New Zealand deservedly has a reputation as a tour destination that offers some of the best and most accessible adventure opportunities available. However, with adventure travel comes risk. Understanding this risk and how to manage it is the key to operating a quality adventure tour experience.

The increasingly sophisticated world traveler demands a level of authenticity and involvement in their travel that was not present in the past. This requirement puts demands on tour operators that have to be met but also carefully managed. In the case of adventure tourism, these twin requirements of authenticity and involvement lead to an inevitable risk profile associated with the provision of the tourism product.

It is not possible, nor desirable to eliminate all risk. The very essence of this mode of tourism is to provide the traveler with an experience outside his or her daily range, to push their limits. Elimination of the risk in the experience eliminates the authenticity and therefore the depth of experience the traveler is seeking. Having accepted that some risk is inevitable and desirable, it then becomes important to understand risk.

One of the huge issues with risk is that the public perception of a risk level is not closely related to the actual risk level. This point is currently being very clearly demonstrated in the media coverage surrounding swine flu. As of 16:00 GMT, 5 May 2009, 21 countries, including New Zealand have officially reported 1490 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection with 30 confirmed deaths (source: World Health Organization). The disease has been met with blow-by-blow media coverage, detailing the possible spread of the disease and development into a pandemic. Public facilities have been closed, negative travel advisories have decimated local tourism businesses, and even the pig industry has suffered as people stop eating pork. Compare these figures with those for malaria, a disease that has been present for so long it is no longer news worthy. In 2006 there were 247 million cases of malaria, causing nearly one million deaths (source: World Health Organization). What is the current focus on malaria in the media even though it dwarfs swine flu by every measure? Clearly the issues of perception and reality don’t meet in this case. This is probably a lucky thing as if they did meet; most people would be too scared to drive to work.

How then does this relate to tourism in New Zealand? We have identified that risk is desirable and that the perception of that risk is highly subjective. In creating an adventure tour product, leveraging the issue of perception is very valuable. It is possible to create activities that have a genuine risk profile but are perceived to be much more risky than they actually are. We term this “psychological risk”.

A critical part of this process is to carefully manage this risk, so that the perception remains but the actuality is reduced. In New Zealand, the health and safety regulations along with the active involvement of many of the industry organizations helps tour operators understand risk and work to minimize risk factors. Thus the New Zealand tour industry has become highly proficient at offering a wide range of activities that offer a genuine sense of adventure while minimizing the true risk factors that might affect the adventure.

In summary, adventure tourism in New Zealand cannot and should not avoid all risk, but by careful management of the main risk factors, the risk that guests are exposed to in a well run adventure tourism activity can be minimized to a point where they are acceptable, even though the perception of that risk might well be significantly higher.

You will find Morocco in North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, Western Sahara and Algeria. With its diverse landscapes of buzzing cities such as Marrakech, the High Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, it hosts a wide variety of adventure activities and so adventure holidays in Morocco are some of the most sought after in North Africa.

Some of the best adventure holidays in Morocco are trekking holidays and the High Atlas Mountains are the country’s premier trekking destination. Here you can see incredible vistas, witness traditional village life, camp in the wilderness or even attempt to climb Morocco’s highest peak; Jebel Toubkal, for the ultimate Moroccan adventure. You can also cycle in the Atlas Mountains if this is more suited to your interests.

Another popular option is a desert safari in Morocco. You can enjoy a 4WD safari in the vast Sahara Desert where you can learn about traditional Berber life and sleep in the wilderness under the stars.

Other adventure holidays in Morocco include family holidays where the kids can enjoy camel rides and learn about a culture that is far removed from their own, traditional cooking courses, Marrakech city tours and even women only Morocco holidays for those who find comfort in travelling with other likeminded women on an organised tour.

From mountains to desert and from lively bazaars to traditional villages, Morocco’s atmosphere and charm makes a lasting impression and ensures that travellers return here time and time again on adventure holidays in Morocco.

