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Where've you been? According to the official Douglas Adams website, Zaphod is Sam Rockwell.

I say "is" as the film's been in post-production since September

A British author with a "canon of work" behind him? This guy better be on the list.

Already been done -- Douglas Adams' Starship Titanic. The book and the game were released simultaneously. (Note that the book was not written by Douglas Adams, but based on the game which he was primary designer of.) Unfortunately, the web site has pretty much deterioriated. (Although this is kind of neat in a weird sort of way -- keep clicking until the end.) And the company that DNA formed to build the game, The Digital Village, has been closed down.

Already been done -- Douglas Adams' Starship Titanic. The book and the game were released simultaneously. (Note that the book was not written by Douglas Adams, but based on the game which he was primary designer of.) Unfortunately, the web site has pretty much deterioriated. (Although this is kind of neat in a weird sort of way -- keep clicking until the end.) And the company that DNA formed to build the game, The Digital Village, has been closed down.

It's some funny timing for me to see this story. This past August, I found a copy of Douglas Adams' Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Infocom on the Amiga (yes, occasionally I like to old school it with my Amigas...) and found I had a blast reliving my youth by playing it. It was written by the man himself I believe and it's incredibly clever (well, duh!).

Maybe I'll give these new games a spin to see what they have to offer!

"He was a Naderite in 2000, he helped elect Bush. " If everyone in the USA voted with their hearts instead of "rationally" fearing that the wrong lizard may win, there might actually be real change. Blaming a guy for doing the right thing instead of the "smart" thing, that stinks.

Switch to Condorcet voting today!

The game has been available for online play on Adams' website for awhile now.

Oh yeah, you can also download the game directly from the Douglas Adams site.

# Look around

There's nothing to see. You're lying on your back.

# Get up

I don't understand.

# Get out of bed

You get out of bed.

# Look around

You see nothing. The lights are off. ...

Your house is demolished by a bulldozer. You have died. Would you like to play again? (y/n)

I really hate that game. Feel free to frustrate yourself here.

If you read the source to that page you can see the URL for the Z5 file, which you can then download, and play with the interpreter of your choice. See The Interactive Fiction Archive for one of those. If you enjoyed the HHGTTG you may also be interested in the CD "The Masterpieces of Infocom" -- I got mine from lacegem I think. There's loads of good stuff in ifarchive as well.

DNA passed on two years ago, and I'm sure the Godfather of Hoop will pass by again before the end of the universe.

Anybody know if there are any plans to adapt Life the Universe and Everything to the big screen? I always wondered what ultra-violent and infradead looked like...

There are, as far as I know, no plans so far to make other Hitchhiker's Guide movies besides *the* the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie.

And the article mentioned how long the plans for that movie existed without ever getting past the planning stage: a decade.

Luckily, the project seems to be getting somewhere. The cast is known, and Slashdot even covered an interview that the screenwriter had with himself.

Still, that movie is far from ready yet. So don't get your hopes up about a sequel movie any time soon.

Sorry, got a little over excited, cause I've heard they were making a movie.

They are.

The article even says that "[Douglas] Adams had been working on a film version for more than a decade, but it had never got past the planning stage." In the posthumous book The Salmon of Doubt it is said that the movie will come out "any decade now".

However, the project finally seems to be getting somewhere. The cast is known, and Slashdot even covered an interview that the screenwriter had with himself.

The movie won't be released tomorrow, though. The first episode of the new radio series will. (Actually, today from where I'm posting.)

Douglas Adams had a website that he posted on. One of his last posts (less than a month before his death) I thought had an interesting connection to /. and electronic forums in general:

"If anybody has any suggestions of features they'd like to see added (or taken away) please say so. We will of course completely ignore them. That's how the new electronic democracy works."
- Douglas Adams talking about updating his website

Infocom? Now were did I hear that name before?

there is more film goodness here including what I think is a picture of marvin.

You know what? It just might work, after all Pete Jackson did a damn good job, and everyone thought he would suck.

Lets just all pray George Lucas doesn't walk near the studio. [shuddering at the thought of Ja-Ja Marvin]

After all, IIRC, the plots of the radio series, TV series, books, and text adventure game all differ from each other, starting sometime after Ford and Arthur arrive on the Heart of Gold.

My strategy: Buy nothing.

This may be helpful.

I also drink No Tea(tm). And occasionally the blood of my enemies, which although not technically free, is subsidised by Microsoft as well as the US government (who also help out by continually telling me who my enemies should be).

I can second this suggestion, If it was good enough for Douglas Adams then it should be good enough for anybody.

Relativity has already been put to the test. I mean, if time wasn't flexible, how else would Arthur Dent be able to witness the end of the universe every evening at Milliways?

All of them are still pretty playable. Most flash games just last one lunch break.

grrr, will now attempt to hit the proper button
infocom HHGTG game

Well considering there's a picture of Warwick in this suit here, I'd say it's still on...

