welcomes session proposals on any retro computing topic. In addition all attendees share their knowledge and expertise by providing assistance to others on maintaining their equipment. There will also be optional workshops for learning to solder and building a Wifi RS-232 modem.

Accommodation in bunk beds in a shared cabin is available for AU$190 which includes admission to all sessions as well as most meals. The event will be partially self-catered with attendees helping out to prepare the meals under guidance from the head Chef.
Registration closes on August 1st and spaces in the onsite cabins are limited.

For the registration form, more information about the venue and for news about previous events please visit the event website.