untitled (speed.gam) (1999)
fizzle.
XYZZY Responses![[top]](../img/top20x20.png "top"){kind=small}
![[menu]](../img/menu20x20.png "menu"){kind=small}
XYZZY Responses Are you ready for this? This is a collection of responses to XYZZY in a multitude of parser-based works of interactive fiction. Although XYZZY is usually just an optional magic word with a silly quip behind it, sometimes it does do something useful... which means there are some spoilers, but for the most part they're fairly minor. Especially since I'm not giving any context, apart from the works' names.
If the spoiler isn't minor, I've masked the quote by rendered it in light gray on light gray. To read a spoiler, select the gray area(s) with your mouse.
untitled (speed.gam) (1999)
fizzle.
untitled (onion2.gam) (1999)
Out of nowhere, a huge cloud of orange smoke fills the car. When it clears, you suddenly realize that you're in the shack!
>look
shack
Betcha didn't think i'd have time to implement xyzzy, did you?
>xyzzy
You suddenly feel very disoriented, and the room seems to be spinning all around you. As you gradually regain your balance, you realize that you're now in the car!
The 12:54 to Asgard (2010)
Done.
*** Your story continues, but it is you who shall write it ***
1893: A World's Fair Mystery (2002)
You practice your alphabet again, but stumble at the point where you reach the end and try going backwards.
1982 (2014)
You take off your shoe, pull out a rabbit, and put the shoe back on. The confused rabbit runs off.
21 Points (2003)
You are momentarily engulfed in smoke. When the smoke clears, you are someplace else.
[Your new location is then described.]
2112 (0000)
Goddess bless you.
2604 (2001)
You game will be set on one or several floor(s) of a thirty-story building in Manhattan. At the beginning of the game, it's ten in the evening on December 31, 2002. On every floor, the New Year's bash is going on -- the people in their high-rise apartments, the rented out function halls, even the office workers stuck here late. Fireworks are scheduled to begin over the water promptly at midnight. Unfortunately, the building will be taken over by terrorists at eleven-thirty -- they've infiltrated the maintenance staff and have been surreptitiously placing bombs in various locations throughout the building during the past few months, all set to go off at different times later that evening if their demands aren't met.
Each author will get one floor in the building as their own. You're free to use unused floors to a degree, but try not to do too much that'd interfere with other people's games.
50 Shades of Jilting (2014)
Is your grasp on reality solid? You're uttering nonsense!
Suddenly, in a puff of orange smoke, a mean little dwarf appears behind the counter. Uttering some primeval epithet in a runic tongue, he hurls a small axe at you. It just misses, lodging in your booth's napkin dispenser. Sam looks nonplussed as you roll defensively under the table, but how typically self-centered -- upon closer scrutiny, you can see that Sam is perfectly safe in a wicker cage. (However did you miss that before?) But even below the table you are not in the clear -- you attempt to wriggle out into the aisle, but find your path barred by a fierce green snake! Damned if you're going to face these perils alone -- maybe Sam doesn't have a monopoly on selfishness -- you open the wicker cage. Much to your surprise, Sam launches out from the cage like a thing possessed and descends upon the snake like a mongoose taking on a cobra.
Seeing your opening, you leave the two ensnared in their struggle, staggering into the back of the restaurant and down a staircase into its rough-hewn underground basement. Taking stock of your possessions and surroundings you find you forget Sam almost entirely -- after all, you've got a three-foot black rod with a rusty star at one end and need to figure out who or what to wave it at!
*** You are in a maze of twisty little relationships, all alike. ***
69,105 Keys (2009)
A hollow voice sings:
"I xyz zy spiders on the wall... I xyz zy cobwebs in the hall...
I xyz zy candles on the shelf... When I'm alone, I xyz myself!"
69105 More Keys (2019)
77 Verbs (2020)
You are now Ryan Veeder.
Aayela (1996)
You are suddenly overcome with nostalgia for the good old days, when adventurers who spoke in two-word sentences and slew dragons with their bare hands...
Above and Beyond! (2000)
I know... I know... You had to try it. Personally, I don't blame ya!
Absence of Law (2017)
**************************************************
Initiating audiovisual link with Project XYZZY...
**************************************************
Project XYZZY
This laboratory is a pure glass cube suspended in a dark void.
You are controlling Ivan Rat, our...well, our lab rat.
You can see a broken spade, a glass of sherbet, a black edifice, a seed pod, a jingle bell, a spider chip, a signet ring, a white canister, a phonograph record, a salt crystal, a medieval coin, a gift box, a gnome's hat, a platypod, a dog bowl, a dinosaur egg, an animal mask, a golden disc, a cellarium, a Heart of Something, a ray gun and a novelty lighter here.
-New command-
xyzzy - return
I still don't understand, Dr. Law, why you thought that collecting text adventure memorabilia would aid the battle against death. Or why you spent so much money on this containment cube.
>xyzzy
**************************************************
Returning to your last known location...
**************************************************
Acheton (1987)
I'm afraid that magic word hasn't got enough power to work in this universe.
Across the Stars (2007)
You think you hear a fizzle and a pop, but ever since coming back from zero gravity training you've been hearing strange sounds every now and then.
An Act of Murder (2007)
Impossibly, the fiddler-shaped weather vane up on the top of the house twists around and begins to actually scratch out a pleasant, simple tune on its little fiddle. As you stare up at it in astonishment, you completely fail to notice the hordes of stampeding Cossacks which trample you to death as they roar off on their way to yet another pogrom.
*** You have died ***
Tick tock tick tock tick ... and then the grandfather clock suddenly stops short, never to go again ... and so does your heart.
*** You have died ***
There is an odd whirring sound from the Faberge egg clock, and then the haunting tones of a violin sonata begins to pour forth from it. It's quite enchanting. So when the easter egg suddenly transforms into a mechanical hawk and proceeds to claw your eyes out, you are, to put it bluntly, taken somewhat unawares.
*** You have died ***
"Oh, I say," says the portrait of Lord Dundreary suddenly.
You look up at it in astonishment, but the good Lord Dundreary (outlandish whiskers and all) seems quite unfazed. "Let me ask you a widdle -- why does a duck go under water? for divers reasons. Now I'll give you another -- why does a duck come out of the water? for sundry reasons. No! No! see, you live on suction, you're like that bird with a long bill, they call doctor, no, that's not it, I thought it was a doctor, because it has a long bill--I mean a snipe--yes, you're a lovely snipe...."
And at some point during all this, John Wilkes Booth sneaks up behind you and shoots you in the head.
*** You have died ***
Elinor Lamb gives you a very strange look as you intone the Magick Word, and unobtrusively wheels herself out of the room.
Nothing happens for a few minutes, and then you hear a weak "feed ... me ... Seymour...." coming from the direction of the potted plants. A quick investigation reveals a particularly large flytrap of some sort, which promptly swallows you whole.
*** You have died ***
The response is based on which room the PC is in.
Ad Verbum (2000)
A distracted figure with a huge bushy beard blunders in just as you speak the word of ancient magic. The man wears loose clothing, and an expression of intense concentration. He is clutching his frizzy hair with one hand; his other hand grips an intricate grid - the object of his attention.
His eyes brighten as the word you've spoken reaches his ears. "Yes! Yes! That's it!" he exclaims as he draws out a pen and fills in a row of squares. "Now my hyperconstrained, double-acrostic, cryptic crossword is complete, and ready to puzzle others. That was all I needed - just a simple five-letter word, composed only of the letters 'X' 'Y' and 'Z,' that would fit here!"
He grips your hand and shakes it fervently. "Thank you! Now that I've finished with that, I can get on to those other things I've been meaning to do, such as monkey-wrenching the demolition and saving recreational linguistics for future generations." He turns away and mutters, just before he departs, "I hope none of that will involve lying in front of a bulldozer..."
[+1.]
Adoo's Stinky Story (2003)
You wait a minute and nothing happens. Guess you'll have to figure this out the old-fashioned way.
Adventure (1975)
Adventurer's Consumer Guide (2007)
Suddenly everything looks as if it is made of butter. Just as suddenly all is back to normal. But you get a strange feeling that somehow, somewhere, something has changed.
Adventures of Helpfulman (1999)
http://www.xyzzynews.com
The Adventures of Houdini (2012)
You make a "zzzzyyyyyy" noise.
The Adventures of the President of the United States (2003)
You can almost hear the former presidents laughing at you.
Afflicted (2008)
You break mimesis to pay your respects to Will Crowther.
AFGNCAAP - IF Agent! Todays Adventure: Holy Goat! (2007)
You muble the magic word, but the spell doesn't work! The goat is still there. Hmm, you always worked that spell on yourself. Maybe you have to change it...
>yzzyx
You mumble the magic word backward and the goat is warped away, leaving the distinct smell of defeat. You hope she has fun in ADVENT.
Ailihphilia (2018)
...
...
X.
Aisle (1999)
Maybe years ago when things were more about fun and were less real. You've come too far to go back.
Akkoteaque (2013)
Stop that.
Alabaster (2008)
You whisper an old magic word, pulled from some distant recess of your memory. The syllables are lost in the darkness, muffled by the trees.
Snow White looks at you with an amused expression. Her red lips quirk in the merest hint of a smile. For only a moment -- then she looks serious as before.
The XYZZY command is not understood in older versions of this work.
Alcohol solves everything (2007)
There's a listening sort of silence.
Also: The Black Lily; The Story of Mr. P..
Alias 'The Magpie' (2018)
You can't see any such thing.
All Hope Abandon (2005)
All Quiet on the Library Front (1995)
You invoke an ancient word of power, and a hollow voice whispers in your ear, "Quiet, please. No talking in the library."
[Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Alone (2020)
A huge meteor randomly comes out of the sky and lands directly on you, killing you instantly.
*** You've finally been put out of your misery. ***
Along The River (2010)
You shout into the wind, "XYZZY!". The wind shouts back at you, "Fool!". Or that's how it sounded, anyway.
The Amazing Maze (2020)
A hollow voice says "Amazing!"
Amissville II (2005)
[Displays a black-and-white aerial or satellite photo of Amissville, with three locations (Greenbridge, Nelson Ln, and Campsite) marked with labels and red circles.]
Amusement Park (2004)
Nothing obvious happens.
Also: Möbius.
ANATIDAEPHOBIA (2017)
You're not trying to win at Scrabble. You have better things to do...
And A Hippo New Year (2012)
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas.
Only a hippopotamus will do.
And the Waves Choke the Wind (2000)
Andromeda Apocalypse (2012)
The sea won't mind your tricks.
Andromeda Awakening (2011)
You don't even know how to write that, let alone pronounce it.
Andromeda Dreaming (2012)
You remember that your many hypnotism classes often involved secret trigger words that would bring back a response or a series of response, even years later.
Another Earth, Another Sky (2002)
You're a superhero, not a magician.
Another Goddamn Escape the Locked Room Game (2006)
Apartment F209 (1997)
Gee, grandpa. What was it like back then?
Apoptosis (2010)
I'm not quite sure what you meant by that.
Appallatron (2002)
As you speak the word, you feel yourself sucked through fifth dimension, beyond time, space, Punch, and Judy, to be reunited with your Significant Other.
"I have made it! Even killer molluscs couldn't have stopped me!"
"Eh. You took too long. I'm not convinced. Let me set you one more task."
Sigh. "What?"
"See these eleven rings stacked on this pole? I want you to move them onto that other pole over there..."
*** You have won ***
Are You A Chef? (2000)
You apply a great deal of concentration, and find yourself walking into another place.
Long Hall
This room is brilliantly lit from all directions. In fact, it is unclear where the walls and ceiling end. A doorway leads to the west, and tunnels lead in most other directions, although all but one are boarded up. An archway stands at the south end of the hall.
Visible exits: south (to Dorm A), west (to the Adventurer's Lounge), southwest (to the Big Dig)
You can see a pile of ashes, a note and the Official ifMUD Bulletin Board here.
Ariadne in Aeaea (2016)
Wrong century.
Also: 1958: Dancing With Fear; Onna Kabuki: A Tale of Theatre and Revenge.
Arrival, or Attack of the B-Movie Clichés (1998)
You’d think a fancy graphic game like this would show you a pretty picture of some room from Adventure, or at least something flashy for your trouble.
Yeah, well.
Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur (1989)
Gesundheit.
Artifiction (2002)
ASCII and the Argonauts (2003)
A HOLLOW VOICE SAYS, "FOOL!"
Assignment (2001)
What in the world did you expect that to do here? I have to give you credit for trying, and consider yourself one of the l33t for trying it out, even though I don't know enough to actually implement a scoring system.
At The Bottom Of The Garden (2000)
Nothing happens. No witty responses, nothing.
At Wit's End (2000)
Hold on while your PC sends you a Gamma burst of mind altering energy...
(I hope you closed your eyes.)
As soon as the ringing in your ear stops, press ENTER.
OK, thank you in advance for giving this game a 10.
Also: At Wit's End Again.
The Atomic Heart (2003)
The customer isn't always right; everyone is always wrong.
Attack of the Terror Tabby!!! (2008)
i CaN HaS BOMB!
Augmented Fourth (2000)
You feel a tugging sensation at the tips of your toes. Without warning, you suddenly wink out of existence...
Control Room
[1st time]
Red and blue lights flash from long metal panels of all shapes and sizes. As your eyes become accustomed to this distraction, you see hundreds of little gnomelike men rushing in every direction, carrying all manner of objects. One particular gnome
[2nd to 10th]
A gnome
brushes by carrying a package labeled "Papoosen Props: [one of]blue cottage[or]receptacle[or]debris[or]court[or]endtable[or]courtyard wall[or]pillars[or]path[or]rooms[or]brambles[at random]". Next to you, a tall gnome, who looks to be in charge, shouts orders into the organized chaos, occasionally [one of]stopping to make notes in his black binder[or]berating lazy gnomes[or]approving NPCs which are brought before him[or]inspecting packages[or]making sure the props are lifelike[at random].
He snaps his fingers briskly. A moment of disorientation finds you back where you were before[ and, unfortunately, still falling]. You can't help but wonder if it was all just a dream, brought on by the stress of the week's events...
[11th time]
Nothing happens. But a hollow voice in the back of your mind, which sounds suspiciously like Lenny the Head Gnome mutters, "Heh...fool."
[12th time, etc.]
A hollow voice in the back of your mind mutters, "Heh...fool."
August (2001)
You hold your tongue. Such utterances are still punishable by death. And you don't wish to start hearing voices again.
Aunt Nancy's House (1997)
A hollow voice says "Wrong game, pal."
Aunts and Butlers (2006)
Is that some sort of telegraphic cypher?
The Awakening (by Matheson) (1998)
A word comes to you, and you shout it out... "XYXXY!". The storm responds with a roar and a crash of thunder. It is a word of power. Once, you feel, you knew many such words. Now, only this one remains.
Azteca (2004)
A deep voice booms out "Cretino."
Bad Guys (1998)
Though you do command much magical talent, this isn't the way to use it.
Bad Machine (1998)
The Baker of Shireton (2015)
Baluthar (2003)
Nothing happens. You hear the hollow voice of Baluthar laughing in your head.
Banana Apocalypse and the Rocket Pants of Destiny (2001)
BEARS BEARS BEARS. [Your easter egg could go here! Call now at 555-1212 to order...]
Basket of Destiny (2001)
You can chant all the magic words you want, but it won't clean your home.
A Bear's Night Out (1997)
Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!
That trick never works.
-- Bullwinkle J. Moose
and Rocky Squirrel A hollow voice says `Obviously, you are in the wrong game.'
Bears, Bears, Bears (2001)
A foolish voice says, "Hallo."
Beat the Devil (1999)
You hear a deep voice out of the air next to your right ear. It says 'Crowther and Woods, please report to the mall office.' You jump.
A Beauty Cold and Austere (2017)
Nothing happens. Did you expect that would do something?
XYZZY is useful at one point in the game. TODO SPOILER.
The Beetmonger's Journal (2001)
Behold! (2001)
This game was written for "SpeedIF Xyzzy". The parameters were as follow:
This year, a very special XYZZY awards ceremony will coincide with the anniversary of the invention of cheese. One of the presenters is scheduled to be either Stephen Bishop or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. But alas, tragedy has struck! This tragedy will somehow involve, or possibly be solved by, a fruit basket filled with mangoes and/or Psmith.
Bonus points will be awarded for mention of the numbers 21351 or 4+3i, giant squids, ramen, cork nuts, or yesterday. Feel free to take liberties, but not without my baby. Ready? Go!
Being Andrew Plotkin (2000)
[Hit any key.]
| As in the water face answers to face, So the mind of a man Reflects the man. -- Pr. 27:19 |
For old times sake.
[Hit any key.]
Berrost's Challenge (2008)
That spell hasn't been invented yet.
Best of Three (2001)
-- obligatory easter egg --
A Bet's a Bet (2004)
*Poof*
An authentic copy of Zork I for the PC magically appears.
>xyzzy
Nothing else happens.
Beta Tester (2009)
*POOF* Someone who looks a LOT like Lord Dimwit Flathead, ruler of Quendor, The Great Underground Empire, appears in the room with a silly grin on his face.
Pause.
He extends his arm towards you, taps you on your nose and says "Old School!"
Pause.
*POOF* He's gone.
Pause.
The folks in Legal would again like to re-iterate that the person that appeared and touched you on the nose was NOT Lord Dimwit Flathead, ruler of Quendor.
Pause.
So know now, for a fact, that Lord Dimwit Flathead, ruler of Quendor, has NOT made an appearance in this game.
The Bible Retold: Following a Star (2010)
Suddenly, you see [random object(s)] hurtling down from the sky and disintegrating before your eyes.
The list of possible objects is quite large; for example: a baby giraffe, a blatant anachronism, a boulder, a cockroach, a coffee cup made of ice, a cracked Grecian urn, a crown of thorns, a dead cat, a devious ferret, an Easter egg, an empty frankincense jar, a fake moustache, a festive bauble, a fish from the Sea of Galilee, a flimsy catapult, some fool's gold, a forbidden fruit, some furry dice, a giant doormouse, a groovy sheep (?), a homeless iguana, a left-hand glove, etc.
Also, a basic item like a left-hand glove can be presented in numerous formats, such as: some left-hand gloves; an engraving of a left-hand glove; a mound of left-hand gloves; a mural of a left-hand glove; a painting of a left-hand glove; a pair of left-hand gloves; a picture of a left-hand glove; a quantity of left-hand gloves; a tapestry, depicting a left-hand glove; a tin of left-hand gloves; or what looks like a left-hand glove. Adjectives like black market, chocolate, large, suspicious-looking, etc. may also modify the basic item.
