Deadline

{
"short": "Released in 1982, *Deadline* is an interactive fiction adventure game where players investigate a suspicious suicide. Written by Marc Blank, the game offered a complex parser and innovative 'feelies' to enhance the experience.",
"long": "## Introduction\n\n*Deadline* is an interactive fiction adventure game released in 1982, placing players in the role of a detective investigating a puzzling death. Developed by Infocom, the game utilizes a text-based interface, challenging players to solve the mystery through careful observation, interrogation, and deduction. The core gameplay revolves around exploring the environment, interacting with characters, and piecing together clues to uncover the truth behind a suspicious suicide.\n\n## Development & Release\n\n*Deadline* was developed and published by Infocom, with releases across multiple platforms including Classic Mac OS, Commodore Amiga, TRS-80 Model I, DOS, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari 8-bit family, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A, PC booter, Apple TV, Commodore 64, and Mac. The game was written by Marc Blank, and it was Infocom's third game. The game introduced Infocom's tradition of including "feelies"—physical items bundled with the game to enhance the experience and provide clues. These physical components, along with the game's complex parser and the independent behavior of non-player characters, were considered innovative for the time.\n\n## Gameplay & Content\n\nPlayers assume the role of the Chief of Detectives, tasked with investigating the apparent suicide of Mr. Marshall Robner, a wealthy industrialist. The game unfolds entirely through text, with players typing commands to interact with the environment and characters. The game features a single-player mode, focusing on investigation and puzzle-solving. The setting is Mr. Robner's New England colonial estate, and players must interview witnesses, examine evidence, and uncover the truth behind the circumstances of his death. The game's complexity lies in its detailed environment, the behaviors of the non-player characters, and the need to analyze clues to solve the mystery. Players must use their deductive skills to determine whether the death was a suicide or something more sinister.\n"
}