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DEATHTRAP DUNGEONS Henry Northmore and Murray Robertson pick their favourite Fighting Fantasy books
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain A collaboration between Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, this was the book that started it all. The first instalment was written back in 1982, as you set out to plunder the treasure of the mystical mage. It subsequently spawned two sequels, a boardgame and four novels.
Island of the Lizard King This time you take up arms against the Lizard men of Fire Island as you vow to protect the village of Oyster Bay. Notable for its lack of sudden death endings this was one of the more enjoyable FF titles with multiple routes to victory.
House of Hell The only FF book set in modern times, the tenth book sees you battle for survival in a house that’s plagued by demonic forces. For a children’s book it’s absolutely terrifying, the interactivity amplifying the frights. Its horrifying cover and satanic imagery long ago burned in our young minds. It was also one of the trickiest FF books, making death almost inevitable.
Freeway Fighter Set in 2022 this Mad Max-inspired road adventure puts you in a post-apocalyptic landscape where a killer virus has decimated the population. Tasked with transporting food across the country, your car is ripe for customisation and the seemingly deserted highways are full of danger. Howl of the Werewolf Proof that the FF world lives on, first published in 2007, Jonathan Green’s adventure has you racing for a cure before succumbing to the curse of the werewolf after being bitten by a shaggy monster at the start of the story.
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from analogue to digital gaming.’ To see what Livingstone is up to at EI skip to 7. To find out why he thinks the UK is such a hotbed of videogame talent see 2.
6 ‘Most MMORPGs have a lot to thank Dungeons & Dragons for. I’ve always really enjoyed role playing because it’s like interactive theatre in your own home. With the addition of computers it has become even more enriched with fantastic graphics, and you can interact with other players on the other side of ocial experiment, it’s the world. It’s a great social experiment, it’s fantastic.’
For more on Fighting Fantasy see 4. To go straight to videogames read 5.
7 ‘We’re releasing g s Blood of the Zombies ve at Edinburgh Interactive ay and also on the Saturday he I’m doing a launch of the ok book at the Edinburgh Book ng Festival. I’m also going of to be involved in some of tion the panels on education se I and skills at EI because I co-authored a report for the government called Next Gen in which we recommend getting computer science on the national curriculum as an essential discipline.’
To find out why Livingstone thinks the UK has such a great games industry go back to 2. For more on the EI jump to 9.
8 ‘I wanted to celebrate the 30th anniversary and I didn’t want to do something around Firetop Mountain without collaborating with Steve. So I decided to do something different and, having worked in the videogames world for over 20 years, I noticed the enduring love
of zombies so I thought I’d do Blood of the Zombies. There was a question – was I writing it for the 10-year-old of today or someone who had been 10 in 1982 who wanted to go on a nostalgic trip down memory lane? There was never any serious commercial intent because Fighting Fantasy was of its day, but it’s got this enduring quality that brings back fond memories. Having said that, I think it will be read by the 10-year-olds of the 1980s and the 10-year-olds of today, so I thought I better do it not only as a book but also as an app.’ To find out about the launch To fi of Bloods of the Zombies, go of B to 7 to 7. To find out how the FF boo books lead to videogames go t go to 5.
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9 ‘There’s a 9 lot of inspirational thinking an and speaking at Edinburgh In Interactive. also v very relevant to what’s g going on in Edinburgh a around that time, with book festivals and fringe theatre. EI differentiates itself from other games conferences in that it’s not ab not about the sales of games but the culture of games and where it’s going as an industry.’
You have finished your adventure but if you want to head along to Edinburgh Interactive for the public sessions – offering workshops, interactive games and, of course, the launch of Livingstone’s Blood of the Zombies – tickets are available free via edinburghinteractive. co.uk/public-program Edinburgh Interactive, Radison Blu Hotel, Edinburgh, Conference Thu 9 & Fri 10 Aug; Public Program Sat 11 Aug.