View source for Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures

{{Short description|1993 video game}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2009}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Forgotten Realms:<br>Unlimited Adventures
| image = Forgotten Realms - Unlimited Adventures Coverart.png
| caption = Cover art by [[Clyde Caldwell]]
| developer = MicroMagic
| publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|[[Strategic Simulations]]|UK|[[U.S. Gold]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 9, 1993 |title=Create your own stunts |pages=21 |work=[[Cambridge Evening News]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/813244229 |access-date=December 30, 2023 |quote=You can create your own fantasy adventure in the ''Unlimited Adventures'' construction kit...The game is coming soon from US Gold on PC and Apple Mac.}}</ref>}}
| designer = Jason T. Linhart
| programmer = David Blake<br>Jason T. Linhart<br>Bill Sloan
| artist = Eric Halloran<br>Herb Perez
| composer = David Govett<br>[[George Sanger (musician)|George Sanger]]
| engine = 
| series = ''[[Gold Box]]''
| released = March 17, 1993
| genre = [[Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
| platforms = [[MS-DOS]], [[Mac (computer)|Mac]]
}}

'''''Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures''''', also known as '''''Unlimited Adventures''''', or by the acronyms '''''FRUA''''' or '''''UA''''', is a construction kit for [[role-playing video game]]s released for [[MS-DOS]] and [[Mac (computer)|Mac]] on March 17, 1993, by [[Strategic Simulations]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Barton|date=2007-02-23|work=The History of Computer Role-Playing Games|title=Part 2: The Golden Age (1985-1993) |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070223b/barton_04.shtml|publisher=[[Gamasutra]]|access-date=2009-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227174428/http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070223b/barton_04.shtml|archive-date=2009-02-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
''Unlimited Adventures'' is a construction kit for [[role-playing video game]]s, and drew its content from the prior [[Gold Box]] engine games,<ref name=tresca2010>{{citation | first1=Michael J. | last1=Tresca | title=The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games | publisher=McFarland | year=2010 | isbn=978-0786458950 | page=144 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8H8bzqj6S4sC&pg=PA144}}</ref> with improved graphics. SSI's contract with [[Tactical Studies Rules|TSR, Inc.]] required the former to stop using the Gold Box engine, so the company released its development tools.{{r|maher20170331}}<ref name=tresca2010/> Games created by users can be shared with other players who also own ''Unlimited Adventures''. As of 2022, the program still has an active community of users.<ref name="FRUAForum">{{cite web | url = https://ua.reonis.com/index.php | title = Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures Community | access-date = June 8, 2022 | archive-date = May 18, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220518022052/https://ua.reonis.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=04kls812cta4dleafvvnl1p39vb5cmc8& | url-status = dead }}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=June 2022}}

The original game allowed the user to create [[dungeon]] modules, some editing and renaming of [[monster]]s and characters, and to import pictures and monster sprites. However, some art, such as walls, combat backdrops, and title screens, could not be changed in the unmodified game.

Those limitations have been overcome by community-made [[Video game modding|mods]].  The availability of these mods has led to the creation of comprehensive "worldhacks", designed to allow the creation of [[science fiction]], [[superhero]], [[Western fiction|Western]] and [[Roman Empire]] adventures, among others.  A program called "UASHELL" applies and manages these hacks and enables the player to apply them.

==Reception==
[[File:Dungeon-craft-screenshot-collage.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of ''Dungeon Craft'', a ''FRUA'' clone]]

SSI sold 32,364 copies of ''Unlimited Adventures''.<ref name="maher20170331">{{Cite web |url=http://www.filfre.net/2017/03/opening-the-gold-box-part-5-all-that-glitters-is-not-gold/ |title=Opening the Gold Box, Part 5: All That Glitters is Not Gold |last=Maher |first=Jimmy |date=2017-03-31 |website=The Digital Antiquarian}}</ref> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' in 1993 called it "the best adventure-construction kit available" despite the "sorely lacking" Gold Box engine.<ref name="craft199309">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=110 | title=Create Your Own Fictions With SSI's Unlimited Adventures | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=September 1993 | access-date=30 July 2014 | author=Craft, Rudy | pages=54}}</ref> According to [[GameSpy]] in 2004, although "the game's graphics were poor [...] and using the tools could be a little complicated, ''Unlimited Adventures'' was an excellent tool for budding RPG designers".<ref name="rauschIII">{{cite web | last = Rausch | first = Allen | date = 2004-08-17 | url = http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/539/539722p1.html | title = A History of ''D&D'' Video Games - Part III | publisher = Game Spy | access-date = November 17, 2012}}</ref>

James Trunzo reviewed ''Unlimited Adventures: Fantasy Construction Kit'' in ''[[White Wolf (magazine)|White Wolf]]'' #37 (July/Aug., 1993) and stated that "''UA'' comes with well-written and very complete documentation which includes a number of essential tutorials to give you a feel for design. ''UA'' also comes with a complete adventure that you can play and modify. All the scenarios can be saved and played on other computers by your friends. After all, you'll know all the secrets! The fun of ''UA'' is in design - both the design of the game and the fun of designing your own adventures."<ref name="WW37">{{Cite magazine |last=Trunzo |first=James |date=July–August 1993|title=The Silicon Dungeon |magazine= [[White Wolf Magazine]] |number=37 |page=64 |url=https://imgur.com/a/vYdlufI}}</ref>

==Legacy==
''Forgotten Realms Unlimited Adventures'' is included in the compilation "The Forgotten Realms Archives - Collection Two".<ref name="CollectionTwo">{{cite web | url = https://www.gog.com/game/forgotten_realms_the_archives_collection_two | title = Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two | access-date = July 23, 2018}}</ref>

The fan-made game design program ''Dungeon Craft'' (originally called ''UA Forever'') is a standalone program that partially emulates ''FRUA'''s engine, but with a greater ease of user modification.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/unlimited-adventures}}
* [http://frua.rosedragon.org/ The Magic Mirror]: The largest FRUA resource online
* [http://uaf.sourceforge.net ''Dungeon Craft'' at Sourceforge]
* [http://www.tgeweb.com/ironworks/dungeoncraft/index.shtml ''Dungeon Craft'' at The Ironworks]

{{Gold Box games}}
{{Dungeons & Dragons video games}}

[[Category:1993 video games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Forgotten Realms video games]]
[[Category:Gold Box]]
[[Category:MicroMagic games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Strategic Simulations games]]
[[Category:Tactical role-playing video games]]
[[Category:U.S. Gold games]]
[[Category:Video game development software]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games scored by George Sanger]]
[[Category:Video games with gender-selectable protagonists]]
[[Category:Video games with oblique graphics]]
[[Category:Video games with user-generated gameplay content]]