Magnetic Scrolls
Adventures in elegance
Magnetic Scrolls created the most sophisticated British text adventures—beautifully written, gorgeously illustrated, and technically advanced.
Overview
Magnetic Scrolls set out to beat Infocom at their own game—and often succeeded. Their adventures featured prose quality that approached literature, illustrations by professional artists, and a parser that understood natural English. The Pawn, Guild of Thieves, and Corruption represent the pinnacle of 1980s interactive fiction.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1984 by Anita Sinclair, Ken Gordon, Hugh Sheridan.
- Based: London, UK.
- Speciality: premium interactive fiction with graphics.
- Technical: sophisticated cross-platform engine.
Key games
| Game | Year | Setting | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pawn | 1985 | Fantasy/surreal | First commercial graphic IF |
| Guild of Thieves | 1987 | Fantasy heist | Refined puzzle design |
| Jinxter | 1987 | Magical England | Lighter tone |
| Corruption | 1988 | Corporate thriller | Dark themes |
| Fish! | 1988 | Surreal comedy | Cult favourite |
| Myth | 1989 | Greek mythology | Ambitious scope |
| Wonderland | 1990 | Alice adaptation | Technical showcase |
Technical excellence
The engine
Magnetic Scrolls’ virtual machine:
- Ran identically on 8-bit and 16-bit platforms
- Sophisticated memory management
- Incremental game loading
- Graphics integration
The parser
Among the most advanced of the era:
- Full sentence understanding
- Context-aware pronoun resolution
- Multiple object handling
- Extensive vocabulary
The graphics
Professional illustrations on 16-bit versions:
- Each location illustrated
- Consistent artistic style
- Integrated with text display
Writing quality
Magnetic Scrolls invested in prose:
- Professional writers
- Consistent voice and tone
- Puzzle-narrative integration
- Often reviewed in mainstream press
Competition with Infocom
| Factor | Magnetic Scrolls | Infocom |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Multi, inc. 8-bit | Primarily 16-bit |
| Graphics | Yes (16-bit) | No (text only) |
| Parser | Comparable | Industry standard |
| Writing | Literary ambition | Genre excellence |
| Output | ~10 games | ~35 games |
End
The adventure game market collapsed in the early 90s. A planned Magnetic Scrolls collection for CD-ROM never materialised; the company closed in 1992.
Legacy
Their games remain playable through:
- Modern interpreters (Magnetic)
- Magnetic Scrolls Memorial homepage
- Influence on later interactive fiction