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Planetfall
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<p><i>Planetfall</i> is a <a href="/facts/Science_fiction/d9hE2Lwt">science fiction</a> themed <a href="/facts/Interactive_fiction/1gG7AC6k">interactive fiction</a> video game written by <a href="/facts/Steve_Meretzky/xsgzTkyB">Steve Meretzky</a>, and published in 1983 as the eighth game from <a href="/facts/Infocom/H0es7Y3g">Infocom</a>. The original release was for <a href="/facts/Apple_II/se82CNvK">Apple II</a>, <a href="/facts/Atari_8-bit_computers/aT04N5zR">Atari 8-bit computers</a>, <a href="/facts/TRS-80/zNfQKxnQ">TRS-80</a>, and <a href="/facts/IBM_PC_compatible/zGUpl7Sh">IBM PC compatibles</a> (both as a <a href="/facts/Self-booting_disk/jlkbUCqx">self-booting disk</a> and for <a href="/facts/MS-DOS/fVrrz1uN">MS-DOS</a>). <a href="/facts/Atari_ST/9GsYSlaM">Atari ST</a> and <a href="/facts/Commodore_64/3TPcKDbb">Commodore 64</a> versions were released in 1985. A version for <a href="/facts/CP/M/n5rTgXdC">CP/M</a> was also released. <i>Planetfall</i> was Meretzky's first published game, and it proved one of his most popular works and a best-seller for Infocom. It was one of five top-selling games to be re-released in Solid Gold versions with in-game hints. <i>Planetfall</i> uses the <a href="/facts/Z-machine/AN4mCxxX">Z-machine</a> originally developed for <i><a href="/facts/Zork/foP222ad">Zork</a></i> and was added as a bonus to the <i><a href="/facts/Zork_Anthology/jIqgYqhj">Zork Anthology</a></i>. </p><p>The word <i>planetfall</i> is a <a href="/facts/Portmanteau/d124JEbz">portmanteau</a> of <i><a href="/facts/Planet/rbPjE6Bx">planet</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/Landfall/W3MzjCJT">landfall</a></i>, and occasionally used in <a href="/facts/Science_fiction/d9hE2Lwt">science fiction</a> to that effect. The book <i>Planetfall</i> written by <a href="/facts/Arthur_Byron_Cover/oThIxwTK">Arthur Byron Cover</a>, uses the game image on the cover, and is marketed "In the bestselling tradition of <i><a href="/facts/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy/kjdI0N8o">The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy</a></i>." A sequel, <i><a href="/facts/Stationfall/QGn1Nkce">Stationfall</a></i>, was released in 1987. </p>