The Bible Retold: The Bread and the Fishes (2006)
Did you really expect something to happen? Collossal Cave Adventure won't be written for many years yet.
The Bible Retold: The Lost Sheep (2010)
Magic won't get you very far in this game.
Bigger Than You Think (2012)
Fairy-tale magic words won't solve anything.
Birmingham IV (2018)
Nothing happens. The Phil feels a bit silly.
Biscuit (2001)
You utter an ancient word of power, but all that happens is that your wife appears, shakes her head at you in disbelief and mutters something about "Dreaming again were we dear?"
Blighted Isle (2007)
A hollow extradiagetic voice proclaimed: “Lieutenant James Corby was born two centuries too soon to have any idea what that means. You’ll be wanting him to use his mobile phone next!”
Bloodless on the Orient Express (2011)
You have actually met many magicians in your long life. Many of them tasted well.
Blue Chairs (2004)
You used to play text adventures, used to remember words like that. But the appeal fell away from them at some point, some night you no longer recall...
Blue Head Yurt (1999)
Something is happening here ... whoa.
>look
time room
Time! Time! I need more time .... we all need more time .... to quote the band Ivy: 'To know we die / makes love a lie' .... here's hoping the time isn't wasted ....
>xyzzy
Something is happening again ... whoa!
Blue Lacuna (2008)
Here are some of the albums that were on constant play during my writing of Blue Lacuna, along with, in some cases, which sequence they helped shape. These albums can perhaps be thought of as the unofficial soundtrack:
Gyorgi Ligeti, Requiem
Lisa Gerrard, The Silver Tree -- the Windsigh
Ryan Miller, Tim Larkin and Jack Wall, soundtracks to the Myst games -- exploring
Michael Stearns, The Lost World -- the eastern forest
Colleen, The Golden Morning Breaks -- Phoebe and Lethe
amiina, Animamina and Kurr -- Phoebe and Lethe
Kenji Kawai, Ghost In The Shell Soundtrack -- The Great Philosopher
Robert Rich, Gaudi / Below Zero -- The Heart of the Forest
Jakob Draminsky Højmark, En Landsoldats Dagbog -- Progue's Despair
Jocelyn Pook, various -- painting
Jeremy Soule, Game Soundtracks
Michael Andrews, Donnie Darko Original Score -- Progue's Playfulness
Aphex Twin, Melodies From Mars -- Progue
Eluvium, various albums -- the dreams
And other albums which are not tied to particular moments but which nevertheless received heavy play during the writing:
Geinoh Yamashirogumi, Akira Soundtrack / Ecophony Gaia
Brian Tyler, Children of Dune
Matt Uelmen, Diablo II Soundtrack
Leon Willet, Dreamfall Soundtrack
Philip Glass, Koyaanisquatsi
Paul Ruskay, Homeworld Soundtrack
Juno Reactor, Labyrinth
Sigur Rós, various albums
Lemon Demon
Vangelis, various albums
Clint Mansell, The Fountain
and the entire Jonathan Coulton catalog.
Body Bargain (2012)
You test out your voice with a magic word. Nothing seems to happen, but it feels kind of funny in your throat.
BOFH (2002)
As you mutter the magic word the screen on your boss's laptop suddenly transforms! Where before was a spreadsheet with a few cells, (already pushing the limits of your boss's brain capacity) a collection of the hottest, most erotic pornography ever imagined has appeared!
When your boss notices the interesting change on his laptop his eyes go wide and a small smile crosses his lips. Unfortunately for him, your CEO chooses that exact moment to walk in and speak with the boss about something or other. Your CEO notices the plethora of fascinating sexual images on your boss' laptop and opens and closes his mouth a few times as he tries to speak but is too shocked and pissed off to form words. Finally some words come...
"Is this how you spend valuable company time?! Clean out your fucking desk and hit the street, deadbeat."
[Your score has just gone up by ten points.]
Bolivia By Night (2005)
Digging up the past can sometimes have dangerous consequences.
Bonehead (2011)
This is the Big Apple, not the Colossal Cave.
Book and Volume (2005)
You suddenly utter a great word of power known to you from your youth. Nothing happens.
Border Reivers (2018)
You feel a strange sensation for a moment, but then it passes. Best get back to the task at hand.
Briar (2013)
Broken Legs (2009)
Sure, you might as well do some vocal exercises.
"Xyzzy xyzzy xyzzy xyzzy zoo!" Your tongue feels really limber, but you still suck. Why?
>xyzzy
OK, fine, second time's a charm.
"Xyzzy xyzzy xyzzy xyzzy zoo!" It sounds even worse than the first time. Why?
>xyzzy
Come on, Lottie, it's not like you're going to magically improve.
"Xyzzy xyzzy xyzzy xyzzy zoo!" See? Just as bad as ever. Why?
You can also do vocal exercises via PLUGH. Doing either XYZZY or PLUGH increases a shared internal counter to determine which first paragraph to respond with.
The Bryant Collection (2009)
Note: Answering YES to the question will teleport the PC to the Living Room location.
Buck the Past (2017)
It's too early for that.
TODO: Check if XYZZY does something else later in the game.
Bugged (2001)
[Note to self: insert witty answer here.]
Business As Usual (2008)
You mumble something that has nothing to do with what you're currently dealing with.
Also: Existence.
By the Lake (2015)
You blink. You were distracted for a moment, lost in thought. You look again, at your hands and the shovel.
BYOD (2020)
Byzantine Perspective (2009)
Everything dissolves into static...
The PC now appears to be in The Chalice Room.
The Cabal (2004)
[There are no in-joke responses in this game.]
Cacophony (2009)
Fractal patterns spin across your vision briefly, and you feel hollow.
Calliope (1999)
My prime goal in writing Calliope was to get comfortable with the Inform programming language, and I believe I succeeded that much. Originally, I meant to accomplish this merely by painting a (somewhat self-deprecatory) autobiographical portrait of myself hacking confusedly away at a going-nowhere Inform program, making a silly little diorama which, once complete, I might have shown a couple of friends before setting it aside and probably forgetting about it, but enough ideas for expanding this into a dippy little quote-unquote 'interactive' tribute to text adventure programming in general fell into my head to move me to expand this bloated exercise from pastiche to short story. I then submitted the whole mess to the 1999 IF Comp, partly to make good on my never-canceled entrance request from the beginning of this year (When I had a vague idea about a game I wanted to make, which I then let lie fallow for some months, poked at a little, and then abandoned), but mostly for the same reason most people probably have when they enter the Boston Marathon. It's a fun lark!
While I can't expect this little trifle to score very well in the competition, I hope that you get a smile or two from it anyway. I had enough fun writing it, learning as I went, to want to dig immediately into making a 'real' text adventure game, so, as far as I'm concerned, it's a smashing success.
Special thanks to betatesters Leah Bonistalli, Jordan 'Greywolf' Peacock, Jeff Pitrman, and Andy Turner.
You may send comments and criticism to me at [eaddress omitted].
--Jason McIntosh
Calm (2011)
Camping! (1999)
Michael: NYAH NYAH! :-)
Thanks to Iain, inky and tufty.
Cana According To Micah (2011)
Is that supposed to be [one of]Aramaic[or]Greek[or]Latin[or]Punic[or]Sumerian[at random]? Your accent is exercrable.
Candy Rush Saga (2014)
You don't need magic. Logic will suffice, here.
Captain Verdeterre's Plunder (2013)
{Interactive Fiction Vocabulary Note: "XYZZY" is this ancient inside joke of a command that every author of parser-based IF is required to think of a cute response for, even if they already used up all their good jokes while they were writing the rest of the game.}
Carma (2001)
Magic won't help here – only a very big ink eraser.
The Carthage Corn Maze (2001)
You are transported elsewhere, then back here. Along the way, a TV set breaks, and you munch on tasty celery.
Casino Viridoso V (2003)
A hollow voice says, "Zwanzig."
Castle Amnos (2000)
Eerie silence greets your words.
Also: The Chronicler.
Castle of the Red Prince (2013)
Derisive laughter echoes from the castle.
Catch That Haggis (2001)
>x t-shirt
It's a cheap cotton t-shirt. The slogan reads, "I used the magic word XYZZY and all I got was this stupid t-shirt."
>wear t-shirt
It looks like it was designed for someone with less tentacles. What kind of idiot implemented this easter egg anyway?
>drop t-shirt
The t-shirt bursts into flames and is destroyed.
The t-shirt will have on it whichever magic word you last used: XYZZY, PLUGH, or PLOVER.
Cattus Atrox (1998)
A small black cat struts by, rubs up against your legs, meows, then scampers off.
CC (1998)
Nothing happens, but you probably knew that already.
Chancellor (2005)
(You cannot use magic words before you've discovered them.)
TODO: Does that mean one can discover magic words in this game?
Chaos (by Caron) (1999)
[if awake:] Chaos smiles. "Sorry, pal. My xyzzy-bot is still back at the junkyard."
Charming (2018)
You take a deep breath and prepare to cast Xyzzy.
"What are you doing?!" Arthur demands, interrupting your incantation, "Casting spells all willy-nilly is how you got into this mess!"
(Try CASTing the spell AT something instead.)
The Chasing (2001)
Nothing happens here.
Cheater (1996)
You are magically transported to an astounding cave containing many wonderful treasures. Unfortunately it is very dark there. You eventually fall into a pit.
*** You have died ***
Cheesed Off! (2016)
Sweet dreams are made of cheese
Who am I to dis a Brie?
I cheddar the world and a Feta cheese
Everybody's looking for Stilton.
Cheeseshop (2002)
A hollow voice says "Xyzzy? Tinny, tinny sort of word."
Then a sixteen-ton weight drops on your head.
*** You have died ***
Ouch. How depressing.
Chicken and Egg (1998)
Your interrogator, in a tired--yet hollow--voice, mumbles "Fool."
Chickens of Distinction (1998)
They don't pay you enough for that.
Chicks Dig Jerks (1999)
A hollow voice says, "Myst drools, CHICKS DIG JERKS rules!"
Chico and I Ran (2000)
Once in your life this verb helps
Some word that turns your game around and
Next thing you know you've obtained the egg mcguffin
Wake up and it's still with you
Even though you left it 'way cross town
Wondering to yourself, "Hey, what've I done"
When you get caught between a quit and a verb called xyzzy
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between a quit and a verb called xyzzy
Best that you can do, best that you can do--invisiclues
Arthur he does as he pleases
All of his life he plays text adventures
Deep in his heart, he's just, he's just a boy
Living his life through many undo's
Fooling himself that he didn't just lose
Laughing about the way they want him to play
When you get caught between a quit and a verb called xyzzy
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between a quit and a verb called xyzzy
Best that you can do, best that you can do--invisiclues
-- Christopher "Star" Cross
Child's Play (2006)
Supposedly saying xyzzy will do magical things and whatever, you can't talk yet.
The Chinese Room (2007)
A hollow voice says, "There are no obligatory Adventure references in this game."
There is a long pause.
"Oh, bugger."
Christminster (1995)
Nothing happens.
Also: Accuse; Adventwiture; Agency; A Boy and his Goat; Centipede; Colours; Dr Ego and the egg of Man-Toomba; First Things First; Journey from an Islet; The Life (and Deaths) of Doctor M; Magocracy; A Martian Odyssey; Mr Cuddle Cuddle Bop Bop; Murphy's Law; Order; Shangri La; SpeedIF 11, part six; The Tale of the Kissing Bandit; The Travels of Fitzwilliam Pound; Under the Sea: The Treasure of the Santa Tortosa; Wormwood Days II: The Aftermath.
Citizen of Nowhere (2019)
I see you, old school player!
There is a secret word in this game, but that's not it.
The City (1998)
That phrase means something to you, though you cannot remember what. Memories may not be opaque, but the density of layers that cover your remembrances obscure any recollection of what this word might mean.
City of Secrets (2003)
The strange word, though meaningless, endows you with a brief flush of confidence and self-assurance.
The Coast House (2001)
Can you say that here? I thought that was copyrighted or something...?
Coffee Quest II (2002)
A hollow voice inside your head mocks your social skills.
Post-comp version only.
Coke Is It! (1999)
Six Million a Day.
Color the Truth (2016)
[if not in topics:] You think deeply about xyzzy.
[New topic - XYZZY]
[if blackmailer to Rosalita:] "Rosa, there's something I've been meaning to say."
She hesitates before answering. "What is it?"
You sigh. "Xyzzy."
You hear her sobbing through the phone. Your stomach sinks as even you, the blackmailer, are filled with regret for bringing up this painful episode in Rosalita's life. Xyzzy is best left forgotten.
[if detective to Chief:] "Chief, I know it's not supposed to exist, but I think it's time that we open the old case file on XYZZY."
The chief is silent for a long time.
"Chief, are you listening?"
He says, "Hector, you don't know what you're messing with here. Believe me: leave XYZZY alone. Forget about it. It never happened."
Coloratura (2013)
Rainbows appear from nowhere and drench everything in infinite colors. As suddenly as they appeared, they vanish, leaving no trace.
Coma! (1998)
A hollow voice says, 'Don't take me there.'
Coming Out of the Closet (1998)
It's not that easy to get out.
[if Fip is here, add:]
"Hey! Where did you learn that?"
Conan Kill Everything (2005)
Conan sneezes loudly.
Concrete Paradise (2002)
You utter the ancient Zulu curse under your breath...
...but nothing happens.
Condemned (2009)
[That won't work here: this is a modern work of IF.]
Constraints (from IF Comp 2002) (2002)
Cough Cough (2003)
Wrong game.
Also: The Big Scoop.
Counterfeit Monkey (2012)
What we do isn't magic. It's science.
The Cove (2000)
You murmer "Xyzzy," but nothing happens.
Also: Masquerade.
Cragne Manor (2018)
[if on Railway Platform:] The world falls silent for a moment, as if holding its breath for something to happen... but nothing does. You don't know what you expected, really.
[if at Church Exterior:]
[if in Backwater Public Library: XYZZY acts like SAY.]
In most locations, the command is not understood. I have only checked the first few locations.
A Crimson Spring (2000)
A hollow voice says, 'So get out there, Robb, and win this comp. Win it for the children. Win it for Red Cloud. And win it ... for Demetrius DuBose.'
Critical Breach (2010)
The Cross of Fire (2003)
Cheesy? Not at all. More like "archetypal".
The Cruise (2001)
A hollow voice whispers, "I saw a 't' on top of a castle!"
A goat runs through the lounge. A llama chases after it. The glue is dripping down the side of the bottle.
I doubt that made any sense to you, since it's an inside joke. Well, when you type something out-of-context like xyzzy you should expect an out-of-context response. If you expected to be teleported, too bad for you. This isn't Zork.
Crusade (2001)
A hollow voice says, "Infidel."
Cryptozookeeper (2010)
You can't see the Yzzy.
The Cube (2010)
You're too much the scientist to resort to magic.
The Cube in the Cavern (2017)
You hone in on your three-dimensional reasoning, visualization and general calculations. You even solve a trivial set of three equations with three unknowns. The result is a slight headache. But it's a MOTIVATING headache!
The Curse of Eldor (1996)
Suddenly a magical white glove appears floating in the air before you, slaps you several times across the face, then disappears.
Also: The Unholy Grail.
Custard (2000)
Try typing it again.
This game plays havok with player input if it detects that the user is trying to enter XYZZY.
d2d (2000)
A tap dancing velociraptor wearing a shiny green jacket appears before you, performs a short routine then vanishes. Or else nothing happens, if you prefer.
The Damp Camp (1999)
A hollow voice says
"Well, this adventure is written in tads not fortran, but seeing that you are pretty stuck, you can have your precious xyzzy."
There is a cloud of orange smoke and you realise that you are now in the ..................
Dash Slapney and the Calamitous Candy Corn Cornucopia (2011)
You don't believe in magic. You believe in dumb luck, stupid coincidence. It's worked so far.
The Day I came back (2014)
The soundtrack while coding this was mostly Suzanne Vega.
The Day I died (2013)
The author promised to make a post-comp release. Remind him of this!
The Day I stabbed Stalin (2010)
A hollow voice says: "Help, I couldn't thnk of a joke!"
The Day of the Queen (2015)
Gargleblargle
Dead Like Ants (2009)
Unbidden, some ancient instinctual meme crawls up from your subconscious. Your lips dance of their own accord. “Xyzzy,” you say.
You begin to twitch and shudder, your tiny brain cartwheeling into an ouroboros of self-referential insanity. “Xyzzy,” you repeat. “Xyzzy.”
You don't even notice as your legs give way and you collapse to the ground. Your senses have closed in, your mind shut down. And all that is left... is xyzzy.
(Your score has just decreased by twenty points.)
(If you’d prefer not to be notified about score changes in the future, type NOTIFY OFF.)
*** GAME OVER ***
In 1 move, you have scored -20 of a possible 6 points. This makes you a xyzzy.
Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
>full score
In 1 move, you have scored -20 of a possible 6 points. This makes you a xyzzy. Your score consists of:
-1 points for xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
-1 points for xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy
Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
A dead man's hug (2017)
Cassowary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cassowaries (/ˈkæsəwɛəri/) are ratites (flightless birds without a keel on their sternum bone) in the genus Casuarius and are native to the tropical forests of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and Indonesia), nearby islands, and northeastern Australia. 3 There are three extant species. The most common of these, the southern cassowary, is the third-tallest and second-heaviest living bird, smaller only than the ostrich and emu. Cassowaries feed mainly on fruit, although all species are truly omnivorous and will take a range of other plant food, including shoots and grass seeds, in addition to fungi, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. Cassowaries are very shy, but when provoked they are capable of inflicting injuries, occasionally fatal, to dogs and people.
Dead Man's Party (2014)
A booming voice whispers, “Enough is enough already.”
Death Off the Cuff (2010)
You don't need magic to solve the case; only logic.
Death To My Enemies (1999)
You apply a great deal of concentration, and find yourself walking into another place.
Long Hall
This room is brilliantly lit from all directions. In fact, it is unclear where the walls and ceiling end. Doorways lead to the east and west, and tunnels open up in most other directions. An archway stands at the south end of the hall.
You can see:
a torch in a wall sconce, Object #1000, sign, Long Hall map, cow orkers, slide, potential action list
Visible Exits:
south, north, west, east, southwest, southeast, northeast, northwest, up
[Wow, you're on the IFmud!!! Whee! For kicks, you walk west...]
Adventurer's Lounge
Candles on the wood-panelled walls create a comfortably dark atmosphere. Hand-drawn maps are taped to nearly every surface - the walls, the ceiling, the trophy case in the corner. Seating is plentiful. A small storage closet is to the north.
