There were places you had to go outside but the problem with the fire exit is you couldn't go onwards (no landmarks) and you couldn't go back (locked door). I think you could get some stuff to keep you warm but mainly you had to not take too many actions in any of the outside locations.
As you say, they did do a handful of easier games. I think Wishbringer and Seastalker (both of which are in the collection I have, which I can't lay hands on at this moment) were both aimed at children and thus slightly less punishing. AMFV is on the same CD but, while I know the premise, I've never played it so I'll bow to your experience on that one.
They had such interesting ideas though, not all of which would work in a graphic adventure. The AI consciousness freely roaming of
AMFV and the human consciousness operating through robots of
Suspended. The word play of
Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of it. The personalisation of
Bureaucracy (where everything is your least favourite colour and an answering machine message tells you your current girlfriend has dumped you. All information provided on the opening "Registration Card")
Text adventures are still alive and well by the way. The
2010 Interactive Fiction competition is happening right now.