Take your weekend holiday to the next level by adding a little spice to your vacation activities! What better way to experience the world’s greatest destinations than by going to the extreme and taking on some adrenaline-pumping sport? Below is a list of the top 10 attractions for the adventurer in everyone and the best place to go to do them.

1. Skydiving in the Swiss Alps -Let your heart race as you soak in the beauty while plummeting past the majestic Alps from a plane! I recommend doing a little shopping around to ensure that you book your trip with a company that will give you the most for your Swiss skydiving experience! You’ll also be able to do some quick sightseeing during the flight up – you’ll get great views of the Interlaken lakes as well as the mountain peaks Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. During the freefall you’ll get that extra kick you’ve been craving as you plunge towards the earth at 120 MPH! After freefalling, you’ll enjoy sightseeing from a different point of view – from the comfort of a canopy ride as you make your landing descent.

2. Hot Air Ballooning in France – Get to see one of the world’s most picturesque countries from up above! A graceful way to explore the rich scenery of the French countryside, though hot air ballooning can be expensive, the memories from this trip are worth the fees. There are numerous places where you can take off, but I recommend going to Champagne for a balloon ride -you can take in a gorgeous view of the Reims. You can probably also catch a perfect view of the slopes of the Route du Champagne and the Regional Mountain Park of Reims.

3. Surfing in Indonesia – The Mentawai Islands are a surfer’s dream with over 70 islands that are wave-rich and adventure-packed! Off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, this is one of the hottest surfing destinations in the world. There are four main islands (Siberut, Sipora, North Pagi, and South Pagi) that provide some of the best surfing experiences. The only downside is that access to these swells is usually by ferry and charter boat, and costs can add up throughout the day for food and such, but dedicated surfers, or those looking for the ultimate first experience won’t be disappointed.

4. Hiking in Morocco – The Toubkal Valley is one of the world’s hidden beauties. Spend some time hiking and take in the scenery of one of the most exotic places on the planet. Travel from Marrakech through various hamlets and Berber villages and make your way to the Western High Atlas Mountains. Get the chance to trek past the villages of Taourirt, Targa and Imoula and visit a village in the Assif Aït Mizane Valley, where you’ll overlook ancient irrigated terraced fields of fruit trees and vegetables! The winding mule tracks to the Tizi n’Tamatert provide you with a breathtaking panoramic view of the Atlas Mountains. The sightseeing possibilities in the Toubkal Valley are endless!

5. Rock Climbing in California, USA – Yosemite Valley in the National Park is the place to be for an extreme rock climbing adventure! Much more than just a valley filled with skyscraping rocks (literally, some of them are around 3,000 feet tall!), you’ll get the experience – and exercise – of a lifetime when you visit here. Anyone passionate and adventurous enough to attempt to climb these rocks is in for a treat. Yosemite offers both the experienced and the beginner climbers not only challenging climbs, but mind-boggling views of the gorgeous landscape that’s unlike anywhere you’ve been before.

6. Paragliding in India – If you’re prepared to experience soaring through the sky and seeing the world from a bird’s perspective, don’t miss a visit to Kamshet, Maharashtra – a paragliding paradise! Kamshet is a hill station located in the Western Ghats near an ancient trade route. Prehistoric cave temples, hill citadels and colonial stations all give this area a unique archaic twist for anyone that loves adventure. Fall in love with the undisturbed nature of the area and relish the peaceful atmosphere of this location. On your paragliding adventure, you’ll experience more than just a view of nature at its finest, but also an exhilarating experience that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

7. Coasteering in Wales – What better way to get your adrenaline pumping than by being tossed around the ocean swells during a session of coasteering in Wales? The birthplace of this ultimate adventure, they’ve got this sport down pat. Explore the brilliance of this country and test your abilities in the world’s most natural playground. Though the concept of being thrashed around in the ocean is somewhat daunting, it is completely safe; qualified leaders are there to make sure your experience goes as smoothly as possible!

