Bored of the Rings (video game) explained

Bored of the Rings
Designer:	Fergus McNeill
Developer:	Delta 4
Publisher:	Delta 4, CRL Group
Released:	1985
Genre:	Text adventure game
Modes:	Single-player
Platforms:	Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro

Bored of the Rings is a text adventure game released by Delta 4 in 1985 for several computer systems written using The Quill.^[1] It was also released by CRL Group. The game is inspired by, but not based on, the Bored of the Rings parody novel published by Harvard Lampoon.^[2] The earlier game The Hobbit is also parodied. It was followed by a prequel in the same spirit, The Boggit.

Plot

Fordo the Boggit, Spam, Pimply and Murky must take the Great Ring to Mount Gloom.^[3]

Gameplay

The game is a standard text adventure with static background graphics in some locations. It accepts verb / noun commands and also short sentence inputs.^[4] It was split into three parts with parts two and three requiring password input to access.^[5]

Reception

Zzap!64 thought the game was extremely funny but somewhat limited in terms of gameplay. It was given an overall rating of 78%.^[6]

See also

• Kingdom O' Magic, another fantasy parody game by the same designer

Notes and References

1. http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/040/advent.htm "Richard Price sets out on the road to Rivendull while Tolkien turns in his grave"
2. http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/045/htsquad.htm "Bored out of his skull"
3. Web site: Sinclair User Magazine Issue 040 . July 1985 .
4. Web site: Bored Of The Rings (c) 1985 Delta 4 Software. worldofspectrum.org. 19 August 2023.
5. Web site: gamebase64.com - The Gamebase Collection. www.gb64.com.
6. Web site: Bored of the Rings. zzap64.co.uk.