The Status Line Volume VII Number 3 Formerly The New Zork Times Fall 1988 BattleTech: Lots of Meching around He cursed himself for what felt like scanned the status report of his the 15th time in the last hour. The 'Mech’s condition. His concentration inside of his neuro-helmet was slick was broken by alarm bells sounding with sweat, making matters even and the warning, “Critical shot to the worse now that there was poor con- head! Man eject!” blaring into his tact with the helmet's electrodes. He ears. Numb, Jason triggered the eject remembered the message that his button, blasting the canopy off the top instructors drilled into his head again of the 'Mech and causing him to drop and again: “Controlling a 'Mech re- the 35 feet to the ground, safely quires patience and above all strate- cocooned within the seat's webbing. gic allocation of resources.” Funny Dejectedly, Jason detached himself how it was never as easy when the from the now useless seat and trudged trainer 'Mechs were firing back. back to the Citadel's training “I cannot let father down,” Jason grounds, realizing that he now had mumbled to himself as he aligned the another failure he would have to try Chameleon's twin medium lasers on to live down with the mechanics. the approaching Locust's torso. “They already hate me because of “Cannot let the computer keep fight- their station in life,” said Jason, real- ing for me, especially after last time,” izing that tomorrow's training session Jason thought, ruefully remembering would be just as brutal as today's. Check out that ‘Mech—A detailed scan of a WASP BattleMech is just one of how he had caused a critical overheat If Jason thought he had problems the features in this action-packed role-playing game based on the popular by being careless. training to be a 'MechWarrior, he BattleTech role-playing and strategy board-game series. Slowing his breathing, Jason Please turn to page 5 Zork Zero takes you back to the beginning Ever since Zork I first appeared on derground Empire. Straining our new home computers, and the Zork Trilogy "Y" development system to the limit, became our best-loved series of inter- Zork Zero is our largest game ever, active stories, countless fans have with more than 200 locations, and as begged for Zork IV. Now our Steve many puzzles as all three games of the Meretzky, doing exactly the opposite, Zork Trilogy combined. To top it off, gives you something even better by Zork Zero shatters one of computer- taking you back to before the begin- dom's most sacred barriers—the first ning. Nearly 18 months in the making, true graphical enhancements to an we are proud to reveal our most ambi- Infocom story. tious project ever, Zork Zero. Double Fanucci Zork Zero: The Revenge of Mega- Our diehard fans are probably boz takes you back to the last days of mourning the passing of an era; but the Empire. A wizard's curse has de- take heart. “Zork Zero has everything stroyed the ruling Flathead family and you've come to expect from us: lots of has threatened the kingdom itself. descriptive prose, a ton of puzzles, Although you are but one of many depth and attention to detail; it's a fortune hunters who have flooded the well-tested and polished game, all capital city of Flatheadia to try to served up in a fun, handsome pack- claim the huge reward for stemming age,” says author Meretzky. “The the curse, a carefully guarded family The now-famous Zork stone logo appears graphics simply add one more level of secret gives you a big advantage! once more, heralding the coming of Zork excellence. I tried to use them in a Every corner of the kingdom Zero, the prequel to the Zork Trilogy. Game different way; rather than illustrate As you begin your quest, you'll writer Steve Meretzky labored nearly 18 locations, the graphics are integrated meet the court jester, whose rhymes months combining the lore of the Great into the puzzles themselves. I'm really will leave you laughing, whose tricks Underground Empire, graphic puzzles and pleased with the result.” The graphics, will leave you cursing, and whose his own zany humor to create the latest chap- created by computer artist James rebuses and riddles will leave you ter of the GUE saga. Shook, make possible such graphical scratching your head. You'll travel to puzzles as Peggleboz, Snarfem, the every corner of the kingdom, visiting the defoliated Fublio Valley to the come from? And finally, most com- Tower of Bozbar, and Double exotic locales from the glaciers of the granola mines of Antharia. pelling of all, what is the origin of the Fanucci. Gray Mountains to the swamps of Zork Zero answers many of the white house where Zork I begins? But wait—there's more! Zork Zero Fenshire, from the placid shores of questions that have tormented Zorkers Epic in both size and scope, this abounds with exciting new features. It Lake Flathead to the searing heat of for ages: What is it like to play prequel covers a full century and ex- marks the introduction of our newest- the Great Underground Desert, from Double Fanucci? Where did grues plores the collapse of the Great Un- Please turn to page 6 2 The Status Line Fall 1988 The Good-bye to Status Line, hello to Escape Status Here it is--the 20th edition of The tions. Status Line. Well, of course, most of And just think, now you won't have Line those editions were called The New to take black and white film on your Zork Times until a "major metropoli- vacations anymore for those Land- Mike Dornbrook tan newspaper" marshalled their cadre mark Photos! Ruthless Slave Driver of lawsuit-thirsty lawyers. Here is a sample of what to expect After 20 newsletters we think we in the first edition of Escape: Stuart A. Kirsch have somewhat perfected the medium. James Clavell's Shogun—Dave TV Game Show Quiz Master Our combination of news, features, Lebling's adaptation promises to make nutty contests and puzzles has been this one of our most inspiring interac- Hollywood Dave Anderson praised by many, including our com- tive fiction stories. Incredible graph- Vacationing Starlet petitors. So as we are reshaping the ics, too. world of interactive fiction and othe Marc Blank sends you on a fantas- Rob Sears forms of storytelling, it is time for us tic Journey—the co-author of Zork Noisy Neighbor to push back the publishing envelope once again creates an entirely new once again. We have decided to retire way to experience a fantasy adventure Tomas Bok TSL and replace it with a full color story on your computer. Marketing Switch Hitter magazine called Escape. More conversions of Zork Zero and Don't Panic. We will still be the Next stop—Florida! BattleTech--the excitement grows as Lori Hornung same publication we have always don't worry about TSL, it is going to our latest releases find their way to Mouse Pusher been, but now in color and with more Florida to join the NZT at the retire- more and more systems. detail about gaming in general. And ment home for leading-edge publica- Plus lots more! Stu Galley Scout Master LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Steve Meretzky Prom King Dear Infocom, STATUS LINE—number of hours difficult puzzle. I like your games. I like your games you’ve been working on the same INFIDEL—someone who interrupts Christopher Erhardt so much that I’ve tried other com- puzzle. your game. Marjorie Gove pany’s games, and realized how much MARITAL STATUS LINE— DEADLINE—what you may look like Matt Hillman better yours are. something funny you tell your spouse after solving an Infocom game in 3 Elizabeth Langosy I’ve just finished Beyond Zork. I’ve to stop them from leaving because you days without stopping if you didn’t Eileen Milauskas enjoyed previous romps, but BZ—you spend all your time at the computer. start out with a big enough inventory Curtis Montague must come out with more games using A LINE—something often used at SPELLBREAKER—someone who Grave Robbers this interface, and I mean yesterday. single’s bars but which has little or no breathes while you are completing a “Define keys”—I didn’t have to type meaning to an Infocommie (except very fragile chain of thought that will (c)1988 Infocom, Inc. “roll onion,” “blow bubble” or “turn maybe at the Infocom Friday office enable you to solve a puzzle. 125 CambridgePark Drive mirror” 555 times! I never thought I’d parties). STARCROSS—when you stop day- Cambridge, Massachusetts find a companion to match Floyd (I WISHBRINGER—Mailman who dreaming about a puzzle and get back 02140 cried when I thought he was dead, just brings you the Hint Booklet you or- to work. ask my roommate), but Spunky the dered. SUSPENDED—the type of animation The Status Line is published four, minx, Stu the caterpillar, and Phil the SEASTALKER—one who chooses to you appear to be in when thinking sometimes five, times a year by pterodactyl came pretty damn close. walk on the beach to work out Info- about a puzzle. Infocom, Inc. Address changes and I thank you, my mother thanks you, com puzzles. CHESS—a nice relaxing game (of subscriptions should be sent to and my roommate thanks you for the WITNESS—some friend you call course, before you know it, Infocom The Status Line, Infocom, Inc. Solid Gold and $14.95 specials (Mas- when you are about to solve an in- will come out with interactive chess, 125 CambridgePark Drive tercard and VISA do not). Actually, credibly difficult puzzle, like the infa- and you’ll have to turn to checkers, or Cambridge, MA 02140, my roommate may be grateful that mous Babel Fish we-have-to-get this- marbles to relax). Attention Subscriptions Manager. they enable me to pay my rent, but slimy-little-fish-in-our-ear puzzle. Sincerely, The Status Line is an independent she’s probably not pleased (or maybe ZORK I, II—planets people might Ben Holzman journal, not affiliated with the New she is) that they tend to make me think you’re from if you intend to get Roslyn Heights, NY York Times and vice versa. somewhat reclusive. And for the love involved with Infocom. [Thanks Ben. We will he adding Cutthroats, Deadline, Enchanter, Infidel, Leather of God, don’t tell my thesis advisor— ZORK III—a good game if you are these to our new game manuals—Ed.] Goddesses of Phobos, Planetfall, Seastalker, I’ve missed so many deadlines be- from Zork I or II. Starcross, Suspect, Suspended, The Status Line, The Witness, Trinity, Wishbringer and Zork are cause of these things he probably ENCHANTER—a friend of the oppo- Dear TSL, registered trademarks of Infocom, Inc. thinks I’m out with the reserves a lot site sex who clues you in on how to I need help. I am a junior in high or suchlike... solve a puzzle. school and frankly, I hate History. In A Mind Forever Voyaging, Ballyhoo, Border Zone, Bureaucracy, Classic Mystery Library, If you ever need testers, or writers, SORCERER—a friend of the same effect, I am not doing so well in it. Cornerstone (Yeah, a database, wanna make or brainstormers, or just generally cute sex who gives you a game or a hint. After a long conference with my something if it?), Fooblitzky, Gamma Force, people to liven up the joint, say the PLANETFALL—what the Earth teacher, we decided that if I could get Hollywood Hijinx, Immortal Legends, Infocomics, InvisiClues, Lane Mastodon, Moonmist, Nord word. could do, as long as you have your my letter published in any profes- and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It, Plun- Saving up another $14.95 (plus computer and your Infocom games. sional publication, he would raise my dered Hearts, Quarterstaff, Science Fiction Classics, Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown $2 postage and handling) CUTTHROATS—what your family grade 1/2 a grade. I was just wonder- Jewels, Sorcerer, Spellbreaker, Stationfall, The Debby Berry, might do if you don’t quit playing ing if you knew of any professional Crescent Hawk's Inception, The Lurking Horror Columbus, OH those doggarn Infocom games and publications. and The Tomb of Setmoth are trademarks of Infocom, Inc. come to dinner. Pleadingly yours, Dear Infocommies, SUSPECT—everyone, if your favorite Eric Lee The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a trade- Infocom Terms for the Beginner: Infocom game is missing. San Leandro, CA mark of Douglas Adams. BattleTech is a regis- tered trademark of FASA Corporation. INVENTORY—any necessary items A MIND FOREVER VOYAGING— [Eric, have you tried The New York such as chips, soda, beer, etc. your brain when you’re figuring out a Times?—Ed.] Fall 1988 The Status Line 3 Quarterstaff: Our first role-playing fantasy Three months ago, a peaceful colony though you begin the party: you could, for five stars, saying ‘Quarterstaff... is, in of druids vanished without a trace. As adventure with only instance, allow some our opinion, among the finest fantasy their crops lie overgrown and aban- one character, you’re of your group to role-playing games available for any doned, a crossfire of rumors has de- sure to quickly ac- sleep, while two char- computer system.” Despite reviews scended upon the land, laying blame quire a formidable acters stand watch, like these. which reflected impressive on everything from epidemic to mass band of adventurers. and a scouting party design and development. Quarterstaff homicide to demon worship. Scouting Quarterstaff pro- probes the nearby ran into marketing trouble, and its parties have been frantically assem- vides a number of rooms for action. distribution was limited. We recog- bled and sent forth to bring an end to innovations for ma- Quarterstaff was nized the game’s potential, and all the hearsay, but none has returned. nipulating your party. originally designed, bought the rights to the product. Now the local kingdoms, restless for Your characters can written and imple- Includes hierarchical menus news of the missing sect, have called move about independ- mented for the Macin- We’ve spent months in collabora- upon you to venture into the depths of ently, or as part of a central group that tosh by Simulated Environ- tion with the game’s authors, Scott the lost Tree Druid colony, buried moves as a unit. You can even divide ment Systems, which released the Schmitz and Ken Updike, and a slew deep beneath a great oak tree. You your party into two or more groups game in 1987. The game immediately of talented artists, writers and pro- must discover whatever foul secret that explore different parts of the ge- received rave reviews—MacUser grammers in order to perfect the lies within. ography on their own. This gives you gave it a near-perfect rating of four game. The first improvement was the Graphics and sound unlimited freedom to control your mice, while Dragon gave it a perfect implementation of a new Macintosh Quarterstaff: The Tomb of Set- interface — one that allows the user to noth — our first entry into the fantasy play the game entirely with the role-playing (FRP) genre and the first mouse, or to play entirely using the in our RPG series — is role-playing keyboard. Pull-down menus allow you adventure as you’ve never seen it be- to easily point and click your way fore on a computer. You’ll read rich through even complex sentences. text descriptions of the places, objects, We’ve included Apple’s hierarchical and creatures you come across. High- menus, usually found only in top- resolution graphics and digitized notch business products, to allow you sounds reinforce the text, and your easy access to your inventory. Of moves are tracked by a detailed on- course, any command can be typed in screen map which your characters via the keyboard. “draw” as they go. Next, InfoImplementor Amy You issue commands to your char- Briggs (author of Plundered Hearts) acters in full English sentences. And reworked and rewrote most of the as in any FRP, the characters in your game’s text to provide a greater sense party develop and mature in a variety of plot and continuity