MAG (computer game)

Mike's Adventure Game'' (MAG'') is a roguelike computer game. The object of the game is to delve down into an ancient dungeon and return to the surface with the Sudbury Sapphire. The original version was completed at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in 1985 by Mike Teixeira. The IBM PC version was completed in 1988.

History

MAG was originally written between 1982-1985 to run on a DEC PDP 11/70 running Unix. At the same school, Jay Fenlason had just finished up his game, Hack, predecessor to NetHack. The color IBM PC version was written between 1986-1988 while Teixeira was studying at Northeastern University in Boston.

Both the source code and game of MAG are available online as freeware.

Gameplay

The adventurer is controlled by the use of the keyboard: 'w' equips a weapon, 'i' displays the inventory, etc.

All characters, items, and monsters are represented by textual characters. Monsters are represented by colored letters. For example, dark elves are represented by a dark blue 'e', and lizardmen are a light blue 'l'.

Level maps are randomly generated as they are encountered, sometimes resulting in dead ends that effectively end a gaming session.

External Links

• DOSgames, with the game available for download