Best Infocom Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 28 - A Conversation with Andrew Plotkin 51:33

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6d ago51:33

51:33

Creator of games including Hadean Lands, Spider and Web, and Shade, as well as a long-time maintainer of Inform and participant in Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation (IFTF) leadership, Andrew "Zarf" Plotkin was also a teenager once. And back then he wrote Inhumane, as covered in Episode 27. Jason and Nick welcome him to the program discuss t…

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Episode 27 - Knight Orc Part 1 and Inhumane 57:27

13d ago57:27

57:27

All the way back in Episode 1 we promised to play Level 9's Knight Orc. Ben and Jason chip away at that obligation by playing... the first of three independent-load sections of the game. (We're working on it!) They do their best to navigate the aptly-named "KAOS" engine and assemble rope. (So much rope.) But first, a clearout of news and listener m…

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Episode 26 - Jacaranda Jim and Beatle Quest 1:02:29

25d ago1:02:29

1:02:29

Ben and Jason take on the text adventure distillations of two uniquely British phenomena. First up is the "prolific musical innovator" genre with Number 9 Software's Beatle Quest, a psychedelic trip into lots and lots of Beatle song concepts and name-checking. For the main course, the duo explore the "slobs in space" phenomenon through the storytel…

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Episode 25 - Magazine Roundup #2 2:01:28

1M ago2:01:28

2:01:28

Tim Gilberts is back for another rummage through the magazine rack, this time with Jason and Dave. We pull a corporate newsletter and three full-length issues, all from the 1982-1984 period. We look at the first (and only?) newsletter put out by Spinnaker sub-brand Trillium (later Telarium), browse through the general-interest UK mag Personal Compu…

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Episode 24 - A Conversation with Peter Golden 1:05:04

2M ago1:05:04

1:05:04

Peter Golden, author of Sherlock Holmes: Another Bow and a key figure in Bantam Software's Living Literature series joins us for a conversation about his work in text adventures and subsequent work as a novelist. PeterGolden.com Bantam Software's Living LiteratureBy The Retro Adventurers

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Episode 23 - Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes: Another Bow, and Sherlock: Riddle of the Crown Jewels 1:28:10

2M ago1:28:10

1:28:10

For this roundup of Sherlock Holmes adventures from the 1980s, Ben and Jason call in an expert: Sherlockian playwright Christian Neuhaus, co-creator of You've Ruined a Perfectly Good Mystery. The trio of amateur sleuths take on the three major commercial releases in chronological order. First up is Sherlock from Melbourne House, written in the same…

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Episode 22 - Questprobe: Spider-Man and Redhawk 59:17

2M ago59:17

59:17

POW! KABOOM! KWAH! Dave and Jason explore two 1980s text adventures pulled from the world of comic books! (At the time, comics were just one of many forms of narrative expression and not the dominant storytelling platform as they are this century.) First up it's Redhawk from Melbourne House, which experiments with text/graphics adventure presentati…

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Episode 21 - First Anniversary Chatisode 1:08:52

3M ago1:08:52

1:08:52

🎂It’s our first birthday!🎂Enjoy an anniversary celebration with all the hosts and minimal editing! Founder Ben holds a contest of Retro Adventurers knowledge–who will reign supreme? How many countries have at least one download per episode? Who will be named the Seven of Nine of text adventure podcasting? Will the boys have a polite conversation ab…

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Episode 20 - The Mask of the Sun and Valkyrie 17 1:01:09

3M ago1:01:09

1:01:09

Dave and Jason confront a double dose of terrifying terrors! First up is the RamJam Corporation's Valkyrie 17, a Cold War thriller set in a pseudonymous Eastern Bloc nation, boasting excellent off-screen production values but some quirky on-screen choices. The title was originally published for ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, with a Windows update re…

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Episode 19 - Monsters of Murdac and Behind Closed Doors (SAM Coupé Adventure Club #1) 1:08:12