8. Scuba Diving in Australia – Probably the first thing that pops into anyone’s mind for the best scuba diving experience is to see the Great Barrier Reef in Australia! This location is perfectly tailored for those that love to live life on the wild side. Scuba diving in Australia offers one of the most colorful and vibrant sightseeing underwater adventure experiences, and there is no better time than now to visit, since the Great Barrier Reef is quickly disappearing. The best times to go are from August to December, when the water is warmer and there is more aquatic life present, but diving is possible at any time throughout the year.

9. White Water Rafting in Thailand – There are so many ways to get your adrenaline fix in Thailand, one of the most exhilarating being white water rafting! Phang Nga, filled with gorgeous parks and scenery, is a must to visit, let alone white water raft! Get caught up in the ride as you raft down the Phang Nga River, while challenging your skills. This adventure is fairly new to Thailand and is considered the country’s best kept secret. See the lush forests as you make your way down the river quench your thirst for high packed adventure!

10. Safari in Zambia, Africa – Discover all that Zambia has to offer by going on safari! Regardless of whether or not you’re there for hunting game, river cruising down the Lower Zambezi National Park, or talking a walking tour through the South Luangwa National Park, you’ll definitely be in for an eye-opening experience. Safaris in this African treasure are numerous and allow you to see the exotic wildlife (like a cheetah in Kafue!) and natural beauty of the area up close and personal.

If you go on a vacation, the biggest challenge you’ll encounter is finding someone who’d be willing to feed and take care of your pet while you are away. So, it may be a good idea to tag your pet along on your next trip. There are a number of pet friendly rentals sailing companies that allows you to take your pets.

But should you decide to take your dog on a pet friendly rentals sailing adventure, here are some tips that you can use:

1. Make sure that your dog is properly hydrated. Bring plenty of water and let your dog drink every thirty minutes.

2. Give your dog a life jacket. Before you go boating, it is important to ask your boat rental company if they have a dog life jacket. If not, you may have to purchase one. Make sure to choose a jacket that fits your dog well.

3. Try to check the boat with your pet prior to your boating trip. Dogs are usually scared when you place them in a new environment.

4. It is important to check the local laws about boats and dogs before you go on your boating trip. While countries, in general, do not prohibit travelling or sailing with dogs, some cities and states do. So, it is important to double-check the local pet travelling laws of your sailing destination before you take your dog with you.

5. Bring a pet-specific first aid kit. Your first aid kit should include the following:

• Tweezers

• Pet carrier

• Ice pack

• Non-latex gloves

• Gauze rolls

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Adhesive tape

• Cotton balls

• Antiseptic spray

• Rectal thermometer

• Scissors

• Petroleum jelly

• Penlight

• Nail clippers

• Towels

• Tongue Depressors

• Rubbing Alcohol

Also, make sure to bring your pet first aid book, the phone number of the veterinarian, and the paperwork of your pet.

6. Place pet-friendly sunscreen on your dog. Some dogs need protection from the harmful rays of the sun. So, if your dog is sensitive to the heat of the sun, then you should definitely rub some sunscreen on him before you go on your boating trip.

7. Place a collar with an ID tag on your dog’s neck. Don’t forget to place your contact information on the tag.

8. Create a place where your dog can urinate or poop such as puppy pads or small litter box.

9. If you’re travelling outside the country, it is best to secure a pet passport first before you go on your trip.

10. Make sure that your dog does not disturb wildlife.

11. Do not allow your dog to drink from the sea or the canal water. Make sure that your dog drinks clean and sterilised water throughout the trip.

12. Make sure that your vet performs a routine check-up on your pet before you leave for your trip. You have to ensure that your pet’s vaccination is up to date.

Pet friendly rentals sailing adventure is fun and it allows you to strengthen your bond with your pet. But, you must take safety pre-cautions first before you take your pet to your next boating trip.