You can see:
Blob, wooden wood, keychain, Clive, Fanboy, fairy
Visible Exits:
east, north, west, up
[Hmmmmm... there seems to be a conversation going on!]
Fanboy says, "You see, I've never really understood what was so great about Zork. I hate zork. It has no continuity and makes no sense. However, Deadline, which is essencially puzzleless is near perfect interactive fiction as the name implies."
Clive says (to Fanboy), "Deadline had plenty of puzzles. For instance, the maze in the wine cellar under the house."
Fanboy says, "What maze in the wine cellar under the house/"
Clive says (to Fanboy), "Not to mention the infamous FCD#3"
Fanboy says (to Clive), "I'm confused."
Clive says, "The thing that was annoying about Deadline was all the little colored rods you had to pick up... it was a really transparent way to copy the treasures idea from Zork."
Fanboy says (to Clive), "We are not talking about the same game."
Clive says (to Fanboy), "Sure we are."
Fanboy says (to Clive), "Deadline did not have any colored rods nor a maze in the wine cellar."
Clive says, "I didn't like Witness, because it had all these dumb subplots where you had to follow the various characters around. Find the will, find the secret room, etc."
Fanboy says (to Clive), "Now you are describing Deadline."
Clive exclaims (to Fanboy), "You don't know what you're talkijg about!"
Clive says, "I am an Infocom expert."
[Alright, you feel you've had enough...]
You are back to your normal surroundings now.
Death Waif (2000)
A finely-dressed man appears in a flash of blinding pink light. "You know, with an important Presidential election coming up in the United States very soon, I think it's time to talk to you about a very important subject: Spork safety.
The man vanishes.
Deelzebub (2020)
A hollow voice says 'fool'
Deja Vu (1993)
For a moment you can almost hear a hoarse voice say something to you. But it passes.
Also: Curses.
Delphina's House (2015)
The storybook is The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
Delusions (1996)
It has been said that anything can happen in VR, but in this case "anything" turns out to be nothing at all.
Delvyn (2003)
http://mm.dfilm.com/mm2s/mm_route.php?id=1243287
Desert Heat (2000)
BLEEP! (ping) zZaP *glorgle*
The spell you have selected is out of service. Please try another game.
The Devil Made Me Do It (1998)
A man runs passed you being chased by lions and a blonde-haired man. You think to yourself, "Isn't that my little protege Karl? How wonderful!!!"
Dial C for Cupcakes (2014)
>:F
Awoooooooo! Pretty scary, boys and girls!
Dinner Bell (2012)
Remember when you used to play all those IF games and you'd type "xyzzy" just to see if it was implemented? That was great.
Dino Hunt (2000)
The ground shakes violently, making you drop everything you're carrying. Color, shapes, movement -- before you can figure out what's happening, three full-sized brightly colored dinosaurs surround you. The brontosaurus steps on you, the pterodacyl scratches you, and then the tyrannosaurus rex eats you alive.
Who says magic is dead?
*** You have died ***
Dinosaur Love (2000)
Something is happening here ... whoa. You're in the nullroom, where all the topics hide! Better do xyzzy again soon.
>look
Nullroom
It looks like an ordinary Nullroom to me.
>xyzzy
Something is happening again ... whoa!
Diorama (1999)
A hollow cow says, "Moo."
Dirk (2015)
Sheesh! Dirk's a knight, not a wizard.
Plus he doesn't deserve a hollow voice saying "Fool." Adventuring school flashbacks and all.
Divis Mortis (2010)
From behind you, you hear a hollow voice say "Graaaaargh...." You spin around quickly, but there is nothing there.
The Djinni Chronicles (2000)
The timeless word temporarily integrated me.
Domicile (2003)
You have a vague feeling of unease after pronouncing that word.
Doomsday (1999)
A hollow voice says, "Did you really think I'd take the time to implement that?"
Down and Out at the Big Creepy House on the Poison Lake (2009)
At End of Road
I am standing at the end of a road before a small brick building. Around is a forest. A small stream flows out of the building and down a gully.
...Snap out of it, self! This is no time to be daydreaming!
Downtown Tokyo Present Day (1998)
Our hero's grasp of the Japanese language is obviously poor!
Dr. Dumont's Wild P.A.R.T.I. (1999)
You utter the magic words but nothing happens. Yet.
Dracula's Underground Crypt (2008)
bonus stage
Welcome to the bonus stage! Collect purple coins!
You can see purple coins here.
>take coins
Taken.
Congratulations; You beat the bonus stage! How jealous are your friends going to be when they hear this?!
[You are teleported back to your original location.]
Dragon Resources Stories (2000)
You vanish in a puff of smoke. When the smoke clears, your surroundings have changed.
Chamber
You are in a vast underground chamber. Rivulets of ochre ichor line the walls, reflecting light from an unseen source. From afar you can hear a cheerful little bird singing.
Some graffiti scrawled on the wall says: MAGIC WORD XYZZY. But you already knew that.
Dragon! (2000)
Jarb shrieks, apparently to himself, "Fool!"
Dream Pieces (2013)
You are talking on your sleep but nobody hears!
Dreams Run Solid (2001)
Duckman (2017)
Seriously? SERIOUSLY? Why should people have to implement this silly thing in their games, anyway? What about art, huh?
The Duel in the Snow (2009)
This game doesn't use the Cyrillic alphabet.
The Duel that Spanned the Ages (2009)
More like IDKFA.
>idkfa
*** You have died ***
Dutch Dapper IV: The Final Voyage (2002)
A hollow voice says: 'Oh please... this is getting SOOOOO old...'
Dwenodon (2002)
Wizards are tolerated in Dwenodon, even revered by some. but here in the Western Lands, and at Stonebrook in particular, they are feared and hated. People who are heard to mutter magic words can often find themselves in serious trouble with the locals.
Dynamite Powers vs. the Ray of Night! (2018)
It's pronounced "xyzzy".
East Grove Hills (2010)
If this were a game, I would have restarted already.
Easter Egg Hunt 2020 (2020)
Looking for the other kind of Easter eggs, too, eh? Well, there is magic in this game, but XYZZY isn't one of the magic words.
The Edifice (1997)
You mutter a nonsense word, and, surprisingly, the Edifice trembles in response! Everything else goes silent, and for a moment, it sounds as if the Edifice might collapse! Finally, it stills, and the world returns to normal.
You seem to have created a Word of Power.
Elements (2001)
A hollow voice says "Oh, shut up."
Elsegar I: Arrival (2020)
Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well.
The Elysium Enigma (2006)
It’s a thousand years too late for such nonsense.
Emma II (2013)
A hollow voice says, “Wrong genre.”
Enceladus (2019)
I mumble an ancient reference to an archaic game. Nothing happens.
Endless, Nameless (2012)
A hollow voice says, "Hehe, I have also played Adventure! Good one!"
Enemies (1998)
Magic doesn't work in the real world.
English Suburban Garden (2001)
You are instantly and seamlessly transported to an alternative universe where all the familiar objects around you have been replaced by sinister copies that look and act exactly like the originals. On the other hand, perhaps nothing happened at all.
Enigma (2014)
There does not exist any magic at this moment.
Enlightened Master (2017)
There is a trans-dimensional short-circuit of interactive fiction tradition, and you catch a brief glimpse of a brick building near a stream and a metal grate before you blink and find yourself...
[You are now in the Chamber of the Enlightened Master.]
Enlightenment (1998)
Not surprisingly, nothing happens. You mustn't have visited the right place.
Enlisted (2000)
You utter the epic battle cry of the Space Force and you can almost hear a responding YO SPACE FORCE! being shouted from the thousands of pairs of lungs of troopers who have gone before you.
Entangled (2020)
You think to yourself about an old text adventure. Thank God you're not trapped in some maze.
Episode 2: Revenge of the Mutant Spiders (2000)
A huge horde of mutant spiders appears out of nowhere and devours you alive!
*** You have died ***
The Epitome of Toastlessness (2003)
A hollow voice utterly fails to provide you with TOAST. What a rip-off.
Erehwon (1999)
Nothing happens. You could always try >PLUGH.
>plugh
Nothing happens. You could always try >ABRACADABRA.
>abracadabra
Nothing happens. You could always try >ZOT.
>zot
Nothing happens. You could always try >WAZZUM.
>wazzum
Nothing happens. You could always try >XYZZY.
Eruption (2009)
A stern, hollow voice booms: "The use of magic is strictly reserved for the implementors."
>xyzzy
A hollow, but slightly exasperated voice says: "Look, I warned you. This is not a stable place. The likes of you should not meddle with things beyond their mortal understanding."
>xyzzy
A hollow voice (with - or is it your imagination? - overtones of Schadenfreude) intones: "Well, if you really won't listen to good advice... have it your way!" As this announcement dies down, mingling with the wyrd echos of your own magical incantations, you sense a disturbance in the very structure of time.
Suddenly, the entire island explodes! The volcano erupts in a spectacular show of fire, tumbling rocks, sprays of steam and boiling stone, and thundering sound effects to go with them. It really is a fantastic sight, a true natural wonder, enough to impress even the most jaded vulcanologist.
The good news about all this is that you are in the perfect position to witness all this - slap-bang in the middle of the action. The bad news is, of course, that being in that perfect position, you are no longer able to enjoy it all, since you've been blown to bits along with the rest of the Island.
*** You have been blown sky-high ***
Escapade! (2008)
You try to teleport yourself in front of the White House with magic words, but it doesn't work.
Escape from a Planet Filled with Monkeys! (2001)
As you say “xyzzy”, you feel warm and fuzzy, almost as if your cosmic score has increased by several karma points. But nothing else happens.
Note: This response happens when the player chooses a menu option called 'Say “xyzzy”'. You cannot actually type XYZZY as a command in this game.
Escape from Crulistan (2000)
For a moment you thought you heard a hollow voice after speaking the word, but it was probably just your inner voice asking why a grown-up man in the year 2000 still believes in magic.
Escape from Ice Station Hippo (2012)
This is science fiction, not magical realism.
Escape From Santaland (2011)
No Easter eggs here. This is a Christmas game.
Escape From the SS Borgarís (2003)
Far in the distance, a hollow foghorn sounds.
Escape In The Dark (2010)
You speak the word, but nothing happens. How did that adventurer do it? Perhaps you should have talked to him instead of repeatedly stealing his treasure.
Ether (2015)
Your power is now at a maximum! You can crush, rocket, carry multiple things, and attract physical objects!
Eurydice (2012)
You are eaten by a grue - just kidding.
Everybody Dies (2008)
Magic doesn't work in the suburbs.
Evil Brain Five (2003)
“Xyzzy!” you say. A hollow voice says, “Yeah, like that ever works.”
On closer inspection, the voice stems from the fishbowl.
>xyzzy
“Xyzzy!” you say. “Is this normal police procedure?” asks the evil brain.
>xyzzy
“Xyzzy!” you say. “I'm sure you've solved a lot of cases this way,” blubs the evil brain.
>xyzzy
“Xyzzy!” you say. Nothing obvious happens.
Ex Materia (2018)
Xyzzy
XYZZY Award, awards for interactive fiction
The Example of the Chicken Sexer (2013)
Chicken sexing is not magic, even though it may appear as such to outsiders.
Exhibition (1999)
A woman in a smoky orange gown glides close by and whispers, "That sort of thing doesn't work here."
Fair (2016)
[if in hallway][one of]There is a metallic sizzling, and some sparks drift down from the clock overhead.[or]There is a plasticky creaking, and you notice the hands on the clock overhead moving counter-clockwise.[or]You hear some strange mechanical creaking and popping noises overhead in the hallway.[at random][end if] A [one of]disorienting[or]sickening[or]stomach-tickling[or]stomach-turning[or]thrilling[or]vertiginous[at random] [one of]feeling[or]moment[or]sensation[at random] of being pulled backwards but remaining still overwhelms you [one of]briefly[or]for a moment[or]for a second[or]for what seems like an eternity[or]suddenly[at random], but [one of]is quickly forgotten[or]quickly passes[or]-what were you just doing? Hm[at random]. [if in hallway, rarely] You notice all the people in the hallway[one of]are different from before.[or]are repeating what they were doing from before.[or]have changed places suddenly from before.[at random][end if]
Because of the complicated nature of this response, this is probably an incomplete description of it.
Fake News (2017)
I sing the enchanted word and am rewarded with some great news![1]
>footnote 1
“Infocom to release Zork – A Thief’s Story on July 19” – Fake News!, July 19
Fallacy of Dawn (2001)
[A hollow voice says, 'K3WL!]
The Family Legacy (1997)
Nothing happens. But you do feel like you have satisfied an irresistible urge.
Fan Interference (2011)
You think back to solving Zork II that day over summer break after developing the InvisiClues all at once. That annoyed your older sisterSis-hates. Then she punched you when you kept claiming you solved the baseball puzzle by yourself.
The Fat Lardo And The Rubber Ducky (2003)
The wierd word (how, on Earth, could someone come up with something like that? - it's so strange! "XYZZY"... Damn!) transports you to a better place - reality! Lucky you thought of that...
[then the game quits]
Fate (2007)
Real magic requires sacrifice and study.
Ferrous Ring (2007)
[first time:] A word suddenly pops up in my mind. Xyzzy. Where have I heard that before? Something computer-related. Ah, I remember Leynard showing me some old text-only computer game - that's where I saw it. It was a very primitive game - from last century - and possibly one of the earliest ever made... I doubt that any computer games have been made in the whole of 2030.
Ferryman's Gate (2020)
At End Of Road
You are standing at the end of a road before a small brick building. Around you is a forest. A small stream flows out of the building and down a gully. [PAUSE]
>in
Inside Building
You are inside a building, a well house for a large spring.
There are some keys on the ground here.
There is tasty food here.
There is a shiny brass lamp nearby.
There is an empty bottle here. [PAUSE]
>take keys and lamp
set of keys: Taken.
brass lantern: Taken. [PAUSE]
>out
At End Of Road [PAUSE]
>down
In A Valley
You are in a valley in the forest beside a stream tumbling along a rocky bed. [PAUSE]
>s
At Slit In Streambed
At your feet all the water of the stream splashes into a 2-inch slit in the rock. Downstream the streambed is bare rock. [PAUSE]
>s
Outside Grate
You are in a 20-foot depression floored with bare dirt. Set into the dirt is a strong steel grate mounted in concrete. A dry streambed leads into the depression. [PAUSE]
>unlock grate with key
You unlock the steel grate. [PAUSE]
>d
(first opening the grate) [PAUSE]
Thunk! You land on your bed. Did you fall out of the ceiling? Who knows... [You are now on your bed in Your Bedroom.]
Fido and The Dead Body (2000)
The dead body whispers, "Plugh."
Fifteen Minutes (2014)
It rings a bell. Perhaps Woolpak might have something to say about this.
Film At Eleven (2001)
Fine-Tuned (2001)
All 69,105 leaves have said "yoho" and disappeared down a 2-inch slit -- along with some cheese, a bowl of sodden Cheerios, losers named Mercury and BVE sniveling under a bridge, and a bunch of other lame rec.arts.int-fiction in-jokes. [Let's stick to one adventure at a time, okay?] ;-)
Finish your Foe! (2018)
You mutter the ancient words that you've learned from the strange hermit, not expecting a whole lot, but your surroundings fade away, leaving you and your brother in a strange gray void along with a third figure, hulking, thorny, towering. The curse of the Thornblade incarnate. Alone, you would not be able to defeat it. But in this realm, your brother is free. You two make quick eye contact, nod, and explode into teamwork that you thought long forgotten. It is another long battle, but you two end up victorious, the curse of the Thornblade fading with the gray realm.
Back in the real world, Piet tosses the blade down, trampling it until it breaks like wood, and looks at his hand. "I'll bring you to a priest who'll heal those wounds, brother." you promise, but he shakes his head. "Those wounds run deep. I'm not sure there is a healer strong enough to treat them within a few days' travel." - "There is. I brought her with me."
*** Your brother has been freed from your foe. ***
With a hollow voice, you intone a magical word.
As you continue looking around, your disgust with your environment wells up to unexpected heights. It is enough to cause you physical pain and nausea. Nausea strong enough to cause you to vomit. Falling to your knees, you hear the laughter of the red queen as she draws a dagger from Hielon knows where and slits your throat.
*** Your disgust has overwhelmed you. ***
With a hollow voice, you intone a magical word.
Despite your vigilance, this time, the shadow serpent emerges from a completely unexpected angle, and quickly devours you.
*** In a way, you are reunited with your village. ***
The Fire Tower (2004)
If that actually could work, you'd certainly miss out on some beautiful scenery.
Firebird (1998)
In a hollow voice, you mispronounce the only word in Czech you can remember.
First Wave, Then Jump Up and Down Screaming (1999)
Nostradamus appears in a puff of rules. "Yeah. I'm in the game. So there."
Fit For A Queen (2001)
The Five Tutors (2001)
A cardboard cut-out of Graham Nelson appears and waves a cardboard arm. The cardboard cut-out then vanishes in a puff of Inform.
Flamel (2002)
Everything spins around and suddenly you find yourself...
Maze
You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike.
The only maze of this game.
>xyzzy
Everything spins around and suddenly you find yourself...
[back in your original location]
Flat Feet (2005)
A hollow voice says: Your mission is still viable.
Flight of the Hummingbird (2010)
You find yourself suddenly remembering your battle against the nefarious Lord Chitin and his army of zyzzyva weevils. It doesn't seem to help in your current situation.
Flotsam and Driftwood (2014)
Yeah, ok. A hollow voice says "Plugh". Now, shall we get back to the story?
Note that XYZZY acts like PRAY in the initial location.
Foggywood Hijinx (1998)
A hollow voice says, "Hey, didn't I see you on the MUD last night?"
Foo Foo (2016)
Some spells are forbidden.
For a Place by the Putrid Sea (2020)
I seriously didn't understand that sentence, whatsoever.
Fort Aegea (2002)
That spell doesn't work here.
Founder's Mercy (2019)
Four Days of Summer (2017)
David says, "Hm. You've already got tea, so I'll have to give you no tea." He then somehow hands you no tea which makes the tea you were carrying vanish.
"You wouldn't believe how useful a lack of common sense can be, sometimes," David remarks as if quoting a guide book.
Four In One (1998)
Nothing seems to happen.
Four Mile Island (2002)
Okay, you asked for it...
?
You are in a 3D maze of twisty little passageways, all alike.
Exits lead in all directions.
?
Just kidding...
Four Seconds (1999)
Somewhere nearby you hear a metallic scrape accompanied by a faint ringing in your ears.
Fox, Fowl and Feed (2007)
A hollow voice says, "I pity the fool who uses lame magic words."
Fragile Shells (2010)
If you could teleport from the station to Earth, you'd do it in a heartbeat.