3M ago1:08:12

1:08:12

Ben occupies the throne, attended by minions Jason and Nick this episode to plumb the depths of the text adventure archives. In the featured spot is the Phoenix/Topologika title Monsters of Murdac by Dr. Jonathan Partington (Episodes #12 and #16), a punishingly creative game. Up first, however, is the 1991 disk magazine SAM Coupé Adventure Club #1 …

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Episode 18 - Bored of the Rings / Calixto Island with Iain Lee 1:00:51

4M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Iain Lee, "an old bloke who was popular in the Nineties" as well as counsellor, broadcaster, and I'm a Celebrity survivor joins Dave and Jason this episode. They discuss Tolkien sendup Bored of the Rings by Fergus McNeill and the Mark Data classic Calixto Island. Iain shares his love for the Dragon 32, memories of sneaking text adventure time on sc…

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Episode 17 - Magazine Roundup #1 1:53:58

4M ago1:53:58

1:53:58

Jason, Nick, and the returning Tim Gilberts of Gilsoft dig into the magazines of the 1970s and 1980s that chronicled the rise of text adventures! We look at two of the most significant Stateside issues of the early commercial period, the November 1979 issue of Creative Computing with a full (and unusual) implementation of Colossal Cave Adventure, a…

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Episode 16 - A Conversation With Jonathan Partington 53:34

5M ago53:34

53:34

Jason and Dave welcome classic text adventure author Jonathan Partington to the program. While studying at Cambridge University, he created and contributed to several memorable games including Avon (featured in Episode 12), Crobe, Sangraal, Fyleet, Monsters of Murdac, and Spy Snatcher. We discuss how Jonathan got hooked into text adventures, how th…

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Episode 15 - Lancelot and G.F.S. Sorceress 1:15:09

5M ago1:15:09

1:15:09

Our first three-player episode since the premiere pits Ben, Jason, and Nick against challenges that span millennia! Learn the intricacies of long-lost Earth military law as Joe Justin fights for freedom in Avalon Hill's G.F.S. Sorceress before traveling way back to King Arthur's England in Level 9's Lancelot. Robots, colored objects, and companion …

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Episode 14 - The Dark Crystal and Ship of Doom 56:54

6M ago56:54

56:54

Dave and Jason return to the pioneering Artic Adventure series with Ship of Doom (Adventure C) before plunging into a fantasy world on the brink in The Dark Crystal by Sierra, licensed from Henson Associates and representing the very last example of Roberta Williams' parser game design. The Dark Crystal manual and short story The Dark Crystal on Si…

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Episode 13 - 2024 Year-End Chatisode 2:39:03

6M ago2:39:03

2:39:03

Holiday merriment! All the hosts! Return special guests! Minimal editing! Retro Adventurers Dave, Jason, Nick, and founder Ben(!) chat about the year that was, later joined by Scott Adams (Episode 3) and Tim Gilberts (Episode 5)! Hear about Tim Gilberts' Heathkit, Scott Adams' next professional moves, adventures in ADABAS / Natural, and a long-over…

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Adventureland 1:17:04

6M ago1:17:04

1:17:04

How long does it take to load a saved game of Adventureland on the TRS-80? A little over a year, apparently. Kay and Carrington are back and ready to tackle tricky text adventures once again. It's a Christmas disaster! I mean, a Christmas miracle! Maybe a bit of both. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by MC Fro…

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Episode 12 - Avon and Macbeth 1:18:30

6M ago1:18:30

1:18:30

Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancy, Jason and Nick ask for a double-helping of Shakespeare text adventures. The chef heaps a challenging amount of "appetizer" Macbeth (1984, Oxford Digital Enterprises) on their plates, but main course Avon (1982/1988, Topologika) has its day. And that day may be foul, and/or fair, as you like it. Macbeth on…

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Episode 11 - A Conversation with Ron Martinez 1:09:13

7M ago1:09:13

1:09:13

In this interview episode we're transfixed by the career of Ron Martinez, whose interactive fiction began as a writer for the Be an Interplanetary Spy book series, the Trillium/Telarium home conversion of Rendezvous With Rama, and the design and implementation of Star Trek: The Promethean Prophecy powered by his own TRANS Fiction System parser. Sin…

