Vol. V/No. 4 —Fall 1986— Glamour Edition Soon To Be A Major Interactive Story… HOLLYWOOD HIJINX Who can forget those wonderful Herman would team up together to childhood summers spent with play games in the garden or help your Aunt Hildegarde and Uncle Aunt Hildegarde with her dinner Buddy Burbank? Uncle Buddy was parties. There was also the time he a Hollywood mogul, Aunt Hilde- got sick in the top bunk when you garde his loving (and very rich) were sleeping in the bottom one. wife. They had no children of their Or the time he tripped you on the own, but you and your cousins beach stairs and you fell and got a were always welcome at their bloody nose. But you were able to sprawling Malibu estate. forgive and forget in the name of The house itself was loads of cousinly love. fun. There was the luxurious Well, those days are all behind movie theater, the gaudy round you. Uncle Buddy has been dead satin-covered bed, the gold-plated for several years, and now Aunt bathroom faucets in the shape of Hildegarde has passed away, too. Aunt Hildegarde and Uncle Buddy would be proud of the Oscars, and the goofy props from It seems like the end of an era — Hollywood Hijinx package. old Buddy Burbank movies. And until you learn that you've inher- the grounds had everything from a ited the entire estate. There's just private beach to a hedge maze, one quirky stipulation: you can where you usually managed to get only claim your booty if you find Breakthrough In lost. ten "treasures" from old Buddy Your aunt and uncle were fun, Burbank movies hidden through- Continuing Education… too. Uncle Buddy, who dressed in out the house and grounds. If you polyester leisure suits and gold can't find the treasures in one THE ENCHANTER TRILOGY chains, always had a practical joke night, you lose the whole ca- up his sleeve. And, despite her boodle. Are you tired of dragging around In the first lesson, Enchanter, eccentricities, Aunt Hildy loved That's the premise of Hollywood heavy swords? Exhausted from you are given an extensive ground- you like a mother. Hijinx™, the new interactive story bloody battles with trolls and ing in spellcraft as you are sent by You even enjoyed your Cousin from . It sends you on a thieves? Feeling that it's all gotten the Circle of Enchanters to defeat Herman, who often visited at the zany treasure hunt through a a bit too ... well, physical? the evil warlock Krill and prevent same time as you. You and (continued on page 4) It's time to step up to a more the ruination of the land. As cerebral, white-collar underground Games magazine said, "This is an career! Become an enchanter! In impressive start for a new trilogy only three lessons, we can turn and a must for all adventure gam- you from a novice magician into a ers." Enchanter was written by full-fledged member of the Circle and , the of Enchanters, and then, if you co-authors of the ® Trilogy. play your cards right, into the In the second lesson, Sorcerer™, head of the Circle itself! your defeat of Krill has promoted Previously, it took almost three you to full membership in the years to complete this course, and Circle. Everything looks rosy until it cost over 120 dollars. But now, Belboz, the head of the Circle, dis- thanks to extensive research, inno- appears under mysterious circum- vative modern packaging, and a stances. Ultimately you must use collaboration between the Frobozz time-travel, transformation, and Magic Magic Equipment Company general trickiness to destroy the and Crazy Dimwit's, Infocom demon Jeearr, who's at the bottom brings you the entire Enchanter® of it all. Analog Computing said, Trilogy for only $69.95 for the "Sorcerer does live up to the /128 and $79.95 for precedent set for it by Enchanter the IBM and Apple II series. and, in many respects, surpasses The Great Underground Empire it." Sorcerer was written by Steve Tech Correspondence Course in Meretzky, author of ®, Talk to animals! Fly like a bat! Turn enemies into newts! It’s all Enchanting contains these three co-author of The Hitchhiker's possible in The Enchanter Trilogy. lessons: (continued on page 2) PAGE 2 THE STATUS LINE FALL 1986

Enchanter Trilogy

(continued from page 1)

Guide to the Galaxy™, and author written by Dave Lebling. Writers: Tom Bok, Gary Brennan, Elizabeth Langosy, Dave Lebling, , of ™ and The Enchanter Trilogy comes in Jonathan Palace, Tom Veldran Leather Goddesses of Phobos™. a beautiful slipcased package Production: Cynthia Curtis, Susan Goldman, Jonathan Palace The third lesson, ™, suitable for awed contemplation, Supposed Boss: Susan Goldman is a tricky final exam, for now you tasteful holiday gift-giving, or © 1986 Infocom, Inc., 125 CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140 Zork, Enchanter, Deadline, The Witness, Starcross, Suspended, Planetfall, Infidel, , Cutthroats, Suspect, and have become Head of the Circle of annoying friends and relations are registered trademarks of Infocom, Inc. Hollywood Hijinx, , Leather Goddesses of Phobos, Trinity, Enchanters. Ready to relax and who think Infocom is into occult- Ballyhoo, Sorcerer, Spellbreaker, A Mind Forever Voyaging, Fooblitzky, , Tales of Adventure, Plus, and InvisiClues are trademarks of Infocom, Inc. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a trademark of . take it easy, you have no such ism. All three games have been luck: magic itself appears to be updated with the latest and best failing, the populace is up in arms, bug fixes, including the legendary and the most dangerous opponent OOPS command. All the feelies you NY Times Can’t Be yet is behind it all. Analog know and love are there, including Computing said "Spellbreaker is a the lovely field guide to the GIVEN Away vast, sprawling game, finely "Creatures of Frobozz" (Sorcerer) detailed, intricately designed. It and five portraits of renowned En- To Whom It May Concern: subscription, so maybe it's not too can be easily and wholeheartedly chanters (Spellbreaker). The When I got my Status Line a few late to cancel it, saving Infocom recommended, a grand conclusion Enchanter Trilogy is limited while days ago, I was thrilled to learn from financial ruin. How about it? to a great series." Spellbreaker was supplies last. that I had named one of the great- Who in their right mind would est newsletters of all time. Then I give away an expensive prize remembered the prize I had won; a made by some other company Hitchhiker’s In Planetfall, using naughty year's subscription to The New when they could simply give away words causes the response "Such York Times. Now what, exactly, a relatively inexpensive Infocom on Radio language from an ensign in the am I going to do with that? I can't game, and boost their company's We are proud to announce that Stellar Patrol!" The reason we use it to line a bird cage, because I image at the same time? Please once again Infocom has made it mention this is an old but still don't even have a bird! Then I seriously consider this idea, and possible for all radio listeners to amusing quote we dug up thought, this prize must be costing let me know what you think. pick up Hitchhiker's! Before it was recently. It's from an article on those Infocommies an arm and a Sincerely, an interactive story, before it was interactive fiction in the March leg (or two). They would save big Cliff Tuel a TV show, before it was converted 18, 1985, issue of People maga- bucks if they just sent me an Info- San Jose, CA into four phenomenal best-selling zine: com game for my Apple IIc, such P.S. If you decide to waste your books, The Hitchhiker's Guide to as Leather Goddesses of Phobos. money on the newspaper, I'll read the Galaxy was a twelve-part radio In Planetfall, if you tell the I haven't heard anything from it anyway. serial on Britain's BBC. Now Info- computer to "go to hell" it re- The New York Times yet about my com is sponsoring a rebroadcast of plies, "Such language from an the entire serial on National Public enzyme in the stellar patrol!" Radio (NPR). This is radio as you've never heard it before. Conceived and written by Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide radio serial is hilarious and contains some of the best sound effects ever produced. DEAR Before the interactive story came out, many considered this radio Dear Miss Underground serial the best rendition of The Manners: Hitchhiker's Guide. If you have never heard it, you will find it I am a middle-aged gnome who funny, outrageous, mindboggling, likes to think he practices impec- and well worth listening to. cable manners. Recently, my next- Beginning in January 1987, tunnel neighbor, an ogre of good episodes will be made available to repute and social standing, invited public radio stations across the me to be present at his son's wed- country for inclusion in their ding. Naturally, I consented cheer- schedules. Check local program fully. When the date arrived, I listings for times — each station appeared at the ceremony, only to puts together its own schedule find that my wife and children had independently. If your local public been chopped up and were to be radio station is not carrying the served as hors d'oeuvres at the show, call to point out that it is reception. Of course I was shocked available and that you are inter- to learn that my family was now a ested in it (phone calls are surpris- bowl of flesh balls. How can I ex- ingly effective). Why is Infocom press my displeasure to my host? running Hitchhiker's again two years later? Find out in the next Gentle Reader: Christina Zarubin exciting issue of The Status Line! You certainly have justification to FALL 1986 THE STATUS LINE PAGE 3

Marc Sylvester

MISS UNDERGROUND MANNERS feel shocked. As we all know, flesh oneself before incinerating the most unpleasant phenomenon man's chest, I realized that he was balls have been considered an ab- human in question. Making a bad known as "bad breath." not, in fact, a scheming rogue or a solute "faux pas" since Dundor of impression could injure your ster- slavering mass of claws and fangs; Vriminax quashed the Yippie Re- ling reputation, should your victim it was little Davey, my neighbor's bellion, in 466 GUE. You might somehow manage to survive. Dear Miss Underground son. (Apparently, he was selling pleasantly suggest to your host Manners: flowers to support the elderly.) 