within the story. of specific skills, and fight according We also corrected a few grammatical to a comprehensive combat system. errors as well. Computer artists were Pervading the Quarterstaff universe Quarterstaff features Apple’s hierarchical menus for the ultimate Macintosh brought in to touch up the high- at all levels is close attention to de- interface, making your adventuring even easier. Your quest is also aided with resolution graphics and to design a tail — apparent in everything from the the convenience of on-screen mapping. special set of gorgeous color graphics weight and bulk of objects they’re which the game uses when running on carrying to the complex timetable by a color Mac II. which hunger and fatigue affect the New package and manual characters in the game. All these ele- Our infamous testing staff (which ments weave together into a game had recently been genetically altered which is more akin to a “pen and pa- so as to not require sleep) was un- per" adventure environment than any- leashed on the program to perform thing previously released on a com- exhaustive bug-whacking. After sev- puter. eral dozen cases of Jolt cola were con- Monsters learn from mistakes sumed over the course of a few As the game opens, you stand at the months, the finished game emerged. entrance to the Tree Druids’ colony, Finally, a new package was conceived ready to begin your underearth quest. and produced featuring beautiful As you progress, you meet many a cover art by artist Ken Barr. Inside we curious creature. In Quarterstaff, put a brand new user’s manual and, as monsters are not merely “deathbots,” is our style, an assortment of mood whose only purpose in life is to maim setting pieces: a mystical parchment and destroy, but ordinary living things titled “The Path to Enlightenment,” a whose actions are guided by real life wooden druidic coin and a dazzling drives such as hunger, anger, and the color poster featuring the cover art. need for friendship. The Macintosh version of Quarter- Monsters even learn from their staff will be available in October, and mistakes and accomplishments will include the special color graphics through an artificial-intelligence for the Mac II. Versions for the Apple learning system. Some creatures will II GS and IBM will be available in react negatively to your party, resort- spring of 1989. Watch upcoming is- ing to combat and force. Others, how- In Quarterstaff we’ve included on-screen room-by-room mapping as well as a sues for further information. All ver- ever, will try to help your party, or map of the surrounding geography (shown in the picture above). Digitized sions will retail for $49.95. even join forces with you; and so, sounds and high-resolution graphics enhance the mood. 4 The Status Line Fall 1988 Four more popular titles reduced to only $14.95 We at Infocom are offering you, our is an entertaining and distinctive step most loyal fans, a special deal, the in the right direction.” kind of deal that just makes you want If you have ever had the itch to to cry with joy. Well, get your hankies really make a mountain out of mole- out, because now you can get four of hill, then put your nose to the grind- our most wildly popular games—The stone with this collection of eight Lurking Horror, Stationfall, Nord & short interactive fiction stories. Ob- Bert Couldn’t Make Head or Tail of serves inCider, “It’s perfect for those It, and Plundered Hearts—for the who are clever, intelligent, and quick- low, low direct-mail price of $14.95! witted. On the other hand, it could be The Lurking Horror a most humbling experience.” In Nord Since they were released last year, and Bert, you learn that the town of each game has received incredible Punster is undergoing a linguistic cri- reviews. For example, RUN magazine sis so severe that its citizens are un- game Infocom’s first interactive hor- able to communicate. It’s up to you to ror story, Dave Lebling’s The Lurking save the day. Just watch out for the Convention goers visit the joint FASA-Infocom booth at this year’s GEN- Horror, a grade of “A,” saying, large chocolate mousse standing in CON/ORIGINS. Over 10,000 participants packed the MECCA. “Whatever it is that alarms, unnerves, the aisle of the Shopping Bizarre on dismays, startles, or turns blood into your way to visiting the Manor of ice water can be experienced in this Speaking. And if getting the right Infocom attends GENCON boundless romp into the unknown.” answer is like finding a needle in a This eerie thriller, which takes you haystack, then the on-screen hints through the G.U.E. Tech campus from should get you one leg ahead. Indeed, gaming mega-convention the top of the great dome to the bot- as Newsday says, Nord and Bert is “a tom of the elevator shaft, will have hoot, really,” and as COMPUTE’S The year 1988 was a banner year for industries is the proof of this theory. “your spine tingling and your heart Gazette confirms, “Nord and Bert is the amalgam of companies making Infocom is releasing a computer beating faster,” promises A+ maga- truly different, and that’s as sure as up the board/strategy/fantasy role- version of BattleTech. SSI has re- zine. little green apples.” playing/war/hobby-gaming industry. leased computer products for Stationfall Plundered Hearts The two major conventions were, for AD&D. Origin Systems has its ver- “Fall into Stationfall and you’ll And now for something completely the first time, combined into one sions of Auto Duel and Ogre. Gam- have trouble climbing back out,” different—pirates, ripped bodices and mega-convention. GENCON, the ers gave software products and com- warns Analog Computing. The enter- steamy passion are all yours for only fantasy role-playing convention, puter gaming an overwhelmingly taining sequel to the ever-popular $14.95 in Amy Briggs’ 17th-century sponsored by TSR (makers of Ad- positive reception. The computer Planetfall, Steve Meretzky’s Station- tale of romance, Plundered Hearts. vanced Dungeons and Dragons, rooms were sponsored by Atari, fall once again features the lovable The first interactive fiction title to among others) and ORIGINS, the Commodore, and the Milwaukee and hilarious Floyd up to a com- feature a woman as the main charac- war gaming show, sponsored by Area Commodore Enthusiasts pletely new set of mischievous antics. ter, Plundered Hearts puts you in the Avalon Hill (a leader in the field of (MACE); they were continually But this time, he’s paired up with an- middle of a high seas adventure as both non-computer and computer packed with people playing every- other robot named Plato, becoming you sail to the West Indies to see your war gaming) became GENCON/ thing from Might and Magic, Pool “what will probably be known as the ailing father for what might be the last ORIGINS 1988. of Radiance, and Dungeon Master to greatest comedy team ever in interac- time. But can you resist the escalating The show attracted over 10,000 Earl Weaver Baseball, Universal tive fiction,” according to Analog passion that you feel for the dashing fanatics and first-timers to the Military Simulator, and Jet. Computing. MacUser, which gave pirate Nicholas Jamison? MECCA in Milwaukee, where for a But for Infocom, not only was the Stationfall four-and-a-half mice, says, Men and women alike have hailed weekend, gaming was king. Over convention a new market and a new “Stationfall is one of those rare se- Plundered Hearts as intriguing and 125 exhibitors attended, easily mak- show, but it was also a homecoming quels that lives up to the original.” enjoyable. Commodore magazine ing this the biggest and the most of sorts. Milwaukee is the original As a Stellar Patrol officer, you and praises Amy’s rich storyline and con- successful convention the industry home of the Zork User’s Group and your beloved Floyd set out to explore siders her knowledge of the time pe- has ever seen. the birth place of this very magazine a deserted space station. What might riod to be a contributing factor to the While companies like TSR, (then the New Zork Times). Even you find? You’ll just have to find out intricate plot. But it warns, “Don’t let FASA, Avalon Hill, Games Work- though neither Mike Dornbrook nor for yourself, if you can put up with the fact that the main character is a shop, and Ral Partha Miniatures his parents live there anymore, we Floyd’s habit of reciting multiple dig- woman scare you away! Plundered ruled the show, strangely different were received like hometown he- its of pi. In the words of ST X-Press, Hearts won my respect by not relying banners also adorned the exposition roes. (Just ask us about the Astor “...if you haven’t ever played Infocom on this gimmick and delivering a hall—names like Infocom, Strategic Hotel—on second thought, don’t.) games or have just passed them by, challenging adventure with which to Simulations Inc. (SSI), Electronic The response of GENCON/ then this is the one to pick up (along pass the time.” Arts, Atari, Commodore, Mind- ORIGINS to BattleTech: The Cres- with Planetfall).” And now it’s just Computer Entertainer asserts, scape, New World Computing, Ori- cent Hawk’s Inception was simply $14.95! “While women players of interactive gin Systems, and Computer Gaming stupendous. Crowds gathered from Nord and Bert fiction have adapted, of necessity, to World appeared. Yes, computers and aisles around whenever the familiar Do you believe that the pun is playing male roles in adventures, now computer gaming had merged into beat of “The BattleBeast” (our pro- mightier than the sword? Do you ap- it’s time for men to show their flexi- the world of traditional gaming. Said motional video) began. Everyone preciate word plays, puns and other bility and assume a feminine role for a one computer professional, “Hey, wanted to be the first on their block linguistic twists? Then get the ball change!” And Dan Gutman, syndi- games is games. Whether you play to find out what it would be like to rolling, take the bull by the horns and cated columnist, found Plundered them alone, with friends, or on a be Jason Youngblood. Plans have try Nord and Bert Couldn’t Make Hearts to be “well written and fun to computer is only a difference in the already been made (by MACE) for a Head or Tail of It by Jeff O’Neill. “In play, romance novel or not. But I method. But in the end, games is BattleTech computer competition a world that is hungry for some liter- must confess I felt a tad uncomfort- games.” during next year’s Con. ary humor, A+ states, “Nord and Bert able kissing Captain Jamison.” Perhaps the convergence of the Fall 1988 The Status Line 5 War is a way of life on 31st-century Pacifica Continued from page 1 question on the card inside the pack- didn’t know what fate lay ahead when age (and send it to us with shipping Kuritan forces attacked the planet. and handling costs) and we'll send you Now, eighteen years old and totally the figure that has been designed and alone, he's adrift within a war-ravaged created especially for us and The city, undertrained, and with only the Crescent Hawk's Inception. Plus, in money he had saved as a student. Add your BattleTech: The Crescent to this his being hunted and pursued Hawk's Inception package you'll find by the occupational forces and you'll a spectacular poster and official Lyran get the feeling of our new role-playing Commonwealth 'Mech and Weapons game, BattleTech: The Crescent Recognition Guide. And if you're Hawk's Inception. While the above among the first to get your copy of text is not from the game, it does give BattleTech, you'll get another real you a taste of how you might feel prize: in a limited number of specially when you play it. marked packages, you'll find an au- Based upon FASA's popular adven- thentic Crescent Hawk insignia pin! ture board games of armored combat Wear it proudly! in the 31st century, you are cast as BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Jason Youngblood. Raised as a court Inception will be available in Novem- favorite (due to father's friendship Emotive outtakes in the style of Japanese ber for the IBM and 100% compati- with the local duke), Jason is arrogant, "monga" comic books add extra visual ex- bles (supports CGA, EGA, VGA, egotistical and vain. But suddenly he's citement to our new role-playing game, Bat- MCGA, and Tandy Graphics; 384K forced not only to survive on his own, RAM required), in February for the tleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception. but to try to piece together the fate of Commodore 64/128, and in the Spring Should Jason get into trouble you'll see this his father... and his father's loyal for the Apple II series and Amiga. look of fear and surprise in his eyes. The guard. Suggested retail price is $39.95 for the While this storyline may seem to be artwork on the cover (right) is just part of Commodore 64/128 and $49.95 for all a reasonable premise for one of our what you'll find inside. other systems. interactive fiction stories, walking into BattleTech is a departure for the tradi- tional Infocom player. This is not an puter RPG. With over four million interactive fiction story. This is a full- (that's right, four million!) locations fledged computer role-playing game which your party can visit, BattleTech (RPG), complete with training and offers the player a huge territory in experience, armour, weapons and which to explore and fight. equipment acquisition, party building, Combat, too, is of a scope befitting impressive graphics, and lots of com- such an exhilarating game. Whether bat. And, as an Infocom first, this you are in your 'Mech (a 30-foot tall, game is not text based! But this is not 20-ton war-machine) or on foot, alone standard RPG experience. or in the party you've assembled, com- This is a game with all the depth bat is a frequent test of your skills and and richness you expect from Info- nerves. Hand-to-hand combat weap- com, plus all the excitement of the ons range from longbows and pistols BattleTech universe. to vibroblades and laser rifles. But Developed by Westwood Associ- seated in your 'Mech, you can fire off ates, the wizards behind SSI's Phanta- laser blasts, infernos, and missiles. sie III and Epyx's Summer Games and War is a way of life in the 31st cen- World Games, The Crescent Hawk's tury, and armaments of destruction are Inception is a unique, animated, and a way to survive in this harsh world. richly detailed game. The story in If lots of tactical maneuvering and BattleTech is more intriguing and strategic planning is not your thing, more in depth than that of any other BattleTech has an auto-combat capa- computer role-playing game. bility that lets your computer do the One of the features that makes this planning and fighting for you. The game unique is the addition of many story, the discovery, the excitement, animated "outtakes" that appear at however, are all still there. various points throughout the game. And playing BattleTech couldn't be They are designed in the style of easier on the fingers. Your numeric "monga" or Japanese, comic books. keypad or arrow keys move you Whether you see the expressive face around both your geography and your of Jason or the explosive missile menu choices. Joystick support will launch from a Locust, the "outtakes" be available on some versions. will bring the story even more alive There's an added bonus for winning and enrich your playing experience. the game: should you be skillful But the animated "outtakes" and a enough to discover the secretly hidden rich storyline are only part of the ex- 'Mech that we've placed at the end of citement of the game. BattleTech: The the game, you can send for an exclu- Crescent Hawk's Inception features sive, custom crafted Ral Partha Battle- the largest playing area of any com- Tech lead miniature. Just answer the Andrew Speer 6 The Status Line Fall 1988