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Episode 10 - The Lurking Horror and Crypt of Medea 1:31:10

8M ago1:31:10

1:31:10

Jason and first-time Retro Adventurer Nick Moffitt sample two courses of text adventure horror, featuring Infocom's "MIT with the serial numbers filed off" The Lurking Horror and Sir-Tech Software's "don't call it a Murder Hospital, call it the" Crypt of Medea. Jason also speaks with Strange Studies of Strange Stories co-host Chad Fifer about how, …

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Episode 9 - A Conversation with Robin Raymond 34:56

8M ago34:56

34:56

Seemingly from out of nowhere, Kingdom of the Seven Stones, a sprawling text/graphic adventure has just been published for the Commodore 64 by The Future was 8 Bit. Creator (and Retro Adventurers listener!) Robin Raymond joins Jason to talk about how the game took shape, why it's cartridge-only, and what the future might hold for his new C-based 8-…

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Episode 8 - Valhalla and Swiss Family Robinson 41:47

9M ago41:47

41:47

Dave and Jason make another transatlantic cultural exchange in this episode, beginning with the youth-oriented Windham Classics' Swiss Family Robinson before heading to the deadly grownup world of Norse mythology for Legend's Valhalla. Valhalla playable online (ZX Spectrum) Swiss Family Robinson playable online (Commodore 64) August 1983 ad for Val…

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Episode 7 - A Conversation with Roberta and Ken Williams 1:20:36

9M ago1:20:36

1:20:36

In this interview episode (cruelly cut short by an impatient harbormaster) we barely scratch the surface of the careers of the legendary power couple of adventure gaming. Jason speaks with Roberta and Ken Williams of On-Line Systems / Sierra On-Line fame. We touch on chapters from the late 1970s to present day, including the first text/graphics adv…

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Episode 6 - Twin Kingdom Valley and Sphinx Adventure 44:56

10M ago44:56

44:56

Dave and Jason take on a pair of BBC Micro originals from the early 1980s in this episode, with the appetizer course of Acornsoft's first adventure game Sphinx Adventure by Paul Fellows, followed by the main course of Twin Kingdom Valley by Trevor Hall. Twin Kingdom Valley playable online Sphinx Adventure playable online…

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Episode 5 - A Conversation With Tim Gilberts 50:57

1y ago50:57

50:57

Tim Gilberts published legendary text adventure creation systems The Quill and Professional Adventure Writer (PAW) through family publishing house Gilsoft in the 1980s. These products became the basis for hundreds of commercial games, many developed and sold as part of a late direct-to-consumer wave of adventure development in the late 1980s into t…

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Episode 4 - The Tracer Sanction and Down Among the Dead Men 56:33

1y ago56:33

56:33

Dave and Jason seek revenge on the dread pirate Skarvench and go on an interplanetary hunt for the mysterious Wing. This episode of The Retro Adventurers explores the neo-retro title Down Among the Dead Men (originally published as a Virtual Reality Adventures gamebook in 1993, converted into ZIL (Zork Implementation Language) and Z-Machine binary …

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Episode 3 - A Conversation With Scott Adams 1:01:30

1y ago1:01:30

1:01:30

Scott Adams of Adventure International and Clopas fame joins Dave and Jason for a conversation on this episode of The Retro Adventurers. We discuss the rise and fall of Adventure International, the Marvel Comics relationship behind the Questprobe games featuring The Hulk, Spider-Man, and The Human Torch & The Thing, building international business …

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Episode 2 - The Hobbit and Planet of Death 57:24

1y ago57:24

57:24

Retro Adventurers Jason Compton and Dave Hawkins explore iconic early text adventure The Hobbit (by Philip Mitchell and Veronika Megler, adapted from the novel by J. R. R. Tolkien) and Planet of Death (by Richard Turner and Chris Thornton). Includes listener mail, an explanation for postponing the promised Knight Orc, and a dive into both games. Sp…

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Episode 1 - The Pawn and Around the World 1:43:04