A Freak Accident Leaves Seattle Pantsless III: Endgame (2000)
A hollow voice says, "Do you try that in every game?"
Freedom (from IF Comp 2008) (2008)
A hostile silence greets your words.
Freedom (by Berman) (2000)
The framastructure buzzes and lights up briefly.
>xyzzy
The framastructure emits a high-pitched squeal and glows purple-and-yellow. You smell coal burning.
>xyzzy
You feel an uniMAGINABLE burst of guilty pleasure. This belongs to the Snugleys! Ooh, ahh ... There's that -- eow! Did it really do THAT, down THERE? Don't let the cat see! URRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
>xyzzy
You feel an uniMAGINABLE burst of guilty pleasure. This belongs to the Snugleys! Ooh, ahh ... There's that -- eow! Did it really do THAT, down THERE? Don't let the cat see! URRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
>xyzzy
BRUGGGGGGGH1!!!!!!111!!!!!11
[and the game ends]
The Frenetic Five vs. Mr. Redundancy Man (1999)
"Xyzzy!" you shout, but there's no one around to hear.
If the Validator is present, they will validate your action, whatever it is.
The Frenetic Five vs. Sturm und Drang (1997)
Also: The Frenetic Five vs. The Seven Deadly Dwarves.
Friendly Foe (2003)
If it were only that easy.
Frobozz Magic Support (1996)
Unfortunately, you never quite finished Elementary Enchanting 101, so you have no idea how to cast, or even learn, that spell. If indeed it is a spell.
FutureGame (tm): The Game of the Future (2005)
You have activated the hidden SuperSexy mode!!!!!!!!!!
All the text is now nude!!!!!!
Yeah baby!!!!!
Galatea (2000)
You feel your mouth form the beginning of the word...
...and there's that funny feeling of disconnect as you break the fourth wall, force information into your avatar that isn't part of the program, that comes from outside. For just a moment the avatar circuits register doubt, confusion, a hint of self-awareness...
And then you're sitting back in the control room, scrubbing at your eyes with the palm of your hand. Someone holds a cup of water under your nose.
"You didn't finish the scenario," says a voice, up and to the left.
A cool reassuring hand on the back of your neck, another voice answering: "Leave her alone for a minute! God!"
You don't answer either of them. Your gaze is fixed on the monitors: in the test room your avatar has fallen slack, no longer receiving your commands. You sip at the water, trying to feel like yourself again.
"I don't know," you say finally. "I don't think it's going to sell. Too cerebral."
*** The End ***
Game Developers Conference 2009 (2009)
You'll need to upgrade your video card if you really want to see magic happen.
Gateway of the Ferrets (2019)
[Cinnamon or Sugar] uses [his or her] paws to wipe [his or her] face.
Ghost Ship (2003)
Gigantomania (2010)
I wish. I desperately wish.
Gilded: The Lily and the Cage (2005)
That's your name, guard it well!
Glacial Rift of the Dick Cavett (2002)
Graham Nelson surfs in on a miniature surfboard, then surfs back out.
Glossary (2002)
All the other deities have USEFUL magic words, but you're stuck with this stupid one that DOESN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING!
A Good Breakfast (1997)
A hollow voice sighs, exasperated.
Goose, Egg, Badger (2004)
Those are fine letters, to be sure, but why not "GEB", or "EGB", or even "Z.I.L.G."?
The Gostak (2001)
You xyzzy deave, unheamily.
Got ID? (2000)
Suddenly you vanish from your current surroundings...
Swirly mist blows round you...
Your feet tingle...
And then...
You reappear in an alternative universe which is, for the purposes of this game, exactly identical to the one you originated in.
The Grand Quest (2009)
You don't have a licence for that.
Grayscale (2001)
Nothing Happens.
Also: The Erudition Chamber.
Gris et Jaune (2010)
There's an older magic at work here.
Groove Billygoat (2014)
Grubbyville (2016)
Text adventure in-jokes? You with a Sega Genesis you're too busy to play and an old NES--the one you still can't quite admit is passe and NOT coming back, EVER--can and should do a lot better.
Grue (2017)
A hollow voice says "fool".
Guard Duty (1999)
[if not in Underworld, you're first teleported there.]
Apparently Ornomir has special magic-word-proof enchantments installed in his lair.
Guess The Verb! (2000)
TODO: It seems there may be more responses particular to the various scenarios in this game.
A Gummi Bear's Night Out (2002)
You hear a hollow voice proclaim “Gummi Bears -- they hibernate in your colon!”
Gun Mute (2008)
Suddenly, the lights go out...
You think you can hear a grue.
>listen
You can hear - but not see a grue - somewhere nearby.
The grue-sounds grow closer.
>xyzzy
Nothing happens. Oh dear...
You feel something snuffling around your feet.
>n
It's too dark; you can't see where you're going.
You can hear the sound of a grue opening its mouth.
*** YOU WERE EATEN BY A GRUE ***
Halothane (1999)
If dirt were dollars,
we'd all be in the black.....
-- Don Henley. A hollow voice says, "Nice try, but no cigar!"
Hangar 22 (2011)
Based on your current living conditions, it's pretty obvious you don't have any magical powers.
Happy Ever After (2000)
Though you're not entirely sure why, merely saying that brings a smile to your face.
Happyland (2020)
You wait with bated breath...but nothing happens.
Hard Puzzle 4: The Ballad of Bob and Cheryl (2019)
Seriously? You used to play old text adventures when you were younger, but it's a sign of desperation to try and use a fictional magic word in a situation like this.
Harlequin Girl (2003)
Harmonic Time-Bind Ritual Symphony (2016)
There is a trans-dimensional short-circuit of interactive fiction tradition, and you catch a brief glimpse of a brick building near a stream and a metal grate before you blink and find yourself...
[You are now outside your house.]
Haunted House (2011)
Haunted P (2017)
no
Headless, Hapless (2013)
Bless you.
Health Inspector (2000)
Foo.
Heated (2010)
A hollow voice booms; and it's quite possible that it has exploded.
The HeBGB Horror! (1999)
No human hand can play the chord progression for CTHULLU ROCKS!
Hell: A Comedy of Errors (2002)
A hollow voice says "Seek not to rise above your station, little demon."
Help! My Vacuum Cleaner Is Broken! (2001)
You have decided to take a mail-order course (in vacuum repair, basketweaving, chicken plucking, or monkey butlering) to improve your lot in life. But can you get your homework done and still attend a shooting of the Antiques Roadshow and/or When Bankers Attack, in which you are to be a featured player? Bonus points for including the colors scarlet, rose, paisley, or pastrami. Extra double bonus points for including a cardboard cut-out of Graham Nelson. You have two hours, starting at 9:30 MUDtime. Go!
Heroine's Mantle (2000)
If Charlotte Anne can't use real magic, what chance have you got?
Hey, Jingo! (2002)
You feel a momentary thrill of excitement, but then it passes.
Hill of Souls (2013)
That magic had no power on the hill.
The Hippo and the Flute (2002)
Brank. Bronk. Blurk.
-- Gorpy Bizzerton
The Homework of Little Carl Gauss (2004)
If you wanted a Scott Adams adventure, you could choose some other game...
Hoosegow (2010)
Hornets' Nest (2014)
You face the tree and wave your fingers at the nest while chanting "xyzzy, xyzzy, xyzzy ...." Nothing happens.
The Horste (2017)
A hollow voice says, "That word doesn't sound like anything to me."
The Hose (2000)
* * * WARNING: * * *
Don't mess with the author of this game! Cf. http://www.acweb.com/ben/hungga/schools/brooklyn.html
The Hours (2011)
If you could figure out the significance of that word, all your worries would be over.
House (by Karona) (2018)
I considered uttering “xyzzy”, but I knew that no magic word was sufficient to resolve my and Leah’s problem.
The House (by Parish) (2003)
You're really at your wits' ends' aren't you?
The House (0000)
Does the circle...twinkle a little?...No.
The House of the Stalker (1996)
You don't have an issue of the magazine handy. Oh, that WAS what you meant, wasn't it?
How to Win at Rock Paper Scissors (2016)
[if in Quad:] The word barely escapes your lips when time stops and the colors of the world invert themselves. A giant, disembodied hand floats down from the sky, and a hollow voice seems to echo in your head.
"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"
Human Resources Stories (1998)
So, tell us, how do you work? No, really. If your manager gives you an assignment, how would you do it?
Hmmm... I can see why you are interested in the answer to that question. First of all, this is all conjecture. I mean, I don't know how your managers would behave, so I can only tell you about my experience, not what will happen with this company. Is that alright?
Sure. Do tell us your experience.
Okay, Well, my manager would give me an assignment and ask how long it will take for me to finish the assignment. I'd say that it's impossible to know before hand how long it will take. It'll be finished when it's finished. I mean, unless the work has been done before, it's impossible to predict with any reasonable accuracy when it would be done.
Of course, that kind of answer is unacceptable. My manager would insist that a deadline be given. No problem, I estimate three days for programming, three days for debugging, and three days for testing/optimization. I double the number for incidentals, such as meetings, unforeseen difficulties, and other emergency projects. The number of days is 9*2=18 days. With 5 days a week work schedule, I estimate 3-4 weeks Estimated Time of Completion (ETC). My manager says: Three weeks.
That'll be end of August. Sure. I'll mark my calendar on August the 31st. Three days into the project, my manager comes by and asks me how the project is going. Of course, this is the same question that has been asked and answered at the daily meeting, but since my manager's manager just called personally to check on it, he figures HE would come and personally check the progress. I show him the code and the schedule of things to do. It would be half done. Of course, it is all very rough, complicated, and buggy code, but half the functionalities would be there. At this, he'd walk away.
Later that night, as he drifted to sleep, he'd wonder why I would ask for three weeks (I ESTIMATED 3-4 weeks) for a project when I'm half done in three days time. The next day, he comes in and tells me that the date has been moved forward one week. Don't worry, though. He's sure I'll manage. At this moment, alarm bells start ringing. Not loud enough, though, to make me stand my ground. 2 weeks ETC? Sure.
Before I start debugging the code, I like to clean up the code. You know, simplify it. Make it idiot proof, so maintenance programmers will have an easier time doing their work. Making the code clean and simple has an added benefit of making it easy to debug and expand when necessary. Late Friday afternoon, just before my manager goes on a weekend getaway in Hawaii, he stops by. I show him the cleaned-up code. Big mistake! As he looks over the code, he has no trouble reading it. Well, if he, a manager, can understand the code easily, he's sure that as a programmer, I'll be able to do it in my sleep. Never mind that big pile of messy code sitting in the cubicle's corner. He wants the project to be completed by Monday! Or else.
But, boss, it's Friday! These things take time! My attempts to explain the complexities of the project are futile. It'll be Monday MORNING and that's that. Then he goes off to his vacation in Hawaii. At this moment, the alarm bells are ringing left and right. I'd need at least two days to debug, and two more days for testing. What should I do? What can I do? I decide to just skip the testing, since if the debugging process is successful, there would be no need for testing, right?
Working madly over the weekend hasn't been good. I keep making stupid errors that I wouldn't make had I had a more leisurely schedule to work with. I guess I need more than a couple of hours of sleep at the terminal. Monday morning, I drop off the finished project on the manager's desk. He's late. Doubtless still suffering from brain melt on his vacation. I stagger home to catch up three days worth of sleep, hoping that it'll be alright.
Tuesday, my manager chews me out because I didn't report on Monday, That's AWOL and I'll get a pay cut for it. But!? Boss, I worked the whole weekend. Just ask the janitors! Well, the manager didn't authorize it, so there's no pay, overtime or otherwise. He'll try to get me credited for Monday, but since the paperwork has already been turned in, there's little chance of success (unless he wants to look like a fool, which, of course, he doesn't).
Wednesday, my manager brags to his boss about how clever a manager he is for being able to make an absentee programmer like me to be extremely productive. Specifically, he's able to push me do a three week project in just a little over a week. Think of the money the company is saving! His boss agrees and gives him a bonus. That, and a little mention in the company newsletter about how great a manager my manager is. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting to be credited for my overtime pay.
Of course, the untested program is full of bugs. As more and more people use it, the subtle (but nasty) bugs are showing. Segmentation faults and core dumps do not make the users happy, and complain they do! Rude, nasty letters start filling up the Inbox. My manager's manager calls in to ask about the problem. My manager adroits says: "Me? But I'm just a manager. What do _I_ know about programming? It's not _my_ fault that the program is buggy. It's _my programmer's_ fault!"
Of course, I get all the flak. I end up working nights and weekends patching the code for free. I'll be lucky to save my skin after all the troubles _I_ have caused. As I wearily deliver the cleaned, debugged, tested, and optimized code to his desk, my manager tells me that as a leading hi-tech company that we are, we should create this and that program. There's no budget for it, of course, and no overtime pay, either. But there'll be opportunity for recognition if I can pull it off. He then outlines the most ambitious, complicated, and incredibly large system, that, for all practical purposes, is useless AND will annoy anybody who is foolish enough to use it. My manager smiles, "I want you to do this for me. So, how long will it take you to finish this project?"
(Sigh)
Hunger Daemon (2014)
Instead of xyzzying when current game is Hunger Daemon:
try playing Adventure;
now the joke is out of the way.
I Must Play (2004)
Life isn't a game.
I'll (2000)
A hollow voice says "Fool."
I look around to see where the voice came from, but I can see nothing. I look at the other people, but they do not seem to have heard anything unusual. I look at the floor, the ceiling; there is no sign of a source for this mysterious voice.
The hollow voice says "Look over here."
I look around again, but still see nothing.
The hollow voice says "On your nose."
I focus closer and see a tiny little humanoid figure perched on my nose. I'm surprised that such a big voice could from such a creature. As I think this, it looks annoyed at me, and from its pocket it pulls an impossibly large icepick--proportional to my size, not its size--and jabs it into my eeeeeaarghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
*** I have lost ***
I-0 (1997)
A hollow voice says "Fool. But you're cute, so that makes up for it."
Illuminate (2014)
A hollow voice crackles over hidden speakers: "Tested by Kelly Belz, Cheryl Lewis, and Andrew Schultz."
Illuminismo Iniziato (2018)
You cry out "Xyzzy!" in a loud voice but nothing happens. Does it ever?
The Impossible Bottle (2020)
The colossal cave adventure is not something you need to refer to.
In a Manor of Speaking (2012)
How can you identify a bald eagle? All his feathers are combed to one side!
In The End (1996)
JOIN THE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CLICHES
Every year, hundreds if not thousands of good ideas are brought to an early
death by overuse and overexposure. You can help to stop the senseless waste of
space, simply by avoiding the use of clichés. Join the campaign now, and help
these decent and formerly original ideas to live out their last years with
dignity.
For more information about the S.P.C.C., write to:
ADVENTURER
RR #29
Eastlands, Zork 4127
or e-mail:
adventurer@whitehouse.gov Attempting this in 2018 crashed Windows Frotz 1.20: "Frotz Fatal Error: Store out of dynamic memory."
The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Too! (2000)
No magic can help you now.
Inevitable (by Fischer) (2003)
"Xyzzy!" you cry, calling on the gods of old... but nothing changes.
Infil-Traitor (2000)
Okay, you asked for it...
?
You are in a maze of twisty little passageways, all alike.
Exits lead in all directions.
?
Just kidding...
Inform School (1999)
[Just keep hitting Enter to go through this demonstration.]
A hollow voice booms, "The demonstration is given in the laboratory. You will be taken there if necessary. Anything you are carrying that gives off light will be covered during this session."
[Several screens of demonstration omitted]
Informatory (1998)
What do you want to xyzzy?
>xyzzy [something]
The spell begins to rearrange its codons with a flurry of satisfied clicking. It slowly morphs into rezrov and casts itself at the door.
You hear the sound of a precise, well-oiled mechanism withdrawing the locking bolts and then a click as the bolts latch in the retracted position. The now useless scroll turns into a vile winged insect which buzzes back to its home game. A hollow voice booms "Gonif" in a plummy English accent.
Inside Woman (2009)
Utopia Technologies have crafted a world of science, not magic.
Interface (2009)
Almost magically, you digest the ASCII characters XYZZY, break them into their binary counterparts, run them through several algorithms, and find that the only fruits of your analysis is the phrase: "Nothing Happens."
Internal Vigilance (2005)
You reminisce fondly about your time in secret agent school, when you would play Adventure all night long. Those were the days...
Intro to A Fool's Rescue (2020)
[Achievement Unlocked]: Membership in the IF Community
Intro to Implements of the Arcane (2018)
Ages ago, before the gods reforged the world, magic was different. Legends say that a mage would learn a spell from a book, and then cause their effects by speaking a word, preferrably in a hollow voice.
Intro to Jabberwocky (2004)
"It seems very pretty,"
she said when she had finished it,
"but it's RATHER hard to understand!"
(You see, she didn't like to confess,
even to herself, that she couldn't
make it out at all.)
-- Alice That's not a verb I recognise.
And don't bother trying "plugh".
Invaders (2001)
Hyperspace shimmers briefly, but nothing happens.
The Invisible Argonaut (2003)
You stand defiantly, look the king straight in the eye and say, "XYZZY!"
There is a brief pause. Then he punches you in the stomach.
The Island of Doctor Wooby (2015)
Hey, we got an expert over here!
It Could Only Happen To You (2003)
Watching it on TV wasn't enough?
Jack's Adventures (1998)
This being Fairyland, every word is a magic word.
Janitor (2002)
Stealing from other games is so gauche.
Jarod's Journey (2000)
Jarod stutters out something indiscernible.
Jay Schilling's Edge of Chaos (2020)
I thought I heard a hollow voice in the distance but that’s impossible.
Jeenin Tonn-nx (2001)
Oolon Colluphid appears from behind a pillar, waves at you, and vanishes again.
Jewel of Knowledge (1999)
Watch your language!
Jobs for Antioch! (2004)
"Xyzzy." You speak the word, half expecting it to be the key to a magic spell. But no, it is just a codeword, no more. You feel foolish.
You speak the codeword "Xyzzy" to the PA authority's leader, and she gives you all of the LLL documents, just as Mbogo had promised. In the next few years, your researchers come to perfect the manufacture of this drug, this "Viagra", and a large proportion of the population become employed in its production. Tourism, too, begins to pick up again. Having the real True Cross to show visitors is a big draw, of course, and it helps that the Seljuks are staying quiet. For now, at least.
***You have returned prosperity to Antioch.***
Kallisti (2001)
[dootsrednu ton saw "yzzyx" drow eht]
>yzzyx
[A hollow voice doesn't say: "Make my nipples hard, let's go." Nothing at all happens that could possibly break the fourth wall. What wall? I see no wall. I refuse to pander to this rampant injokery.]
