I'm 26 -- so I guess I win!

I got interested in AR back in 1985 (yes, I was 7) thanks to those
full-page adverts in Home Computing magazine -- the magazine published
the code for BASIC games, and I was teaching myself the language despite
being in 2nd grade. Does anyone remember the name of the uber-character
that was in there--I want to say Jester the Quester but I'm pretty sure
I'm wrong.

Anyway, I had already gotten my feet wet in the RPG genre with Wizardry,
but I had gotten fustrated with the multi-character parties and quasi-3d
maps and had sworn off RPGs until I saw the ads for AR. Even though my
computer was a meager little Apple //c, with it's Monochrome graphics
and one 360k floppy drive, it was still being developed for and had some
of my favorite games still to this day (7 Cities of Gold, Oregon Trail,
and Night Mission pinball)

Unfortunately, the only version I ever got for my Apple was the Dungeon.
Or maybe fortunately, because after playing the City much later I can
say that the Dungeon was a much more rewarding experience for a young
explorer. If I had the complete open-endedness of the City I probably
would have gotten bored pretty quickly. Having all of the dungeon's
different environments to explore was so fascinating for me. I
literally spent days just searching every square of the Sewers,
searching for secret passages and bashing Molds and Rats with my torches
(my weapon of choice for lv0-3).

To this day I'm dissapointed ARO never got developed -- the MMO market
was still young, and AR was *built* for just that kind of world, ten
years before they became mainstream. Sometimes, I still boot up AR:D in
my Apple II emulator -- it just doesn't feel the same on any other
platform -- and wander around familiar hangouts. Not to mention the
stares I get on the subway when I sing "The Devourer" when I get into
the mood ;)


Is it him or her? Is it scale or fur? Does it occur
In the dark of night? Crystal Cavern Light? Metal appetite?

I want to know...

I want to know...you...

--Frank

-----Original Message-----
From: Darryl Giors [darryl--mindsyncpost.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2004 8:56 PM
To: <Address Masked>
Subject: Player ages.


Wow, I hadn't previously thought of myself as a junior member of the AR
List but I just might be one of the youngest. I was only 10 Y.O. when
AR:C came out. My brother picked up a copy a few months after it came
out but I didn't really play it until Summer of '85. I was instantly
enthralled with the gameplay and one of my best friend's whom I still
see regularly was into the game as well. It became a regular after
school habit. I couldn't wait until the Dungeon came out and I was
counting the days despite the delays that occurred.

Anyhow I'm currently 29. Anybody younger than that around here?

Darryl Giors

Lance, of the City of Xebec's Demise

Tyr, wielder of the Eater of Evil, wrought by the Dwarven Smithy of the
Dungeon.


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