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Border Zone

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description Border Zone Overview

Border Zone is a Cold War spy thriller text adventure developed and published by Infocom in 1987. Designed by Marc Blank, the game is unique among Infocom's catalog for its use of a real-time engine, where events advance independently of player input and time limits are strictly enforced. The narrative is divided into three distinct chapters, allowing players to experience the story from the perspective of an American diplomat, a local agent, and a civilian. It was targeted at fans of interactive fiction who desired a fast-paced, time-sensitive espionage experience.

help Border Zone FAQ

What kind of game is Border Zone?

Border Zone is a Cold War spy text adventure written by Marc Blank and published by Infocom in 1987. It is divided into three chapters, each showing the crisis from a different character's viewpoint. [Infocom](https://www.infocom-if.org/games/borderzone/borderzone.html)

Where does Border Zone take place?

The story takes place around Ostnitz, a city in the fictional Eastern Bloc country of Frobnia next to neutral Litzenburg. Its plot involves espionage and a threat to a visiting American ambassador. [Infocom](https://www.infocom-if.org/games/borderzone/borderzone.html)

How does the real-time system work in Border Zone?

The clock continues to advance while the player is thinking, so events can happen without entering a command. That real-time pressure is unusual for Infocom games, which normally wait for the player's next turn. [Infocom](https://www.infocom-if.org/games/borderzone/borderzone.html)

Which platforms received Border Zone?

The 1987 game was released for systems including Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, and Macintosh. It uses Infocom's Z-machine text-adventure format rather than modern graphics or sound. [Border Zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Zone_%28video_game%29)

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