2) Immolation can often be an em- that he instead serve flesh strips in On a recent Sunday jaunt through Have I committed a serious social barrassing moment for a human. cream-cheese, spread over delicate a portion of the Underground Em- blunder? There's no need to mock or intimi- wafers, as is the custom these pire, in search of countless, untold date your victim with malicious days. fortunes as well as something to Gentle Reader: peals of laughter or wicked masks do, I found that I was encountering of hatred. Instead, put him at ease You, sir, have indeed violated what Dear Miss Underground many more ravenous dungeon with a compliment, or a light re- Miss Underground Manners would Manners: denizens than on previous trips. mark. consider a cardinal rule of eti- I am a dragon on the debutante Why, only ten minutes into the quette, even by dungeon stan- circuit. What are the formal rules 3) If recent gourmet experiences trip, my right arm was lopped off dards. The recent loss of one's right for immolating humans? have included such elements as completely in a surprise attack by a arm is no excuse for holding one's garlic, onion, or rotgrub, one band of samurai worms! By mid- fork in the left hand, which is used Gentle Reader: should politely excuse oneself and day, I found that killing had be- only when one is mashing vegeta- rinse one's maw with a fresh, come second nature; I was hacking bles or gathering peas. (Also, never Miss Underground Manners finds minty solution before spewing up just about everything that confuse your pitchfork with your the following rules applicable: flames at the human. Humans can moved. At one point, as I was re- dessert fork.) 1) One should always introduce be particularly sensitive to that trieving my pitchfork from a young PAGE 4 THE STATUS LINE FALL 1986

Hollywood Hijinx (continued from page 1) Mark Rollin house that's as eccentric as its Hildegarde's will, an autographed owners. After a night spent in its photo of your Uncle Buddy, and a deserted rooms, you might be feel- lucky palm tree swizzle stick. ing a little wacky, too. For al- Combining the glitz of Tinsel- though you assume Aunt Hilde- town with the offbeat humor of a garde and Uncle Buddy wouldn't "B" movie, Hollywood Hijinx is make it too hard for you to find cram-packed with puzzles that will the treasures, the puzzles you test the wits and tickle the ribs of must solve prove that they weren't both first-time and experienced just kidding. players. Numerous amusing anec- Hollywood Hijinx was written by dotes about your childhood with "Hollywood" Dave Anderson, Herman, Buddy, and Hildegarde whose Hawaiian shirts and baggy add to the fun. Hollywood Hijinx shorts fit right in with the beach will be available in February for a mural and tropical fish that deco- wide variety of personal com- rate his Infocom office. To get YOU puters, at a suggested retail price in the California mood, the pack- of $34.95 for Atari XL/XE and age includes a gossip-filled copy of Commodore 64/128 and $39.95 for Tinselworld Magazine, your Aunt all other systems. Max Yaks Null Set Some of you have probably noticed ton's darkest demi-mondes, is on a change in the name of this col- his way to the Western Front, aka umn from the previous issue. You . The party was high- may remember that it was titled lighted by an appearance of the "News Inside Infocom." Well, I re- Burnin' Flames. The Flames are ceived a rather threatening letter composed of Info-vaudevillians from the lawyers of News Inside Debbie Reilly and Carol Brangwyn. the Society of Respiratory Sur- More about these two subtle per- geons stating that if I did not stop formers later, much later ... While using the old name they would rip Ernie's party definitely drew the A- out my lungs and use them as list, the same cannot be said for weather balloons. Hence the new the Harvard 350th birthday bash. name. Now the news ... LOVE This massive chow-down featured Cartoonist Wanted NOTES: It used to be that an old- His Royal Majesty Prince Charles In our last issue, we neglected to white, unlined paper. Please don't fashioned love song was plucked as its featured eater. Tester Tom credit Jim Chan of Rowland fold your cartoon! All submis- out on a beat-up old six-string by Bok, infamous offspring of Harvard Height, CA, for his cartoon por- sions become property of Infocom. the one who loved you. Not any- Prez Derek Bok, was brushed off by traying the "authors of Hitch- If we print your cartoon, we'll more. Testing Manager Suzanne his original table-mate, Gloria hiker's Guide." send you a free game of your Frank was recently presented with Steinem, only to be left seated with choice. Don't forget to include a cassette tape on which her new a secret service agent all evening. If you'd like to submit a cartoon your name, address, phone num- beau lavished praise upon praise in Tom claimed the chap was interest- for publication, send it to The ber, the title of the game you'd state-of-the-art stereophonic ing enough but kept confusing his Status Line Cartoons, Infocom, like to win, and the computer sound. You know, multiple tracks, butter-knife with his UZI. The eve- Inc., 125 CambridgePark Drive, system you'd like the game to run electronic keyboards, and four-part ning was not a total loss, however: Cambridge, MA 02140. All on. harmony. Suzanne, Suzanne, I Tom did get a much-sought-after cartoons must be in black ink on think he likes you ... I'm negotiat- autograph of Prince Charles for ing to have "Suzanne, Suzanne" yours truly. His Royal Wit in- released on The Status Line label scribed one of those "1000 stamps, has been named the new Editrix of farmer. It was Gary's task to keep for Christmas ... WEDRUM: Marc only $2.95" matchbook covers (one The Status Line. Susan's back- the