1y ago1:43:04

1:43:04

(Please note that Episode 1 has some audio issues which are ironed out in future episodes.) The premiere of The Retro Adventurers. Three old-school gamers talk about text adventures they have loved, hated, or are just experiencing for the first time. In this episode, Ben Collier, Jason Compton, and Dave Hawkins take a look at early text adventure A…

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Fifi's Big Adventure 1:23:49

1+ y ago1:23:49

1:23:49

Kay has created a 50,000 word choose your own adventure novel for NaNoGenMo, and Carrington has nothing in his home to sit on. One of the hosts has their life much more together than the other, but who's to say which one. Okay, it's Kay. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by MC Frontalot Find links, notes, and m…

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Violet 1:01:37

2y ago1:01:37

1:01:37

Procrastination is the name of the game when Kay and Carrington play Violet. Okay, technically Violet is the name of the game when Kay and Carrington play Violet, but you know what I mean. Note to self: write a better summary for this podcast episode. I'm sure I'll get around to it before we record. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tu…

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Counterfeit Monkey 1:10:11

2y ago1:10:11

1:10:11

The Grue Gang tackles one of modern IF's most intricate and interesting games, in which letters can be added or deleted from words at any time and anything can be rearranged. Grue can become gruel, games can become gams, and podcasters can become really cool dudes (okay, that one is hypothetical). Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune…

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Creatures Such As We and Memories of Infocom 1:24:10

2+ y ago1:24:10

1:24:10

It's time to dim the lights and break out the legally binding waivers, as Kay and Carrington get busy with an interactive fiction dating sim. They'll also get down to some music inspired by Infocom games. Remember when they used to just play Zork? This podcast just keeps getting weirder. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is P…

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Dorm: Adventure at the 8-Bit Assembly 1:36:24

2+ y ago1:36:24

1:36:24

The Grue Crew discuss Carrington's own new text adventure game which he foisted upon an unsuspecting Kay. This is a deep dive into the creation of both the game and Feelies. Can the podcast, and more the point Carrington's ego, survive such a review? As the game itself says, what's the worst that can happen? Only one way to find out. Hosts: Kay Sav…

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Hadean Lands, Bee redux, and Leviathan 1:04:51

2+ y ago1:04:51

1:04:51

What do you get when you mix difficult puzzles with intricate storytelling? A pair of defeated gamers, that's what. Kay and Carrington throw in the towel and admit they were bested by Andrew Plotkin's Hadean Lands. Then they replay Emily Short's recently remastered Bee, and tackle Jason Shiga's twisted tale of tentacles and truth. Bonus: Kay may or…

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Everybody Dies and Bee 1:03:07

3y ago1:03:07

1:03:07

The guys from Grue tackle another pair of modern Interactive Fiction games, or at least try to. First up is Everybody Dies, by Jim Munroe, in which ... well, everybody dies. Until they don't. And maybe there are ghosts. Next is Bee, by Emily Short, about going to a spelling bee. Except the only version of the game available doesn't include the spel…

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Their Angelical Understanding, and 16 Ways to Kill a Vampire at McDonalds 1:11:45

3y ago1:11:45

1:11:45

Kay and Carrington get a double dose of IF when they play and discuss Twine games for the first time. First up is Their Angelical Understanding, by Porpentine, which comes with both music and warnings. Next is 16 Ways to Kill a Vampire at McDonalds, by Abigail Corfman, a game about french fries and undeath. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston …

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The Secret of Monkey Island 1:41:38

3y ago1:41:38

1:41:38

It's time for pointin' and clicking' and piratin', oh my, as Kay and Carrington play one of LucasFilm's famously funny forays into adventure gaming. Will they become terrors of the high seas, or be stuffed into Davy Jones' locker? All we know for sure is, there will be grog. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by…

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The Meteor, the Stone and a Long Glass of Sherbet 1:25:11

3y ago1:25:11

1:25:11

The Grue Crew delves into a world of noisy elephants and silent Rs, as they discuss Graham Nelson's game The Meteor, The Stone and a Long Glass of Sherbet. Just when they think they're out, Zork pulls them back in. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by MC Frontalot Find links, notes, and more episodes of Eaten B…

