- The text UI is really charming.
- I will only tolerate Rover.
- Related to the topic, there's this interesting Youtube playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL71MurckxMeDCeOrKZ5Gd... detailing the basics of running, editing and programming ZZT in a modern computer. It may be interesting for those that want to see how it works without diving into documentation.
- ZZT was really fun when I was a budding programmer. It allowed me to understand simple concepts like spatial awareness of entities in arbitrary spaces, more complicated enemy AI (for my low standards at the time) and states in a more practical way.
Megazeux was the advanced, deluxe cousin of ZZT, worth checking out if you like the idea but want something with a bit more flair.
- This is quite impressive, and includes a nice behind the scenes writeup, too!
I remember wanting to check the original version of this a few times, but was bummered by having to set it up in a way that was comfortable running from WINE and only played it a few times.
Now that it got a port I may indulge a bit. Runs pretty well in my Firefox, and allows configuring the controls and everything (I prefer WASD). Pretty excellent stuff.
- A browser port of a 1983 circuit logic simulator for the Apple II. The game is a bit clumsy by today's standards, but it has a great degree of complexity, programming robots to solve puzzles or working in a sandbox.
Source code is at https://github.com/scanlime/robot-odyssey-rewired
- I totally agree, the explanations are detailed, easy to understand (at least for the initiated in hardware and binary logic, but I think he does a good job of introducing the gist of it before diving into the gritty details) and the presentation is excellent.
Youtube user Bisqwit has a nice series about password composing in retro games that I find in the same tier of interesting.
- Found his passwords playlist, thanks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzLzYGEbdY5nEFQsxzFan...
Displaced Gamers channel is also very worth a look: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWoSKWs8h6lFdiEDAjuIfpA
- I've tried this some time ago and it works surprisingly well. The best thing is the interesting documentation of the process, old UNIX executables and how it relinks parts to add new functionality. Pretty good!
I seem to remember it barely had any maps or fun things to get online, so you might be entirely right about that.