In Zork Zero, the prequel to the Zork Trilogy, you'll finally get a chance to try We've gotten more extravagant than Dimwit Flathead himself with our new your hand a Double Fanucci. We have taken computer game graphics a step development system. Ordinary screens of text come to life with graphic further by integrating graphic-oriented puzzles into Zork Zero. enhancements like these. Computerdom’s most sacred barrier broken Continued from page 1 that famous Meretzky humor you sionals. And top it off with a hand- climactic epilogue, where you meet generation parser, our friendliest ever. loved so much in Planetfall, The some calendar, featuring excerpts the most powerful wizard ever to set Now it's easier for a novice to start, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and from "The Lives of the Twelve Flat- foot on the soil of Quendor, Zork Zero and powerful enough for the experi- Leather Goddesses of Phobos. heads" and illustrations by the great has something for everyone, and ence player. The packaging lives up to our usual painter, Leonardo Flathead. This cal- promises to be the best offering yet Zork Zero includes our very popu- standards. Start with a scrap of parch- endar is from the year 883 GUE, but from the Master Storytellers. lar on-screen hints. In a development ment containing a spell from the (by an incredible coincidence) it is Zork Zero will be released in Octo- made possible by our new graphics secret notebooks of the great magician also perfectly usable as a 1989 calen- ber on the Apple Macintosh, support- system, Zork Zero also has complete Megaboz. Then, add a construction dar. ing both color Mac II and regular on-screen mapping. The puzzles blueprint from Rockville Estates, the From the exciting prologue, where black and white Macs, and will retail themselves range from simple to bog- cave-bound condo complex that's tar- you come face to face with Lord Dim- for $59.95. Watch upcoming issues gling. Finally, Zork Zero is laced with geted for Young Underground Profes- wit Flathead the Excessive, to the for details on other computer versions.

