The Zork Library Forum

Hello, can anyone help with a Zork I bug I'm encountering? This is running on frotz on OS X with the Zork I data file.

I got to a point where every command I enter is echoed twice with no other result.

For example:

>look
look look ...
>inventory
inventory inventory ...

I think this happened the last time I downloaded Zork as "dungeon." And now with a new download of Zork I I'm seeing the problem again. A Web search didn't turn up any solutions.

If I start a new game it works again, but if I restore my previously saved file I'm stuck with the same problem so I assume continuing with the new game will lead to the same problem eventually.

Any ideas? Thanks.

Edit: I tried from the beginning again and the problem occurs when I take the platinum bar. Right after:

>take platinum bar
bar bar ...
>look
look look ...
>quit (This works, I can quit, but nothing else but quit and restore works)

It isn't a bug. It's a puzzle!

Hi Siriusstar. Thanks for responding--I wasn't sure how active the forum is.

Ya know I wondered if it was something like that but it didn't seem quite right (and I didn't come across anything about that in my searching).

Okay so I guess it's up to me to figure it out then!

I started playing Zork II last night because I thought the Zork I thing was a bug. With Zork I I was getting some weird output at times that was definitely program bug related (char references and such IIRC) and nothing like the puzzle.

But now I think I'll go back to Zork I.

Thanks!

Yeah, so far I'm having no luck with the puzzle and just encountered the following:

>up
Deep Canyon
@Attempt to address illegal object 988. This is normally fatal.
Fatal error: Illegal object
[Hit any key to exit.]

I've had a couple of problems like that with Zork I (as mentioned above) but played Zork II for a while without any errors. I'll restore and try again (saved last night in the middle of the puzzle).

Edit:

I just restored again (still in the midst of the puzzle) and:

>down
down down ...

>west
Round Room
This is a circular stone room with passages in all directions. Several of them
have unfortunately been blocked by cave-ins.
@Attempt to address illegal object 988. This is normally fatal.
Fatal error: Illegal object
[Hit any key to exit.]

I googled "zork "attempt to address illegal object"" but no results.

Maybe I'll go back to Zork II.

zrk wrote:Attempt to address illegal object 988. This is normally fatal.
Fatal error: Illegal object

Now that IS a bug. If you're not having any other trouble with Frotz it looks as if your Zork file is corrupted. Perhaps ypu can download the Zork I file from a different source?

I got the one I'm using here:

http://www.infocom-if.org/downloads/downloads.html

I think I ran into similar problems a long time ago with a version called "dungeon" (IIRC that was the original Zork name?).

As mentioned Zork II seems to be running fine so I can always just use that, or keep trying stuff with Zork I.

Thanks.

if your in room with platinum bar, its not a bug. its part of puzzle. i haven't had any trouble with frotz although gargoyle would not run a couple of the infocom files i have (don't remember which ones)