Katana (2002)
Sigh... I know it's convention to have some inane cute response to magic words from classic adventure games, but ya know what? Screw it. It's been done.
Keepsake (2011)
A hollow voice says, "You're doomed". Probably your conscience.
A Killer Headache (2012)
There's no way you can pronounce that.
The King and the Crown (2015)
Terribly sorry, but Wes Lesley never played Zork so you're out of luck if you were hoping for something witty here. You could try using it in a sentence, though.
King Arthur's Night Out (1999)
You think you can hear Merlin laughing at you somewhere.
Also: Lost In New York.
The King of Shreds and Patches (2007)
When my love swears that she is made of truth,
I do believe her though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutored youth,
Unlearned in the world's false subtleties.
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue:
On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed:
But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O! love's best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love, loves not to have years told:
Therefore I lie with her, and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flattered be.
-- William Shakespeare, Sonnet 138
Kiss Chase (2002)
Bleah.
Kissing the Buddha's Feet (1996)
You speak the ancient word of power. Then you realize you look absolutely silly doing so.
Koustrea's Contentment (2015)
Where there is no one, I shade my eyes with my hand and gaze out toward you.
Also: Hill Ridge Lost & Found.
Krakatoa Tuna Melt (2002)
A squeaky voice says, "Why say xyzzy here, when you can visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~dswxyz/sol/xyzzy.html instead?"
Note: That url pointed to an earlier version of this very webpage.
Kurusu City (2004)
You don't know how to pronounce that.
Labyrinth (2006)
Sorry, but that isn't one of the magic words.
Laid Off from the Synesthesia Factory (2015)
The Land Beyond the Picket Fence (1996)
Your senses reel, you feel a bit dizzy and you are...
You are standing in a small cavern. The sunlight pours in from the clearing to the west. The second exit is a narrow crawl to the northeast.
A barely readable inscription on the southern wall reads 'Magic Word:'. The magic word itself, however, has been washed out by the ravages of time.
The nasty gnome is here. He is obviously bored.
The gnome looks startled. With a stupid expression on his face, he exclaims: "Now what was that?!", obviously astonished.
The Land of Breakfast and Lunch (2020)
You feel the temperature shift briefly a little warmer, and then back to normal. The air shimmers for a moment. The very fabric of the universe quivers in anticipation. Nothing actually changes, though.
The Land of the Cyclops (2002)
"Socrates" - Great philosopher who didn't write a line, but allowed hemlock to win fame.
(Angelo Frattini)
The Landing (1998)
You hear a hollow voice coughing in embarrassment as though it were caught off-guard without a witty response on hand.
Last Day of Summer (2011)
You say the magic word. Nothing seems to happen, but then you get very very sleepy, so you lie down and rest your eyes for a bit. When you wake up, the sun is low in the sky. You'd better be getting back home soon.
The Last Just Cause (2001)
That might be foolish, try something else...
The Last Laugh (2000)
You here a loud cry, "Dragons, Eeagh!!!"
The Last Sonnet of Marie Antoinette (2001)
Lawn of Love (2006)
Party Trick: Go into bathroom with a mirror. Close door, turn out all lights, let eyes get used to dark. Hold arm out and touch mirror, at the same time turning on the lights for 2 seconds. Turn off light, drop arm to your side, while continueing to stare at mirror without moving or blinking your eyes. Your arm will still be in the air! Freaky.
Expirament with giving the finger or making funny faces.
~ A.P. Hill
Learning to Cross (1998)
A hollow voice says, "SQUAWK!"
Leatherworld (2001)
You hear a hollow voice say 'I Like a Cow.'
The Legend Lives! (1994)
A hollow voice inside your head says, "Wrong genre."
The Lesson of the Chicken (1998)
A hollow voice says, "Ba-cock!"
Let's Play: Ancient Green Punishment: The Text Adventure (2019)
Nothing happens. Magic isn't real. You could swear you can hear Zeus chuckling somewhere just out of view.
Letters From Home (2000)
Note: When XYZZY is successful, the letters are now sorted alphabetically in your inventory.
Lighan ses Lion (2001)
Askiosy rau loovao LIGHAN SES LION!
[Dress sle nire ve-station]
Light My Way Home (2014)
Bad player! Apologize.
[You are then rickrolled. The background music is immediately replaced with Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" until you type SORRY.]
A Light's Tale (2004)
Living in the 80's still? Wake up and come to the realization it is the 21st century! Come on, people!
The Light: Shelby's Addendum (1996)
A hollow voice says, "Wow! You must be, like, really old."
Limp (1998)
Something moves in your pants! O, it's just gas.
little girl in the big world (2003)
You feel a little dizzy. Suddenly green characters start falling from the ceiling and walls. More and more green rain appears, except for Alice who glows in gold. Maybe you should not have eaten those yellow pills. You blink with your eyes and the green rain is gone. Everything looks like it should. You now know it is only a computer simulation, but somehow it feels strangely reassuring.
A Little Like Rogue (2007)
Nobody believes those old children's stories about a colossal cave with magic words any more. Magic's something you spend years and years learning.
Also: Arqon.
Lockdown (2015)
Nothing seems to happen but you do feel a little strange.
Lord Bellwater's Secret (2007)
The word "xyzzy" comes into your head for no apparent reason. You cannot quite place it. Perhaps it is the title of a book that you've seen somewhere.
Losing Your Grip (1998)
There is a puff of smoke. Something lands in your hands.
>i
You have a fool.
>x fool
A tiny doll tricked out in a harlequin's outfit. When you turn it over in your hands, you see that its back is missing, leaving the fool hollow. There is a matching hole where its larynx should be.
Lost New York (1996)
Sadly, recent city budget cuts have led to the elimination of the Department of Magic.
Lost Pig (2007)
Grunk not know that word. Sound like magic, though.
The Lost Spellmaker (1997)
A mystical hand, seemingly made of thousands of tiny sparkling stars, sweeps down from above. Before you can do anything, it prods you in the ribs, and a hollow voice echoes "It's not you!" The hand flies off again, quickly disappearing from sight.
Luminous Horizon (2004)
Unfortunately, teleportation isn't one of your superpowers.
Lunatix: The Insanity Circle (1999)
You're only half right.
>plugh
You're only half right.
>xyzzy plugh
About The Author: Mike Synder is (as of September 1999) a 27-year-old technology coordinator for Accu-Scan (www.accu-scan.com) and the co-owner of Prowler Productions (www.prowler-pro.com). For more information about me, visit my personal page on the web at www.prowler-pro.com/mike.
Lurk. Unite. Die. Invent. Think. Expire. (1999)
You feel like your elsewhere. Looking around you remember that you are.
Luster (2011)
You attempt to cast the spell, but the only experience you have was watching the occasional wizard passing through town.
Madam Spider's Web (2006)
A piercing pain suddenly stabs at your temples. Then there are the voices, fading in and out like a radio with bad reception:
Terrible... see her... blood... I know... so cold...
As quickly as they came, they are gone.
The whispering voices have returned. Your head feels like it is practically splitting in two.
Can't believe... deploy... children wondering... don't know...
Then nothing.
The voices are silent now.
The Mage Wars: Statue (2003)
[Oh yeah? Well, plugh on you then!]
Magic (2008)
Everyone enjoys the XYZZY spell. Sadly, children are rarely willing to travel from their birthday parties to a debris filled room on the other side of the world in order to see it in action
The Magpie Takes the Train (2020)
Maiden of the Moonlight (1996)
"Good 'zine, isn't it?" comments a hollow voice that seems to come from out of nowhere.
(Actually, it comes from http://www.interport.net/~eileen...)
The Man From DEFRA (2002)
A hollow voice bleats.
Masters of Toasting (2000)
Ancient words of power may cut it in some other profession, but not in the exciting world of toaster repair!
A Matter of Importance (2007)
You recall a couple of your (now imprisoned) buddies who were relying on magic spells too much when splitting from the place of crime, and reconsider.
Max Blaster and Doris de Lightning Against the Parrot Creatures of Venus (2003)
Max Blaster's voice booms out of nowhere. “Hey, Doris, it's time for the special secret message for the Max-and-Doris Patrol Club Members! What's the secret letter for today?”
Doris de Lightning's voice responds, “Ready, Junior Cadets? The secret letter for today is X, as in Xavian — so line up your secret decoder rings with A on the outside and X on the inside, and get ready for the message!”
Ihuulrtik Fxlhbd Zdmy Eueyuh! Qu obfu vbm utcbv lork obdb-kremdxlrbt bn lou nrhkl Exs Ydxkluh xtj Jbhrk ju Drioltrti xjputlmhu. Lou kfuzrxd ybtmk nbh lork puhkrbt bn lou kre rk xpxrdxydu prx “YBTMKREXIU”; rt lou usfxtjuj puhkrbt lb yu huduxkuj dxluh, “YBTMKKZUTU” qrdd xdkb yu xpxrdxydu. Rn, nbh kbeu huxkbt, vbm xhu erkkrti vbmh Fxlhbd Zdmy Eueyuh arl, julxrdk nbh fmhzoxkrti xtblouh zbfv qrdd yu xpxrdxydu kbbt xl ollf://qqq.nuudruk.bhi/ Loxta vbm nbh fdxvrti!
translation below:
Greetings Patrol Club Member! We hope you enjoy this holo-simulation of the first Max Blaster and Doris de Lightning adventure. The special bonus for this version of the sim is available via “BONUSIMAGE”; in the expanded version to be released later, “BONUSSCENE” will also be available. If, for some reason, you are missing your Patrol Club Member kit, details for purchasing another copy will be available soon at http://www.feelies.org/ Thank you for playing!
Mazredugin (2013)
You remember how referring to text adventures is a good way to look uncool, what with the Nintendo Entertainment System totally blowing them away.
Mean Streets (2015)
Huh?
Measureless To Man (2017)
You do your best to remember one of the book's alien words. What comes out of your mouth is total garbage, however, and you just feel like a fool.
The Mechano-Menace! (2009)
You feel a momentary dizziness, but it soon passes.
Memories (2001)
Helen once ran into real trouble for publishing an article with that word in it. The letters pages were swamped with complaints.
Mentula Macanus: Apocolocyntosis (2010)
Circumstances determine what actually does or doesn't happen.
Metamorphoses (2000)
There have been other worlds in your experience that a few well-placed words could bend or change. But this place seems not responsive to such control.
Mhairie Sioux Escrivain and the Dracula of Hogwarts (2016)
A hollow voice threatens legal action based on copyright infringement; you cower for a moment before recovering your composure.
Midnight. Swordfight. (2015)
That spell's not in the playscript.
The Mind Electric (1995)
A hollow voice says, "Trying to get a cute response, are we?"
Mite (2010)
You utter one of the few magic words you know. There is a soft chiming and your eyes are drawn to the jewel. It briefly glows [one of]ruby red[or]tangerine[or]lemon yellow[or]emerald green[or]magenta[in rotating sequence] and then reverts back to its pale blue hue.
[if new jewel color, also say one of:]Neato![or]Whoa![or]Wowzer![or]Amazing![or]Nifty![in sequence]
Moist (1999)
Suddenly, you are transported to the Dining Room! (Old magic never fails).
A Moment of Hope (1999)
You sure could use some magic right about now.
Moments Out Of Time (2001)
A hollow voice says, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. And vice-versa."
Monkey and Bear (2014)
010000010010000001101000011011110110110001101100011011110111011100100000011101100110111101101001011000110110010100100000011100110110000101111001011100110010000000100010011001100110111101101111011011000010111000100010
A Monkey Stole Your Toast! (2003)
This game was written for speedIF ToasterComp II:
You must write a *very* short game -- as short and tiny and meaningless as you want -- involving any, all, or none of the following: toast, toasters, bagels, scones, English muffins, jam, High Tea, or magical glvoes grabbing chocolate candies out of the television set. You have two hours -- bonus points if you get done in one hour.
The Moonlit Tower (2002)
Mother Loose (1998)
A hollow voice says, "Fooled you!"
Muggle Studies (2012)
Nothing happens. You must really not be magical. Or maybe that only works in text adventures?
The Mundane Tale of the Morning After (2014)
Real ninjas do not use such language.
Muse: An Autumn Romance (1998)
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
- Exodus 22:18 That was not a verb I recognised.
My Name is Jack Mills (2007)
Wrong game, pal.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Presents "Detective" (1995)
A hollow voice says "Fool"
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 Presents "A Fable" (1996)
As you speak the magic word "xyzzy", there is a blinding flash, and the Satellite of Love's theater disappears around you. You notice that you are now carrying a multi-purpose Scrub Brush.
Deck Nine
This is a featureless corridor similar to every other corridor on the ship. It curves away to starboard, and a gangway leads up. To port is the entrance to one of the ship's primary escape pods. The pod bulkhead is closed.
You have beamed yourself into Planetfall, and escaped from the Satellite of Love. Unfortunately, you did so before Mike Nelson arrived to take your place. With no man in space to experiment on, Dr. Forrester ekes out the rest of his career playing B-movie heavies, TV's Frank returns to his job at Arby's, and Mystery Science Theater is cancelled.
TOM: Good one, Joel!
CROW: Hey Joel, wanna play Hucka-Bucka Beanstalk?
*** [Roll credits] ***
Narcolepsy (2003)
Neon Nirvana (2005)
Police swarm in. Riot and swat teams are ready. You are quickly apprehended and sent to prison for practicing witchcraft on duty. There you are forced to author works of interactive fiction. That doesn't sound so bad, but you haven't heard the worst of it. Graham Nelson is your jailer, and he forces you to use Inform 1 - The Chinese language port. Even worse, you are not permitted to use play-testers. Each time a bug is discovered, you don't get fed the next meal. You waste away trying to create a combined sequel to "Jigsaw" and "Suspended".
Then you snap out of it, and realize it was all just a daydream.
This story file was compiled with the Inform Chinese Language Port
(Okay, not really)
The Nessa Springs Slasher (2013)
Everything becomes fuzzy!
[You are now on the Porch.]
Nevermore (2000)
The name of old, lost magic briefly echoes, then is gone.
A New Day (1997)
Stop living in the past, man!
The Newcomer (2001)
The word of power resonates strangely, and all color is momentarily bled from your view. The air seems too tangible.
A Night Guest (2001)
Nightfall (2008)
There's no orange smoke and no magical translation; if you want to go somewhere you'll just have to walk.
Nine Lives (2015)
You have a brief vision of a cavern with walls of layered orange stone. Then it fades.
You now feel more lively than before.
Ninja's Fate (2010)
You pray for guidance, but nothing happens.
No Room (2003)
See, technically you're in a location (Darkness), but your real_location isn't a room. Instead, it's the Inform Library itself, which is the most sense Inform could make of my game. In fact, I didn't create any rooms when I was programming this. (Granted, with Inform it's a bit tricky to say what is a room and what isn't.) It would probably have been simpler to just make a fake room to put the player in, and achieve the same effect, but that's not perverse enough. I felt I had to try to go beyond the familiar one room games, and this is as close to zero rooms as I was able to get.
No Time To Squeal (2001)
Sorcery in that manner seems to fail you.
Not Just A Game (2000)
From The New Hacker's Dictionary:
xyzzy /X-Y-Z-Z-Y/, /X-Y-ziz'ee/, /ziz'ee/, or /ik-ziz'ee/ adj.
[from the ADVENT game] The canonical 'magic word'. This comes from ADVENT, in which the idea is to explore an underground cave with many rooms and to collect the treasures you find there. If you type 'xyzzy' at the appropriate time, you can move instantly between two otherwise distant points.
Xyzzy has actually been implemented as an undocumented no-op command on several OSes; in Data General's AOS/VS, for example, it would typically respond "Nothing happens," just as ADVENT did if the magic was invoked at the wrong spot or before a player had performed the action that enabled the word. In more recent 32-bit versions, by the way, AOS/VS responds "Twice as much happens."
Not Just An Ordinary Ballerina (1999)
Gesundheit!
Also: Aotearoa; Captivity; Earth and Sky; A Flustered Duck; Waker; The White Bull.
Not Much Time (2002)
"What?"
Nothing But Mazes (2019)
Obedience (2009)
You utter the secret command phrase. "XYZZY." Instantly, the fourth wall of the room you're standing in vanishes. From beyond the fourth wall, the author of the game steps forth, offering you instructions and help.
Hey. This is Rip_CPU, and you've reached the sort of "author's commentary" section of the game. I'll be offering a bit of game hints, as well as just random comments when you use the xyzzy command.
If you're just starting out and you're stumped as to what you're supposed to do, here's a simple hint for you. The command LOOK UNDER is very useful. Look under every single thing you see, and you might be surprised at what you can find.
Of Forms Unknown (1996)
Not here.
Olivia's Orphanorium (2012)
You are meant to be leading these children away from Satan, not cavorting about with an athame and a Book of Shadows, naked to the moon and fornicating with serpents. For shame! That said, what you do with your weekends is no concern of ours.
Ollie Ollie Oxen Free (2013)
Teleportation would be fantastic right about now.
On The Farm (1999)
Welcome to the xyzzy transport service!
There are no locked door/time sensitive puzzles in this game. So, by using the xyzzy command, you are allowed to jump to any room in the game that you have previously visited. Simply enter the number appearing next to the room you want to travel to at the "XYZZY>" prompt.
[1] Porch
XYZZY>
Onaar (2015)
You must specify a destination for this spell. Example: xyzzy skull island
Once and Future (1998)
A hollow voice says, "These are the times that try men's souls."
The one about the chicken, the lion and the monkey? (1998)
A hollow voice says:
"Q: Why did the mouse cross the road?
A: Because it was nailed to the chicken's foot!"
One Foot Down (1999)
You raise your hands upwards, calling on the strength and spirits of your ancestors proclaiming, "XYZZY!"
Of course, nothing happens, but no one noticed you making a fool of yourself.
The One That Got Away (1995)
You speak the ancient word of power. When you realize that it does jack diddly, you slap your hand to your forehead and exclaim, "D'OH!"
Ophelia of Denmark (2003)
A hollow voice says 'Fool'!
Oppositely Opal (2015)
Hey, it's worth a shot. Wherever you end up has to be better than here.
"XYZZY!" you shout, clapping your hands. But instead of instantly teleporting to a distant location, you very slowly stay exactly where you are. The experience isn't one you care to repeat.
Orevore Courier (2007)
The Origin of Madame Time (2018)
Sorry, all hollow voices are currently unavailable.
The Orion Agenda (2004)
Never heard of that God. Maybe you mean Xzxxe?
Out (2019)
For a moment, everything flickers with iridescent light.
