Augmented Fourth

Comedy Fantasy Under­ground XYZZY Awards 2000 Finalist - Best Individual NPC and Best Puzzles

Augmented Fourth
Author(s)	Brian Uri
Publisher(s)	n/a
Release date(s)	01-Apr-2000 21-Jul-2009
Authoring system	Inform 6.21
Platform(s)	Z-code 8
Language(s)	English
License(s)
Multimedia
Color effects	none
Graphics	none
Sound/Music	none
Ratings
Cruelty scale	Polite

Augmented Fourth is a light-hearted game in the vein of early traditional puzzle-based IF. In the game, you are an amateur musician applying for a post in the Royal Court of King Goosen of Papoosen. After your audition displeases the King, you are banished and tossed into a pit, where you discover an entrance into a very peculiar community tucked into a volcano.

The game was a finalist for Best Individual NPC (King Goosen of Papoosen), and Best Puzzles in the XYZZY Awards 2000.

How It Begins

"In ye go!" With a heave and a shove, two burly guards in matching green tights toss you into Orchestra Pit. As the earthen sides rush past you and sunlight dims, you have the sinking sensation that perhaps "Ode to a Duck" was not the best choice from your repertoire...

Notable Features

• Magic system based on music; instead of casting spells, you play special songs. Magic helps solve some of the puzzles, but not all of them.
• Cutscenes are used both to reward the player for making progress, and to partition out the storyline. The backstory will eventually provide the PC with motivation beyond the initial desire to escape from exile.
• Several IF in-jokes, including the response to "undress" and an elaborate set of responses to "xyzzy". The description of the Darkness room is:

  It is pitch black. You are unlikely to be tripped by a polydactyl raccoon.

• Several reviewers remarked on how technically sound the game is; that is, although there is little that is innovative here, it's all done so well.
• Several reviewers remarked on how clever the humor was; it's not just funny descriptions of things.
• Some reviewers remarked on the game's Zork-like feel, without it actually being Zork.

Trivia and Comments

• This is the author's only work of IF. He planned to write a game for IF-Comp 2001 called Robin Caruso but stopped 60% of the way through due to lack of time. He may revive the effort in the future.
• The cover art was created by Rikard Peterson for the IF Cover Art Drive.
• An augmented fourth in music is also known as the tritone. The term has another meaning in this game as well, but it is not revealed until the end.
• "Nolava" is Avalon spelt backwards.

Versions

Release 1

• Augmented Fourth (Brian Uri!; 01-Apr-2000; Z-code 8).
  • Release 1 / Serial number 000401 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
  • IFID: ZCODE-1-000401-8238
    IFID links: IFDB

Release 2

• Augmented Fourth (Brian Uri!; 21-Jul-2009; Z-code 8).
  • Release 2 / Serial number 090721 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10

Links

Downloads

• Download Aug4.z8 from the IF Archive - the story file.
• Download Aug4Solution.zip from the IF Archive - the walkthrough and map.
• Download Aug4Source.zip from the IF Archive - the source code.

Augmented Fourth Pages

• The URI! Zone: Augmented Fourth - The author's homepage contains reviews, download links, and an online Zplet version.
• Augmented Fourth (archived) - at Baf's Guide (also includes ratings and reviews)
• Augmented Fourth - at IFDB (also includes ratings and reviews)
• Augmented Fourth - at Home of the Underdogs.

Reviews

Note: Most of the reviews listed below are collected on the game's homepage.

• Review - by Duncan Stevens.
  • Review - by Duncan Stevens for SPAG.
• Review by Eric Crahan for the IF Review Conspiracy, hosted by Brass Lantern.
• Review - "An Undiminished Chord" by Emily Short for IF-Review.
• Augmented Fourth - at IF Ratings
• Augmented Fourth - at IFReviews.org