On his, now archived, website Simon wrote:
This was my first attempt at writing a text adventure. It was written in ZX81 BASIC but used some Z80 machine code routines to handle command input; the standard BASIC functions being unsuitable for some reason.
I have no idea what made me submit it to Bug-Byte for publication, but I've always been glad that I did. This was the first step in my career as a software developer. It was written while studying for my GCSE O-Levels. When the Head of Year got to hear about it she contacted the local newspaper; so I achieved my fifteen minutes of fame.
My title for the game was always The Scepter but Bug-Byte chose to publish it under the name Adventure. At the time I had no reason to question the name change but looking back perhaps it was an attempt to cash in on the fame of the Crowther and Woods classic.
[+] Users who have solved this game
[+] Users currently playing this game
All in all, a fairly OK adventure for a first effort.