TrolleyMania

Electric Storm Productions (1992 / 2018)
 

ZX Spectrum Screenshot

ZX Spectrum Screenshot

ZX Spectrum Screenshot
     

Written by Gareth Pitchford

'Oh, the wonderful life of a supermarket trolley collector... Not for you, the confines of a checkout chair, laboriously swiping goods over a laser. Nor the neverending task of plugging gaps on shelves ravaged by greedy shoppers. No, you, the trolley collector are free. Free from the control of supervisors. Free to be alone with your thoughts. Free from the pressures of retail hell. Free to wander the expanse of the car park, with the wind in your hair. And the rain. And the sleet. And the hail. And the snow.

But, despite that, your life is great. It's the best job in the place. Except on a night like tonight. For tonight those annoying customers have managed to leave five of your trolleys in awkward places. And your boss won't let you go home until you retrieve them!'

TrolleyMania is a very simple mini-adventure that was originally intended as a bonus B-Side (or a mini-game to be included in a future sequel to Microfair Madness). I had completely forgotten I'd written it until I stumbled across the designs for the game in one of my old text adventure folders. It was originally designed and apparently (according to my notes!) almost completely programmed in about 1992/1993.

The disks with the original code on it are long gone. This new version uses a tweaked version of the map, the original puzzle outline from my design folder, and also some of the scribbled notes that remain.

The game won't challenge any experienced adventurer... or even most beginners... but it was fun to recreate another "lost" idea.

 

Amstrad CP/M Screenshot - Larger Version

Amstrad CP/M Screenshot - Larger Version
   

TrolleyMania (2018) - ZX Spectrum 48K:

  • TrolleyMania: Original '1992' design notes & scrawlings / Map of 2018 version
 

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