Auli, (alt. 2915 mts-3049 mts ) is a very important ski destination within the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand, India. Auli is thought as ‘Bugyal’ in the regional language which implies meadow. In reality some French and Australian consultants said that Auli is resembling the most effective ski resorts within the world. Auli is less known ski destination than Shimla, Gulmarg or Manali. It was solely within the recent time, once the creation of recent state Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal) carved out from Uttar Pradesh, Auli was marketed as Tourist Destination.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

If one is an journey freak, the most effective time to go to Auli is during the winter season. The period from late November to late March is mostly considered ideal for skiers. Because the winters set in, the mountains appear to increase to the firmament with arms of snow. From December to March, the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam conducts 7-day and 15-day courses for each amateurs and advanced learners.

Tourist attractions

Ski

Auli is starting to get popular among the ski-lovers. Though the long,tiring travel and unpredictable weather can be the mood killer. You cannot be sure till you reach what to expect. Few lucky can gets to enjoy snow fall and skiing. If luck is not on your side snow storm can lock your room for days. For some its hard solid snow which take away the skiing pleasure. Though the GMVNL has imported snow beater it cannot give the experience of fresh snow. There is a long Ski-Lift connecting lower slopes to the Top.

Artificial lake

The world’s highest man-made lake is at Auli, right next to the private hotel, Clifftop Club. The government has developed this in view of creating artificial snow on the new ski slopes in the event of low snow fall. The water from this lake will be used to feed the snow guns stationed along the ski slopes and thus provide a good skiing surface and exend the ski season.

Views

Auli is surrounded by high peaks like Mana, Kamet and tallest of all Nanda Devi. The 270 degree view will enough to make you forget the long and tiring ride to reach Auli. Once the Skiing is over the best thing one can do in evening is to take chair out and get treated to great view of snow clad mountains as they keep changing colors every minute the sun goes down. Here you will understand why the Sadhus (sage) came to Himalayas for meditation. The feeling of solitude and oneness with god will do wonders to you mind and have a positive effect on you body. You will get which no money can buy “Peace of Mind”

Trekking

Apart from skiing there are some trek options available and below list is some of the trail normally completed in single day Auli – Gorson around 7 km Gorson – Tali around 6 km Tali – Kuari Pass around 11 km Kuari Pass – Khulara around 12 km Khulara – Tapovan around 9 km.

People love shopping. When we buy something online, we wait eagerly for the items to arrive. Imagine, we have bought something and do not have any idea of what will actually come. This doubles the eagerness and excitement. This is not imaginary but real.

The concept of mystery boxes makes it possible for us to buy a box we have no idea what it contains. It feels venturesome to buy an item that is a mystery. There are many people out there who love to take risk and mystery box is a thing that pays off taking a risk.

The mystery is countless. Actually, the mystery box concept came in the early nineties, but are becoming popular recently because of many YouTubers. Keep reading to under the concept of mystery boxes and interesting stuff related to it.

What is a Mystery Box?

The mystery box is a box you can buy online. You will receive interesting and curated products in the box. The number and type of products are not fixed. Sometimes, you get to know what it contains while you are buying, while other times its complete mystery until you receive the box.

It contains all sorts of products. The number of items and their values depends on its size. The sites that sell them make sure that is it is created with equal fairness and remain up to the value of the box. The price of the mystery box is then decided accordingly.

There are sites that let you create your own boxes and sell online. You can opt to either show the products inside it or display the items. If you do not like any of the product from the box, you can put the item for resale as well on the same site you have bought from. Although, this facility is not provided by all sites.

What does it Contain?

The types of products vary greatly. The products can be jewelry, clothes, wearables, key chains, shoes, sneakers, jackets, and all those products available for sale individually. Some boxes contains valuable items, while others have notes showering spell of luck.

There is a broad range of product one can receive in a mystery box. A new concept of the digital box is trending in the market. In it, you won’t receive any physical products, but digital assets like game coins, gift cards, product keys of software or games, and more.

Perks of Mystery Boxes

• The excitement and adventure of not knowing what is inside the box makes you happy

• It is a perfect gift when you are confused about what to give

• The cost ranges from $25-$1000

• Perfect as Christmas gift

How does it work?

• Have a look at the collections

Browse from a range of custom curated box including brands like Balenciaga, Gucci, Supreme, Louis Vuitton, and more.

