The author delved into studying the source code of Zork, a legendary text-based adventure game, with the intention of implementing it as a web game. The game’s architecture involves parsing the player’s input and executing actions based on the verb, direct object, and indirect object. The source code contains interesting aspects like the xyzzy easter egg and a surprisingly controversial inclusion of a RAPE command. The game’s inventory management logic adds an element of randomness by limiting the number of items a player can hold. Exploring the source code provides insight into the game’s mechanisms and a glimpse into the gaming culture of the past.
https://medium.com/swlh/zork-the-great-inner-workings-b68012952bdc