Jinxter

Magnetic Scrolls

Industry	Video game development
Founded	1980s
Founder	Anita Sinclair
Products	Jinxter
Parent	Telecomsoft (publisher Rainbird)

Jinxter is a work of interactive fiction crafted by Magnetic Scrolls and released by Rainbird in 1987 across multiple 8-bit and 16-bit home computer platforms. The storyline centers on a hero assigned to protect the imaginary realm of Aquitania from malevolent witches. Upon its debut, the title was met with favorable critical reception.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Jinxter revolves around a text-driven adventure format, navigated through user-typed commands. While most editions feature accompanying visuals, the Spectrum +3 and Apple II versions are exclusively text-based. Renowned for its distinctive wit, the game delivers extensive and entertaining narrative descriptions. Players command five magical charms that activate spells via standard placeholder terms. Unlike typical text adventures, the protagonist seldom faces death except during the concluding battle, although a depletion of luck can obstruct progress toward completing the game.

Plot

Set within a science fantasy comedic framework, the narrative unfolds in Aquitania—a fictional nation reminiscent of Britain in the early to mid-20th century. Central figures include the Guardians, immortal entities akin to guardian angels who aid humanity. As members of ARSE (Association of Registered Stochastic Executives), they are characterized by their herringbone coats and fondness for cheese sandwiches. Historically, Aquitania endured threats from the Green Witches until the sorcerer Turani forged the Bracelet, a magical artifact that bestows luck and curtails witchcraft by prohibiting its perilous elements. The current high witch, Jannedor, has sabotaged the Bracelet by dispersing its five enchanted charms to diminish its effectiveness. Without their swift recovery, luck will disappear entirely, enabling the witches to reclaim full magical dominance.

Players join forces with the Guardians to save their abducted companion Xam, retrieve the scattered charms, restore the Bracelet’s power, and ultimately defeat Jannedor by demolishing her fortress—thus reinstating luck throughout Aquitania. The adventure concludes with the protagonist returning to his original location—just before a speeding bus—and meeting his demise.

Development

Developed as a response to Infocom’s Enchanter, Jinxter was created by a comparatively large development team. The initial script was penned by Georgina Sinclair—sister of Magnetic Scrolls founder Anita Sinclair and author of A Tale of Kerovnia featured in The Pawn. Following a disagreement between the Sinclair siblings, Michael Bywater revised the text within three weeks. Bywater brought prior writing experience from titles such as The Guild of Thieves and Corruption. Included in the game’s packaging was The Independent Guardian, a newspaper authored by Bywater.

Reception

Critics generally praised Jinxter, awarding it scores such as 70% from Amiga Computing, 7/10 from Amiga User International, 88% from Amstrad Action, 8/10 from Power Play, 9/10 from Commodore User, 37/40 from Computer and Video Games, 89% from Computing with the Amstrad, 92% from both Crash and The Games Machine, 9/10 in Your Sinclair, and 83% from Zzap!64. The title also achieved commercial success. In 1998, it was featured in ACE's list of Top 100 Games, described as "an unusual adventure adorned with impressive graphics." Conversely, in 1996, Computer Gaming World ranked its ending as the 14th most unsatisfying ever, highlighting that "even upon victory, the protagonist dies." Markku Alanen of C=lehti awarded it four out of five stars, commending it as an excellent example within its genre but criticizing underutilization of Amiga’s graphical capabilities and lack of parser innovation; he also remarked that its distinctly British humor might not appeal to Finnish audiences.