Zenobi Software
The amateur adventure publisher
The influential UK software house that championed text adventures through the late 1980s and 1990s, publishing hundreds of independently-written games and keeping the genre alive.
Overview
Zenobi Software was a UK publisher founded by John Wilson that specialised in text adventures, primarily for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC. While major publishers abandoned text adventures in the late 1980s, Zenobi kept the genre alive by publishing independently-written games, often using authoring systems like The Quill and PAW. They released hundreds of titles and built a dedicated community of writers and players.
Fast Facts
- Founded: 1987
- Founder: John Wilson
- Location: UK
- Speciality: Text adventures
- Output: 400+ titles
- Platforms: ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC
The Zenobi Model
Unlike commercial publishers:
| Approach | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Amateur authors | Large catalogue possible |
| Low prices | Accessible to players |
| Quick turnaround | Rapid releases |
| Community focus | Built loyal following |
| Mail order | Direct to players |
Publishing Philosophy
John Wilson championed:
- Games that commercial publishers wouldn’t touch
- New authors getting first releases
- Niche genres within adventures
- Quality control through curation
- Personal relationship with customers
The Quill and PAW Connection
Most Zenobi games used authoring tools:
| Tool | Creator | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Quill | Gilsoft | Made adventure creation accessible |
| PAW | Gilsoft | Professional Adventure Writer, more powerful |
These tools democratised adventure game creation.
Prolific Output
Zenobi published prolifically:
- Over 400 text adventures released
- Multiple releases per month at peak
- Various genres (horror, comedy, fantasy, sci-fi)
- Different quality levels (curated but variable)
- Compilation discs for collectors
Notable Authors
Zenobi launched careers:
- Larry Horsfield - Numerous fantasy adventures
- Jonathan Evans - Prolific contributor
- Brian Howarth - Mysterious Adventures series
- Many amateur authors’ first publications
The Fanzine Era
Connected to adventure game fanzines:
- Adventure Probe - UK adventure game magazine
- SynTax - Adventure news and reviews
- Reader communities
- Competition entries
- News and reviews of Zenobi releases
Keeping Adventures Alive
When the genre died commercially (late 1980s):
- Zenobi continued publishing
- Maintained player community
- Preserved the format
- Documented techniques
- Bridged to modern interactive fiction
Legacy
Zenobi’s contribution:
- Preserved the text adventure tradition
- Supported amateur authors
- Maintained a community
- Documented through catalogues and newsletters
- Bridged to modern IF scene