cute little kitchen-helpers-to-be Blank, ex-Infocom VP and distin- picturing himself and Lady Di) ground is mainly shopping. "When healthy and happy, before they guished author of such Info- with the most unprincely yet ut- you've read as many shopping mall were thrown into blenders by his Favorites as Zork, Deadline®, and terly charming "Chuck" ... PALM- sales circulars as I have, the news- bosses at MIT ... HOLY HACKER: If TN20, is to be married in late TRENEUR: Jeff O'Neill, author of print just gets into your blood," you sometimes feel a Revelation December. The marriage will take Ballyhoo®, has been bitten by the says Ms. Goldman. Goldman's fu- coming on, while playing one of place in the same hotel at which entrepreneurial bug that is so per- ture plans for the paper include Steve Meretzky's games (Planetfall, The Shining was filmed. Don't get vasive here in the Bay State. Jeff's changing the name to The Credit Sorcerer, AMFV et blah), there's a snowed in you two ... THE ART OF scheme involves the mass produc- Line ... JOBS OF THE STARS: Not good reason for that. It's because PARTIES: A major end-of-summer- tion of life-size, all-weather artifi- everyone came to Infocom from the he does some of his best hacking super-surprise-soiree was held in cial palm trees for the deprived computer field. Take Infotester late at night when the only light in honor of Ernie (Burnin' Ernie) masses of New England ... MEET Gary Brennan. He was a farmer his office is coming from his Jesus Brogmus. Ernie, denizen of Bos- THE NEW BOSS: Susan Goldman before he joined Infocom: a sponge nite-lite... AMEN... FALL 1986 THE STATUS LINE PAGE 5 23 Reasons to Own a Computer

A Mind Forever Voyaging by Steve traps of the ancient Egyptians, to lay system. Once aboard the artifact, you'll letter-carrying turns sinister, as the Meretzky (Advanced, 1985). Explore a your hands on the sacred treasures that meet a number of alien races, including small town of Festeron becomes twisted frighteningly possible future as Prism, will make you fabulously rich and fa- the Rat-Ants, and you are drawn into a and dangerous. The magical Wishbringer the first true artificial intelligence. Sena- mous. puzzle that could give mankind the stone grants its owner seven wishes, tor Ryder's Plan looks pretty good — or l stars. including Flight, Rain, Foresight, and does it? The closest any computer game Leather Goddesses of Phobos by Steve l Luck. Puzzles can be solved with magic has come to literature: there are few Meretzky (Standard, 1986). The year is Suspect® by Dave Lebling (Advanced, or without, giving the game unusual puzzles to solve in this imaginative and 1936, and the evil Leather Goddesses 1984). Your editor sends you to cover a replay value. chilling story where you are the main plan to turn Earth into their private society Halloween Party. Then the host- l character. pleasure palace — unless you can stop ess is murdered, and guess who's the The Witness® by Stuart Galley l them. This racy space-opera comedy is prime suspect? Can you clear yourself (Standard, 1983). Los Angeles. 1930's. Ballyhoo by Jeff O'Neill (Standard, packed with puzzles and can be played before the police arrive? Other party Freeman Linder wants your help on a 1986). Winding up a day at the circus, in "tame," "suggestive," or "lewd" mode. guests include blue-bloods, power bro- little blackmail case, but before your you become enmeshed in a kidnapping Equally enjoyable for both men and kers, senators, and real-estate magnates. eyes it becomes a murder — his! Written plot that takes you behind the scenes of women; play with a friend! You'll uncover dirty dealings and private in the hard-boiled Raymond Chandler The Travelling Circus That Time Forgot. l affairs among the rich and powerful, as style, heavy on atmosphere. The sus- You'll have to tame lions, scare an ele- Moonmist™ by Stu Galley and Jim Law- you try to prove you've been framed. pects include Freeman's beautiful daugh- phant, walk a tightrope, and perform rence (Introductory, 1986). Spend the l ter Monica; Phong the butler; and Ralph other circus acts to win the game. Full of night in a haunted English castle, where Suspended® by (Expert, Stiles, who had something going with seedy circus atmosphere, rich with hu- a ghost threatens you and your friend. Is 1983). You are the controlling brain of a Linder's wife. mor, and peopled with circus freaks like one of the other castle guests doing the totally automated planet, and you must l Andrew/Jenny (half man, half woman) haunting? Four variations on this repair the system before the planet's by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling and the 28-inch-tall Comrade Constan- theme, each shorter than a full-length inhabitants "replace" you. You can com- (Standard, 1980). The story that started tine Thumb. game, and each with its own riddles and municate only through six highly spe- it all. Treasure hunts and derring-do in l solutions. The suspects include grizzly cialized robots: Iris (with visual sen- the Great Underground Empire. Cutthroats® by Michael Berlyn and Jerry Dr. Wendish, dashing Ian Fordyce, artist sors), Waldo (an industrial robot), Sensa l Wolper (Standard, 1984). Diving for Vivien Pentreath, flighty Tamara Lynd, (with a mixture of sensory apparatuses), Zork II by Dave Lebling and Marc Blank treasure in the shipwrecks near