• Anything HHG related: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mjs2000/news.htm
• The most 'official as it gets' movie site so far: http://www.douglasadams.com/movie/

You're right. This seems an official site and there is no word about Bill Nighy nor Stephen Moore.

Don't forget the computer game, which followed the plot of the book to a certian point, then took a hard right.

Theres an on line (java) version of the game here. Be warned there is no save game facility but It's a nice bit of nostalgia. There are plenty of full walk throughs available on the web and it's interesting just to follow it through to recapture sone of the feel of the computer games of yore.

Just to come up with the answer of 42?

That, and several other portions of the book, are already available online

Actually, a lot of the material in Salmon of Doubt -- as far as I can tell, everything but the unfinished manuscript itself (i.e. all the essays) was available online even before DNA passed away. The weird thing about reading that last book, and the bit I really liked, in a weird way, was that I'd already read much of the material from his web site already.

I think my favorite is Maggie and Trudy. That's the one I forward to people when they ask what's so great about this Adams guy anyway :-)

That, and several other portions of the book, are already available online

Actually, a lot of the material in Salmon of Doubt -- as far as I can tell, everything but the unfinished manuscript itself (i.e. all the essays) was available online even before DNA passed away. The weird thing about reading that last book, and the bit I really liked, in a weird way, was that I'd already read much of the material from his web site already.

I think my favorite is Maggie and Trudy. That's the one I forward to people when they ask what's so great about this Adams guy anyway :-)

No, you insensitive clod, it is like the way Arthur Dent (from the Hitchhiker's Guide, you know) finally mastered the art of unassisted human flight by throwing himself to the ground and missing.
--
"..Ah, negative I am a meat popsicle.". ... Korben Dallas, The Fifth Element

"But perhaps the greatest benefit of being unemployed is this. I now feel absolutely free to despise George W. Bush"

I found your article funny. However, the last paragraph indicates that you are a complete kneebiter.

Wowbagger

Yes, I'm sure that for you, in your current circumstances and with current equipment, they're a no-go. But must you assume that it applies equally to everyone, in all circumstances, and for the foreseeable future too?

I'm a case in point: over the last couple of years, I've read far more onscreen than off. (And that's not due to having nothing else to read.) Why? I find it more convenient, for a number of reasons:

• It's there. I carry my pocket computer (a Psion 5mx) around with me anyway; I don't have to remember to pick up my latest reading material, and make extra space for it.
• Backlight. I can read in bed, or elsewhere at night, without needing a light.
• Bookmarks and other conveniences. I always lose physical bookmarks; when I don't use them, it sometimes takes a while to remember where I got up to. My reader app keeps track for me.
• Formatting and anglicisation. With physical books, I'm stuck with the spellings and mistakes that they're printed with; but I can edit ebooks and convert them to British English spelling, etc.
• Cut'n'paste. I don't have to retype quotes &c if I want to refer to them.
• Font size. Depending on the conditions, I can adjust the font size &c to match. For dead-tree books, the only `zoom mode' you have is to move your head closer to the object...
• Library size. I currently carry nearly a thousand books and stories with me, so I'm never stuck for anything. I really wouldn't want to try that with dead-tree editions.
• Cheapness. I read some stuff that's out of copyright and available for free (e.g. via Gutenberg). I also have many files purchased from Fictionwise, which is substantially cheaper than buying in dead-tree form. (I'm not admitting to having files of more dubious origin, too...)
• Searching. If I have vague memories of having read something, or want to check back, I can do a straight text search.

(BTW, I've never read anything on my Psion in the bath, but you might be interested to know that Douglas Adams actually wrote in the bath! Incidentally, on an older Psion model.)

Now, I'm specifically not saying that these advantages apply to everyone. I'm sure they don't. But that's exactly the point: neither do your disadvantages. Isn't it enough that some people like ebooks?

It would be fun to figure out how improbable it is that nature developed something this useful.

This, naturally, has already been discussed at length in THHGTTG

If you like Infocom adventures you should Download Frotz! 2.4.1. This interpreter installs into /usr/local/bin and runs in the Terminal. It would be nice to have a Cocoa front-end for this. Perhaps some cool Mac Geek will find the time....

Frotz! 2.4.3 is also available in source code form if you're into building from source. You just have to make sure you have the ncurses library installed (Fink helps). I had to rename the "init_process" function (in src/common/process.c and src/main.c) to "my_init_process" before it would build. Some kind of symbol conflict with libSystem....

You can play Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on the web but I don't think it allows you to save the game.

Fortunately you can download the HHGG data file (option-click) right off the web and play it in Frotz!