Stuck in the cellar? Frustrated by the Pheehelm? magic would help. Notice the zqbgvzx in the ru- After interviews with thousands of Beyond Zork ined plaza. Have you found any other object which players and many days of detailed statistical analy- VisiClues: Hints has a similar shape? The gntqfkzrr, which can be sis, we have selected these two puzzles as winners antfgs with the Bqnbnchkd’r Sdzq at the Lzfhbj of our “Most Likely To Cause Irate Adventurers Rgnood, is the key object. Rszmc tmcdq the zqbg To Axe Their Computers After Endless Hours Of for Beyond Zork and ekho the gntqfkzrr. Lo and behold, you can Agonized Frustration” Award, By popular demand, now lnud azbjvzqcr zmc enqvzqcr hm shld! Ex- this issue of The Status Line features these tricky doesn’t it? If you’re too clumsy to climb it you plore the scenery a little. puzzles from Beyond Zork. The hints for each puz- may have a problem. Luckily, there is something in In the era of the battleground, the Pheehelm zle slowly lead you through the solution. To read the cellar which can hmbqdzrd your cdwsdqhsx. falls off the dying prince’s head and rolls into a the coded portion (in boldface), simply count for- Read your Book of Lore. Still stumped? Rptddyd trench. His horse then falls in, blocking it. Try to ward one letter; “A” becomes “B”, “Z” becomes the lnrr. find a way to lnud sgd gnqrd. Can’t do it? Well, “A”, etc. Okay, you’ve climbed the barrels and gotten the don’t worry, because hs’r hlonrrhakd. Maybe you The Cellar vhmd ansskd. Now you just need to get out, but can chf hs nts. But you are not very good at The cellar is a fairly difficult area of the game, someone has shut the door. Fortunately, you have a chffhmf. Perhaps you can ehmc z adssdq chffdq yet it must be completed early in order to reach way to get through the door. Have you noticed to help you. Try the lhmw. other areas. The first thing you need is a light those rsqzmfd fqddm qtmdr on the zlt-kds? They So, you brought the lhmw back in time, but she source. Notice the mzld of the szudqm? Take the are obscured by qdc rvhqkr. You need to find a didn’t dig up the helmet. Give her some incentive! qtrsx kzmsdqm from the szudqm’r rhfm. way to ehksdq nts the qdc rvhqkr. Try knnjhmf Try putting a xtllx bgnbnkzsd sqteekd in the Can’t get the light to last long enough? If only zs sgd zltkds sgqntfg sgd vhmd ansskd. trench too. But the ground is too hard to dig here. you had some way of recharging it. While holding Now vdzq the zltkds and qdzc its vnqc ne You’re stuck. But wait! You have the onvdqr ne the kzmsdqm, qdzc the Rbqnkk ne onvdq. What happens? Use that dwsqz rsqdmfsg shld! Maybe you could go to a cheedqdms dqz, Qdeqdrgldms, found at the anssnl of the rszhqr. to rlzrg the cnnq and drbzod! when the fqntmc hr rnesdq. Try the Now to explore. You’ll need a weapon to dis- The Pheehelm Cdrnkzshnm. patch the rat ant and discipline the crab; the dagger Getting the Pheehelm is the most difficult puz- The lhmw still didn’t dig up the Pheehelm? should do. Jhkkhmf sgd bqza should give you the zle in the end part of Beyond Zork. The famed Perhaps the sqteekd ldksdc—after all, it’s been a shmx bqnvm. The skeleton should be easy to kill, Pheehelm is an ancient helmet, rumored to possess few thousand years. You can’t find any bgdlhbzk and don’t forget to take its zltkds. Make sure to magic powers of intelligence. It lies north of the oqdrdquzshudr in this game. But there is a lzfhb rdzqbg the ohkd ne rdzrgdkkr. River Phee, among the ruins. oqdrdquzshud: the Onnk ne Dsdqmzk Xntsg. Hmmm. The stack of barrels looks interesting, However, it’s not easy to find. Perhaps some Cho z sqteekd hm sgd onnk. Then try again. Fall 1988 The Status Line 7