Hard- and others. Auda (with auditory sensors), Whiz (a (Advanced, 1981). Outwit dragons, de- scrabble Island was never easy; and now l font of information), and Poet. mons, and the Wizard of Frobozz. you're partners with some shady charac- Planetfall by Steve Meretzky (Standard, l l ters. Who needs enemies with friends 1983). When you joined the Space Pa- Trinity™ by (Standard, Zork III by Dave Lebling and Marc Blank like Pete the Rat and the Weasel? And trol, they didn't say you'd end up swab- 1986). Travelling through time and (Advanced, 1982). Conclusion of the with cigar-chomping McGinty on your bing the decks. When the ship is de- space, you must escape from several Zork Trilogy. An unusual goal and scor- tail, you might end up in over your head. stroyed, you must survive on an appar- atomic explosions, to eventually land at ing system highlighted by encounters l ently deserted planet. Fortunately, the New Mexico desert moments before with Dimwit Flathead and the Dungeon Deadline by Marc Blank (Expert, 1982). there's Floyd, a faithful multi-purpose the first A bomb explodes. Can you Master. Industrialist Marshall Robner is found robot with the personality of an eight- change the course of history? An ex- l dead in his Library, the door securely year-old, to keep you company. Info- traordinarily large and thought- Fooblitzky™ A unique board game locked from the inside. An obvious sui- com's first science-fiction comedy. provoking game, blending whimsical played on the computer, which blends cide. Then why is everyone so defensive? l fantasy, humor, history, and classic the logic and deduction of Clue with the The cast of suspects includes Marshall's Seastalker® by Stuart Galley and Jim puzzle-solving. chance and spending of Monopoly, and charming wife Leslie; their petulant son Lawrence (Introductory, 1984). From the l then adds a heavy dose of Infocom hu- George; and the family's friends, staff, videophone in your laboratory, you learn Wishbringer® by Brian Moriarty mor. A multi-player game with dozens of and business acquaintances. that the Aquadome — an underwater (Introductory, 1985). A simple job of variations and hours of fun. l research lab — is being attacked by a Enchanter by Dave Lebling and Marc "Snark," a giant sea monster. So you're Blank (Standard, 1983). A novice En- off to the rescue in a special two-seater chanter must save the world from the submarine. An easy game with plenty of nefarious Krill. First of the Enchanter hints, full of inventions and faithful Tony Wolf Trilogy, where magic outweighs fighting helpers at your side. ability. With spell books and scrolls, l you'll turn enemies into newts, talk to Sorcerer by Steve Meretzky (Advanced, animals, display fireworks, and perform 1984). In the midst of hellhounds, numerous other magical feats. amusement parks, mazes, and flumes, l rescue Belboz and defeat the evil demon The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Jeearr. Second in the Enchanter Trilogy; by Douglas Adams and Steve Meretzky turning yourself into a bat, seeing the (Standard, 1984). Based on the best- future, and probing minds are among selling book. Arthur Dent doesn't realize your many new powers. his troubles are only beginning when the l bulldozer arrives to demolish his house. Spellbreaker by Dave Lebling (Expert, Putting a fish in your ear never sounded 1985). Magic fails, and you must make more logical or seemed more difficult. your way through some of the hardest The puzzles are tough, but the wild puzzles in interactive fiction to find out situations and zany wit make this one of why. Exploring an object's mystic con- Infocom's most popular games. nections, making time stand still, and l turning yourself into a are among Infidel® by Michael Berlyn (Advanced, the magic spells in this riveting conclu- 1983). By lying, cheating, and stealing, sion to the Enchanter Trilogy. you get to within a few hundred yards of l a long-lost Egyptian pyramid. Then your Starcross® by Dave Lebling (Expert, crew deserts you. You must find and 1982). You play a down-at-the-heels gain entry to the pyramid, decipher the asteroid miner who discovers a strange hieroglyphs, and survive the diabolical alien artifact which has entered the solar PAGE 6 THE STATUS LINE FALL 1986 INFONEWS GROUNDUP We put the last three months into tured in a Newsweek article on 1986 lineup. So treat yourself, Just type GO TEG from any system the meat grinder and here's what gender-specific software. After treat your family, buy all four! Of- prompt and then follow the menus. came out: starting out with a humorously fer expires February 15, 1987. Nifty Things To Do with Corner- Great Reviews racy quote from the game, News- week went on to describe Leather Marathon of the Mind stone You know that we're about as mod- Goddesses as "an uproarious role- Yes, kiddies, the Marathon of the Building Applications with Corner- est as Mae West, so we'll start off playing romp that heralds a new Mind might be coming to your stone, written by Laura Buddine with some of the incredible reviews breed of computer games." The pro- town. As you may recall, the Mara- and published by Addison-Wesley, we've gotten. gram contains two versions, one thon of the Mind pits local high is now available in local computer Fooblitzky, Infocom's loads o' fun for men and another for women. school or college teams