• Select the box and add to cart

Some boxes show the content in it while others you can see when it gets delivered. Choose accordingly

• Buy or exchange box for other collections

You can either purchase the box or exchange it with your items. Also, you can exchange your items for credits of some sites.

Located just 12 miles off of the Yucatan peninsula, Cozumel is Mexico’s largest Caribbean island. It is a popular destination for college students on spring break as well as being one of the busiest ports of call for cruise ships. People come to Cozumel for the pristine white beaches, the crystal clear water, and to enjoy some of the best scuba diving in the world.

From the city of San Miguel on the central coast, down to the southern tip of the island, there are a series of reefs and shallow coral formations that make Cozumel a paradise for scuba divers. There are more than a dozen specific sites for diving, each with their own unique attributes. The most popular of these are the Columbia, Palancar, and San Francisco reef as well as Chankanaab Lagoon. There is no shortage of options when taking a scuba diving trip to Cozumel.

The abundant marine life here, which display a myriad of vibrant colors make scuba diving in Cozumel an unforgettable vacation. The waters here are extremely clear and coral reef formations go on for miles. In most places, you won’t have to submerge more than 40 feet to experience the unique sights this place has to offer. Explore underwater overhangs and caves, follow along one of the many coral reefs, or experience the huge variety of fish that call this place home. All of these things are what make Cozumel an exciting place to dive.

The Mystical Cenotes of Cozumel

If you’re an avid adventurer and you’re looking for an exciting excursion you may consider doing some cenote diving. Cenotes are deep water filled sinkholes that held great spiritual significance to the ancient Mayans who believed they were the entrance to the underworld. Diving in these deep and mysterious underwater caves makes for an adventure that few people ever dare to attempt. Cozumel is in close vicinity to a variety of cenotes and many scuba divers travel here just to explore these frightening caves.

If you’re new to the sport, don’t worry. As long as you have the spirit and desire, you can learn to scuba dive, and there’s no better place to do it than Cozumel. Instructors will teach you all the safety procedures and proper techniques for diving, and be there every step of the way to help you have an enjoyable experience.

Overall, Cozumel is one of the most popular scuba diving destinations in the world. There is no shortage of dive shops or tour operators here, and choosing one will just come down to personal preference. Make sure to plan your trip well and book with a company that you feel comfortable with. Because of the sports popularity in this area it’s not uncommon to be diving with 20 or more people. However, even with crowds of divers, Cozumel offers some of the most breath-taking sights around, and it’s easy to see why so many people visit here.

Rock climbing and abseiling for one of your next adventure truly is a great day outdoors for a fun and thrilling adventure.

In a nutshell climbing a cliff-face or steep ascent is the climbing skill where as the way back down takes yet another skill known as abseiling.

Some tours may just be a rock climbing tour where you start the tour at the bottom of the cliff or object you’re wishing to climb and vice versa for abseiling only tours, starting at the top of the cliff.

The question is which adventure should I choose? A rock climb or abseil?

The simple answer would be both if possible. Both of these thrilling adventures take a certain skill or mindset to be carried out and for me personally I prefer to kill two birds with one stone.

Rock climbing will use your physical skills, strength and will test your mental strength too where as abseiling does require skill although the mental barrier here is letting yourself casually fall down the cliff face.

Some people may feel nervous around heights and might not be sure if this adventure is for them. Well not to worry I too get extremely anxious and nervous around open heights and I certainly had doubts when I visited Port Vila Vanuatu where I had organised an abseiling tour.

For this abseiling adventure in Vanuatu we climbed the mountainside to reach the top of a 50 metre waterfall. So not only was I exhausted from the steep hill to reach the top, I was anxious about being 50 metres high and I had to deal with abseiling while a tonne of water was rushing down on top of me.

And even though I had doubts that morning about whether or not I should actually try out this experience, I made it to the bottom safely and wanted to go again and again.

The experience of both rock climbing and abseiling sure is thrilling and an adventure that will live with me personally for my lifetime.

