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designed to be his own personal prison. The island's authorities will use any means—including coercion, disorientation, deception, and frustration—to learn why their prisoner has resigned, and every character, location, and apparent escape route seem to be part of a grand scheme to trick the player into revealing a code number representing the prisoner's reason for resigning. The game occasionally breaks the
534:, "What puts this game head and shoulders above other adventures is that while the player is seeking the information needed to escape from the Island, the computer is actively seeking the information that will make the player lose the game. The dual challenges of learning about the Island while avoiding the subtle and not-so-subtle traps laid by the computer make the game both interesting and exciting".
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running tally of credits the player has in the bank. The locations are rearranged each time # returns to the Castle, and some may even disappear periodically. Some locations require the player to have certain possessions before entering, while some are entirely inaccessible at certain times. Each of the locations offers a different gameplay experience:
460:
typing such a BASIC command since, unknown to the player, the game was actually still running. Ironically, being able to list the program's code from within it was one way to solve and win the game by means of analyzing the program and deducing a solution. Yet such a solution was entirely within the spirit of the game, as its clues sometimes broke the
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There are also times where the escape key on the Apple's keyboard cannot be used, and doing so causes the message "Such thoughts are punishable" to appear onscreen and # may be returned to the Castle. At other times, pressing the escape key helps the player. Such constant flux in the game's rules are
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where # begins the game and returns after each failed escape attempt—literally being sent back to square one. Arrival in the Castle corresponds with a new day or adventure on the Island. To exit the Castle, the player must correctly identify himself/herself (the correct answer is # but it's possible
550:
stated that the game "is not for the easily frustrated ... The
Prisoner is complex beyond belief, nearly unbeatable, and at times irrational on purpose". It warned, "if you follow the rules, trust your fellow man, or display anything less than a total commitment to anti-social, anti-island behavior,
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The solution to the game was to enter a special string in the
Caretaker's Residence, which would display a "plug" that the player could pull out, although doing so required use of the built-in screen editing keys. In later versions of the game, a minimum number of points had to be scored before this
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The game begins with the player being told that # has resigned from his job for reasons known only to him. The player is given a three-digit number signifying #'s reason for resigning. The player is warned never to reveal this number, for the game will make numerous attempts to trick the player into
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programming language, and the logical step for users of the time would be to review the erroneous line of code with the command "List ###" (again substituting the specific number in question). Typing the secret three-digit code at any time resulted in the game being lost, however, and that included
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After leaving the Castle, the player can explore twenty locations on the Island in order to find clues about how to escape. Only four of these are displayed onscreen at any time, and in the center of the screen is another display providing information often of little value, with the exception of a
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television series was "a political and social statement concerning the problem of keeping one's individuality and personal freedom in a technological society... is a collective prison and each one of us is, in fact, a prisoner." With the year 1984 only four years away from the date of the game's
424:
Several locations are analogous to episodes in the TV series. For example, the
Milgram Experiment building is thematically similar to the episode "Once Upon a Time"; the Gemini Diner references clones whereas the TV series has No. 6 encountering duplicates; the Town Hall sees # placed in charge of
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and incorporates that show's themes about the loss of individuality in a technological, controlling society. The player's role is that of an intelligence agent who has resigned from his job for reasons known only to himself, and who has been abducted to an isolated island community that seems
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publication, Edu-Ware held that many of the issues raised in the 1969 television series were as relevant as ever, and thus it was "appropriate that a show concerned with the theme of loss of individuality and influence over... own lives should inspire a game to be played on a computer."
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A major plotline within the game involves # working with a
Brotherhood to overthrow the Island's government. There is no analogue to the Brotherhood within the Village (although No. 6 does engage in a short-lived conspiracy with fellow prisoners in the episode
32:
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where # can go through several obstacle courses to escape into the wilderness area surrounding the Island. Here the player will be captured by "Rover" and sent back to the Castle unless he can make it to a train station, which offers a chance at
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where # is tested for susceptibility to propaganda, including subliminals, traditional values, and advertising techniques. Losing the test results in a book being burned, while winning is rewarded with a reference to a page in the
238:
doing so, which will cause one to lose the game. # is then taken to an airport where he is asked to choose from several tropical island destinations. Regardless of the choice made, he is always taken to the Island.
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The protagonist's residence in the
Village is in a building with the numeral 6 on a sign in front of the door. The analogous building on the Island is called the Castle, and it too is labelled with the number
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455:) is a simulated game crash that includes the error message "Syntax error in line ###", where the line number is the player's resignation code. This was a common error message in the Apple II's
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where # can fulfill the initial assignment given to him by an underground resistance group called the
Brotherhood. (Their final assignment, given the dystopian situation, is not unpredictable.)