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A Change in the Weather and Uncle Zebulon's Will 1:23:58

3+ y ago1:23:58

1:23:58

Kay and Carrington leave behind the world of Infocom and venture into the future! (By which we mean the 1990s.) In this episode they tackle the two winners of the First Annual IF Competition: A Change in the Weather by Andrew Plotkin, and Uncle Zebulon's Will by Magnus Olsson. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" …

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Zork Zero: The Revenge of Megaboz 1:42:42

3+ y ago1:42:42

1:42:42

It's another game with a colon in the title, as Kay and Carrington tackle the ninth game in the increasingly inaccurately named Zork Trilogy. This one wraps up the entire Zork series, and (maybe) (kinda) explains everything. It all started long ago west of a white house, but how will it end? And what comes next? Eaten By A Grue: Zork Zero: The Reve…

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Journey: The Quest Begins 1:24:37

4y ago1:24:37

1:24:37

Kay and Carrington take a midnight train going anywhere into a land of magic, but too few resources to play it any way they want it (that's the way they need it). Will the Grue Crew and this game go their separate ways, or will they embrace this capital-J Journey with open arms? Journey: The Quest Begins Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston The…

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Eaten By A Cruise 53:23

4y ago53:23

53:23

Kay and Carrington set sail on the virtual high seas to give a talk at this year's JoCo Cruise, an annual oceangoing event for technophiles, tabletop gamers, and creative-minded people. In other words, a bunch of nerds. It's the perfect venue to discuss all things Infocom. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by M…

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Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur 1:46:27

4+ y ago1:46:27

1:46:27

Can Kay and Carrington defeat the usurper king and restore peace to a fabled land? And more importantly, can they do it while turning into badgers and turtles and eels, oh my. Some claim there is more to being a knight than just eating ham and jam and Spam a lot. Surely you joust. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Da…

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James Clavell's Shogun 1:44:35

4+ y ago1:44:35

1:44:35

You'll need swords, seamanship, political guile, but most of all inline hints to tackle Infocom's ill-conceived first foray into graphical adventures. Kay and Carrington find their patience tested in a game where, ironically, the most frequently used command is 'wait'. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by MC Fr…

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Take All 2:11:51

5y ago2:11:51

2:11:51

Kay and Carrington take a victory lap after finishing all of the Infocom text-only adventures. Turn on verbose mode and light the brass lantern, it's time to take a look back at what they liked best, and least, from these classic games. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by MC Frontalot Find links, notes, and mo…

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The Lurking Horror 2:06:12

5y ago2:06:12

2:06:12

A bone chilling blizzard at the window, a reanimated hand on your shoulder, and worst of all a term paper deadline. All the ingredients for a deliciously dreadful day at Boston's creepiest college, where Kay and Carrington delve deep into the tunnels and tombs of The Lurking Horror. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch …

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Wishbringer 1:48:59

5y ago1:48:59

1:48:59

In Wishbringer, a search for a lost cat leads Kay and Carrington into a dark fantasy land where their greatest concern isn't the witches, the eldritch tendrils, or even the grue. It's delivering the mail. Be careful what you wish for. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by MC Frontalot Find links, notes, and more…

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Stationfall 1:44:21

5y ago1:44:21

1:44:21

What do you get when you combine a plucky little robot, an abandoned space station, and Cousin Oliver? To find out, complete form JZ-59-G then listen in as Kay and Carrington discuss Stationfall, Infocom's comedy horror space adventure mystery. Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by MC Frontalot Find links, notes…

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Scavange! 1:55:41

5y ago1:55:41

1:55:41

The Gruesome Twosome take another vacation from Infocom to play a vintage text adventure written by none other than Kay himself back in the 1980s. From creative spellings to Playboy magazines, it's old school meets high school in Scavange. (Quack! Hiss!) Hosts: Kay Savetz and Carrington Vanston Theme tune: "It Is Pitch Dark" by MC Frontalot Find li…