Just to be pedantic, ScummVM is a re-implementation of the original SCUMM, which totally was an instance of this approach. There is a (crazy long) Youtube video

Just to be pedantic, ScummVM is a re-implementation of the original SCUMM, which totally was an instance of this approach. There is a (crazy long) Youtube video [1] where they take a peek at the SCUMM code for the first Monkey Island, and hack it almost on the fly. Pretty good for a 1990 game. Of course, Infocom's Z-machine may be an even earlier example. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikaqus5_QIg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikaqus5_QIg (the relevant bit starts at around 3:09:30)