Editing Colossal Cave Adventure (section)

==Gameplay==
[[File:Colossal Cave Adventure on VT100 terminal.jpg|thumb|''Colossal Cave Adventure'' running on a [[PDP-11|PDP-11/34]] with a monitor, showing the point system|alt=Monitor showing Colossal Cave Adventure]]
''Colossal Cave Adventure'' is a [[interactive fiction|text-based adventure game]] wherein the player explores a mysterious cave that is rumored to be filled with treasure and gold. The player must explore the cave system and solve puzzles by using items that they find to obtain the treasures and leave the cave. The player types in one- or two-word commands to move their [[player character|character]] through the cave system, interact with objects in the cave, pick up items to put into their inventory, and perform other actions. The allowable commands are contextual to the location, or room, the player is in; for example, "get lamp" only has an effect if there is a lamp present. There are dozens of rooms, each of which has a name such as "Debris Room" and a description, and may contain objects or obstacles. The program acts as a narrator, describing to the player their location in the cave and the results of certain actions. If it does not understand the player's commands, it asks for the player to retype their actions.<ref name="DH2007"/> The program's replies are typically in a humorous, conversational tone, much as a [[Dungeon Master]] would use in leading players in a [[tabletop role-playing game]].<ref name="Dibbell5657"/>

The original 1976 version of the game contains five treasures which can be collected. Although it is based on a real cave system, it contains a few fantasy elements such as a crystal bridge, magic words, and axe-wielding [[Dwarf (folklore)|dwarves]]. The player can die by falling into a pit or being killed by the dwarves, but otherwise the game has no ending or goal beyond finding the treasures.<ref name="DH2007"/><ref name="Lessard2013"/> The 1977 version of the game, upon which later versions were based, adds ten more treasures and more fantasy elements. It also adds a points system, whereby completing certain goals earns a predetermined number of points. The ultimate goal is to earn the maximum number of points—350, in the 1977 version—which involves finding all the treasures in the game and safely leaving the cave.<ref name="DH2007"/>