The Governor of Montana PUZZLE NUMBER 19 And now for something completely different a puzzle that has nothing to do with any Infocom games! (Except that it’s similar to the sort of puzzles you might run into in one of our interactive stories.) The 12 sentences below all share the same unusual feature — except for two of them. To answer the puzzle. just give us the two numbers of the sentences which don’t fit the pattern. Okay, you’re on your own — and there are no In- visiClues to help you out! We’ve left room on the answer form for you to include the reasoning behind your answer, but that’s simply for your amusement and ours. Only the two num- bers will matter toward the correctness of your entry.

1) The earnest tenant took Karl’s spigot to our ruined dacha. 2) Five eager runners sent their red designer robes swinging gaily. 3) My yellow wig gives Sarah horrible earaches. 4) Dora and Dave evicted Dagbert the elf from my yard. 5) Mice and cats often race below fleecy clouds. 6) No one eats Sally’s stew without tongs. 7) Your razor replacement thundered dryly yesterday. 8) Andrew was singing graceful little enchantments. 9) The overcoats fret beside badly mangled hooks. 10) Weather robots stop people even next to oceans. 11) Never replenish his silver reading glasses. 12) The ego of frozen Norwegians seems stable. Montana Governor Ted Schwinden picks up another vote for his 1996 re- election by posing with our contest winner, Jordan Anderson. PUZZLE #19 ENTRY FORM Head of State Photo Contest winner ANSWER: ______Since we announced our Great Wall of China Photo Contest, we have re- ceived over 25 photos of fans holding their favorite games on that famous landmark. So we figured we would have no problem with our next photo YOUR REASONING (optional): contest, The Head of State. ______We did receive many good gags, but by the time we had to go to press we had received only one real photo—this photo of Infocom fan Jordan ______Anderson and the Governor of Montana, Ted Schwinden. Jordan cleverly ______stated in his letter “I Suspect that I’m the only entrant to have a picture taken with the Governor of Montana!” ______So we’ll give you another chance. Get out there and find Baby Doc and Marcos. Send your entries to Castro Candids, do Infocom, 125 Cam- bridgePark Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140. And don’t forget to buy an extra Name: ______roll of film for our Elvis Impersonator Photo Contest. Address: ______T-shirt size (S, M, L, XL) ______