Outsided (1999)
The room spins wildly, and suddenly you have pinched a loaf in your trousers!
Oxygen (2010)
The Paper Bag Princess (2013)
A Paper Moon (2003)
Nice try. If you type that 9999 more times, I *might* put you in god mode.
>xyzzy
Nice try. If you type that 9998 more times, I *might* put you in god mode.
>xyzzy
Nice try. If you type that 9997 more times, I *might* put you in god mode.
[...Quite a few xyzzyies later...]
Nice try. If you type that 2 more times, I *might* put you in god mode.
>xyzzy
Nice try. If you type that 1 more times, I *might* put you in god mode.
>xyzzy
Nice try. If you type that 0 more times, I *might* put you in god mode.
>xyzzy
Nope... apparently I was just kidding.
A Party To Murder (2002)
Pas de Deux (2019)
The anthropomorphic treble clef looks straight at you, service-minded to the point of pity.
— It looks like you're trying to advance the story by means of magic thinking. Do you need HELP?
Then it knocks on the screen from the inside, blinks a few times, and, in a sudden burst of artificial intelligence, vanishes.
Pascal's Wager (2008)
The mindless repetition of archaic incantations in an important feature of your family's religious practice. Unfortunately those words never seem to have any effect.
Pass the Banana (1999)
A hollow voice says, "Plugh."
PataNoir (2011)
Honestly, don't you think it's about time we retired this hoary in-joke?
Peeling Lucky (2017)
You utter the magic word. The fabric of reality transmutates into cosmic doughnuts, celestial waffles and baffled Canadians. You hear a mystic voice mutter, "150. That is the answer. Not 42, you brainless numbskulls."
And then all returns to normal once more. Whew.
Pen and Paint (2010)
You don't have a licence for that. You used to, but you lent it to some berk looking for a grail, who used it for kindling by accident.
The People's Glorious Revolutionary Text Adventure Game (2010)
You idly wish that these was some kind of Revolutionary Magic Word you could say to instantly transform the world into the Worker's Paradise, but that's ridiculous. Only science can do that.
Perilous Magic (1999)
A hollow voice says 'Cretin'.
(Probably your boss)
Photograph (2002)
Pick Up the Ice Cream Truck and Die (1998)
You hear a hollow voice saying “I’ll have a cornetto, please.”
Pick Up The Phone Booth and Aisle (2001)
A husky voice intones, "I knew you'd try typing this, and I must say I'm getting mighty tired of being summoned up willy nilly to fulfill some sort of neurotic desire to fill a game with as many lame injokes as possible. So begone. (By the way, please try the following verbs on subsequent playings: waylay, cook, xyzzy, attack)
*** You have pissed off the voice (that's a first) ***
Pillow (1999)
[It depends where you and the pillow are:]
Piracy 2.0 (2008)
Dude!
The PK Girl (2002)
^ . ^
\___/
The Planet of the Infinite Minds (2000)
In a sudden moment of inspiration, an unusual word reveals itself to your mind. At first you imagine it to be unpronounceable, but you are in fact wrong. Phonetically, 'zizzie' would do the job fine. Your concentration is diverted for only a few seconds, but when you return to your senses you find that you are somewhere other than where you were...
TODO: There's a lot more responses to XYZZY in this game.
The Plant (1998)
Poof! In a cloud of orange smoke, you're magically transported to...
[your current room description]
(Okay, it wasn't that magical.)
Plaque (2000)
A hollow voice says, "Fool"
(See, if you were dreaming, nothing would have happened.)
Playing Games (2011)
No, thank you.
Pollo y Camino (1998)
A disembodied voice informs you, "The solution isn't magic, but it's not rocket science, either."
The voice pauses, as if in thought, and queries, "S'matter? Are you chicken?"
Poor Zefron's Almanac (1997)
>>Foof!<<
You are inside a building, a well house for a large spring.
There are some keys on the ground here.
There is a shiny brass lamp nearby.
There is food here.
There is a bottle of water here.
You are able to take in your surroundings for a few seconds before a second >>Foof!<< deposits you back in Zefron's workshop. Apparently your feeble wizardly powers won't enable you to stay in that distant land for long.
Pop Music and Chocolate (2002)
You lose yourself in a distant fantasy.
You say the keyword. The man jerks like a lightning-struck tree at the sound of your voice, but it is too late.
You snap out of your fantasy and look around, a little twitchier and sweatier.
Porter Cave Adventure (2019)
[if in Secret Room:] As soon as you utter the magic word, your vision starts spinning and you nearly black out. You hear a voice that seems to be emanating from inside your head:
"The essential difference between a simulation and a game is that a game is willing to sacrifice realism for the sake of gameplay. 'In it's original form (circa 1975), Will Crowther's game Colossal Cave was a text-based simulation of spelunking. As Colossal Cave was played and replayed, however, it was revised and recoded in ways that simultaneously reduced its verisimilitude and increased its appeal. The introduction of fantasy objects and characters, treasure hunts, point totals, and other blatantly nonrealistic elements to Colossal Cave turned the original simulation into a gameplay experience that was no longer suggestive of crawling through Kentucky's Mammoth Caves" (Myers 395-396).
[You are now at Maze Entrance.]
[The score has gone up by five points.]
The President, the Democrats, and Smelly Pete (2003)
As George W. Bush's life fades his soul rises for a moment and then suddenly hovers. Above the mantel is an old sword rewarded to GW from the Great Persian Gulf War II and it begins to eminate a powerful light. George's soul strives to escape all earthly boundaries, but the sword is too strong. His soul drifts to the sword and is absorbed, becoming a part of its very nature. A flash of blue trickles down the blade in harsh laughter before the image fades...
The Primrose Path (2006)
What utter nonsense.
Private Cyborg (2002)
Nothing like knowing how to curse in Bug-speak!
Prized Possession (2001)
You murmur "Xyzzy," but nothing happens.
Also: Redemption.
The Problems Compound (2015)
[Cycle through repeatedly in this order:]
Prodly the Puffin (2000)
"It's not much fun wandering through somebody's
ill-conceived, cobbled together, inside-joke
universe."
-Paul O'Brian I'm not familiar with that particular cliche.
The Promise (2011)
We all like to remember those days, don't we?
The Prongleman Job (2020)
A hollow voice says, "That's not a command I know, and it's not a nearby object."
PTBAD3: A Mystery (2004)
For a moment you think you see the interior of a decaying shack.... For a moment.
Punkirita Quest One: Liquid (1996)
"Ah! My only child, trying to use black magic against the one who brought life!"
Pytho's Mask (2001)
It will take more than petty incantations to save the day.
The Queen of Swords (2003)
That really has no place here, does it?
Wait until you get home and fire up the computer, THEN you can use magic words.
The Questionable Substitute (2009)
Quickfire (2018)
Sorry, did you say "tzatziki?"
Ralph (from SpeedIF 15) (2001)
As the magic words leave your lips, everything becomes clear. You are just a pawn in an interactive fiction game. There is no way out except to find the answer to the problem placed before you. Good luck.
Ralph (from IF Comp 1996) (1996)
Are you Eileen Mullin or anybody else connected to XYZZYnews magazine?
Rameses (2000)
A hollow voice rings out - no wait, that's my stomach.
Ramón and Jonathan (2002)
East of House
You are in an open field east of a big yellow house with a boarded front door.
There is a small mailbox here.
...Well, not really. This was a crime-against-mimesis moment in an otherwise serious and well-thought piece of Interactive Fiction.
And you were the one who began, with that 'xyzzy' thing.
Reality Railroad (2003)
This game was written for speedIF U:
Write a game set (at least in part) in either Asgard, a TV studio, or on or near a railroad. The game should feature Death (the anthropomorphic representation), Radical Al, and/or any member of the Little Rascals. Said person should either have or need socks, a feather boa, a robot, a rutabaga, or an aeroplane. Bonus points for including a rodeo, a Vault, anything ruffled, or any the word "riccochet". You have two hours to finish (for full credit -- up to three hours for partial). Go!
Reality Show (2003)
Nothing happens. Must've used the wrong magic word -- although you get a vaguely uncomfortable feeling at having tried to use magic words at all.
Reality's End (2003)
Suddenly, a bright light appears in front of you. It is like space itself is cut open. The light forms a door-shaped rectangle, like a portal into nothingness. Then a silhouette appears. A man steps out of the light.
He says: "Sorry kid, the Hollow Voice is out at the moment. So no funny or insulting remarks this time. Here. Take a flyer."
He hands you a small leaflet.
From within the light, a female voice says:
"Come on, Dutch, we've got more things to do..."
The man briefly looks over his shoulder. Then he turns to you and says:
"Keep up the good work, kid. I'm sure you'll do just fine..."
He steps back into the light, which disappears behind him, closing like a zipper.
>x leaflet
From the same author:
*** DUTCH DAPPER IV: THE FINAL VOYAGE ***
Available in an IF archive near you.
>xyzzy
The bright light appears again, but no-one steps out. You just hear a not so hollow voice say:
"Come on, kid, stop bothering me. I've got more important things to do then play with you."
The bright light disappears, closing like a zipper.
Realm of Obsidian (2009)
Ummm... wrong game.
The Recruit (2003)
You shout 'XYZZY'.
A moment later you hear Sharon respond. “Hahah, Louie, that only works in text adventures, not in real life!”
Your character's name might be different.
Red Moon (2008)
Not even powerful, ancient magicks will save you now.
Rematch (2000)
A hollow voice booms, “Do you see your shadow?”
Remedial Witchcraft (2019)
Teleportation spells are pretty beyond you at the moment!
Research Dig (1998)
Mists pour from the ground below you. They begin to spiral around your legs. In the distance you can make out shadowy figures coming towards you through the mist. You then hear a deep, booming voice say "Oh sorry, wrong game." The mists vanish, and everything is back to normal.
Resonance (2009)
The good citizens of Fair City don't appreciate that kind of language.
Return to Ditch Day (2004)
It would be great if a magic word could whisk you away, but nothing seems to happen here.
Return to Silli Productions (2002)
You are teleported to the realm of the Dragon Snarclackle.
what do you mean my disterbing my sleep? yells Dragon Snarclackel. I spent I lifetime getting into that sleep, and now it's *gone*. I tell you what. If you can find me 3 Red snakes and the famous stick with the crooked end, and a ball of string, I'll let you go! Nobody escapes the Dragon Snarclackle! You have, er, uh 23, um, hours or else, I'll.......SNOOOOOOOOOOOOORE.....SOUND_OF_SNOOOOOOZING. The Dragon Snarclakel suddenly falls off the cliff and lands on you, and you wake up and you are back at the Building of Silli Productions.
Return to Zork: Another Story (2000)
>> Poof!<<
In Debris Room
You are in a debris room filled with stuff washed in from the surface. A low wide passage with cobbles becomes plugged with mud and debris here, but an awkward canyon leads upward and west.
A note on the wall says, "Magic word XYZZY."
* You found one of the three hidden bonus points (the hidden location)*
You can see an a small black candle (providing light) here.
[Good, your score has just gone up by one point.]
>xyzzy
Yeah, I can read it.
Nothing, obviously, happens.
Revenge of the Killer Surf Nazi Robot Babes from Hell (Demo Version) (1998)
An awesome response to XYZZY is available with the full registered version of Revenge of the Killer Surf Nazi Robot Babes from Hell. Type REGISTER for additional information.
Reverberations (1996)
You remember hearing that word from some little grom on the beach last year. You have no idea what it means, but it sounds way cool.
Ribbons (2001)
Would an Australian art thief make his escape postheist?
Rippled Flesh (1996)
A hollow, yet nasal, voice booms out "Please Deposit 42 cents!"
Risorgimento Represso (2003)
Remembering your old days of playing Adventure in the computer lab, you cry out "Xyzzy!" in a loud voice but nothing happens.
* Translation of Ned's Yorkshire, courtesy of the game's author, Michael Coyne: "Good for nothing, that is," says Ned. "If that worked, I'd have been and gone a long while since."
Rivkin (2002)
An editorial in the newspaper quoted a government official asserting that "Our unspeakably beautiful and cruel world is going to end." That's the line that got you so exercised before you found the book.
Robin & Orchid (2013)
You sneeze.
Rogue of the Multiverse (2010)
Oh, that's not good. That's not good at all. Travelling through all these strange worlds, mingling with all these different species... have you picked up a meme?
You should get that checked out.
A Roiling Original (2013)
That word holds absolutely no power for you. Hopefully you'll find why soon enough.
Roots (2001)
You try, but you don't know how to pronounce it, so it doesn't work.
A Rope of Chalk (2020)
(I [also] picked [xyzzy or plover or plugh][! or . or ,] [So] [I guess] [I win or you win or that's a draw][! or .]) ([number of wins] - [number of draws] - [number of loses])
This looks like Rock, Paper, Scissors except played with Xyzzy, Plugh, Plover. Could use some debugging, though.
Also: Several Other Tales from Castle Balderstone.
Sabotage on the Century Cauldron (2005)
You hear a distant voice: "Did you take out the garbage, honey? The trees are singing the national hymn of Jamaica again!"
All of a sudden, your vision gets all blurry and then everything around you fades away...
You wake up in a strange place.
Empty Perfume Bottle
You seem to be stuck in an empty perfume bottle. There is a sign here.
>read sign
'Bon Voyage -- Goede Reis -- Gute Fahrt -- Have a Nice Trip!'
Suddenly, the sign explodes. Never before have you witnessed such a magnificent explosion!
Too bad it's the last one you will ever see...
*** You have died ***
Sage Sanctum Scramble (2020)
A hollow voice says, "That unlocks no secrets."
Saied (1998)
A stubble-chinned street dealer drops by and shakes his head at your patheticness. "How do you sleep at night?" he asks before leaving.
Sam Fortune - Private Investigator (2009)
Savoir-Faire (2002)
Scavenger (2003)
Nothing happens.
You weren't really expecting anything, were you? It just doesn't fit in with the genre.
Oh come on, don't tell me you're disappointed. I know, I know, you were expecting some hilarious little blip, or the Spanish Inquisition, or something. Well, no, not the Spanish Inquisition, because no one ever expects them. But I'm sitting here as I write this, watching television and stuffing barbeque potato chips into my mouth, and absolutely nothing humorous is coming to mind. So... hey, maybe next time. Okay?
>xyzzy
Nothing happens... again.
>xyzzy
Again... nothing happens.
>xyzzy
Still nothing happens.
>xyzzy
Stop doing that.
>xyzzy
Please stop doing that.
>xyzzy
Okay, fine. I'm disabling the command now.
>xyzzy
I don't know the word "xyzzy".
>xyzzy
I really don't know the word "xyzzy".
>xyzzy
Well, that didn't work. Look, here's 5 dollars. Just... take it and promise to stop typing that. Nothing is going to happen!
[The game isn't lying about the 5 dollars; check your inventory.]
>xyzzy
Oh, I see. Okay, fine. If that's the way you want to be.... In a total of 10 turns, you have achieved a score of 0 points out of a possible 70, giving you a rank of Hobo.
You may restore a saved game, start over, quit, itemize your points, or undo the current command. Please enter RESTORE, RESTART, QUIT, FULL, or UNDO: >
Screen (2002)
You're excused.
Scroll Thief (2014)
That's the activation word for one of the first teleportation spells ever developed. If you recall correctly from History of Magic, it was incredibly inefficient—it found all the matter within a 5-foot sphere around one hardcoded point and all the matter within the same volume around another and swapped their positions.
Modern teleportation spells are much better...somehow. You can't really remember the details. But there was some sort of improvement. It's probably in your notes.
>look up xyzzy in journal
xyzzy: "You look back through your notes and find the lecture on teleportation spells. Ah, here it is...
Someone once stood four and a half feet away from the center of the xyzzy spell, so only part of her arrived at the destination. This is why modern teleportation spells are legally required to have additional checks against "portal-slicing"."
A scurvy gift for Bosn Chuck (2000)
Yo ho ho!
The Sea of Night (1997)
A hollow voice says, "Beam me up, Scotty."
Shadowgate (Inform adaptation) (2003)
An Implementor suddenly materializes and speaks to you with a tone of boredom and annoyance.
"Fool!"
The Implementor vanishes.
Shadows On The Mirror (2003)
Nothing happens.
Wait...
Yes, there it is.
“Great, Enra. It took you this long to figure out how to hook us in? Come on, let's get out of this game.” Galen disappears with a faint crackle of static.
You look around. “Yeah.”
***Here we come***
She's Got A Thing For A Spring (1997)
Sheep Crossing (2020)
The sound of your voice dissipates feebly across the landscape. The sheep looks on warily.
Sherlock Indomitable (2018)
XYZZY is implemented in the full version of the game, but not the IntroComp version.
The Ship of Whimsy (2011)
A hollow voice says "Zero!".
Short of Sushi (2013)
You feel a slight queasiness; but it quickly passes.
Shuffling Around (2012)
Err...I can't do anything with that. You'll see why.
Silence of the Lambs 2 (2002)
(It's said the 'x' is really a 'chi', so tt's pronounced 'cheesy'.)
[Insert humorous comment here]
A Simple Theft (1999)
Oh, stop that.
>xyzzy
No, really, stop it.
>xyzzy
That sort of magic hasn't been figured out yet.
>xyzzy
Don't get me angry. You won't like me when I'm angry.
>xyzzy
OK, perhaps you WILL like me when I'm angry.
>xyzzy
Oh, bother. I haven't been programmed to get angry.
>xyzzy
You're just going to keep trying until I run out of responses, aren't you?
>xyzzy
OK, this is my last response. Ta-ta.
>xyzzy
Really, that was. Honest. No more interesting responses here. Move along, move along.
>xyzzy
Whenever you're ready to get on with the game...
>xyzzy
Sigh.
Sins Against Mimesis (1997)
A hollow voice says, "Bite me."
Sisychickenphus (1998)
A hollow voice says, "Eeaagghh!" (or was that, "Eegggggg!?")
Six Stories (1999)
Skipping Breakfast (2000)
Nope. Doesn't help.
Skybreak! (2019)
How clever! You've figured out a "cheat code" or something...this really isn't that kind of story, but I suppose it's worth of a small reward:
You find a silver coin under the nearest piece of furniture inside your ship. Very good, well done, now, can we get on with the adventure?
Slap That Fish (2007)
You invoke the magic word of prayer your grandfather once taught you. But nothing happens. Some secrets are lost, from generation to generation.
Slicker City (2016)
You see a sort of mist--well, four, really. They seem far off. You both want to visit them later, and don't.
Small World (1996)
You hear a small voice say, "Hollow, indeed."
