TunnelHack
Tunnelhack is a text-based RPG, in the grand tradition of Hack, Rogue,
Advent[ure], and others. It was written for a Java programming class in college
and thus because of technical and time constraints, it isn't as nice as any of
those. However, it is generally considered very fun in spite of not using
ncurses. TunnelHack is a humorous game; it broadly satires other RPGs, hack and
slash games, nethack, popular culture, fandom, social cliques, vading,
and academic sterotypes.
We know of no other game where you can see watch a fight between
a hobo and a rabid pikachu.
Your character, either a clever Nerd, mighty Jock, or even a Liberal Arts
student, ventures forth into the Steam Tunnels of a university, to do battle
with their bizzare inhabitants: garden gnomes, talking foxes, and Jedi skunks,
to name a few of the surreal menagerie. Though most will meet a quick and
amusing (at least to others) death, a few of these brave explorers will complete
their epic quest for a mighty artifact.
So far, only two people have ever beaten TunnelHack (two more have "beaten it in
spirit", but that happened before it was actually possible to formally win).
If you should become the third, your score will be posted here on the offical
high score list. Non-winning, but high-scoring, games
will also be posted there if submited.
You can download TunnelHack here for systems that can emulate a VT100 terminal. (This includes any distrobution of GNU/Linux, pretty
much an UNIX, Mac OS X, and presumably a properly equipped machine running that other operating system that is currently popular in certain circles.
This is how TunnelHack was meant to be played. However, we also offer a version
that works in the DOS console. It is basically the same as the "'NIX version",
but it lacks colorization. If you have never played TunnelHack in color, you
might enjoy this DOS console version just fine,
but you're missing out. If you're using Windows and don't have a clue what a
VT100 is, this is the version for you. It should "just work" inasmuch as anything "just works" in the world of computers.
You can read help/spoilers for the game here.
The source isn't here becuase it is exceedingly ugly in many parts (owing to the hurried development). If you are interested in developing, bother Ferazel
about it, he runs the CVS archive and I've moved on to other projects. Besides,
Ferazel redid the main loop to allow an action-point system (which is very nice)
and the bugs you find and report to me I will probably blame on him anyway. :)
Please send me email if you enjoy the game, at Bryce at Lanset dot com. Enjoy.