The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Encyclopedia
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is a single-player adventure gamebook written by Steve Jackson
and Ian Livingstone
, and illustrated by Russ Nicholson
. Originally published by Puffin Books
in 1982, the title is the first gamebook in the Fighting Fantasy
series. It was later republished by Wizard Books in 2002. The gamebook inspired two sequels and was adapted into a board game
and a video game.
, although the authors devoted a further six months to expanding and improving upon the original concept.
The end result was The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and after several rewrites, the book was accepted and published in 1982 under Penguin's children's imprint, Puffin Books. The original cover of the book was illustrated by Peter Andrew Jones, with the interior illustrations by Russ Nicholson. Jackson and Livingstone approved all artwork.
The title, like the game books that followed in the Fighting Fantasy
series, distinguished itself by featuring a fantasy role-playing element, with the caption on each cover claiming each title was "a Fighting Fantasy gamebook in which YOU are the hero!"
The success of the Fighting Fantasy series (distribution in over 17 countries) allowed for numerous reprints of the original title, although the cover of subsequent versions changed due to printing errors and releases in different markets. When the franchise was acquired by Wizard Books in 2002, the title (as with others in the series) was reprinted with a completely different cover, the rationale being that the old cover did not suit the modern market.
, hidden deep within Firetop Mountain. People from a nearby village advise told that the treasure is stored in a chest with two locks, and that the keys are guarded by various creatures within the dungeons. The player must then navigate the dungeons beneath Firetop Mountain, battle monsters and attempt to locate the keys.
. Based on the book, players must navigate a maze and overcome monsters in a bid to be the first to open the Warlock's treasure chest.
A ZX Spectrum game based on the book
was released by Crystal Computing
in 1984. In 2009, Big Blue Bubble
released an action-RPG for the Nintendo DS titled Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
and based on the original title. In 2010, an electronic version of the title was released for the iPhone
and iPad
.
On February 10, 2011 an Amazon Kindle
edition of the title was launched by UK developer Worldweaver Ltd and in September 2011 a PSP
and Playstation 3
version was announced by UK developer Laughing Jackal
.
Steve Jackson (UK)
Steve Jackson is a game designer, writer and game reviewer.-History:In early 1975, Steve Jackson co-founded the company Games Workshop with John Peake and Ian Livingstone....
and Ian Livingstone
Ian Livingstone
Ian Livingstone OBE is an English fantasy author and entrepreneur. He is a co-writer of the first Fighting Fantasy gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and co-founder of Games Workshop....
, and illustrated by Russ Nicholson
Russ Nicholson
-Career:Nicholson is best known for his work on the Fighting Fantasy gamebook series, in particular, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and numerous Games Workshop products, including Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Warhammer 40,000 and to their magazine White Dwarf.Nicholson...
. Originally published by Puffin Books
Puffin Books
Puffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:...
in 1982, the title is the first gamebook in the Fighting Fantasy
Fighting Fantasy
Fighting Fantasy is a series of single-player fantasy roleplay gamebooks created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. The first volumes in the series were published by Puffin in 1982, with the rights to the franchise eventually being purchased by Wizard Books in 2002...
series. It was later republished by Wizard Books in 2002. The gamebook inspired two sequels and was adapted into a board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
and a video game.
Publication history
In 1980, Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone attended a Games Day, and after meeting with a Penguin editor decided to create a series of single-player gamebooks. Their first submission, The Magic Quest, was a short adventure intended to demonstrate the style of game. The Magic Quest was eventually accepted by Penguin BooksPenguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, although the authors devoted a further six months to expanding and improving upon the original concept.
The end result was The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and after several rewrites, the book was accepted and published in 1982 under Penguin's children's imprint, Puffin Books. The original cover of the book was illustrated by Peter Andrew Jones, with the interior illustrations by Russ Nicholson. Jackson and Livingstone approved all artwork.
The title, like the game books that followed in the Fighting Fantasy
Fighting Fantasy
Fighting Fantasy is a series of single-player fantasy roleplay gamebooks created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. The first volumes in the series were published by Puffin in 1982, with the rights to the franchise eventually being purchased by Wizard Books in 2002...
series, distinguished itself by featuring a fantasy role-playing element, with the caption on each cover claiming each title was "a Fighting Fantasy gamebook in which YOU are the hero!"
The success of the Fighting Fantasy series (distribution in over 17 countries) allowed for numerous reprints of the original title, although the cover of subsequent versions changed due to printing errors and releases in different markets. When the franchise was acquired by Wizard Books in 2002, the title (as with others in the series) was reprinted with a completely different cover, the rationale being that the old cover did not suit the modern market.
Plot
The player takes the role of an adventurer on a quest to find the treasure of a powerful WarlockWarlock
The term warlock in origin means "traitor, oathbreaker".In early modern Scots, the word came to be used as the male equivalent of witch ....
, hidden deep within Firetop Mountain. People from a nearby village advise told that the treasure is stored in a chest with two locks, and that the keys are guarded by various creatures within the dungeons. The player must then navigate the dungeons beneath Firetop Mountain, battle monsters and attempt to locate the keys.
Sequels
The title was followed by two sequels, both written by Ian Livingstone. The first, Return to Firetop Mountain (the 50th title in the Fighting Fantasy series) was published in 1992 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the franchise. The second sequel, Legend of Zagor, (the 54th title in the series) differed from traditional gameplay in that the player could choose one of four characters. Livingstone and Carl Sargent also wrote The Zagor Chronicles, a series of four novels published from 1993-1994.In other media
A boardgame designed by Steve Jackson was released in 1986 by Games WorkshopGames Workshop
Games Workshop Group plc is a British game production and retailing company. Games Workshop has published the tabletop wargames Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000...
. Based on the book, players must navigate a maze and overcome monsters in a bid to be the first to open the Warlock's treasure chest.
A ZX Spectrum game based on the book
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (video game)
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is an arcade adventure video game released in 1984 for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum home computer. It is loosely based on the adventure gamebook of the same name written by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, and published by Puffin Books in 1982.The game was sold both...
was released by Crystal Computing
Crystal Computing
Crystal Computing, later renamed Design Design, was a British video game developer founded in 1982 by Chris Clarke and Graham Stafford while students at the University of Manchester. Neil Mottershead, Simon Brattel and Martin Horsley, joined the company as it expanded...
in 1984. In 2009, Big Blue Bubble
Big Blue Bubble
Big Blue Bubble is a Canadian video game developer for mobile phones, game consoles, and handheld game consoles.Founded in 2004 in London, Ontario, it started out by specializing in casual games and adapting film and television franchises such as 24 for handheld devices...
released an action-RPG for the Nintendo DS titled Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is an action RPG for the Nintendo DS developed by Big Blue Bubble and published by Aspyr in North America on November 25, 2009...
and based on the original title. In 2010, an electronic version of the title was released for the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
.
On February 10, 2011 an Amazon Kindle
Amazon Kindle
The Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 which uses wireless connectivity to enable users to shop for, download, browse, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media...
edition of the title was launched by UK developer Worldweaver Ltd and in September 2011 a PSP
PSP
PSP most commonly refers to the PlayStation Portable, a handheld game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment.PSP may also refer to:-Computing and programming:*Corel Paint Shop Pro, a graphics editor...
and Playstation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version was announced by UK developer Laughing Jackal
Laughing Jackal
Laughing Jackal Ltd is an independent video game developer, part of the Majesty House Group based in Essex, United Kingdom. Established in 2005 it has developed titles for Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP and Playstation 3...
.
External links
- Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks - the official website
- Wizard Books - the Publisher's site