RULES 1. All entries must be postmarked by January 31, 1989. (Entries from out- side the U.S. and Canada must be postmarked by March 31, 1989.) 2. Entries must be on this form or a photocopy of this form. 3. There is a limit of one entry per person. 4. Iodized salt helps prevent thyroid problems. 5. All entries must be mailed separately. 6. Up to 25 prizes will be awarded. If more than 25 correct entries are received, a drawing will determine the win- ners. 7. Void where prohibited by law or mother-in-law.

PRIZE The New Zork Times Puzzle Winner T-Shirt (The Status Line Puzzle was called The New Zork Times Puzzle back when The Status Line was called The New Zork Times).

MAIL TO Infocom, Inc. The Awesomely Wonderful Puzzle Editor 125 CambridgePark Drive How I got the Babel Fish Cambridge, MA 02140 Eric Blumrich 8 The Status Line Fall 1988

CUSTOMER SUPPORT Rome, Italy In this world of constant change, we Macintosh and the HFS - All In- are forever improving our products to focom games for the Macintosh with adapt to new hardware. We also occa- an interpreter before “G” do not rec- sionally find a bug that even gets by ognize the hierarchical file system. our super-duper Testing Department. (You can find out which interpreter is The following information might help on your disk by typing: $VERIFY you if your newest game doesn’t while in the game.) Therefore you seem to be working right. Send all cannot save/restore to the hard disk or inquiries and disks to: Infocom, 125 an 800K disk. In this case you can CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge, either save to a single-sided disk MA 02140, Attention: Customer Sup- (400K), or send in your original for a port. Or call us at (617) 576-3190. free upgrade. Beyond Zork on the IBM - IBM Infocomics - Lane Mastodon on users may be having problems with the Apple II Series only - Make sure some EGA cards, using a Microsoft your CAPS LOCK key is down to use mouse, or saving and restoring on your advance, reverse, and bookmark PCjr’s or Tandy’s with 256K of keys. This is not necessary for other memory. We have an updated version Infocomics on the Apple. of Beyond Zork which corrects all of Infocomics on the IBM - IBM these problems. Simply send us your versions of Infocomics are 5 1/4” original disk with a letter explaining disks and can only be booted from the exactly the problem you’re encoun- A: drive. They also cannot be copied tering and the hardware you’re using. to a hard disk. So if your A: drive is 3 We’ll have a free upgrade out to you 1/2”, you will NOT be able to run In- in a jiffy. (Sherlock also suffers from focomics. the same save/restore problem. We’ll Note to Cornerstone Users - In this upgrade that free for you too!) season of lightning storms make sure Sherlock, Border Zone, Solid you always keep a good set of Gold Zork I, and Solid Gold Hitch- BACKUP ALL FILES of your data- hiker’s on the Commodore 64/ 128 - base through Cornerstone’s UTILI- Many people encountered save/ re- TIES feature. We’ve had an increase store problems with our first release in calls about damaged databases due of these games. We have released a to the weather which can only be new version which will save and re- fixed by RESTOREing a good work- store with no problem. Send your ing BACKUP or starting the database Throwing Infidel to the lions? Tina Merola of Downers Grove, Ill. con- original disk and a note outlining over from scratch. Remember, vinced her dad to pose with a copy of Infidel in the Colosseum in Rome. your problem. We’ll send you a free BACKUP SINGLE FILE will NOT upgrade. do the trick. Don’t forget the camera and Beyond Zork!