against or book stores, as well as directly graphics strategy game, has been Mention was also made of Moon- each other in a challenging race-to- from Infocom. It contains nineteen featured in a number of national mist, which blends a gothic setting the-finish to solve an Infocom in- Cornerstone applications in over publications. II Computing reported with the mystery genre, both ele- teractive adventure. Plans are now 300 pages and costs only $14.95. that "Infocom has come out with ments that are traditionally ap- being completed for marathons Applications range from simple what has to be the most successful pealing to women. coast-to-coast. mailing lists and libraries through party game for a computer. The Cornerstone, Infocom's powerful On November 8, we'll be at the invoicing and purchase orders to game of Fooblitzky will have you yet easy to use relational database, Academy of Sciences in San Fran- complex systems such as personnel thinking as hard as you're laugh- was highly rated in an InfoWorld cisco, November 21, at the Pacific and property management. ing." Compute! said, "The game's special report on file managers. Science Center in Seattle and on You might well ask yourself, "If mechanics are amusing and sim- Said InfoWorld, "For sheer value December 5, at the Fernbank Cornerstone is so easy to use and ple, but the underlying principles and power, we have to give the top Science Center in Atlanta. Until the has such great documentation, are the same ones which make Mo- rating to Cornerstone...it's difficult final arrangements are made, we why do I need this book?" Well, nopoly a classic." And Analog Com- to imagine more features in a can't tell you which other towns you can save time in developing puting described it as "a product $99.95 product." will host this fabulous event. Keep your database by using one of the that might very well be the most- Well, that's it for tooting our your eye out — skills honed. book's applications as is, or by talked about game this year. horn. Now we'll give you some- Status Line Now Available on modifying it to what you need. Fooblitzky does for board games thing to toot about. A special offer Building Applications with Corner- CompuServe what other Infocom works did for for you, from Infocom. stone can also generate ideas, al- books — revolutionize them... CompuServe subscribers can now Free InvisiClues lowing you to apply elements from computerize them...and bring them read excerpts from The Status Line various applications to your own into the 21st century — and be- That's right, you can get A FREE in the Electronics Gamer section. customized system. yond." Infocom InvisiClues hint booklet Trinity, Infocom's explosive fan- and map with the purchase of Bal- tasy, has also received numerous lyhoo, Trinity, Leather Goddesses complimentary reviews. Said of Phobos, or Moonmist. Look for By Any Other Name Questbusters Newsletter, "The puz- the special display with the Free First came "Adventure," and thus tive fiction?" "Your brother told me zles are well-structured, the prose Hints and Maps coupons in your was born the name for an entire that you were writing an interac- among the finest to grace the local software store. Then send in category of computer games. tive fiction story?" Now we're screen of a monitor. [Author Brian] the coupon along with the war- But with Infocom leading the clearly getting into the realm of Moriarty now has two homers in a ranty/registration card and proof of way toward more story-oriented, the linguistically cumbersome. row, and this one could easily purchase for any of the games non-fantasy adventure games, the What's the answer? Some people wind up in the parking lot." listed above. We'll send you the name became misleading and use IF for short. "I got three eye- Leather Goddesses of Phobos, InvisiClues hint booklet and map downright irrelevant. A new name effs for my birthday." "Mom, where Infocom's up-and-coming romp for that game. You get a free Invisi- for this type of entertainment soft- did you put my new iffie?" Pretty through the solar system, was fea- Clues for each game you buy in our ware was needed. A couple of years iffy propositions at best. D. Anthony Mayette ago, we began calling it "inter- Then there's the matter of the active fiction." The name has since verb. Back when they were simply been adopted by most of our com- adventure games, you played petitors, although a few variations them. But does one "play" interac- still creep up (computerized fiction, tive fiction? Or do you read it? electronic novels, and so forth). Some Californians here at Infocom While interactive fiction is an have suggested that you "do" inter- excellently descriptive name, it has active fiction. Maybe a less com- a major flaw: six syllables. No mon verb would fit the bill, or per- word or phrase that long is going haps a new verb needs to be in- to "catch on" and enter the com- vented. mon language. One says, "let's go Let's hear what you have to say! see a movie," never, "let's go see a What should the category be moving picture." And moving pic- called? Can you think of any short ture is only four syllables. and catchy phrases for a work of It gets even worse when you try interactive fiction? And what referring to individual products. about the verb? Go ahead — flood "Have you heard that Infocom just The Status Line mailbag — make announced a new work of interac- our day. FALL 1986 THE STATUS LINE PAGE 7 Karen Karp You Said It, Not Us