Even though I feel the nerves around heights I want to take up this adventure a few more times and try it out in different locations but more important using both rock climbing and abseiling within the climb.

I’m positive that it will be hard to find an abseiling tour that will top the Mele Cascades in Vanuatu however I do want to head out to some areas near my home town and try it out again. The Blue Mountains is one of the places that offers these climbing adventures as well as many others including caving experiences etc.

I hope that you too are able to take up the challenge – whether that is rock climbing, abseiling or both.

Mountain biking is the perfect sport for those with an appetite for outdoors and adventure. Cycling downhill gives the adrenaline rush that thrills many youngsters. MTB bicycles or bikes as they are popularly called are designed specifically for this sport. The MTB bikes come with suspension to with stand the tuft terrain. The bicycle may come either with full suspension or only front suspension.

Mountain bikes are normally categorized into four groups based on suspension:

Rigid: This term refers to a bike’s frame with a rigid fork and fixed rear, but no suspension.

Hard tail: This term refers to a bike’s frame with a front suspension fork and no rear suspension.

Soft tail: This term refers to a bike’s frame with a small amount of rear suspension, which is activated by the flex of the frame instead of pivots.

Dual or full suspension: This term refers to a bike’s frame with a front suspension fork and rear suspension with a rear shock and linkage that allow the rear wheel to move on pivots.

While choosing a mountain bike for a trail, it is important to consider the right frame for the particular terrain.

What is required for mountain biking?

Mental and physical strength is a key requirement for mountain biking. One should be extremely agile and have excellent control over the bike in order to perform the ride in a hilly terrain with ease. The key to trailing on tuft terrains is endurance and core strength.

The right equipment is another vital requirement for a mountain biker. He/She has to pick the right bike to fight with the challenging terrains. Mountain bikes come with rich componentry for this purpose. The Hercules Roadeo series typically addresses this need. The bike comes with Shimano easy fire shifters for smooth transition of gears. It also comes with both front and rear Shimano derailleur. The free wheel is a Shimano TZ21 which is your ticket to safely and quickly rolling on any type of terrain.

The bike Hercules Roadeo A300 comes with front Zoom disc brakes and rear V brakes. The disc brakes prevent the heat from getting dissipated into the tyre. The disc brakes are also not harsh on the rims making it a good bet for mountain bikes

Accessories

Mountain biking requires great accessories for yourself and the bike. The bike has to be fitted with front and rear lights for safety. Pumps are a must and ought to be carried on any trail and more so on off road biking trails. For the rider, the right type of clothing and shoes is a must. Shoes need to have good grip to provide safety to the rider. Jerseys must be comfortable and should have the ability to withstand falls. Last but not the least, never get on a bike or bicycle without a helmet. BSA from TI cycles of India has a great range of accessories under the brand BSA Plug-in.

How Retro Text Adventure Games are Put Together

The main thing that stands out with text adventure games is that they usually have no graphics. The game world is made up of many locations which are described using words, although a few text adventure games will display images of the location along with the description. Playing the game involves typing instructions to inform the game what you want to do. For example typing “go north” to move to another location or “get lamp” to pick up a lamp if there is one at your current location.

The object of the adventure game is to solve a quest. This could be to slay a dragon, rescue a princess, recover an object, or solve a mystery. The game acts as your eyes, ears and touch – describing what is visible in your current location along with any objects you can pick up. As you travel through the game world you will come across various puzzles that need to be solved before you proceed, along with any dangers to overcome.

Here is an example of a text adventure game in action.

You are in a forest. A long winding road leads to the north and a small cottage stands to the south. To the east, in the distance, is a large cave.

There is a lamp here.

What do you want to do?

>get lamp

You now have the lamp.

>light lamp

There is no oil in the lamp.

So you know you are in a forest where you can see a road, a cottage and a cave. You can choose to go to one of the described areas by typing something like “n”, “north” or “go north”. There is also a lamp at this location that you can pick up but if you want to light it then you need to find some oil. This is a puzzle you need to solve because you will need the lamp to go into the cave, otherwise it will be too dark to see.

