The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games

Description

The CRPG Book Project is a collaborative, nonprofit project created to compile the history of Computer Role-Playing Games into an accessible and educative volume. The book was written by volunteers from all continents, ages and walks of life: developers, journalists, modders, critics, scholars and fans, but also parents, couples, grandfathers, doctors, teachers, engineers, businessmen, etc. The purpose of the project is to spread our passion for this great genre, sharing knowledge that is currently scattered across countless forums, magazines, websites and minds. The book covers CRPGs from 1975 to 2015, plus contains several articles, mod recommendations, developer quotes and interesting trivia, in an effort to create a guide that will have something to offer to old-school veterans and new players alike. The full v1.0.4 release of the CRPG Book: https://crpgbook.files.wordpress.com/... Contributors About the Project Introduction Contents Articles & Guides Using this book FAQ What is an Old-School RPG? Ports: Far beyond Resolution and FPS Unplayable Cartography From Prussia with love - The origin of RPGs The PLATO RPGs The Reviews 1975-1979 The beginning of the digital invasion Beneath Apple Manor Dungeon Campaign Dunjonquest: Temple of Apshai Akalabeth:World of Doom 1980-1984 The boom, the clones and the crash Eamon Rogue Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Ultima Dragon’s Eye Dungeons of Daggorath Telengard Ultima II: Revenge of the Enchantress Moria The Return of Heracles Ultima III: Exodus Questron 1985-1989 Here come the new challengers Wizard’s Crown The Bard’s Tale Alternate Reality: The City Phantasie Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar Autoduel Rings of Zilfin Might and Magic: Book I - Secret of the Inner Sanctum Starflight Alter Ego Alien Fires 2199 A.D. Ys: The Vanished Omens Deathlord Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna NetHack The Faery Tale Adventure Dungeon Master Zeliard Neuromancer Wasteland Pool of Radiance Star Saga: One - Beyond The Boundary Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny Prophecy I: The Fall of Trinadon Drakkhen The Magic Candle Hillsfar Castle of the Winds Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero Knights of Legend The Dark Heart of Uukrul Windwalker Bloodwych The Immortal 1990-1994 The creative and technological explosion Ultima VI: The False Prophet Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan Circuit’s Edge J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Vol. I Captive Champions of Krynn MegaTraveller: The Zhodani Conspiracy Spirit of Excalibur Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire Escape from Hell Eye of the Beholder Cobra Mission: Panic in Cobra City Knights of Xentar Moraff’s World Fate: Gates of Dawn Disciples of Steel Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra Worlds of Ultima: Martian Dreams The Bard’s Tale Construction Set Gateway to the Savage Frontier Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss Might and Magic: Worlds of Xeen Legend The Summoning Ultima VII: The Black Gate Ishar: Legend of the Fortress Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant Star Control 2 Darklands Shadowlands Amberstar Ambermoon Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness ShadowCaster Perihelion: The Prophecy Princess Maker 2 Veil of Darkness BloodNet Betrayal at Krondor The Legacy: Realm of Terror Hired Guns Dark Sun: Shattered Lands Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos Dungeon Hack Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures Ultima VIII: Pagan ADOM - Ancient Domains of Mystery Al-Qadim: The Genie’s Curse Superhero League of Hoboken Realmz The Elder Scrolls I: Arena 1995-1999 New 3D worlds and new audiences Witchaven CyberMage: Darklight Awakening Ravenloft: Stone Prophet Exile: Escape from the Pit World of Aden: Thunderscape Entomorph: Plague of the Darkfall Mordor: Depths of Dejenol Albion Stonekeep Strife: Quest for the Sigil Anvil of Dawn Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows over Mystara The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall Diablo Birthright: The Gorgon’s Alliance An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire Fallout: A Post-Nuclear Role-Playing Game Lands of Lore II: Guardians of Destiny Descent to Undermountain Final Fantasy VII Betrayal in Antara Return to Krondor Rage of Mages Dink Smallwood Hexplore Baldur’s Gate Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven Fallout 2 King’s Quest: Mask of Eternity Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator Jagged Alliance 2 Planescape: Torment Ultima IX: Ascension Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor Gorky 17 Omikron: The Nomad Soul System Shock 2 2000-2004The rise of the modern gaming industry Deus Ex Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn Siege of Avalon Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer Diablo II Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption Soulbringer Grandia II Breath of Fire IV Evil Islands: Curse of the Lost Soul Icewind Dale Summoner Wizards & Warriors Wizardry 8 Anachronox Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura Gothic Severance: Blade of Darkness Geneforge Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor ZanZarah: The Hidden Portal Divine Divinity The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Arx Fatalis Icewind Dale II Might and Magic IX Neverwinter Nights Neverwinter Nights: Aurora Toolset & Modules Freedom Force Dungeon Siege Gothic II Prince of Qin Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic The Battle for Wesnoth Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusaders TRON 2.0 Temple of Elemental Evil Deus Ex: Invisible War Kult: Heretic Kingdoms Sacred Fable Space Rangers 2: Dominators Sudeki The Bard’s Tale Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords 2005-2009Indie, casual, social & multi-platform games Super Columbine Massacre RPG! Jade Empire Fate Titan Quest Dwarf Fortress The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Dungeon Crawl: Stone Soup Gothic 3 Neverwinter Nights 2 Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales Dark Messiah: Might and Magic Mass Effect Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer Agarest: Generations of War Elona The Witcher 7.62 High Calibre Eschalon Hellgate: London Barkley, Shut up and Jam: Gaiden The Last Remnant Valkyria Chronicles Fallout 3 Drakensang: The Dark Eye Fortune Summoners: Secret of the Elemental Stone Seventh Sense Mount & Blade Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir Divinity II: Ego Draconis Dragon Age: Origins Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Venetica Torchlight Yumina: The Ethereal Marauder Risen Knights of the Chalice 2010-2014 The freedom to play (and create) any game Borderlands Din’s Curse ArcaniA: Gothic 4 Two Worlds II Cthulhu Saves the World Faery: Legends of Avalon Alpha Protocol: The Espionage RPG Fallout: New Vegas Mass Effect 2 Academagia: The Making of Mages Dungeons of Dredmor E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy Dark Souls The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings Way of the Samurai 4 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Magical Diary Dragon Age II Deus Ex: Human Revolution Mass Effect 3 Legend of Grimrock Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Dragon’s Dogma Of Orcs and Men Defender’s Quest: Valley of the Forgotten Diablo III FTL: Faster Than Light Paper Sorcerer Shadowrun Returns Hyperdimension Neptunia - Re;Birth1 Heroine’s Quest: The Herald of Ragnarok Path of Exile Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead Aaklash: Legacy Card Hunter Bound by Flame Might and Magic X The Banner Saga NEO Scavenger Blackguards Transistor Divinity: Original Sin Lords of Xulima Lords of the Fallen Dragon Age: Inquisition Wasteland 2 South Park: The Stick of Truth UnderRail The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Age of Decadence Undertale Mystery Chronicles: One Way Heroics Tale of Wuxia Fallout 4 Sunless Sea Hand of Fate Pillars of Eternity Further Adventures 1982-1987: The birth of the Japanese RPGs Fan-Translations SD Snatcher Chinese Paladin E.V.O.: The Theory of Evolution The Legend of Cao Cao Labyrinth of Touhou Sword of Moonlight: King’s Field Making Tool Sengoku Rance Kamidori Alchemy Meister Gates of Skeldal Games we’ll (likely) never play Lists & Further Reading Lists Editor’s Picks Further Reading Glossary Index