Planetfall occurs as science fiction interactive fiction computer game written by Steve Meretzky and published by Infocom in 1983. Rather virtually all Infocom games, because of its portable Z-machine, it was released for many platforms at the same time. A original release involved versions for the PC (as a booter and DOS) and Apple II. A Atari ST and Commodore 64 versions were released within 1985. Although Planetfall was Meretzky's 1st title, it proved one of his virtually all popular works & the right-seller for Infocom.

Plot
the game starts sustaining a user assuming a role of a lowly Ensign Seventh Class on the S.P.S. Feinstein, the starship of the Stellar Patrol. Overbearing superior Ensign Number 1 Class Blather assigns a streaming video player to mop decks: nin exactly a glorious dangerous undertaking promised per recruiters on Atomic number 31. However the sudden series of explosions aboard a ship sends the streaming video player scrambling for an escape pod, which sooner or later crash-lands in a nearby planet. There are signs of civilization, however curiously there are no traces of the beings that another time lived there.

At length encountering the helpful however childlike robot named Floyd, a streaming video player must unravel the mysteries of the deserted resole structure on the planet, Resida, & buy how else for back house. When a fate of the planet's previous denizen becomes clearer, the period limit as well imposes itself.

Feelies
Beginning by owning 1982's Deadline, Infocom included additional novelty things by owning their packaged games known as feelies. Involved by owning Planetfall was: The Stellar Patrol "Special Assignment Task Force" ID card (just about the size & shape of a credit card) Triplet interstellar postcards The Stellar Patrol recruiting counterpoint, "Today's Stellar Patrol: Boldly Going Where Angels Fear to Tread" The short diary saved per streaming video player's character

Notes
Planetfall was intended, within Infocom's scoring system, the "Standard" difficulty game.

the construct of a NPC sidekick (Floyd) was new for Infocom games. Floyd would watch a streaming video player from either location to location & interaction by having him was involved sequentially to complete a game.

Reaction to Floyd's around-game demise was hailed at a instance as a telling sign of the emotional power of Infocom's games. Numbers of players, it was widely reported, wept openly at a scene of Floyd's "death". Apparently, it was antecedently unthinkable that "a simple game" may move humans to such the degree.

the profits of this game inspired a novel of the same title & the sequel known as Stationfall. A 1987 sequel once agawithin incorporated the reanimated Floyd, however in the slightly less large role. Stationfall was great deal further grim around tone than Planetfall, & did does'nt sell also when a supplementary weak-lightsome original.