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xyzzy

Xyzzy is a magic word associated with early interactive fiction, most famously appearing in Colossal Cave Adventure (also known as ADVENT). The term originated in the 1970s within the Colossal Cave project led by Will Crowther and later expanded by Don Woods. In Colossal Cave Adventure, typing xyzzy triggers a teleportation effect, moving the player between two locations in the cave. The exact destinations can vary between versions, but the core idea is to provide a hidden or convenient means of travel and to serve as an Easter egg for players.

The word’s notoriety extended beyond the original game, making it a recognizable example of a “magic word”

Legacy and cultural impact of xyzzy centers on its status as a retro computing touchstone. It is

See also Colossal Cave Adventure, interactive fiction, plugh.

in
computing
culture.
It
has
appeared
in
various
other
text
adventures
and
has
been
referenced
in
programming
humor
and
discussions
of
early
game
design.
Xy
zzy,
along
with
other
Incantations
such
as
plugh,
became
part
of
the
folklore
surrounding
early
interactive
fiction,
illustrating
how
programmers
embedded
arbitrary
commands
with
game-specific
effects.
frequently
cited
in
histories
of
video
games
and
interactive
fiction
as
one
of
the
earliest
and
most
enduring
examples
of
Easter
eggs
and
hidden
functionality.
Today,
the
term
is
used
to
evoke
the
era
of
text-based
adventures
and
serves
as
a
shorthand
for
classic
examples
of
game-design
whimsy.