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Joel BerezMarc BlankAndrew Plotkin×Joel Berez×Marc Blank
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GlkGlkOte protocolGlulxZ-machine
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.z3.z4.z5.z6.z8.zblorb.zlb.gblorb.ulx×.z3×.z4×.z5×.z6×.z8×.zblorb×.zlb
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application/x-zmachineapplication/x-glulx×application/x-zmachine
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This [[virtual machine]] was developed in 1979 by [[Infocom]]. Games were written in [[ZIL]] (Zork Implementation Language, [[Zork I]] being Infocom's first game). They were then compiled using [[Zilch]] to "story files" which contained Z-machine instructions. Z-code is the byte code and data file format used by the Z-machine, so the story files are often called "Z-code files". These files could be run on any platform for which a Z-machine/Z-code interpreter existed. Zilch was never released but documentation for ZIL does exist. Infocom produced six [[Z-machine versions]], with later versions having greater capabilities. The release of the [[Inform]] authoring system by [[Graham Nelson]] in May 1993 led to many more games being in Z-code format, and also led to the specification of two further Z-machine versions. The file extensions used now are .z1, .z2, .z3, .z4, .z5, .z6, .z7 and .z8. The demands of larger Inform games eventually led to the [[Glulx]] virtual machine being designed. ==Assorted Z-machine interpreters== Interpreters for Z-code files are available on a wide variety of platforms. In fact, since interpreters are available for a wide range of platforms - for example, on various old machines (such as the [[Apple II family|Apple II]], [[TRS-80]] and [[Sinclair Research|Sinclair]]), portable machines (such as [[Palm OS]] devices and the [[Nintendo Game Boy]]) and most modern platforms - it can be claimed that Z-code is one of the most portable computer languages ever invented. The following is a list of various Z-Machine interpreters, but not all of these should be recommended for use now. For recommendations, see the [[FAQ#How_can_I_download_and_play_IF.3F|FAQ]]. * [[Aimfiz]] (SDL, cross-platform) * [[Bocfel]] (various) * [[Flashonate]] (Flash) * [[Flaxo]] (Flash) * [[Frobnitz]] (PalmOS) * [[Frotz]] (various) * [[GLUZMA]] (Glulx) * [[Gnusto]] (Javascript) * [[Infuse]] (Unix) * [[JSZM]] (JavaScript) * [[Jzip]] (UNIX/DOS) * [[Leaflet]] (Flash, proprietary) * [[M4ZVM]] (Trs-80) * [[MaxZip]] (OS9) * [[Muttonate]] (Javascript) * [[Nitfol]] (various) * [[Ozmoo]] (Commodore 64) * [[Parchment]] (HTML, includes [[Gnusto]]) * [[Rezrov]] (Perl) * [[Vezza]] (CP/M) * [[XZip]] (*nix/X-Windows) * [[Zax]] (Java/application only) * [[Zip]] (various) * [[ZLR]] (.NET) * [[ZMPP]] (Java/application or applet) * [[ZORKMID]] (Unix, with debugging) * [[Zplet]] (Java/application or applet) * [[ZXZVM]] (Spectrum) ==Compilers targeting the Z-machine== * [[Inform 6]] * [[Inform 7]] * [[Vbccz]] * [[ZAPF]] * [[Zasm]] * [[Zilch]] * [[ZILF]]/[[ZAPF]] * [[dialogc]] ==See also== * [[Z-machine versions]] * For works of interactive fiction using Z-code, see [[Z-code works]]. ==Links== *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-machine Wikipedia: Z-machine] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20131204205854/http://www.gnelson.demon.co.uk/zspec/ Graham Nelson's Z-Machine standards document] *[http://hansprestige.com/inform/zmachine_versions.html Summary of Z-machine version differences] *[http://www.mv.com/ipusers/xlisper/zil.pdf ZIL manual] *[http://www.ifarchive.org/indexes/if-archiveXinfocomXinterpreters.html Interpreters for numerous platforms] *[http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/Articles/small.html Putting the Z-machine on a small machine] [[Category:Infocom]] [[Category:Inform]] [[Category:Glossary]] [[Category:Z-machine| ]] [[Category:Old interpreter lists]]