Feelie
Encyclopedia
Infocom
used the term feelie to refer to the extra content included with the boxed versions of their interactive fiction
computer games. Feelies differed from game to game and were of the same theme as the game they came packaged with. For example, Wishbringer
, a fantasy
game with magic
, came with a "Magick glowing stone." These extra objects and documents sometimes served as a form of copy protection
, as several games were impossible to solve without information found in their feelies.
became responsible for the Zork franchise. The first editions of the three graphical Zork games they produced each included printed feelies.
's Brave New World
, as a form of motion picture that provides the sensation of touch in addition to sight and sound. The word suggests a logical extension to the moving picture ("movie") and the talking picture ("talkie"), and suggests an entertainment form with an incredible level of sensation but with minimal substance.
has been re-released at a cheaper price to include a special syringe pen, prescription notepad, etc., all drawing from the game's contents.
Infocom
Infocom was a software company, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that produced numerous works of interactive fiction. They also produced one notable business application, a relational database called Cornerstone....
used the term feelie to refer to the extra content included with the boxed versions of their interactive fiction
Interactive fiction
Interactive fiction, often abbreviated IF, describes software simulating environments in which players use text commands to control characters and influence the environment. Works in this form can be understood as literary narratives and as video games. In common usage, the term refers to text...
computer games. Feelies differed from game to game and were of the same theme as the game they came packaged with. For example, Wishbringer
Wishbringer
Wishbringer: The Magick Stone of Dreams is an interactive fiction computer game written by Brian Moriarty and published by Infocom in 1985. It was intended to be an easier game to solve than the typical Infocom release, and provide a good introduction to interactive fiction for inexperienced players...
, a fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
game with magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
, came with a "Magick glowing stone." These extra objects and documents sometimes served as a form of copy protection
Copy protection
Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy obstruction, copy prevention and copy restriction, refer to techniques used for preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media, usually for copyright reasons.- Terminology :Media corporations have always used the term...
, as several games were impossible to solve without information found in their feelies.
Games
Some of Infocom's games and their feelies are listed below:- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (computer game)The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is an interactive fiction computer game based on the comedic science fiction series of the same name. It was designed by series creator Douglas Adams and Infocom's Steve Meretzky, and was first released in 1984 for the Apple II, Macintosh, Commodore 64, DOS,...
- A button with "Don't Panic!" printed in large letters
- Pocket Fluff
- Order for destruction of Arthur Dent's house
- Order for destruction of Earth
- Microscopic Space Fleet (an empty plastic bag)
- "Peril Sensitive Sunglasses" ("glasses" made of opaque black cardboard)
- The game also indicates that it comes with "no tea," a key joke and puzzle in the game.
- PlanetfallPlanetfallPlanetfall is a science fiction interactive fiction computer game written by Steve Meretzky, and the eighth title published by Infocom in 1983. Like most Infocom games, thanks to the portable Z-machine, it was released for several platforms simultaneously. The original release included versions...
- A Stellar Patrol "Special Assignment Task Force" ID card (about the size and shape of a credit cardCredit cardA credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
) - 3 interstellar postcardPostcardA postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
s - A Stellar Patrol recruiting manual, "Today's Stellar Patrol"
- Letters (presumably to home)
- A Stellar Patrol "Special Assignment Task Force" ID card (about the size and shape of a credit card
- Zork IZorkZork was one of the first interactive fiction computer games and an early descendant of Colossal Cave Adventure. The first version of Zork was written in 1977–1979 on a DEC PDP-10 computer by Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels, and Dave Lebling, and implemented in the MDL programming language...
- The Great Underground Empire: A History
- Map of the Underground Empire
- A zorkmid (sought after by collectors, as it was only included with the 1987 Zork Trilogy collection).
After Infocom
After the demise of Infocom, ActivisionActivision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
became responsible for the Zork franchise. The first editions of the three graphical Zork games they produced each included printed feelies.
- Return to ZorkReturn to ZorkReturn to Zork is a 1993 adventure game in the Zork series. It was developed by Activision and was the final Zork game to be published under the Infocom label.-Gameplay:...
- Sweepstakes Letter & Envelope.
- Encyclopaedia Frobozzica, 966 GUE edition.
- Zork Nemesis
- Mission diary of the player's predecessor (missing, presumed dead).
- Zork Grand InquisitorZork Grand InquisitorZork: Grand Inquisitor is a graphical adventure game, developed by Activision and released in 1997 for the IBM compatible PC and Macintosh . It builds upon the Zork and Enchanter series of interactive fiction computer games originally released by Infocom. The cast includes Erick Avari, Dirk...
- Zork timeline poster, covering prehistory to the inquisition era. (and thus covering all previously released games except Return to Zork, which takes place in the distant future of the series)
Other meanings
The word feelie (or feely) also appeared in Aldous HuxleyAldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
's Brave New World
Brave New World
Brave New World is Aldous Huxley's fifth novel, written in 1931 and published in 1932. Set in London of AD 2540 , the novel anticipates developments in reproductive technology and sleep-learning that combine to change society. The future society is an embodiment of the ideals that form the basis of...
, as a form of motion picture that provides the sensation of touch in addition to sight and sound. The word suggests a logical extension to the moving picture ("movie") and the talking picture ("talkie"), and suggests an entertainment form with an incredible level of sensation but with minimal substance.
Modern Examples (non-Infocom)
In recent years, giveaway bonuses have often been included with special deals of select titles, which may be likened to the early days of computer games coming bundled with "feelies." The PS3/360 game Catherine, a deranged sex-comedy nightmare, includes, in its deluxe edition, boxer shorts like the main character wears, a special pillow case like the one he has in the game, a shirt that his girlfriend wears, and the game itself comes in a mock-pizza box from the company he delivers for; while the older title Dead Rising 2Dead Rising 2
is an action-adventure horror-comedy video game, developed by Capcom in partnership with Blue Castle Games, and was distributed by Capcom. It was released on September 24, 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and September 28, 2010 for Microsoft Windows. The Dead Rising staff returned to create...
has been re-released at a cheaper price to include a special syringe pen, prescription notepad, etc., all drawing from the game's contents.
External links
- The Infocom Gallery with images of most feelies from the Infocom games
- An alternate location for The Infocom Gallery
- The Zorkmid Project, an effort to mint new zorkmids
- Computer Chronicles on feelies for LGoP