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awarded the game an A+, its highest rating, and noted that if only the game had high-resolution graphics, it would have been a candidate for its Game of the Year Award. According to
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would work; points are scored by completing tasks and by certain actions that display free will (for example, most failed attempts to escape score points even if they do not work)
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The authority figure in the
Village is called Number 2. On the Island he is called the Caretaker, and the building in which he is encountered is labelled with the number 2.
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where # can play a game of ping pong to win drinks. After consuming too many drinks, # will suffer hallucinations, including one that results in being accused of murder.
276:-style conversation with the leader of the Island (during which it is possible to nearly replicate the "Where am I?"/"In the Village" dialog from the opening of most
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is imaginative, well presented and thought provoking. Hats off to Dave
Mullich and Edu-ware Services for bringing real mental challenge to the game industry".
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the Island much as No. 6 is briefly in charge of the
Village in "Free for All," an episode that (like the game) also features a pub called the Cat and Mouse.
390:, in which he and the Caretaker switch identities and # is required to give electric shocks to his prisoner in an attempt to elicit the resignation code.
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199:". Consequently, a number of changes were made to distance the game from specific elements of the show while preserving its spirit and message:
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The game continually tries to trick the player into revealing the secret three-digit code. One of the most nefarious attempts (which occurs in
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where # can deposit or withdraw money, or take out a loan after going on a scavenger hunt to retrieve items representative of business success.
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255:. #'s home on the Island is called the Castle and it takes the form of a randomly generated maze from which the player must escape.
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you will be hopelessly doomed to repeated failure", and concluded," it will appeal to puzzle solvers and seekers of the bizarre".
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where the player can engage in another ELIZA-style conversation with a priest, be rewarded with a cross, or be absolved of murder.
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which provides game clues and where # can fulfill an assignment for the
Brotherhood involving changing a newspaper headline.
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In addition, each section of the map has a central kiosk where the player can check inventory and other statistics.
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In the television show, Number 6 is kidnapped from his home. In the game, # is taken from an airport to the Island.
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The game was reportedly not officially licensed, and despite the fact it used the same font (a modified version of
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The television show's protagonist is called Number 6, while the game's protagonist is referred to as # (the "
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which shows propaganda films incorporating nursery rhymes, but is also a meeting place for the Brotherhood.
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Very few of these locations provide any sort of instructions about how to proceed, particularly the
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where # can use a see-saw in an escape attempt, or fulfill an assignment from the Brotherhood.
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where # can spend time running the Island in a fashion quite similar to (but long predating)
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as Number Six, also used the name "The Island" for the location in lieu of "The Village".
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stated that the game "that exercises your intellect like few games", and concluded that "
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195:) as the series, the game's documentation states, "it is not meant to be an adaption of
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is a riot from go to woe and will have you cursing and laughing all the way through."
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where for 10,000 credits, # can make a clone of himself for use in an escape attempt.
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Different graphic styles are used throughout. The game is usually displayed in a
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where # can purchase clothing required to enter buildings or fulfill quests.
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view. In addition to the Apple II, this version was also available on the
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where correctly remembering number sequences will reward # with a diploma.
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where # can purchase items required to enter buildings or fulfill quests.
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https://strategyandtacticspress.com/library-files/Moves%20Issue58.pdf
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In 1982, Edu-Ware released a second version of the game, entitled,
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was the third most popular adventure game of 1981 in the annual
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with an acknowledgement that a computer game was being played.
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The game's documentation explained Edu-Ware's view that the
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which can win # possessions, clues, or a chance at escape.
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Commercial video games with freely available source code
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to be tricked into selecting the resignation code).
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214:, whereas the game's setting is called The Island.
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758:Young, A.D. (September 1982). "Capsule Reviews".
436:, while other segments use either the Apple II's
356:manual that contains a clue for winning the game.
386:where # is asked to participate in the infamous
327:based on words about freedom and individuality.
448:a purposeful attempt to frustrate the player.
161:by acknowledging that a game is being played.
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830:
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266:where # is administered psychological tests.
1300:Video games developed in the United States
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628:"Appendix A: Apple II Software Hits, 1981"
147:in 1980. It is loosely based on the 1960s
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21:
659:. Vol. 2, no. 1. pp. 32–33
210:The setting of the TV series is known as
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1295:Video games based on television series
164:In 1982, Edu-Ware released a remake,
7:
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245:, strove to incorporate elements of
207:" in the United States and Canada).
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701:Williams, John (September 1981).
651:Martellaro, John (Jan–Feb 1981).
