Indiana Jones and His Desktop Adventures
Encyclopedia
Indiana Jones and his Desktop Adventures is a 1996 computer game. Desktop Adventures was made to run in a windowed form on the desktop to limit memory use and allow the player to perform other tasks. This game was the first Desktop Adventures game, and was followed by Star Wars: Yoda Stories
in 1997.
with a variety of characters, puzzles, and outcomes. Each game averages 30 minutes. The plot, size, and direction of each game are randomly generated
at the start, with locations and items being different every time.
no longer sells this game (and has not done so for a long time). A demo version of the game is available for download at Download.com
.
Although Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
was a direct sequel to Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
, elements from Desktop Adventures found their way into the next game:
Star Wars: Yoda Stories
Star Wars: Yoda Stories is a 1997 computer game based on the Star Wars franchise developed by LucasArts. It was preceded by Indiana Jones and His Desktop Adventures, and no further Desktop Adventures titles were released...
in 1997.
Plot
The game is set in mid-1930s Middle AmericaMiddle America (Americas)
Middle America is a region in the mid-latitudes of the Americas. In southern North America, it usually comprises Mexico, the nations of Central America, and the West Indies. The scope of the term may vary...
with a variety of characters, puzzles, and outcomes. Each game averages 30 minutes. The plot, size, and direction of each game are randomly generated
Random number generation
A random number generator ) is a computational or physical device designed to generate a sequence of numbers or symbols that lack any pattern, i.e. appear random....
at the start, with locations and items being different every time.
Gameplay
The playing area is displayed from an overhead perspective. The player-controlled Indiana Jones was limited to orthogonal movement, which was controlled with the arrow keys. The mouse was used for other actions, such as managing inventory and using weapons. There was limited audio and no speech, with characters speaking with speech bubbles. After the game was won, the player could continue to explore the game.Current availability
LucasArtsLucasArts
LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
no longer sells this game (and has not done so for a long time). A demo version of the game is available for download at Download.com
Download.com
Download.com is an Internet download directory website, launched in 1996 as a part of CNET. Originally, the domain was download.com.com. The domain download.com attracted at least 113 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a Compete.com study....
.
Influence
Although Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine is a multi-platform action-adventure video game by LucasArts released in late 1999. The first 3D installment in the series, its gameplay focuses on solving puzzles, fighting enemies, and various platforming sections...
was a direct sequel to Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis is a point-and-click adventure game by LucasArts originally released in 1992. Almost a year later, it was reissued on CD-ROM as an enhanced "talkie" edition with full voice acting and digitized sound effects...
, elements from Desktop Adventures found their way into the next game:
- The round health meter, in addition to being used for health, was also used for the breath, puncture and Aetherium threshold meters.
- Health herbs, can be found growing throughout the game, as well as the new venom kit and health kit.
- Scorpions, spiders, snakes and the odd jaguar were introduced in Infernal Machine, along with wolves, monkeys, sharks and piranha. All could be killed with the exception of jaguars, wolves and monkeys. LucasArts was told by one of the play testers they did not like the idea of killing them, so LucasArts changed the programming slightly so those animals would run away at the sound of gun fire, giving the player time to get away from them. Their dying animation was not removed from the game, so they could still be killed with explosives.