Ad Verbum
Description
The city finally having secured an eviction notice, the demolition contractor is contractually obligated to conduct an inventory of the Wizard of Wordplay's manor before knocking it down, clearing the spooky space for cheap condos or a mini-mall. The only problem is that with his peculiar and punny powers pervading the property, the poor prestidigitator's possessions pooh-pooh playing possum, putting punitive and perilous portents into play, preventing the project from proceeding. (Phew!)
Surely this is a job for a veteran text adventurer such as yourself! In your previous adventures, you only engaged grues and dwarfs with language -- here (as in spiritual predecessors Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It and T-Zero), you're climbing into the ring with language itself, grappling everything from an abundance of asinine alliteration to dinosaur etymology within the first few rooms. Not since the raconting of Racter has a text environment (Oulip)owed so much to the playful linguistic experimentation of the avant-garde and simpleminded -- a perplexing source of inspiration most works of interactive fiction have been only too eager to a void. Here at last, to triumph, you will have to truly demonstrate that the pen is mightier than the sword!
Groups +
Screenshots
Credits (DOS version)
13 People
by | |
Primary software tester | |
Software testers | |
Computer-related snaps |
|
for their comments on "Top Row Retort" |
|
created using the Inform compiler and libraries by | |
Z-Machine by |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 74% (based on 1 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.9 out of 5 (based on 4 ratings with 0 reviews)
Be the first to review this game!
Trivia
Awards
- Annual Interactive Fiction Competition
- 2000 - Miss Congeniality prize (favourite game of the competing authors)
- 2000 - #4 out of 53
- XYZZY Awards
- 2000 - Best Puzzles
- 2000 - Finalist in the "Best Use of Medium" category
- 2000 - Finalist in the "Best Individual Puzzle" category
Nick's awesomely alliterative acceptance speech can be viewed here.
Analytics
Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!
Related Sites +
-
Download Ad Verbum
An updated version of the full game is available for free, legal download from the author's website. (Z-code interpreter not included.) -
Play Ad Verbum online!
The full game is playable through your web browser. -
Wikipedia: Ad Verbum
Article about the game in the open encyclopedia -
Words Matter: Nick Montfort's Ad Verbum, A Very Close Reading
An academic paper on Ad Verbum by Edmond Chang.
Identifiers +
Contribute
Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.
Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Pseudo_Intellectual.
Additional contributors: Patrick Bregger, Kennyannydenny.
Game added May 28, 2006. Last modified February 22, 2023.