Game 577: Yendorian Tales: Book I

Yendorian Tales: Book I United States SmithWare (developer and publisher) Released 1994 for DOS Date Started: 6 May 2026 You would think that the title Yendorian Tales is a reference to the Amulet of Yendor from Rogue (1980), itself an ananym of "Rodney." But it rather seems to be a case of the same thing happening twice: two of the primary authors of the game were named "Rodney." All belonged to the Smith family of Fort Worth, Texas, the eponym of SmithWare (later abbreviated "SW Games). I'm guessing that Rodney R. Smith was the father of Timothy and Rod Smith II, but I haven't been able to confirm yet. I'd like to reach them because paying the full shareware fee of $22 supposedly got the player a full manual. The text file that comes with the game doesn't explain a lot. Their game is a competent shareware title in the vein of Ultima V/VI. Its backstory is told in a series of title cards with light animations. It takes place on the island of Yendor, which is cut off from the rest of…