IF Classics Floppy Collection
Version 1.0 (2017)

This compilation aims to collect as many classic, high-quality, diverse, freely-distributable interactive fiction games as possible onto a small set of bootable floppies. Criteria for selection, in roughly descending order:

  - It's in Z-machine format.
  - It's good (at least according to IFDB reviewers).
  - It's small (so the disk can fit as many games as possible).
  - It's relatively well-known (or better, nostalgic - these are *floppies*, after all!)
  - It contributes to the diversity of genres and styles.
  - It's largely inoffensive (so the collection appeals to the widest possible audience).
  - It has a reasonably long playtime (to maximize bang for the bytes).

Balancing these criteria can make for surprisingly selections: "Why all the Scott Adams games?" They're not particularly popular anymore, but they're extremely well-known/nostalgic and the whole collection is tiny. "Why not (e.g.) Anchorhead?" Anchorhead is universally acclaimed, but it's a large file and sufficiently gruesome that some players may find it objectionable. "Why Orion Agenda?" It's not as well known, but it's probably the best Star Trek-type sci-fi game that's small and in Z-machine format. Et cetera.

Despite the many painful cuts, I think this collection stands as a diverse and enjoyable sampler of some of the best and most historically significant work the interactive fiction community has to offer. Boot up and enjoy!
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Usage Instructions

The included floppies are distributed in 1.44 MB disk-image format. These images may be used directly with virtual machines such as VirtualBox, or written to physical disks using a program such as RawWrite (http://www.chrysocome.net/rawwrite). On Linux / OS X, they can be written to disk using the "dd" command; you may wish to search online for more detailed information specific to your system.

Once the disks are written, they should be bootable on nearly any x86-compatible computer that can boot from a 1.44 MB floppy drive. The disks will boot to a simple text-mode menu where you can select the game to run.

To save/restore games, you will need another formatted floppy to use as a save-disk (the boot disks do not have enough free space for savegames.) Simply insert the save-disk into the boot drive before typing SAVE or RESTORE. You will need to re-insert the original boot disk before running another game.
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Collection (C) Copyright 2017, Daniel Gaskell

This compilation is freely distributable on a basis consistent with the licenses of the individual components. Games are copyrighted to their respective owners, and according to the best available information are freely distributable on a non-commercial basis. Frotz and FreeDOS 1.2 are licensed under the GNU GPL. JEMMEX is licensed under the Artistic License. XMSDSK, WBAT, and UNZIP are licensed as freeware (readmes/licenses included).
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Total games: 45
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Classic:

Notable 70s  - ADVENT
             - Hunt the Wumpus
             - Zork (MIT version)
Notable 80s  - Scott Adams
Notable 90s  - A Change in the Weather
             - Christminster
             - Curses!
             - Delusions
             - Detective (MST3K)
             - Meteor, Stone
             - So Far
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Classic Modern:

Wordplay     - Ad Verbum
Sci-Fi       - All Things Devours
Conversation - Galatea
Unusual      - The Gostak
Cave Crawl   - Hunter, In Darkness
Humor/Intro  - Lost Pig
Romance      - Masquerade
Eastern      - The Moonlit Tower
Story        - Photopia
Puzzler      - Savoir-Faire
Thriller     - Spider and Web
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More Modern:

Subversion   - 9:05
Detective    - An Act of Murder
Children's   - A Bear's Night Out
Fairy Tale   - Bronze
Unusual      - For A Change
Culinary     - Gourmet
Puzzler      - The Mulldoon Legacy
Sci-Fi       - The Orion Agenda
Conversation - Pytho's Mask