Where to buy Zak 1

http://www.lucasarts.com/ - You probably won't find it here, but please try anyway. We need to encourage LucasArts to keep selling the old games. Also, I don't want to attack their copyright. As long as they show any interest in Zak McKracken we should go to there first. You might find it in a boxed set called 'Classic Adventures' if you are very, very lucky.

http://www.ebay.com - This is probably the easiest way to find a legitimate copy. Search for 'Zak' or 'Classic Adventures.' Be aware that sometimes people mis-spell McKracken as McKraken or McCracken. Last time I checked there were three copies on sale, so if you don't find it first time, tray again another day.

http://www.google.com - Somewhere out there you will find an English language port (and probably a German one as well) of the 256 color version of Zak. I have no idea where, but if you have LOTS of patience you might get lucky. I found mine a year ago, and it took about a thousand attempts to get the thing downloaded, but it was worth it.

How to make Zak 1 work on your computer

http://www.scummvm.org - This should be your first stop. ScummVM is specifically designed to make Scumm games (and a few others) work on modern platforms.

http://vogons.zetafleet.com/ - VOGONS (Very Old Games On New Systems) - if you want to do it the hard way, and emulate a particular old platform on your new computer, maybe these people can help.

Zak fan sequels

http://www.zak2.de - this one is finished and ready to download (just click through to the download page).

http://www.zak2project.de - 'Zak McKracken and the Alien Rockstars' - the first, and most ambitious (and most delayed) fan sequel

http://www.zak2.org - 'Zak McKracken 2 - Between Time And Space' - looks very promising

David Fox interviews

http://www.assembly.org/seminars/speakers/game_perspectives#fox - see DF at Helsinki in August 2004

http://www.adventure-treff.de/artikel/interviews.php?id=24&lang=eng - the most recent interview

http://www.gathering.org/espresso/pages/tg04/articles/david_fox/view_top.html - another one from 2004

http://www.gathering.org/tg04_files/webtv/TG04_WebTV_Seminar_DavidFox_(Without_Product_Videos).asf - video

http://home.nikocity.de/claret/Int_Dave.htm - probably the best interview. Includes a screenshot from the M<aniac Mansion TV series

http://www.aventuraycia.com/entrevista.php?entrev=David%20Fox&idioma=english&pag=1

http://www.dadgum.com/halcyon/BOOK/FOX.HTM

http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzap10/lucas_part1.html - interview from before the days of Zak, mainly about Fractalus

Other early LucasArts games

http://www.mobygames.com - the first place to look for game info. Search for Zak, Maniac Mansion, or anything else.

http://www.mixnmojo.com - the first place to look for SCUMM games. The server recently crashed, so it's not as big as

http://www.uvlist.com/game-108821 - 'Rescue on Fractalus,' the first famous LucasArts game

More about 'Rescue on Fractalus':
http://www.atariprotos.com/5200/software/rof/rof.htm
http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=658
http://www.atariage.com/box_page.html?SystemID=5200&SoftwareID=2100&BoxStyle ID=65&ItemTypeID=BOX
http://www.atariage.com/cart_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=658
http://www.atariage.com/manual_thumbs.html?SoftwareLabelID=658
http://www.atariage.com/manual_html_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=658
http://www.atariage.com/screenshot_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=658
And the ROM:
http://www.atariage.com/5200/roms/RescueOnFractalus.zip

http://people.freenet.de/lucasfangames/maniac/games_eng.htm - Maniac Mansion, Deluxe edition - the best way to introduce yourself to early LucasArts classics. This is a fan remake, but very highly regarded. You can get the original Maniac Mansion in the same places you get the original Zak McKracken.

http://members.fortunecity.com/harang/news.html - Maniac Mansion news. Seventeen years on, things are still happening!

The LucasArts Game Group back in the '80s

The above interviews give a good overview, and here are some more articles:

http://www.lucasarts.com/20th/history_1.htm - the official LucasArts history

http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n4/lucasfilm.html - an old article, from when Atari ruled the world

Adventure games in general

http://www.quandaryland.com - Quandary, my favorite adventure game site.

http://grumpygamer.com/adventuregames - Ron Gilbert's classic ten rules for adventure games. (You mean you haven't heard of Ron Gilbert???)

Other David Fox stuff

http://www.electriceggplant.com/ - The Fox home page (no, not the inferior imitation run by that Australian chap, the REAL Fox home page)

http://www.atariarchives.org/cap/ - 'Computer Animation Primer,' the book that got him the job at LucasArts
http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n6/bouncing.html - an old article based on the book

http://www.electriceggplant.com/collab97.html - DF (with Noah Falstein) on collaboration
http://www.electriceggplant.com/virtual_reality.html - DF on virtual reality

http://www.xulu.com - An amazing game site by DF and others, that sadly never saw the light of day

Beyond computers...

http://www.HeyTerra.com - One of Annie Fox's youth related sites

http://www.TheInSite.org - and another. Great stuff!

Q: "If you were given the resources to create an official sequel, what are your ideas for Zak McKracken 2?"
A: "I hadn't really thought of it before. Given my political leanings, there would also be some sharp satire poking fun at the establishment. Hey, maybe stopping all those aliens who took over the government?" - DF, from the adventure-treff interview

http://www.Switch2Dean.com - The title says it all. Site designed by DF and others.

http://www.WinningBackAmerica.com - Another self-explanatory title.

http://www.CartoonFreeAmerica.com - cartoons and politics!

http://www.DavidMcCullough.com

http://www.MarinDemocrats.org

That's all for now :)