Rumor has it that some of you will probably never see the glossy think we make up the comments in inside cover of an interactive fic- the "Take Their Words For It!" sec- tion box, but are still too...well, tion on our interactive fiction pack- let's say entertaining...to ignore ages. Some of you think that no completely. Here are a few: one really wrote (as we said on the "As I booted the square ominous Wishbringer box), "If I go crazy or disk, shimmering green blips on become a bum, it's all your fault. I my screen accompanied my pas- hope you're happy." Or (like we put sage into the limitless tunnel of on the Spellbreaker package), "I Infocom computer fantasy." truly believe that if God had wanted us to lead our own lives, he "It's absolutely marvelous, dar- wouldn't have given us Infocom." lings, don't change a thing. Oh, by Or even (as we felt compelled to the way, if you like to wear that include with Leather Goddesses of tie, fine, but you should pin-stripe Phobos), "So nerve-wracking and your gym socks." intense I have had to use the rest "Gag me with an eating implement. room several times." Not even a super nova could scare Well, we hereby assure you that me." all of the above comments and "I enjoyed the game thoroughly. Solutions and Winners to Puzzle 10 commendations, as well as every Then I turned on the computer." other one that you see on our In Puzzle Number Ten, we asked can be countermanded only by boxes (well, nearly every one), has "I frotzed my girlfriend and now I entrants to identify the two brief Zaphod Beeblebrox." (ASK EDDIE actually been sent in by a bonafide can't get any sleep." responses, out of a total of thir- TO TURN ON THE DRIVE.) Infocom player on a warranty form, "Splunge, scum queen. Great. Wow. teen, which didn't appear any- I. A footling effort. The shock survey card, or letter. Yes, folks, Hard, sexually permissive, 64 where in The Hitchhiker's Guide to waves of the Beast's laughter push your words do not go unnoticed. Chevy. Bomb. Tit. Oops. Wonker, the Galaxy. The correct answer was you back. (THROW THE STONE AT We answer your questions, send Ping, Pong, Kong ." D and K. Here's a list of the thir- THE BEAST.) you catalogs, put you on our mail- teen bits of text, and where they ing list, and add your comments to "Can you send me a new space appear in the story: J. You see your environs upside- our ever-expanding files of possible fleet? Mine fell in the toilet and all down and slightly distorted. (LOOK "Take Their Words For It" quotes. the buggers drowned." A. The word "no" is not in our THROUGH THE MAGNIFYING To protect the innocent, we switch "The sunglasses I got in the Hitch- hostess' vocabulary. (At the party, GLASS.) around the names and cities on the hiker's package are great for the as Trillian, SAY "NO" to the hostess K. The sun's light is a perfectly quotes we use. beach!! I never realized how much when she asks if you want the food horrible shade of orange. (FAKE!) Some of the comments on file harder waterskiing could be." or drink you dropped.) L. The chair is very comfortable, APPEAR- PER- 5. Aric DiPiero, Hemlock, MI B. You already did that. It's not a with a thick plush cushion. (On the EXCERPT ANCES CENTAGE 6. Lola Russo, Easton, CT merry-go-round. (WALK AROUND Speedboat, as Zaphod, EXAMINE A 32 8.5% 7. Marie Hicks, Madison Heights, THE BULLDOZER a second time, THE SEAT.) when you're Ford Prefect.) B 95 25.3% MI M. This is one of those clever new C 34 9.0% 8. Kuo-Hsiung Hsu, Oberlin, OH C. You have two splitting head- always-open always-closed bottles. D 157 41.8% 9. Barbara Hall, Miami, FL aches. (DIAGNOSE on Damogran, (OPEN or CLOSE THE BOTTLE OF E 22 5.9% 10. Tim Lang, Downieville, CA when you're Zaphod Beeblebrox.) SANTRAGINEAN MINERAL WA- F 25 6.6% 11. John Prindle, Texas City, TX D. Congratulations. The towel is TER.) G 43 11.4% 12. Josiah P. Rowe IV, Fredericks- now covered with slime. (FAKE!) There were 376 entries, of which H 48 12.8% burg, VA I 23 6.1% 13. Karl Feick, Itasca, IL E. The effect is decorative rather 73 (19.4%) were correct. (When we J 44 11.7% 14. Charles Engebretson, Santa than helpful. (PUT THE TOWEL ON did a similar puzzle for Zork I a K 143 38.0% Rita Park, CA THE BUGBLATTER BEAST.) year ago, only 10.1% of the entries were correct.) 154 (41.0%) of the L 14 3.7% 15. Frank Tino, Tewksbury, MA F. The bloody thing's been entries had only one right answer, M 72 19.1% 16. Steve Corum, Billerica, MA jammed shut for months, now. and the remaining 149 (39.6%) of 17. Tom McGrath, Silver Spring, (OPEN THE WINDOW in the Bed- the entries had neither one right. Since there were more than 25 MD room.) For all you trivia nuts, the num- entries, we had to hold a drawing 18. Tim Rohloff, Bay City, TX G. "We can't leave while you're in ber of photocopied entries for this to determine the 25 T-shirt win- 19. Greg Chung, Potomac, MD trouble, Mr. President!" (On the puzzle, the second for which we ners. It was easily one of the ten 20. Alan Hazelton, Fairport, NY Dais, when you're Zaphod, after allowed photocopying, was 129 most exciting puzzle drawings 21. Alex Balas, Akron, OH Trillian has pointed the blaster at (34.3%). The breakdown of answers we've ever had. The resulting win- 22. Pearl Tsai, Potomac, MD you, ASK THE GUARDS TO for each excerpt follows. Note that ners: 23. Mark Weiher, Newburgh, IN LEAVE.) the total adds up to 200 percent, 1. Jay Michael, Munster, IN 24. Kurt S. Gedig, Indianapolis, IN 2. Jeff Yates, Mission Viejo, CA 25. Korhan Tekin, Mission Viejo, H. "Sorry, current course for the since every entry includes two ex- cerpts. 3. Betty Martin, Moorestown, NJ CA legendary lost planet of Magrathea 4. Cliff Tuel, San Jose, CA PAGE 8 THE STATUS LINE FALL 1986