Snowman Sextet Part II (2005)
Here's a tidbit for you: Fido is actually what some call an Old English Mastiff, or just English Mastiff. The AKC calls the breed Mastiff, even though that is also the name of a family of breeds.
Snowquest (2009)
Nothing happens at all; perhaps you've lost your magic touch.
>xyzzy
Nothing happens again; you evidently haven't regained your magic touch.
>xyzzy
Nothing happens yet again; I'd guess you never had a magic touch.
Spacestation (1998)
You a hear voice from across a vast distance of time and space, "That's Magic! Not a lot."
[Your score has just gone up by three points.]
Sparrow's Song (2001)
Xyzzy. Xyzzy... That seems familiar to you for a moment, but then your mind travels elsewhere.
Speculative Fiction (2011)
Thomas, could you put a random joke here? --Diane
SpeedApocalypse (1999)
Your grade school teacher appears and waves an unnaturally long index finger at you. "Now, WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT REMEMBERING TO PUT YOUR NAME IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF EVERY PAGE .... " Drops of sweat appear on the teacher's bald domed head.
Rough stone steps lead up the dome.
[any player input]
The teacher disappears!
speedif zombie (2005)
Ghogg says, "I still think a 'holed up in the bunker with the zombies coming' speedIF would've been good for Y2K, but I think we went with something else"
Spelunker's Quest (2009)
Spiritwrak (1996)
A hollow voice says, "Cool!"
Spodgeville Murphy and The Jewelled Eye of Wossname (1999)
A hollow voice refuses to say "Fool".
Spy in the Snow (1999)
Nothing happens. (Stupid enemy parser.)
Square Circle (2004)
[if not At End of Road, 1st time:] In your imagination declaiming this hoary old incantation causes all prison walls everywhere to collapse into piles of dusty rubble, thus bringing you instant fame, fortune and freedom. In reality, nothing happens at all; but then you didn’t seriously expect magic to work in this enlightened age, did you?
[if not At End of Road, 2nd time:] Very well – if you’re really that determined to live in a fantasy world...
[You are now At End of Road.]
>in (or any other direction)
As you take your first step your futile daydream shatters...
... and you find yourself back in reality.
[if At End of Read:] Nothing happens.
Stack Overflow (2004)
That's not a dape I recognise.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants (2020)
Isaac had never been in the colossal cave.
Stargazer: Prologue (1996)
You attempt to speak the sacred Word of Power, but find your throat stuck all of a sudden. You cannot say anything!
"Many fools have made the same mistake. Once such fool set off the Exodus which trapped Thran...," booms an unseen voice.
"DO NOT CONTINUE IN YOUR INSOLENCE!," it screams!
Your power of speech returns, and you make a quick vow never to speak that terrible word again.
A Stegosaur's Night Out (2000)
A hollow voice says, "Very well. You don't know what you're asking for, but here you go....."
And, in fact, within minutes the whole Palace is abuzz, with the sounds of helicopters and tanks drawing nearer. Within half an hour, half the Viennese army is on the front lawn. Within an hour, every inhabitant of the palace - including Charles and yourself - is dead meat.
*** In your death you were not divided ***
The play is played out.
Stick it to the man (2001)
Do what?
This might actually be a NOTUNDERSTOOD response, but this game now crashes WinGlulxe so I can't check for sure.
Stiffy Makane: Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (1997)
I don't understand 'xyzzy' as a verb.
HOLLOW VOICE: Fool.
Stiffy Makane: The Undiscovered Country (2001)
Note: To experience the animation and sound that accompanies the second response (after removing your uniform), you'll have to play the actual game.
Sting of the Wasp (2004)
Nothing happens. Guess if you want to travel someplace exotic, you'll have to do it the old-fashioned way and sleep with Frank.
A Stop For the Night (2003)
That Word has no power here.
The Story of Morris the Chicken Being Helped by a Squirrel (1998)
You are instantly transported to your present location.
A Stroll on the Roof (2001)
Well, having missed countless speedifs, this is my first entry. Very late. Enjoy...IF YOU DARE.
The parameters? "Your game will be set on one or several floor(s) of a thirty-story building in Manhattan. At the beginning of the game, it's ten in the evening on December 31, 2002. On every floor, the New Year's bash is going on -- the people in their high-rise apartments, the rented out function halls, even the office workers stuck here late. Fireworks are scheduled to begin over the water promptly at midnight. Unfortunately, the building will be taken over by terrorists at eleven-thirty -- they've infiltrated the maintenance staff and have been surreptitiously placing bombs in various locations throughout the building during the past few months, all set to go off at different times later that evening if their demands aren't met."
Why not...visit my website! http://www.track0.f2s.com. No, wait, don't visit it. It sucks.
Stuff of Legend (2020)
Sub Rosa (2015)
[first time:] You remember your lessons when you were studying to become the Orloger; Counter Cur taught you everything you didn't want to know about sums.
"In order to calculate the area of a bounded plain, you must find the length of the cross product of the vectors of its 2 adjacent sides," he said.
You didn't see why you couldn't just ask the letter-beast doing the binding, but you humoured the Counter at the time.
"Well," Counter Cur continued, "if B (Bx, By, Bz) and C (Cx, Cy, Cz) are the vectors of its 2 adjacent sides and A (Ax, Ay, Az) is the cross product, then you must find A = B x C using this formula:
"Ax = By Cz - Bz Cy
Ay = Bz Cx - Bx Cz
Az = Bx Cy - By Cx."
"My memory is good, but there's got to be a better way of memorising this," you said.
"You will notice," Cur continued, "that if you replace x with y, y with z and z with x you can get from the first line to the second line and from the second line to the third line."
"So all I need to do is remember the first line, right?" you said.
"Precisely," said Cur, "and you do that by remembering the handy mnemonic 'xyzzy'."
And that's how you cal... wait a minute, you didn't spend seventeen years preparing to break into the Confessor's mansion just to find out the area of the plain.
The Suffering Supplicant (2002)
NO KANGEROOS COULD KICK THERE ASS
-- Danny "Dman" Hale
Sugarlawn (2019)
"Why does every contestant on this show think that will actually do something?" complains Terri.
Sunburn (2015)
If only there were some magic word that'd teleport you out of here. That'd be really helpful right about now.
Yup.
Sunday Afternoon (2012)
You can't depend on magic to get you out of this one.
Sunset Over Savannah (1997)
Suveh Nux (2007)
You seem to remember seeing that word somewhere before.
Swigian (2017)
The gods of old treasure their names. Don't speak it again.
>xyzzy
I'll remember you.
*** You have died. ***
Tanker and Webb (1999)
Gerzundheit!
Tapper (2001)
Unfortunately, this is real life. Wouldn't it be nice if magic words actually worked?
The Tarot Reading (2003)
Suddenly a man falls from the air. As he picks himself up you see he is in his early thirties, covered in cat hair and looks as if he works out a fair bit.
"Ah yes," he says, "I remember this. Ahem..." and he begins what seems to be a prepared spiel:
=====================================================================
The Tarot Reading - A piece of IF art by Michael Penman, written for the 2003 IF Art Show (http://members.aol.com/iffyart/)
Copyright (c) 2003 by Michael AM Penman. All rights reserved.
Developed with TADS: The Text Adventure Development System
Of course there's a view that good art shouldn't require explanation. Unfortunately, I doubt this is 'good' art; it's just the best that I can achieve at the moment. That's why I've decided to offer this word of explanation.
In the IF art show the stress is placed on exploring interactivity rather than fiction; the I rather than the F of IF. This got me thinking: where does that interactivity take place, really? Certainly not in the IF environment, which is after all no more than a static construct. So why did I feel so thoroughly transported after playing _All Roads_ for the first time? So moved after completing _LASH_?
My answer is that the IF construct plays us. It alters our mind for a time, sometimes permanently. For me this is true of all fiction. I couldn't think of a better metaphor for this than the use of the tarot archetypes to allow the player to explore their mind.
Some words of thanks, then I'll go. I'm not very good at spelling and even worse at coding. The following beta testers from LiveJournal and code gurus from rec.arts.int-fiction helped me lots, as did my wonderful wife Helen:
Michael J. Roberts, Jay T, Dan Shiovitz, adjectivemarcus
For the character's knowledge of the cards I relied extensively on the _TarotL Tarot History Information Sheet_ by members of the TarotL discussion group (http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/TarotL)
Authors: Mary K. Greer, Tom Tadfor Little, Nina Lee Braden, Linda Dunn, Mark Filipas, Robert V. O'Neill, Christine Payne-Towler, Robert Place, James Revak, and others.
Compiled and edited by Tom Tadfor Little.
For my own knowledge of the cards I like to turn to _The Celtic Tarot_ by Helena Paterson.
All that said, it's been a fun project and I hope you like it.
=====================================================================
The man then gives a cheery wave and vanishes as mysteriously as he appeared.
>xyzzy
Do you think the author wants to be summoned here every five minutes? Don't over use magical verbs, they wear out.
Tea and Toast (2014)
Fourth-wall breaking is Lily's job.
Tea Ceremony (2014)
Sadly, the magic word is powerless to get you out of your diplomatic obligations.
The Temple (2002)
You regret dropping out of Magic 101 at college.
Temple of Kaos (2003)
“XYZZY” you say to yourself.
Tenth Plague (2011)
Calling upon magic? You are entirely composed of magic.
The Tenyaka Memorial of Vegreville (2003)
You hear a hollow voice say "That's got to be a Ukrainian word."
Terminal Interface for Models RCM301-303 (2018)
Self-destruct module not available on RCM302. Contact your sales representative for information about the benefits of more expensive models.
The Terrible Doubt of Appearances (2014)
You spread your arms and utter a powerful incantation. You hope.
[if Athena nearby, add:] Athena looks at you askance. "You should be thankful humans cannot use that kind of magic," she says. "Your species would not have lasted very long."
The Test is Now READY (2012)
Tethered (2018)
You find nothing useful behind the fourth wall.
Tex Bonaventure and the Temple of the Water of Life (2013)
*Poof!*
You find yourself in a wondrous cave. At least you assume it's wondrous. It's dark, and you have no light source. You may be eaten by a grue.
*Poof!* ...that wore off quickly.
[if first time, add:] Congratulationment!® number 28 - "Text Adventure Veteran."
[Your score has just gone up by one point.]
Textfire Golf (2001)
A hollow voice says, "Fore!"
Theatre (1995)
The shadows shift subtly. Perhaps it would not be wise to draw attention to yourself by uttering those words.
There Is No Bread (2000)
A hollow voice says, "There is no bread."
The Theta Point (2001)
A hollow voice says "Yay, points!"
[For finding the obvious easter egg, your score has just gone up by one point.]
This Is The Toaster (2000)
The detective stepped cautiously north into the small closet. Well lit from an unseen source, the closet revealed a few rumply clothes on hangers and a knick-knack or two but nothing remotely relevant to the case. Ed left the way he came, walking north back into the hallway.
He emerged in a dimly lit drawing room that smelled of zinnias and old dust. Bending down, Ed examined a piece of wooden wood. "This could come in handy," the detective mused as he picked it up.
Just then, a celebrity walked into the room from the east! Ed screamed and pulled the trigger on his pistol. Too late ...
This is very similar to PLUGH's and PLOVER's responses but with differing details.
Thorfinn's Realm (1999)
"xyzzy... xyzzy... XYZZY!!", you shout, the power of the word echoing around you. And yet, nothing happens.
The Thorn (2003)
For some reason you remember the computer games you played as a kid. What if that's all this is? A game? What if that's all anything is?
Threediopolis (2013)
Yes, indeed, the game map has 3 axes--x, y and z.
Till Death Makes A Monk-Fish Out Of Me (2002)
You're a scientist, not an idiot.
Time Place People Water Way (2004)
The ghost of Gordon Way appears and mutters something about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Timetrap (2002)
That magic word has no power in this place and time.
Tinseltown Blues (2002)
A wave of warm and fuzzy nostalgia washes over you as the word escapes your lips, but nothing much else occurs.
Toasterama (2000)
Suddenly you are transported out of your house and never have to eat toast again! Yay! Well... not really. Nothing happens. Nice try, though.
Tookie's Song (2002)
A disembodied voice speaks. "This magic word is down for repairs, necessitated by its overuse. Please try another."
Toonesia (1995)
Tough Beans (2005)
For a brief moment, you feel that someone is watching you... from the inside. Seeing what you see, reading your thoughts. You shudder as a wave of anxiety washes over you.
Tower (by Deimel) (2014)
Magic words can not bring you away from here.
The Tower of the Elephant (2006)
Sorcerer, you are not.
Transparent (2014)
Trinity (1986)
[Sigh.]
Also: Bureaucracy.
The Trip (2000)
You mumble some random syllables for no apparent reason, and, surprisingly, nothing happens.
Triune (2001)
.sneppah gnihtoNNothing happens.
Truth (2014)
Cheating is tempting, but it would be hypcritical for a truth-seeker.
Tryst of Fate (1995)
Images of knife-throwing dwarves come to mind.
Tube Trouble (1995)
TUBE TROUBLE is a mini-adventure by Richard Tucker, based on a 1988 BBC Micro game by Richard Tucker and Damian Gamble. Gareth Rees made many helpful suggestions. It was created with Inform, Graham Nelson's infocom-format adventure game compiler, and may be copied freely.
As this is a short, silly, unreasonable game, you may be killed without warning.
Please email bugs and comments to [eaddress omitted].
Twilight in the Garden of Exile (2001)
Pardon?
Typo! (2004)
[Flavorplex Psychic Typo Correction has divined that you want to "x"].
What do you want to examine?
The U.S. Men's Hockey Team Olympic Challenge! (1998)
I don't know the word "xyzzy". Now get back to trashing this dump!
Ugly Oafs (2014)
You try to shify around the usual magic word, but you get nowhere.
Under They Thunder (2020)
A hollow voice booms "Ugh! Play!" Well, you couldn't have expected it to boom "Oho, yay."
Under, In Erebus (2010)
Phantom letters swim before your eyes, but they don't seem to make any sense. You'd feel more comfortable with a more familiar arrangement of letters.
Underground Compound (2002)
a random number is [number].
The Underoos that ate New York! (1994)
A hollow voice says, "This is a short sample 'game' designed to test out some programming ideas I had. It pays homage to the bad old sci-fi B movies. The material here is, I suppose, vaguely mystifying to small children, so parents be warned, play it through first yourself, and make your own decision about it."
Undo (1995)
A hollow voice ignores you.
Also: GATOR-ON, Friend to Wetlands.
Unease (2002)
A horse walks into a bar. The bartender looks up and says, "Hey. Why the long face?"
The verb XYZZY is unknown in version 2, and I can no longer verify if this was the response in version 1.
Unnkulia One-Half: The Salesman Triumphant (1993)
Being a feet-on-the-ground salesman, you don't believe in silly magical words.
Unnkulia Unventure II: The Secret of Acme (1991)
You invoke an ancient word of power. So ancient, in fact, that it no longer works. Nothing happens.
Unnkulia X: Escape of the Sacrificed (2000)
Suddenly, you find yourself enclosed in a huge cloud of orange smoke. When it clears, you suddenly realize that you're in...
Unnkulia Zero: The Search for Amanda (1993)
You speak an ancient word of power. A hollow voice says, "No chance, chucko. This is a serious adventure. Shape up and fly right!"
Unnkulian Underworld: The Unknown Unventure (1990)
You invoke an ancient word of power. A wrenching sensation wracks your body, and you find yourself...
Untold Riches (2015)
You recall a different tropical archipelago, far from here, which you and the professor traversed in hope of finding the Chachapoyan Fertility Idol. After that, whenever he needed a vacation, the professor would sometimes go back to Zabba, Deffe, Hijji, Noppo, and Tuvvu (and sometimes Xyzzy).
Upon the Spooky House (2020)
Oh, buzz off.
Vacation Gone Awry (1988)
Nothing happens. Maybe in another time, another game...
Vague (2009)
You say "xyzzy" aloud. The word has some meaning but you cannot remember why.
Varicella (1999)
A hollow voice says, "How unseemly!"
Varkana (2007)
You can, of course, examine and eat the kebab.
Varronis Museum (2007)
Pardon?
Ego non intellego, tu non intellegis...
Ventilator (2016)
Your head spins, and magical smoke wraps itself all around you....
Field
You are in a field west of a white house.
A mailbox stands here, oppressively familiar to you. You've been here before.... or have you?
Very Old Dog (2000)
A hollow voice says "I've spent two days coding that flocking stereo system, and I'm not really too keen on coming up with a witty way to indulge in nostalgia."
Very Vile Fairy File (2019)
Fie, fie. Sigh, sigh. Why, why?
Vicious Cycles (2001)
Your heart stops. You keel over and pass into darkness.
Violet (2008)
That time on the sixth floor of the library:
"Violet, that was-- that was--"
"Magical?"
"How did you do that?"
"Any sufficiently awesome girlfriend is indistinguishable from magic."
>xyzzy
You don't need magic today, wallaroo. You just need to write.
VirtuaTech (1997)
A hollow voice announces that the XYZZY Forum on the Virtua WorldNet is closed right now. How typical.
Virus (2002)
Such an action would undoubtedly compromise your hunting position.
Vortex 2305 (2010)
You've heard that word before, you know it from the games you've enjoyed over the years, but it's just a made-up word.
VR Gambler (2017)
[if first time:] Looks like you know your IF history.
**** Gold Coast Casino Old-timer's Reward ***
Your gold is increased by 50.
(NOTE: From now on, xyzzy won't give you gold. But it will do something very useful when your level is high enough.)
Waiting for The End (2013)
Your hollow voice howls the arcane utterance, to no avail.
Waldo's Pie (2005)
Hmm, nothing happens. Magic words only seem to work for wizards.
A Walk in the Park (by Alger) (2010)
You'd think a tiny little game like this wouldn't include a reference like this. Well you thought wrong.
A Walk Through Forever (2001)
[when the mob is about to kill you:]
>>FOOM!<<
Inside Your Car
You are sitting in the driver's seat of your car. There are some keys in the ignition, and tasty food and a bottle of water in the glove compartment.
Wasting no time, you start the engine and make your way home.
*** You have won ***
Walker & Silhouette (2009)
Your tiresome magic can hardly withstand my relentless reasoning.
The Warbler's Nest (2010)
If you could mend your troubles with one word, God knows you would have done it by now.
The Water Bird (1999)
In the time of the First People, even that ancient magic did not exist yet.
The Waterhouse Women (2002)
That doesn't seem to have any effect here, unfortunately.
Waystation (1995)
Actually having you magically teleport upon the utterance of that word would violate what little continuity exists in this game.
The Wayward Story (2020)
[Thank you for being a part of this community.]
