Aandark

The year is 2155. And, to a ghost from the past, it would appear as though the quality of life has been greatly improved. There has not been a war of any kind for over a century. Scientific technology is responsible for the discovery of food supplements, putting an end to starvation. Medical advances have extended the average life expectancy to 100 years or more.

It all seems fantastic, except for one major problem. There are far too many people living on Earth. Extreme overpopulation threatens the existence of the entire human race. For years, intense space exploration has been dedicated to one major objective -locating naturally inhabitable planets. Finally, the scientific study and investigation of one planet is officially conclusive. Aandark, the latest and most promising planet discoverect, is capable of sustaining the life of earthlings. A moonstar that continuously revolves around it provides 14 hours of daylight and 14 hours of darkness at any point on the sphere.

The climate remains consistent, with daytime temperatures peaking around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, while nighttime lows approach 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Dense plant life exists in the large mountainous forests which make up atleast 65 percent of the planet. The land regions are divided by a number of rivers, which constitute the remainder of the planet. Aquatic life is also known to exist and the water has been approved for human consumption. As part of the exploratory mission, you are one of eight American astronauts on the spacecraft, ISOUP. The crew's objective is to survey and map areas of the new world for potential colonization. Completion of the task is essential.

Scouting and construction squads have previously prepared areas of the planet for the mapping expedition and each area has been subdivided into quadrants. Bridges have been built for easy access across the rivers, and outposts have been erected every few miles. All crew members will be shuttled in individual spacecrafts to their respectively assigned quadrants on the surface of the planet. Each will make a landing at the base that has been erected in the general vicinity of their quadrant. Once there, needed supplies and final briefings will be received.

You have been assigned to map Quadrant 23A. The journey through the vastness will not be easy. It is known that there are wild animals, large pits filled with quicksand and sludgy swamps that will hinder your travel. Other suspected decoys may also be encountered that could lead you off track. Remember though, if you are capable of returning to the base, your success will be judged on how complete your map is.

Aandark is a text Adventure that includes a built-in graphics map. By typing LOOK MAP, you are able to view the entire region, showing where you have traveled and where you can proceed.