The Innuh's pyramid

Originally on TI99/4A by Aristide Torrelli (MCmicrocomputer 33, sett. 1984). ZX Spectrum version by Manlio Severi, (MCmicrocomputer 35, nov. 1984). C language transcription, improvements and English translation by Davide Bucci. TI99/4A C port by Chue Xiong.

Remarkably enough, in the original version of the game, the name of the pyramid is Iunnuh, and not Innuh. As you surely know, hieroglyphs do not use vocals, the second variant comes from a different transliteration of the pharaoh's cartouche found in the pyramid (more seriously, I mis-read the title of the game and I did not realise for 25 years!)

This game is a text adventure. You should play it by giving simple orders to your alter-ego in the game. Explore the situations and beware to the risks!

The Innuh's pyramid was built three thousand years ago, somewhere in the desert. Ancient tales say it is full of treasures, but nobody who dared to try to reveal its secrets could come back to tell his adventure.

I'll be your eyes and ears. Your goal is to find all the treasures hidden in the pyramid.

Good luck, you'll need it!

The game is currently playable on the Commodore 128 (in 80-column mode), on the VIC-20 with the 16K RAM expansion, on the 64, Plus4, and PET with 32K. To play on a TI99/4A you will need a 32K RAM expansion, Editor/Assembler cartridge, and disk drive; for the 80 column version you will need an F18A video adapter. Additionally the game plays on a modern computer terminal.

To compile sources, you will need:

• gcc (Modern versions)
• Cc65 (Commodore versions)
• tms9900-gcc, elf2ea5, ea5split (TI99/4A versions)
• make

download the sources and type make in the directory where the code is present. The following files will be created:

• innuh-en modern OS executable (maybe with a .exe extension if you are using Windows) with the English version of the game
• innuh-it modern OS executable (maybe with a .exe extension if you are using Windows) with the Italian version of the game
• innuh-c128-it.prg the Commodore C128 version of the game, in Italian
• innuh-c128-en.prg the Commodore C128 version of the game, in English
• innuh-vic-it.prg the Commodore VIC-20+16K version of the game, in Italian
• innuh-vic-en.prg the Commodore VIC-20+16K version of the game, in English
• INUTIEN40 and INUTIEN41 the 40 column TI99/4A version of the game, in English
• INUTIEN80 and INUTIEN81 the 80 column TI99/4A version of the game, in English
• INUTIIT40 and INUTIIT41 the 40 column TI99/4A version of the game, in Italian
• INUTIIT80 and INUTIIT81 the 80 column TI99/4A version of the game, in Italian

I tested the VIC-20 and the C128 versions on VICE emulators as well as on the real hardware (both PAL machines: the VIC-20 is a CR European version and the C128 is a C128D with the plastic case).

Chue Xiong tested the TI versions in emulation using the Classic99 emulator. The game is in EA5 format, and needs to be run using option 5 of the Editor/Assembler cartridge.

Here is the list of words understood by the game, while playing the version in English:

torch, key, girder, sign, door, flute, skull, necklace, skeleton,
altar, bandages, axe, batteries, drugs, cobra, sapphire, sword, vase,
sarcophagus, mask, mommy, sand, room, hieroglyphic, room, hallway,
tunnel, ladder, north, south, east, west, up, down, n, s, e, w, above, below,
switch (off), exit, inventary, i, look, go, run, walk, see, take, grab, put, 
leave, give , open, *, play, read, wave, dig, eqt, drink, close,
grab, destroy, light, switch off, jump, change, around, get

Here is the list for the version in Italian:

torcia, chiave, trave, scritta, porta, flauto, teschio, collana, scheletro,
altare, bende, scure, batterie, droghe, cobra, zaffiro, spada, vaso, sarcofago,
maschera, mummia, sabbia, stanza, geroglifico, sala, corridoio, cunicolo, scala,
nord, sud, est, ovest, su, giù, n, s, e, o, sopra, sotto, arrenditi,
inventario, i, guarda, vai, corri, cammina, esamina, prendi, piglia, posa, 
lascia, dai , apri, *, suona, leggi, ondeggia, scava, mangia, bevi, chiudi,
rompi, sfonda, accendi, spegni, salta, cambia, attorno, afferra

Here are a few hints:

• To repeat the description of the current location, type look around (esamina attorno) or see (vedi) or simply *.
• You are not Hercules and you can not carry too many objects with you.
• Use inventary (inventario) or i to know what you are carrying around.
• All verbs and nouns can be abbreviated using the first four letters.