Infocom, the legendary studio behind text adventures like Zork, faced financial decline following a failed attempt to diversify into business software with their 1985 database program, Cornerstone. While intended to leverage their virtual machine technology, the software was notoriously slow and struggled against IBM-compatible systems. Now, thanks to new work by developer TaradinoC, an interpreter called Linchpin allows this obscure piece of software to run on modern PCs.
The author argues that due to rising hardware prices and the emergence of affordable x86 mini-PCs, mainline Raspberry Pi boards have become increasingly difficult to recommend. With high costs for models like the Raspberry Pi 5, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W stands out as the only practical choice for enthusiasts. Despite its limited RAM and processing power compared to larger boards, the Zero 2 W remains highly capable for DIY projects, lightweight Linux distributions, retro gaming emulation, and simple server tasks like running a Pi-hole. It offers a balance of affordability and essential functionality that makes it ideal for tinkering without breaking the bank.
A site dedicated to the preservation and curation of the many games and worlds created with ZZT. ZZT is a text-mode game from 1991 created by Tim Sweeney of Epic Games.