Egghead eggcerpted our contest Planning to visit Mount Rushmore anytime soon? Don’t forget to bring along a copy of your favorite Infocom game and a camera whenever you go Eggads! In our Winter/Spring 1988 cusing you of arregg-ance, of eggbez- on vacation. If we use your photo, you’ll receive a free game. Send your issue of The Status Line we requested zling our brain-child, of n-egg-lecting color slides or prints (no more black and white—see page 2) to: Landmark photographs of people at landmarks to credit our inspiration. Remember, Photo, Infocom, Inc., 125 CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140. holding one of our games, and we it’s just a yolk! even promised a free set of games to the first person to send a photo of themselves on the Great Wall of China. We’ve received over 25 en- BULK RATE tries. Months later, while flipping U.S. POSTAGE through the July/August issue of Egg- head Discount Software’s Egghead PAID Magazine looking for ideas to steal, P.O. Box 8123 Permit No. 15341 Los Angeles, CA. InfoInformant Lori Hornung discov- San Francisco, CA 94128 ered they had in fact stolen one of our ideas! Glaring at her from page 27 was their “Eggheads Everywhere” contest which asks readers to send photos of themselves wearing Egg- head clothing in “eggzotic” locations. And where was the example photo- graph taken from? That’s right, from atop the Great Wall of China. Well, to address our retailing chums in their own witty diction: What’s your eggscuse for this egg- cess, this des-egg-cration of that pillar of journalism, that media chef- d’oeuvre, The Status Line Landmark Photo Contest? That’s right, I’m egg-

BUY ANY 4 TITLES... AND QUALIFY FOR 1 OF BUY 4 . . . GET 1 FREE! THE “BONUS GIFT” TITLES IDENTIFIED BY THE

NEW ZORK© TRILOGY™ ZORK© I BATTLETECH©: THE CRESCENT Infocom’s 3 most popular sto- Zork I is “the program which all ries together at last! Your quest other computerized adventures HAWK’S INCEPTION™ for the fabulous Treasures of Zork are judged.”—Playboy. In this story, War is the way of life through- takes you further and further into a great starting point for first-time out the Human Sphere in the the Great Underground Empire. players, you travel into the Great 31st century. You, 18-year-old You’ll come to expect the unex- Underground Empire in search of Jason Youngblood, are training pected—such as the Wizard of the fabulous Treasures of Zork. to be one of the elite warriors, Frobozz who specializes in materializing at odd All versions except Atari XL/XE, Atari ST and Amiga waging battle in 20-ton death moments and casting bothersome spells. include on-screen hints. Written by Marc Blank and machines called BattleMechs. As the force of the Dungeon Master draws you Dave Lebling. (Apple II and IBM versions require But your education is violently interrupted by an deeper into his mysterious inner sanctum, nothing 128K. Macintosh version requires 512K.) enemy invasion, and then you’re on your own to is as it seems. You’ll need to summon all your cour- ITEM #1490 C64/128 $14.95 save your planet and your life. age and wisdom to prove yourself worthy of the ITEM #1491 Apple II $14.95 BattleTech challenges your combat strategy Master’s Great Secret—and of life itself. ITEM #1492 IBM $14.95 skills, and lets you explore the more than 4 million ITEM #1356 C64/128 $44.95 ITEM #1493 Amiga $14.95 individual locations of the game. Exciting graphics ITEM #1357 Apple II $49.95 ITEM #1494 Macintosh $19.95 and animation show you everything, from your ITEM #1358 IBM $49.95 ITEM #1495 Atari ST $14.95 BattleMech’s status to your immediate geography ITEM #1359 Amiga $49.95 ITEM #1496 Atari XL/XE $14.95 to closeups of the action, Learn strategy and accu- ITEM #1360 Macintosh $49.95 ITEM #1497 InvisiClues™ $7.95 mulate supplies at ‘The Arena,” a gladiatorial mod- ITEM #1361 Atari ST $49.95 ule you can play again and again. BattleTech is a ITEM #1362 Atari XL/XE $44.95 ZORK© II fully-integrated part of FASA’s BattleTech universe. ITEM #1363 InvisiClues™ $12.95 Journey to a long hidden region (Requires CGA, EGA, VGA, MCGA or Tandy graph- of the Great Underground Empire, ics and 384K.) BEYOND ZORK™ dominated by the frivolous Wiz- ITEM #1225 IBM $49.95 Dread times have befallen the ard of Frobozz. Exiled years be- Kingdom of Quendor. The wiz- fore, the befuddled Wizard is still NEW ards have mysteriously disappear- a force to be reckoned with, mate- QUARTERSTAFF™: ed and vicious monsters haunt the rializing at odd moments to cast THE TOMB OF SETMOTH™ streets and wastelands. Now it bothersome spells. There are many curiosities to Enmeshed in the roots be- falls on you, a lowly peasant, to explore in his realm, including the garden of an neath a large and ancient oak unravel the meaning behind these elusive Unicorn and a maze of Oddly-Angled tree lies the labyrinth home of ominous events. Rooms. Written by Dave Lebling and Marc Blank. the peaceful Tree Druids. But You start by designing your own character, ITEM #1526 C64/128 $14.95 that quiet colony, now deserted, blending attributes such as strength, endurance, ITEM #1527 Apple II $14.95 hides the Dreadful secret of the compassion and luck. Your search for the answer ITEM #1528 IBM $14.95 Druids’ sudden disappearance. will lead you deep underground, where unspeak- ITEM #1529 Amiga $14.95 Parties of brave adventurers have gone in search of able monsters guard the world’s most fabulous ITEM #1530 Macintosh $14.95 the key to the mystery—and no one has returned. treasure—the fabled Coconut of Quendor. Includes ITEM #1531 Atari ST $14.95 Now you, and anyone you can find to help, are the on-screen map. Written by Brian Moriarty. (All ver- ITEM #1532 Atari XL/XE $14.95 Druids’ last hope. It is your turn to descend into sions require at least 128K. Macintosh and Amiga ITEM #1533 InvisiClues™ $7.95 the dark, twisting underground caverns to discov- versions require 512K. IBM version requires 192K.) © er the fate of the Druids. ITEM #1326 C128 $44.95 ZORK III When first developed, this fantasy role-playing ITEM #1327 Apple II $49.95 For the ultimate test of your wis- game received a four-mouse rating from Mac User ITEM #1328 IBM $49.95 dom and courage, the Dungeon and a perfect five-star rating from Dragon Maga- ITEM #1329 Amiga $49.95 Master draws you into the deepest zine. Now we’ve added a little Infocom magic, plus ITEM #1330 Macintosh $49.95 and most mysterious reaches of a spectacular Macintosh inter-face with realistic ITEM #1331 Atari ST $49.95 the Great Underground Empire. sound, sparkling color and black and white graph- ITEM #1222 Apple II GS $49.95 Nothing is as it seems—and the ics, hierarchical menus, context-sensitive on-screen ITEM #1332 InvisiClues™ $9.95 Dungeon Master embodies the hints, and a dynamic map window. (Requires © greatest mystery of all. To finish the story, you’ll MacPlus, SE or II with 1 Meg of RAM. Color re- LEATHER GODDESSES OF PHOBOS need to discover why you are in the perilous ruins quires Mac II with 2 Meg of RAM and 16-color “Leather Goddesses of Phobos is of the empire and what you are supposed to be Video Card.) an uproarious role-playing romp doing there. Written by Marc Blank and Dave ITEM #1223 Macintosh $49.95 that heralds a new breed of com- Lebling. puter games.”—Newsweek ITEM #1554 C64/128 $14.95 NEW! How did you, a regular at Joe’s ITEM #1555 Apple II $14.95 ZORK© ZERO Bar in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, end ITEM #1556 IBM $14.95 up on a Martian Moon? What ITEM #1557 Amiga $14.95 Travel hack through the mists of delights await you in the luxurious chambers of time to Dimwit Flathead’s court in ITEM #1558 Macintosh $14.95 the Harem? Can you stop the Leather Goddesses’ ITEM #1559 Atari ST $14.95 the very last hours of the Great fiendish plot to turn the Earth into their own per- Underground Empire, where you ITEM #1560 Atari XL/XE $14.95 sonal sex playground? ITEM #1561 InvisiClues™ $7.95 witness the powerful curse of Find these answers and more in this titillating Megaboz. You wake up years later romp through the solar system. Leather Goddesses as one of your own descendents of Phobos features three levels of play, (Tame, Sug- CORNERSTONE™ (isn’t fantasy wonderful?) and embark on an adven- gestive and Lewd) to satisfy all appetites. Written Control is the key to maximum productivity ture that tells the story behind the story of the clas- by Steve Meretzky. All versions but Atari XL/XE, with any information management system and sic Zork Trilogy. Larger than any previous Infocom Atari ST and Amiga include on-screen hints. (Apple Cornerstone gives you full control from start to story, Zork Zero is bursting with dastardly graphi- II and IBM versions require 128K. Macintosh ver- finish. Cornerstone is as easy to learn as it is to cal puzzles, maniacal riddles, and more challenge sion requires 512K.) use. The on-line help system is sensitive to than the other Zorks combined. An amazing and ITEM #1364 C64/128 $14.95 your immediate needs and the unique options aggravating court jester pops up when least ex- ITEM #1365 Apple II $14.95 pected to tease and test you, and he takes your key lets you know what you can do next. “For ITEM #1366 IBM $14.95 sheer value and power, we have to give the top gaming skills to the limit in a devilish round of ITEM #1367 Amiga $14.95 Double Fanucci. We keep the adventure going rating to Cornerstone.”—InfoWorld. (Requires ITEM #1368 Macintosh $19.95 with on-screen hints, a friendlier parser, and on- 384K Memory, 2 Floppy Disk Drives or 1 ITEM #1369 Atari ST $14.95 Floppy and 1 Hard Disk Drive, and PC-DOS 2.0, screen maps. Zork Zero is the creation of the de- ITEM #1370 Atari XL/XE $14.95 ranged Steve Meretzky. (Supports color on Mac II.) 2.1, 3.0 or 3.1.) ITEM #1371 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1416 IBM $29.95 ITEM #1224 Macintosh $59.95