PUZZLE NUMBER TWELVE The multiple choice questions SE. Krypton W. MIT N. First mammals appear below have directions associated SW. Xenon 13. Who was born Archibald E. Winged insects appear with each answer. (For example, NW. Netron Leach? S. Dinosaurs become extinct the choices for question #1 are W. The Appalachian Mountains 4. Who was Sherlock Holmes's N. Robin Leech N-E-S-W rather than A-B-C-D.) To areformed landlady? E. Alistair Cooke solve the puzzle, begin at the NE. Mrs. Hawthrone S. Cary Grant 17. From whence did the advice Round Room in Zork I, or the SE. Mrs. Galworthy W. Sean Connery come, "To thine own self be Library Lobby in Planetfall, or the SW. Mrs. Richards true"? Chamber of Ra in Infidel (your 14. With what team did Babe NW. Mrs. Hudson N. Hamlet, by William Shake- choice). Ruth finish his career? speare Next, answer each question, 5. In Monopoly, what is the rent NE. The Boston Braves E. Proverbs, The Bible moving in the direction associated for Park Place with 4 houses? SE. The Boston Red Sox S. The Gospel of Matthew, The with the correct answer. For exam- N. $750 SW. The New York Yankees Bible ple, if you choose Planetfall, and E. $1050 NW. The Brooklyn Dodgers W. Anonymous axiom, first thought that the last choice was S. $1100 15. Which of these magazines written in English circa 1250 the correct answer to question #1, W. $1300 has the largest circulation? 18. Who dies of "consumption" at you would move WEST and end up 6. What is the most populous N. People the end of "La Boheme"? in the Library. city in the southern hemisphere? E. National Geographic Follow this procedure for all N. Rio de Janeiro S. Time N. Kiri Te Kanawa eighteen questions. If a question E. Sao Paulo W. Reader's Digest E. Anna Karenina sends you in a direction for which S. Lucia di Lammermoor S. Jakarta 16. Which came first in the there is no exit from your current W. Sydney W. Mimi location, then you "can't go that history of the earth? way" and end up staying put for 7. Which of the following is not a that question. Also, assume that golf club? N. Natter all potential exits are passable ANSWER: Zork I ______(e.g., all doors are open) and that E. Brassie Planetfall ______no random factors interfere (e.g., S. Niblick the thief in Zork, hunger in W. Mashie Infidel ______Planetfall). 8. The following poets were all Name ______Once you have finished the last close friends. Who died at the Address ______question, note your final location. youngest age? The name of this location is the N. John Keats ______answer to the puzzle. NOTE: Giving E. George Gordon (Lord Byron) T-Shirt Size (S, M, L, XL) ______any one of the three answers is S. Percy Bysshe Shelley Contest Rules sufficient to win the puzzle. There's W. James Henry Leigh Hunt 1. All entries must be submitted on this form or a photocopy of no bonus for giving more than one 9. Which English Ruler signed this form. correct answer. If you give more the Magna Carta? than one answer, and any of them 2. Entries must be received by January 15, 1987. N. King John I are incorrect, the entire entry will 3. Limit of one entry per person. E. King Richard I (known as be considered incorrect. 4. All entries must be mailed separately. The Lion-hearted) The answers and winners to Puz- S. Queen Elizabeth I 5. Up to 25 prizes will be awarded. If more than 25 correct zle Number Eleven will appear in W. William I (known as The answers are received, the winners will be selected randomly. the next issue. Conqueror) 6. Void where prohibited by law.

10. In which of these movies did Prize 1. What is the name of the main Woody Allen not appear? The sure-to-be-a-collector's-item-as-soon-as-we-reprint-them-with- character in 1984? N. What's New Pussycat our-new-name New Zork Times Puzzle Winner T-Shirt. N. Alan Churchill E. Love and Death E. Wilbur Stone SEND TO: S. The Front S. Winston Smith Infocom W. The Purple Rose of Cairo W. Albert Smith The Status Line Puzzle 11. Which is the largest of the 2. Identify the person who did 125 CambridgePark Drive Finger Lakes? not sign the U.S. Declaration of Cambridge, MA 02140 N. Seneca Independence. E. Champlain N. Benjamin Franklin S. Cayuga E. John Hancock When mailing stuff to The Status addressed to the appropriate editor W. Canandaigua S. George Washington Line, please do not mix things to or department. As you are probably W. Thomas Jefferson 12. What school has the largest different “departments” in the same aware, the editors of The Status Line endowment? envelope. Puzzle entries, cartoons, spend most of their time on the golf 3. Which noble gas has the N. Yale “Call the Exterminator” bugs, letters course, the beach, or their analyst’s highest atomic number? E. Harvard to the editor, envelope designs, etc., sofa, and are therefore unreliable re- NE. Radon all go to different people. Please routers of mail. S. Princeton send each such item separately,