Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Apple II cover
Developer(s)Sir-Tech (original)
Game Studio (NES)
Publisher(s)Sir-Tech (original)
Nexoft (NES)
Designer(s)Andrew C. Greenberg
Robert Woodhead
SeriesWizardry
Platform(s)Apple II, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, FM-7, Game Boy Color, Macintosh, MSX2, NEC PC-9801, NES, IBM PC, Sharp X1, Super Famicom, TurboGrafx-16, Windows, Nintendo Switch
Release
September 1981
  • Apple II
    PC booter
    FM-7
    PC-98
    PC-88
    Mac
    Sharp X1
    Commodore 64
    MSX2
    NES
    • JP: December 22, 1987
    • NA: July 1990[2]
    TurboGrafx-CD
    • JP: July 23, 1993
    Super Famicom
    • JP: June 1, 1999
    Game Boy Color
    WonderSwan Color
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is the first game in the Wizardry series of role-playing video games. It was developed by Andrew C. Greenberg and Robert Woodhead. In 1980, Norman Sirotek formed Sir-Tech Software and launched a beta version of the product at the 1980 Boston Computer Convention. The final version of the game was released in 1981.[1]

A 3D remake of the game was released by Digital Eclipse on 15 September 2023 onto PC via Steam platform. [1]

The game was one of the first Dungeons & Dragons-style role-playing games to be written for computer play, and the first such game to offer color graphics.[4] It was also the first true party-based role-playing video game.[1] It is now listed among the best video games of all time.

The game ended up as the first of a trilogy that also included Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds and Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn.[5]

  1. ^ a b c Hallford, Jana (2001). Swords & Circuitry: a Designer's Guide to Computer Role Playing Games. Cengage Learning. p. 55–58. ISBN 0-7615-3299-4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981) Apple II release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  3. ^ "Availability Update" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 4, no. 10. January 1986. p. 14.
  4. ^ Crigger, Lara. "Chasing D&D: A History of RPGs". 1up.com. Retrieved June 5, 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ DeMaria, Rusel; Wilson, Johnny L. (2003). High Score!: the Illustrated History of Electronic Games (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 156. ISBN 0-07-223172-6.