''Empire of the Over-Mind'' (sometimes ''Empire of the Overmind'') is an

interactive fiction '' Interactive fiction, often abbreviated IF, is 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, either in the ...

game written by Gary Bedrosian and published by

Avalon Hill Avalon Hill Games Inc. is a game company that publishes wargames and strategic board games. It has also published miniature wargaming rules, role-playing games and sports simulations. It is a subsidiary of Hasbro, and operates under the company' ...

for the

Apple II The Apple II (stylized as ) is an 8-bit home computer and one of the world's first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products. It was designed primarily by Steve Wozniak; Jerry Manock developed the design of Apple II's foam-m ...

Atari 8-bit computers The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 as the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The series was successively upgraded to Atari 1200XL , Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE, Atari 800XE, ...

, and

TRS-80 The TRS-80 Micro Computer System (TRS-80, later renamed the Model I to distinguish it from successors) is a desktop microcomputer launched in 1977 and sold by Tandy Corporation through their Radio Shack stores. The name is an abbreviation of '' ...

in 1981. A version with an enhanced display for

IBM PC compatible IBM PC compatible computers are similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT, all from computer giant IBM, that are able to use the same software and expansion cards. Such computers were referred to as PC clones, IBM clones or IBM PC clones. ...

s by Bedrosian was published in 1986.

''Empire of the Over-Mind'' is a text only adventure game in which the player must free a magical kingdom from the control of the evil computer Over-Mind. The game is accompanied by a poem, "The Rhyme of the Over-Mind," which provides necessary clues for the gameplay.

Reception

In a 1984 '' COMPUTE!'' piece on adventure games, Selby Bateman wrote: "One very popular game for Avalon Hill has been its all-text adventure, ''Empire of the OverMind'' icfor Apple II and Atari computers, which is still selling well, notes Jack Dodd, Avalon Hill's director of marketing." The price of the game was a point of contention. Anthony Hughes wrote for '' Page 6'' that it was "twice the price of the U.K. produced Adventures but still represents very good value." Bill Seligman's review in '' The Space Gamer'' No. 49 concluded that "For the price of this primitive program, one could buy two-and-a-half Scott Adams all-text adventures or one full-color graphics adventure from On-Line. Not recommended." Another criticism of the game was its lengthy load and processing times.

References

External links

Electronic Games review1984 Software Encyclopedia
from Electronic Games
Review
in The Addison Wesley Book Of Atari Software 1984
Another review
in Electronic Games
Review
in Compute!'s Guide to Adventure Games * {{Avalon Hill 1980s interactive fiction 1981 video games Apple II games Atari 8-bit computer games Avalon Hill video games DOS games TRS-80 games Video games developed in the United States

Contents

Reception

References

External links