Now let us see how text adventure games are put together.

CREATING YOUR GAME WORLD

Like books, text adventure games usually start with a single idea. Imagine a village where people are dying because a wicked witch has put a curse on them. The locations in your game world would consist mainly of villages, castles, forests and caves. Now let’s say that your quest is to reach the witch’s castle and kill her so the curse will be lifted. Her castle would be your final destination in the game. Maybe the cursed village could be your starting location. Now you can make a list of the locations in the game which would include something like: village1, village2, river, lake, cave1, cave2, clearing, mountain1, mountain2, village tavern, forest and so on.

If a location covers a larger area or is a building then you can spilt it into sub-locations such as east of forest, west of forest, front of cave, middle of cave, back of cave, tavern kitchen, tavern bar etc… You also need to ensure a location is in sight before you mention it in your location description. For example you can’t see the tavern kitchen unless you enter the tavern first. Of course this is obvious but it is possible to make such mistakes.

CONNECTIONS

In order for the player to move around your game world you need to connect your locations together. For example: if you are in the cursed village and there is a tavern you want them to visit then you need to tell them which direction it is in. You move around the game world using compass directions which are north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest. Some games even allow up and down.

So in order to connect the locations you need to decide what we can see from your current location. In a village you would see a tavern, shops, a school and a church. Now decide what direction they are in. So let’s say the tavern is to the north, the school is to the south, shops to the east and the church to the west. Each location in your game will have a number and your list of connections would look something like this.

Location 01 – Cursed Village

North=Location 01, South=Location 02, West=Location 03, East=Location 04

Location 02 – Tavern

North=Location 05, South=Location 01

Notice there is a connection back to location 01? Always make sure you can get back to the previous location by using the opposite of the direction you used to get there… North to get there and South to get back. East to get there and West to get back.

Some locations can’t be accessed until you solve a puzzle. In the earlier example there is a cave which is going to be dark. Therefore you need to get the lamp first, find some oil and then light it before you can enter the cave. Other locations may be guarded so you need some way of getting rid of, or getting past the guard. Creating puzzles to get to some locations makes your game more interesting rather than allowing the player to get places easily.

OBJECTS

Objects are items that can be used, eaten or worn. Their purpose is to aid you in your quest and to solve certain puzzles. Sometimes objects have to be combined with each other: such as the oil and the lamp to work. Objects are usually found in locations waiting to be picked up. Some objects are hidden ones until they are uncovered in the game. For example, a crystal ball might be locked in a trunk and will only appear in the current location when the trunk has been opened.

Imagine you wanted to get into some building and the guard stops you. Maybe you can find some money and bribe him. Or maybe you can find a disguise to wear that will allow you to get past him. Objects can be used in unlimited ways to add puzzles to your game and make them much more challenging to the player.

One thing to remember: Don’t make an object too big or too heavy for the player to carry and limit the amount of items they can carry. Adventure games also allow the player to drop items they are carrying so they can pick others up. Some adventure games give the objects a weight so how many objects you can carry depends on the weight.

EVENTS

Imagine entering a cave and coming face to face with a huge grizzly bear who wants to eat you. You can’t explore that cave as the bear is blocking your way so you need to overcome it somehow. Events come in three flavours: High Priority, Low Priority, and Local.

High Priority: These events happen as soon as the player enters a location before they get the chance to input any commands. For example the bear could kill you as soon as you enter the cave so you need to do something before you enter such as have a weapon handy or be wearing Armour.

Low Priority: These events handle situations that continue has you move through the game. For example if you are getting hungry, thirsty or sleepy, or if you are injured and losing blood. These events report your status just before handing input control to you.

Local: Events that happen at your current location. For example the bear won’t kill you as soon as you enter the cave, you will get a chance to defend yourself or to leave the cave. Once that bear has been dealt with the local event will state that you “see a dead bear” or you “see a sleeping bear”.

CONCLUSION

This article covers the basic bones of a text adventure game and provides enough information to get you started in creating one either using a programming language of your choice or a dedicated adventure creator.