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1112:
986:
949:Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
728:Liddel, Bob (September 1981).
606:The Computer Wore Menace Shoes
564:No. 55. Young commented that "
187:Differences from the TV series
1:
1024:Opening and closing sequences
684:, by David Mullich (review)"
1285:Science fiction video games
323:where # can play a game of
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1310:Single-player video games
1305:Video games set in prison
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29:
963:The Girl Who Was Death
272:where # carries on an
270:Caretaker's Residence,
872:The Chimes of Big Ben
498:Atari 8-bit computers
241:The game's designer,
197:the television series
598:The 2000 episode of
554:A.D. Young reviewed
490:top-down perspective
430:top-down perspective
1270:Apple II-only games
766:Steve Jackson Games
384:Milgram Experiment,
907:Many Happy Returns
736:. pp. 386–387
626:Weyhrich, Steven.
608:", which parodied
502:IBM PC compatibles
422:Cat and Mouse Bar.
388:Milgram experiment
366:Cat and Mouse Bar,
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956:Living in Harmony
935:It's Your Funeral
928:Hammer into Anvil
914:Dance of the Dead
678:TF (March 1981).
149:television series
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1255:1980 video games
1173:Film adaptations
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1059:Shattered Visage
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893:The Schizoid Man
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730:"The Prisoner"
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703:"The Prisoner"
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653:"The Prisoner"
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228:"Checkmate").
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1290:The Prisoner
1233:The Prisoner
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1098:Festival N°6
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1067:The Prisoner
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886:Free for All
879:A. B. and C.
847:The Prisoner
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805:The Prisoner
804:
794:The Prisoner
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738:. Retrieved
733:
723:
711:. Retrieved
709:. p. 20
706:
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682:The Prisoner
681:
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661:. Retrieved
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635:. Retrieved
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610:The Prisoner
609:
601:The Simpsons
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566:The Prisoner
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556:The Prisoner
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542:The Prisoner
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513:The Prisoner
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494:first-person
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153:The Prisoner
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132:The Prisoner
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68:The Prisoner
66:
52:Publisher(s)
40:Developer(s)
25:The Prisoner
1160:Franz Kafka
1093:The Village
1088:Portmeirion
1034:Other media
900:The General
657:Peelings II
526:Peelings II
462:fourth wall
418:Great Chair
343:News Stand,
321:Courthouse,
247:Franz Kafka
212:The Village
205:number sign
159:fourth wall
76:Platform(s)
1249:Categories
1207:Das SchloĂź
1165:The Castle
1081:John Drake
1075:Danger Man
1052:In My Mind
1039:Video game
1003:Number Six
996:Characters
740:19 October
637:2006-09-25
587:References
485:Prisoner 2
478:Prisoner 2
472:Prisoner 2
453:Prisoner 2
284:Town Hall,
280:episodes).
252:The Castle
167:Prisoner 2
921:Checkmate
799:MobyGames
508:Reception
354:Applesoft
302:Carnival,
264:Hospital,
113:Adventure
1118:Category
977:Fall Out
856:Episodes
768:: 40–41.
707:Softline
604:titled "
582:#58, p30
537:Softline
420:and the
349:Library,
331:Theater,
289:Sim City
278:Prisoner
233:Gameplay
193:Albertus
180:Prisoner
145:Edu-Ware
141:Apple II
139:for the
108:Genre(s)
81:Apple II
57:Edu-Ware
1218:Related
1062:(comic)
1017:Related
865:Arrival
713:13 July
688:Softalk
663:21 July
572:Reviews
531:Softalk
518:Softalk
492:with a
397:escape.
372:Church,
325:hangman
308:Castle,
119:Mode(s)
87:Release
1210:(1992)
1044:remake
764:(55).
135:is an
63:Series
1226:Kafka
1199:Opera
1008:Rover
579:Moves
457:BASIC
315:Bank,
274:ELIZA
1190:1997
1185:1994
1180:1968
810:IMDb
742:2013
734:BYTE
715:2014
665:2017
547:BYTE
500:and
174:Plot
99:1980
1162:'s
808:at
797:at
558:in
440:or
249:'s
1251::
750:^
732:.
705:.
686:.
655:.
630:.
504:.
221:6.
95:NA
1152:e
1145:t
1138:v
979:"
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951:"
947:"
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933:"
930:"
926:"
923:"
919:"
916:"
912:"
909:"
905:"
902:"
898:"
895:"
891:"
888:"
884:"
881:"
877:"
874:"
870:"
867:"
863:"
838:e
831:t
824:v
744:.
717:.
680:"
667:.
640:.
97::
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