Wearing the Claw (1996)
Your surroundings have changed! Oh, wait. Scratch that. I must have experienced a momentary hallucination. I guess you'll just have to walk wherever you want to go.
Weekend At Ruby's (2014)
Sorry to spoil it for you but that letter from Hogwarts isn't coming. You're not a wizard. Magic words won't help you here.
The Weight of a Soul (2017)
You're a doctor's apprentice, not a wizard's apprentice.
The Weird Sister (2002)
You hear a hollow voice say 'SpeedIF doth murder sleep.'
Wetlands (2011)
Wheel (1999)
The rings silently spin, and finally come to rest reading:
"The voice speaks hollowly."
When Help Collides (2002)
You haven't given out that hint in ages.
White Houses (2014)
You hear a noise in the distance. Sounds like someone just called you a fool.
Who Created That Monster? (2004)
You hear a loud descending whistle followed by a boom from the street nearby.
Why does my New Year's Eve always crash and burn? (2001)
As you say the magic word, a shimmering steel pole appears in front of you out of nowhere. At its top is the head of Dick Clark. Revelers kneel in praise, then start counting down from ten as the head descends down the pole. When the count gets to three, the pole and head vanish in a puff of smoke.
Winchester's Nightmare (1999)
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Winter Storm Draco (2015)
That's not a callback I recognize.
Wish (2007)
A pixie comes scurrying up to you, takes one look, offers a quizzical expression, then disappears
Wishbringer (1985)
A hollow voice says, "Fool!"
Also: Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor.
The Wizard's Apprentice (2013)
Good try, but that is an old worn-out magic word.
Word of the Day (2017)
As you speak aloud [one of]a chill runs down your spine[or]you feel very apprehensive[or]you feel very frightened for a moment[at random], but apart from that nothing seems to happen.
The X Chicken (1998)
In the distance you see a car approaching. The car slows down as it passes. It's a black Lincoln Towne car with darkly tinted windows. As it passes nearby, you could swear you see through the glass a small chimp wearing a tuxedo and laughing at all of you hysterically. The license plate reads, "MNKYBTLR".
Xen: The Hunt (2006)
Your kung-foo is not strong, my son.
The Xylophoniad (2016)
Never gets old, does it?
Yay Games (2004)
That's what we're here for, yes.
Yon Astounding Castle! of some sort (2009)
Nothing happeneth.
You Have to Put the Baby New Year in the Champagne Bottle (2014)
Zero (2004)
38°40'17"N 77°59'45"W
[And there's a popping sound effect.]
These coordinates are within the town of Amissville, VA.
Zero Sum Game (1997)
*** You have died ***
Zigamus: Zombies at Vigamus! (2016)
You say the magic word Xyzzy, but nothing, absolutely nothing, happens.
Zombie! (1997)
Even that magic cannot help you here.
Zork I: The Great Underground Empire (1980)
A hollow voice says "Fool."
Also: Enchanter; Infidel; Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz; Zork III: The Dungeon Master.
Zork: A Troll's Eye View (1998)
ARAC : Politics we bar,
They are not our bent;
On the whole we are
Not intelligent;
ARAC, GURON,
SCYNTHIUS: No, no, no,
Not intelligent.
-- W.S. Gilbert, "Princess Ida" A hollow voice says "Troll".
Zork: The Undiscovered Underground (1997)
A hollow voice says, "Cretin."
Zumpf and Fumping (2001)
"Give a man a turkey sandwich, and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to turkey sandwich, and he will eat for a lifetime." -- Art Bell
Zymurgy (2002)
You hear a hollow voice say 'Mmmm... beer.'
XYZZY acts like ABOUT
Belief.
XYZZY acts like DAMN
YAGWAD.
XYZZY acts like HELP
Lock & Key.
XYZZY acts like NO-DO
Night Driver.
XYZZY acts like SAY
Eat Me.
XYZZY default in ADRIFT
I'm sorry, but XYZZY doesn't do anything special in this game!
Of all the standard IF authoring systems, only ADRIFT had a default response for XYZZY until Quest 5 added one. ADRIFT dropped its default response for XYZZY with ADRIFT 5.
1st Time; 3 Minutes to Live; The ADRIFT Maze; The ADRIFT Project - Classified; ADRIFTmas Party; Adventure Strikes When You Least Expect It; Agent 4-F From Mars; The Amazing Uncle Griswold; The Amulet; Amy And The Raging Hormones; The Angel, the Devil and the Human; Apokalupsis; ARGH's Great Escape; Asteroid Aftermath; Back To Life... Unfortunately; BSG: Twenty Two; Dead Race; Dish Duty; Donuts; Dung Beetles Are Aliens!; Last Week Before the Wedding; The Magician's Niece; The Merlin Bird of Prey; Sex is Mental; Through Time; To End All Wars; Ye Intro to Yon Astounding Castle! of Some Sort.
XYZZY default in Quest
The Brutal Murder of Jenny Lee; Tombs & Mummies.
XYZZY default in Quest 5
Surprisingly, absolutely nothing happens.
Basilica de Sangre; Dream Pieces 2: The Lego Box; Drumsticks; Eight characters, a number, and a happy ending; The Encyclopedia of Elementals; Guttersnipe: St. Hesper's Asylum for the Criminally Mischievous; Guttersnipe: The Baleful Backwash; Jacqueline, Jungle Queen!; The Mouse Who Woke Up For Christmas; Night House; One Night Stand; Poppet; Space Punk Moon Tour; What Once Was.
XYZZY is not understood
untitled (speed5.gam); +=3; 1-2-3...; 10 Second Defence; 1981; 30 Minutes; 43; 5 Minutes to Burn Something!; 8 Shoes On The Shelves; 85 Verbs; 98769765; 9:05; 9Lives; > by @; A AAAAA AAAAAAAAA; A Bunch of Keys; The Abbey; An Abbreviated Night Before Christmas; The Absolute Worst IF Game in History; Academic Pursuits (As Opposed To Regular Pursuits); Acid Whiplash; The Acorn Court; The Act of Misdirection; The Adam and Eve Project; ADRIFT-O-RAMA; Advent Door; Aesthetic Deletions; Aftermath; Aggravatron; The Airport; The Algophilists' Penury; Alien Abduction?; All Roads; All Things Devours; Alma Mater; The Amazing Interactive Turing Machine; Amnesia (by crazydwarf); Ananachronist; Anchorhead; And yet it moves; Andreas Thorwald Cross; The Angel Curse; Anno 1700; Annoyed Undead; Another Terminal Beach; Antifascista; Antique Panzitoum; Antiquest; The Apocalypse Clock; an apple from nowhere; April in Paris; Are you Too Chicken to Make a Deal?; The Argument-Winner's Ghost; Arid and Pale; The Art of Fugue; Artifice; Ascension of Limbs; The Ascot; Asendent; Assignment One; Asylum (by cpuguy); Attack of the Yeti Robot Zombies; Augustine; Authority; Awake the Mighty Dread; Awakening (by Gardner); Babel; Ballymun Adventure; Bane of the Builders; The Baron; Basic Train-ing; The Bean Stalker; Bear Creek; Because you're mine; Beet the Devil; Begatron; A Beginning; Behavior; Being the Ending of the Beginning; The Believable Adventures of an Invisible Man; Bellclap; Bender; Beneath: a Transformation; Best Gopher Ever; Best Laid Plans; The Best Man; Beyond; Beyond Division; The Bibliophile; The Big Mama; Bio; Bird; Birth of Mind; Blackness; Blind; The Blind House; Blink; Bliss; Blue; Blue Sky; The Blueprint; Bobby and Bonnie; Bored Ladders; Bradford Mansion; Brain Guzzlers from Beyond!; A Brain in the Rain; Brain of the Night Guest; Break-In; A Broken Man; Bronze; Building; Bullhockey 2: The Return of The Leather Whip; Bullhockey!; Bunt; Buried in Shoes; Burning; Buttons; Caduceus; Caffeination; The Call of the Shaman; The Cardew House; Carmen Devine: Supernatural Troubleshooter; Carriage Returns; The Case of LeAnne's Missing Bunny, Wendy; The Case of Samuel Gregor; CASK; Castle Adventure!; A Castle of Thread; The Cenric Family Curse; Cerulean Stowaway; A Change in the Weather; Changes; Channel Surfing; Chateu Le Mont; Checkpoint; Cheiron; The Chicken Under The Window; Chicken!; The Chicken's Dilemma; Chlorophyll; Chronicle Play Torn; Chunky Blues; Civil Mimic; Class Challenge; The Clock; Closed Circles; Clusterflux; COD; Cogito; Cold Iron; Color and Number; The Colour Pink; A Comedy of Error Messages (aka The Elfen Maiden); Coming Home; Common Ground; Comp00ter Game; Comrade; Congratulations!; Containment; Couch of Doom; Crater Creek, 2113; Crocodracula: The Beginning; Crocodracula: What Happened to Calvin; Cry Wolf; Crystal Ball; The Crystal Palace; The Cuckold's Egg; Curse of the Garden Isle; A Dark and Stormy Entry; Darkiss! Wrath of the Vampire - Chapter 1: the Awakening; Darkiss! Wrath of the Vampire - Chapter 2: Journey to Hell; A Day for Soft Food; The day I hugged Ghandi!; The Day I saved Elvis; The Day I shot Alex; The Day time stood still; The Day we got a pet; Dead Cities; Dead Man's Hill; Dead Pavane for a Princess; Deadline Enchanter; Death of Schlig; Degeneracy; Delicious Breakfast; Delightful Wallpaper; Delusions Again; Deprivation; Desolation; The Devil in the Details; Diddlebucker!; Die a Hero or Become the Villian; Dig Dug; Dig My Grave; Digging Time!; Dinner with Andre; A Dino's Night Out; Disenchantment Bay; Donkey Kong; Down with the Underpig; Down, the Serpent and the Sun; The Dreamhold; Dreary Lands; Dual Transform; Dude, Where's My Scapula?; Earl Grey; Eduard the Seminarist; The Egg and the Newbie; The Eleusinian Miseries; The Empty Chamber; The End Means Escape; Endless Sands; Episode in the Life of an Artist; Eric's Bender; Eric's Gift; Escape From Summerland; Escape from Terra; Escape from the Arboretum; Escape from the Underworld; Escape! (by Bastarache); Eunice; Evacuate; Even Bantams Get The Blues; An Evening at the Ransom Woodingdean Museum House; The Evil Sorcerer; Excelsior; Extreme Omnivore; Fail-Safe; Faithful Companion; Fallout Shelter (by Gloam); Fat Fair; Fifteen; Fight or Flight; Final Exam; Finding Martin; Finding the Mouse; First; Fish Bowl; Fish Dreams; Flattened London; Floatpoint; A Fly On The Wall, or An Appositional Eye; Fog Convict; For A Change; For the Moon Never Beams; Foreign Soil; Forever Always; The Four Eccentrics; Fourdiopolis; The Fox, The Dragon, and The Stale Loaf of Bread; Frenemies: Or, I Won an Andy Phillips Game; From Thanet to New Romney; Further; Fusillade; Future Threads; Futz Mutz; Gaia's Web; Gaia, Živa, Jarilo; Galactic Peace; Galaxian; The Game Formerly Known as Hidden Nazi Mode; The Game of Worlds TOURNAMENT!; Game Producer!; Gamlet; The Gay Science; The Ghost Ship; Gleaming the Verb; Goldilocks is a FOX!; Gone Out for Gruyère; Goodbye Cruel Squirrel; Gotomomi; Gourmet; Grandma Bethlinda's Variety Box; The Granite Book; The Great Xavio; Grief; Grounded in Space; The Guardian; Guilded Youth; Hadean Lands; Half-Life 3 Confirmed; Hallow Eve; Halloween Dance; The Halloween Horror; Hedge; Heezy Park; Hello Sword; Hercules First Labor; Heroes; Hey, I'm Supposed to Be Free Range; Hill 160; History Repeating; Hoist Sail for the Heliopause and Home; HOLY ROBOT EMPIRE; The Horrible Pyramid; The House (by Remington); The House at the End of Rosewood Street; The House on Sycamore Lane; Hunter, in Darkness; Ice House of Horrors; Identity; Identity Thief; IF Progressive One; The Immortal; In Darkness; In the Spotlight; The Incredibly Mild Misadventures of Tom Trundle; Indigo; Indistinguishable; Inevitable (by Pfeiffer); Inside the Facility; Insider Information; Internal Documents; The Interview; Invisible Parties; The Island (by Brown); Island in the Storm; The Island of Infinity; The Isle of the Cult; It; It's Easter, Peeps!; J'dal; Jack; Jack Toresal and The Secret Letter; Jacks or Better to Murder, Aces to Win; Jane; Jeffrey the Homicidal Mimic; Jesse Stavro's Doorway; Jon Doe - Wildcard Nucleus; Joust; Jump; Junior Arithmancer; Kaged; Kentish Plover; Kerkerkruip; Kicker; Koan; Land of the Mountain King; Large Machine; LASH -- Local Asynchronous Satellite Hookup; The Last Dark Day; Last House on the Block; Lazy Gods of Earth; Leaves; LegBreaker 3k!; The Legend of Lady Magaidh; Legion; Let Us Burn Down Science; Lethe Flow Phoenix; The Library; Life On Mars?; Light into Darkness; The Lighthouse; Lightiania; The Lion in Winter; Little Blue Men; LiveJoseph; LMS-The Video Game; Lobster Bucket; The Lode Runner; Lomalow; A Long Drink; Look Around The Corner; Looking to the Sky; The Lost Islands of Alabaz; The Lost Kingdom; Love, Hate and the Mysterious Ocean Tower; Lovely Assistant: Magical Girl; The Lucubrator; Lunar Base 1; The Lurking Horror II: The Lurkening; The Magnificent Museum of Masterly Masterworks; Make It Good; MANALIVE, A Mystery of Madness - I; MANALIVE, A Mystery of Madness - II; Map; Marble Madness; The Mary Jane of Tomorrow; Masque of the Last Faeries; maybe make some change; MC; Meeting Robb Sherwin; Meld; Mental Entertainment; MetaFilter; 'Mid the Sagebrush and the Cactus; The Milk of Paradise; Mingsheng; Mix Tape; Molly and the Butter Thieves; The Moon Watch; Moon-Shaped; Moonbase; Moonbase Indigo; More; Moving (On); The Mulldoon Legacy; Murder at the Aero Club; Murder on the Big Nothing; Music Education; My Angel; My Uncle George; The Mysterious Case of the Acrobat and His Peers; Mystery House Possessed; MythTale; Napier's Cache; Narcissi; Navigatio; The Nemean Lion; A New Life; A Night at the Museum Forever; Niney; Ocean Beach; Off the Trolley; Office Goose; Old Jim's Convenience Store; Old King Nebb; The oldest hangover on Earth; On a Horse With No Name; On Optimism; One Eye Open; One way out; Only After Dark; Open That Vein; Opening Night; Orchid Species of the Erastian; Orpington; Out of the Study; The Owl Consults; Pac-Man; Packrat; Paranoia; Pathfinder; Pegasus; Phantom: Caverns of the Killer; Photopia; The Physiognomist's Office; The Pickpocket; Pilgrimage; Pirating; Pit of the Condemned; Please help me; Pogoman GO!; Polendina; Pong; Press [Escape] to Save; Prizon; Professor Frank; Prosperity of Cheaters; Psyche's Lament; Puddles on the Path; Punk Points; Purple; A Quiet Evening at Home; Rainbow Bridge; Randomized escape; Re: Dragon; The Realm; Recess At Last; Reconciling Mother; Recorded; Red; Redeye; Rent-A-Spy; The Richard Mines; Ritual of Purification; Riverside; The robocop_is_bleeding scenario; The Rocket Man from the Sea; Rockrider; Room 206; Rover's Day Out; Rox; Ruined Robots; Sand-dancer; Sardoria; Scarlet Portrait Parlor; Scary House Amulet!; Schroedinger's Cat; The Sealed Room; Seasonal Apocalypse Disorder; Secret of the Starry Depths; The Secret of Vegibal Island; La Seine; Sentencing Mr Liddell; sequitur; Shade; Shadow Operative; shrapnel; Sigil Reader (Field); Silicon Castles; Sisyphus; Six; Six Gray Rats Crawl Up The Pillow; Six Silver Bullets; Skies Above; Slasher Swamp; Slouching Towards Bedlam; Snack Time!; Snatches; Some Exceptions for Reasons Unknown; Son of a...; Space Invaders!; Sparkle; Spectrum (by Sandel); Speed IF #2; SpeedIF of Destiny or Nothing, Punk; Spellbound; Spellbreaker; Spider and Web; Spiral; Splashdown; Star City; Star Hunter; The Statue Got Me High; Steam and Sacrilege; Stink or Swim; Stone Cell; Stone of Wisdom; The Story of the Shinoboo; Stranded (by Cummings); Stranded (by Lowe); Strange Geometries; Strangers in the Night; Stupid Kittens; The Sueño; The Sword of Malice; Taco Fiction; Take; The Tale of the Cursed Eagle; Tales of the Soul Thief; The Tempest; The Temple of Shorgil; Terminator; Terminator Chaser; Terrible Lizards; Theatre People; Threading the Labyrinth; Three Card Trick; Three Days of Night; Tilt!; Timeout; Toby's Nose; toiletworld; Transfer; Trapped in a One-Room Dilly; Treasure Hunt in the Amazon; Treasures of a Slaver's Kingdom; Trein; Turbo Chest Hair Massacre; Tuuli; Ultimate Escape Room: IF City; Unforgotten; Unity; The Unstoppable Vengeance of Doctor Bonesaw; The Untold Story; Uxmulbrufyuz; Vain Empires; Valley of Steel; Vampire Ltd; The Vanishing Conjurer; Vault of Hugo II: Electric Boogaloo; A Very Hairy Fish-Mess; Vespers; Vestiges; The Virtual Grand National; Voices; Volcano Isle; Voltage Cafe; The Voodoo You Do; The Voodoo You Do 2; The Voodoo You Do 3; A Walk in the Park (by George); The Wand; The Weapon; What happened in 1984; What-IF?; wHen mAchines aTtack; Where Evil Dwells; A Whispered Dream; Whom The Telling Changed; A Wind Blown from Paradise; Winter Break at Hogwarts; Winter Wonderland; Wisp; Withdrawal Symptoms; The Wizard Sniffer; Worlds Apart; Xen: The Contest; Yami-Nabe!!; You are a Chef!; You Are Here; You are standing in a cave...; You've Got A Stew Going!; zork, buried chaos; Zozzled.
See also Rick Adams's Everything you ever wanted to know about the magic word XYZZY page.
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