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Microsoft Adventure

Microsoft Adventure is an interactive fiction game published in 1979 by Microsoft for the TRS-80 and Apple II, then released in 1981 by IBM for the IBM PC. It is based on the PDP-10 mainframe game Colossal Cave Adventure. It was programmed for Microsoft by Gordon Letwin of Softwin Associates.

Last revised
Jul 15, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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Microsoft Adventure
TRS-80/Apple II cover
DeveloperSoftwin Associates
Publishers
ProgrammerGordon Letwin
PlatformsApple II, IBM PC, TRS-80
Release1979: TRS-80, Apple II
1981: IBM PC
GenreInteractive fiction
ModeSingle-player

Microsoft Adventure is an interactive fiction game published in 1979 by Microsoft for the TRS-80 and Apple II, then released in 1981 by IBM for the IBM PC. It is based on the PDP-10 mainframe game Colossal Cave Adventure. It was programmed for Microsoft by Gordon Letwin of Softwin Associates.1

Gameplay

Microsoft Adventure is a text game in which the player explores caves and acquires treasure, using one- or two-word commands to move or manipulate objects, and the game awards points for successfully exploring areas and gathering treasure.2 There are 130 rooms containing 15 treasures, 40 useful objects, and 12 problems for the player to solve.3 The progress of two separate games can be saved on a diskette.3 The game includes most of the content from Colossal Cave Adventure, along with a few locations unique to this version.

Release

Microsoft originally released Microsoft Adventure in 1979 for the TRS-80 and the Apple II under its new division, Microsoft Consumer Products. IBM later included Microsoft Adventure as the only game in the initial software releases for the IBM Personal Computer,2 making it one of the first two games available for the new computer4 along with DONKEY.BAS (included with the operating system). It was released on a single-sided 51⁄4 inch self-booting disk.

Reception

Carrington Dixon reviewed Microsoft Adventure in The Space Gamer No. 49.2 Dixon commented that "No game that exists on several different computers can fully demonstrate the potential of any one computer. Even so, your [money] buys many hours of cave exploring and treasure snatching. There is only one 'setup' but that one is rich and complex enough to keep anyone busy for many games. I suspect that many people will come back to this one after some flashier games have been permanently set aside."2 PC Magazine also reviewed the game positively, writing, "This hoary old classic should be included in any player's collection of games for the IBM PC."5

References

References

  1. "Microsoft Consumer Products Continuing the Microsoft Tradition". Byte. 4 (12): 179. December 1979. Only Microsoft offers Adventure complete, as originally written for the DEC PDP-10, now implemented on personal computers. The ultimate fantasy/logic game, Adventure allows you to explore the depths of the "Colossal Cave,' [...] Adventure fills an entire disk with everything you need for your exploration. Written by Gordon Letwin, of SOFTWIN, Associates. Adventure for the TRS-80 requires a single-disk, 32K system. For the Apple II" a single-disk, 32K system with either the standard disk or language card system. For just $29.95.
  2. Dixon, Carrington (March 1982). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer (49). Steve Jackson Games: 34.
  3. "IBM Archives: Product fact sheet". 03.ibm.com. 1981-08-12. Archived from the original on August 14, 2006. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  4. Lemmons, Phil (October 1981). "The IBM Personal Computer / First Impressions". BYTE. p. 36. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  5. "Adventure (Microsoft)". PC Magazine. 1 (8): 179–180. December 1982.
External links