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 Definitions for xyzzy: Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)
:
xyzzy /X-Y-Z-Z-Y/, /X-Y-ziz'ee/, /ziz'ee/, or /ik-ziz'ee/ adj. [from
the ADVENT game] The canonical `magic word'. This comes from ADVENT,
in which the idea is to explore an underground cave with many rooms and
to collect the treasures you find there. If you type `xyzzy' at the
appropriate time, you can move instantly between two otherwise distant
points. If, therefore, you encounter some bit of magic, you might
remark on this quite succinctly by saying simply "Xyzzy!" "Ordinarily
you can't look at someone else's screen if he has protected it, but if
you type quadruple-bucky-clear the system will let you do it anyway."
"Xyzzy!" It's traditional for xyzzy to be an Easter egg in games with
text interfaces.
Xyzzy has actually been implemented as an undocumented no-op command
on several OSes; in Data General's AOS/VS, for example, it would
typically respond "Nothing happens", just as ADVENT did if the magic
was invoked at the wrong spot or before a player had performed the
action that enabled the word. In more recent 32-bit versions, by the
way, AOS/VS responds "Twice as much happens".
Early versions of the popular `minesweeper' game under Microsoft
Windows had a cheat mode triggered by the command
`xyzzy' that turns the top-left pixel of the screen
different colors depending on whether or not the cursor is over a bomb.
This feature temporarily diasappeared in Windows 98, but reappeared in
Windows 2000.
The following passage from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank
Baum, suggesting a possible pre-ADVENT origin, has recently come to
light:
"Ziz-zy, zuz-zy, zik!" said Dorothy, who was now standing on both
feet. This ended the saying of the charm, and they heard a great
chattering and flapping of wings, as the band of Winged Monkeys flew up
to them.
The text can be viewed at Project Gutenberg
(ftp://metalab.unc.edu/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext93/wizoz10.txt).
Another possible pre-ADVENT origin is discussed at the XYZZY page
(http://people.delphi.com/rickadams/adventure/c_xyzzy.html).
= Y =
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)
:
xyzzy
The canonical "magic word" from the ADVENT
adventure game, in which the idea is to explore an underground
cave with many rooms and to collect the treasures you find
there. If you type "xyzzy" at the appropriate time, you can
move instantly between two otherwise distant points. If,
therefore, you encounter some bit of magic, you might remark
on this quite succinctly by saying simply "Xyzzy!"
"Ordinarily you can't look at someone else's screen if he has
protected it, but if you type quadruple-bucky-clear the system
will let you do it anyway." "Xyzzy!" Xyzzy has actually been
implemented as an undocumented no-op command on several OSes;
in Data General's AOS/VS, for example, it would typically
respond "Nothing happens", just as ADVENT did if the magic
was invoked at the wrong spot or before a player had performed
the action that enabled the word. In more recent 32 bit
versions, by the way, AOS/VS responds "Twice as much happens".
See also plugh.
[Jargon File]
Related SitesXyzzy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Xyzzy is a magic word from the Colossal Cave Adventure computer game. ... Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xyzzy" ...
XYZZY
You are in a twisty maze of passages, all alike. A few interesting XYZZY related sites: ... The Colossal Cave XYZZY page. The Colossal Cave Adventure page. XYZZY News ...
Magic word 'XYZZY'
"And that, friends, is the origin of the magic word xyzzy. ... "When I first played Adventure, finding 'xyzzy' in it was like finding an old ...
xyzzy definition | Dictionary.com
Definition of xyzzy at Dictionary.com with free audio pronunciation. ... xyzzy games ... If you type "xyzzy" at the appropriate time, you can move instantly ...
XYZZY
...the magic word XYZZY. Lee Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. CaveBooks Home Page ...
xyzzy: Information from Answers.com
XYZZY A magic word in the Colossal Cave Adventure game that lets you move instantly between distant places if entered at the right time
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