As for other Infocom and Z-engine games, here are some links to resources straight out of the Mac Frotz readme file:

• Interactive Fiction Archive
• Baf's Guide
• XYZZYnews
• Infocom (unofficial)
• Infocom (unofficial)
• Infocom Documentation Project
• Infocom Gallery
• InterData Development
• Ye Olde Infocomme Shoppe
• IF Database
• Doe's IF Page
• "Infocom Games"

If you like Infocom adventures you should Download Frotz! 2.4.1. This interpreter installs into /usr/local/bin and runs in the Terminal. It would be nice to have a Cocoa front-end for this. Perhaps some cool Mac Geek will find the time....

Frotz! 2.4.3 is also available in source code form if you're into building from source. You just have to make sure you have the ncurses library installed (Fink helps). I had to rename the "init_process" function (in src/common/process.c and src/main.c) to "my_init_process" before it would build. Some kind of symbol conflict with libSystem....

You can play Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on the web but I don't think it allows you to save the game.

Fortunately you can download the HHGG data file (option-click) right off the web and play it in Frotz!

As for other Infocom and Z-engine games, here are some links to resources straight out of the Mac Frotz readme file:

• Interactive Fiction Archive
• Baf's Guide
• XYZZYnews
• Infocom (unofficial)
• Infocom (unofficial)
• Infocom Documentation Project
• Infocom Gallery
• InterData Development
• Ye Olde Infocomme Shoppe
• IF Database
• Doe's IF Page
• "Infocom Games"

> enter room
This could be dangerous. Are you sure?
> Y
Are you REALLY sure?
> Y
Are you REALLY, REALLY sure?
> Y
I could tell you weren't really sure. You turn around and walk away. Telegrams from all over the galaxy arrive praising your prudence...

Autopilot: "I could tell you didn't really want to avoid that oncoming jumbo jet by turning left into a no-fly zone. Have a nice afterlife..."

Well, it should be legal/allowed. If you don't want it read and archived, don't put it on the Web.

You know, I've been wondering about Java/Shockwave games. Certainly most kids would love a CD full of those games, and many companies have many different games online which mostly disappear a few months later.

Is anybody archiving these? Do we need to start?

Would the companies object?

You can play The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on Douglas Adams' web site. As it happens, if you know what you're doing you can also download the .z5 file and play it offline on any zip interpreter. Would the copyright owners object to it? I own that Infocom 33-game collection and all 5 books; the reason the game wasn't included in the collection is copyright hassles. Am I "entitled" to play it offline?

This ties in to today's "is ROM collecting wrong" story, except in this case you're actually offered the games, under mostly unclear terms.

Heh, maybe he learned the term "trilogy" from Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams has been my favorite author for quite some time. I've read everything of his that I could come across. Some of his lesser known stuff is on his website, articles that I think you'll particularly enjoy:
Little Dongly Things
How to Stop Worrying and Love the Internet
Frank the Vandal
The Private Life of Genghis Kahn
He was a geek, though he knew he couldn't begin to pursue it as far as he wanted to, and his death distressed me quite a bit. Those are my favorite extracts from the archives.. Enjoy!

Douglas Adams has been my favorite author for quite some time. I've read everything of his that I could come across. Some of his lesser known stuff is on his website, articles that I think you'll particularly enjoy:
Little Dongly Things
How to Stop Worrying and Love the Internet
Frank the Vandal
The Private Life of Genghis Kahn
He was a geek, though he knew he couldn't begin to pursue it as far as he wanted to, and his death distressed me quite a bit. Those are my favorite extracts from the archives.. Enjoy!

Douglas Adams has been my favorite author for quite some time. I've read everything of his that I could come across. Some of his lesser known stuff is on his website, articles that I think you'll particularly enjoy:
Little Dongly Things
How to Stop Worrying and Love the Internet
Frank the Vandal
The Private Life of Genghis Kahn
He was a geek, though he knew he couldn't begin to pursue it as far as he wanted to, and his death distressed me quite a bit. Those are my favorite extracts from the archives.. Enjoy!

Douglas Adams has been my favorite author for quite some time. I've read everything of his that I could come across. Some of his lesser known stuff is on his website, articles that I think you'll particularly enjoy:
Little Dongly Things
How to Stop Worrying and Love the Internet
Frank the Vandal
The Private Life of Genghis Kahn
He was a geek, though he knew he couldn't begin to pursue it as far as he wanted to, and his death distressed me quite a bit. Those are my favorite extracts from the archives.. Enjoy!

The relationship of advanced calculating machines and tea was documented by this guy.

You can also play a java/web-based version here

The entire script used to be online, but I can't seem to find it anymore. A shame, because it had some funny lines in it.

If you've read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, you already have a vague idea of Shada's premise. Adams re-used some characters in Shada to create DGHDA.

Anyway, check out the detailed plot summary. A fun story.

Schwab

Actually, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy came smack dab in the middle of the big text-adventure boom of the 1980s. If you want early, go check out the Zork trilogy or Scott Adams's games. (No, not that Scott Adams.) And if you'd like to try Hitchhiker's, it's playable on the web at Douglas Adams's site.

FYI, you can play The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy game for free online here.

::Colz Grigor