These Infocom games were distributed in "Z-machine" code, and played by running the code with an interpreter. This made them easily portable. Since Z-machine has been disassembled, interpreters have been made for many other platforms, including Windows. So there's no need to use an emulator like DOSBOX.
Furthermore, some interpreters support input recording. The .rec files are just plain text: one line for each entered command.
Unfortunately the randomness in these games is realtime dependent and .rec files do not record any realtime element. Therefore actions like fighting have unreliable outcomes and may cause desync.
This could be solved my making an interpreter that gives the user strict control over time: only advance time during processing, typing, or a frame-advance operation.
How to play back the movies
Run it and load the correct game. (You can find these in the TOSEC set.)
With the game in an initial state, (reload the ROM if you touched anything) run the .rec file (alt-p). Say yes to "more" prompts to show one screen at a time.
Watch (or read, mostly). It should eventually conclude with a "you win" kind of message. If not, it desynced. Try again.
You can call up the Scrollback to review everything that happened. The scrollback logs are included for those who don't want to set everything up.
Zork I
Revision 88
ZORK1.DAT
8fff4d39
This is the first z-machine game, an adaptation of what they played in the 70s and 80s when there was nothing else. See? Don't let anyone tell you that games were better in the old days.
I use the "again" glitch to open the trap door from the wrong side and steal the troll's weapon. I use the inflatable boat glitch to carry more than usually allowed. The route (298 moves) is a safe one, and could be greatly shortened by controlling the randomness of the thief and the giant bat.
Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur
Revision 74
ARTHUR.ZIP
9343bc2c
This is one of the last z-machine games, and it treats the player with somewhat more dignity. It also has graphics. (To display them, Windows Frotz 2002 requires ARTHUR.BLB and WinFrotz 5.3 requires ARTHUR.MG1)
Because of the randomness of the peat bog I have no choice but to break the movie into two parts. First run ARTHURa.rec, then type "restore" and load ARTHURb.sav, then run ARTHURc.rec.
Anyway, if you somehow wanted to know about the state of Zork TASing, there you go.