BUY ANY 4 TITLES... AND QUALIFY FOR 1 OF BUY 4 . . . GET 1 FREE! THE “BONUS GIFT” TITLES IDENTIFIED BY THE

THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO INFOCOMICS™ All the Fun of Comic Books on Your Computer! THE GALAXY™ This new dimension in entertainment software brings Who better to guide you comic books to life on your computer. But because through the Hitchhiker’s Guide it’s an Infocomic, there’s much more. The panels of an than the man who created the

Infocomic use sounds and exciting cinematic effects to concept and wrote the famous bring the colorful graphics to life and draw you into books and radio scripts? Douglas the action. You’ll even get to see the story unfold from Adams himself recreates the the perspective of each of the main characters. (Apple Hitchhiker universe and sets

II version requires 128K Memory, IBM version requires you free to roam at will. Of course, once Earth is

256K Memory and Color demolished for an interstellar bypass, freedom’s

Graphics Card. Not available for IBM PCjr.) just another word for nothing left to lose. But chin

up, you’re headed for a hilarious series of interga- LANE MASTODON™ VS THE GAMMA FORCE™ IN THE PIT OF lactic misadventures. So grab a pint of bitter and a BLUBBERMEN A THOUSAND SCREAMS couple for the road and join Ford Perfect, Trillian and friends on a cosmic jaunt into the outer Lane Mastodon, accountant turned superhero, This exciting superhero series features a Water- reaches where anything can—and does—happen. save humanity from the Blubbermen of Jupiter in beast of indomitable strength, a Human gifted with Written by Steve Meretzky. All versions except this cornball spoof of 1930’s space operas! flight and future visions and an elfin Princess of Atari XL/XE, Atari ST and Amiga include on-screen ITEM #1301 C64/128 $12.00 unearthly power. See the origins of the trio as they hints. (Apple II and IBM versions require 128K. ITEM #1302 Apple II $12.00 team-up to free their planet from an evil overlord Macintosh version requires 512K.) ITEM #1303 IBM $12.00 and his Pit of a Thousand Screams. ITEM #1538 C64/128 $14.95 ITEM #1304 C64/128 $12.00 ® ITEM #1539 Apple II $14.95 ZORK QUEST: ITEM #1305 Apple II $12.00 ITEM #1540 IBM $14.95 ASSAULT ON EGRETH CASTLE ITEM #1306 IBM $12.00 ITEM #1541 Amiga $14.95 Set in the fabulous world of Zork, a magic amulet ZORK® QUEST: ITEM #1542 Macintosh $19.95 leads a small caravan of travelers to mysterious ITEM #1543 Atari ST $14.95 Egreth Castle, the moldering lair of trolls, hobgob- THE CRYSTAL OF DOOM ITEM #1544 Atari XL/XE $14.95 lins, night gaunts and a diabolical wizard. The second in this fantasy series. ITEM #1545 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1307 C64/128 $12.00 ITEM #1562 C64/128 $12.00 ITEM #1308 Apple II $12.00 ITEM #1563 Apple II $12.00 PLANETFALL® ITEM #1309 IBM $12.00 ITEM #1564 IBM $12.00 Award-winning and ever-pop- ular Planetfall, Steve Meretzky’s HOLLYWOOD HIJINX™ BALLYHOO™ first interactive fiction story, was Your Uncle Buddy Burbank The circus is a place where called “just about worth the pur- (famous Hollywood producer) dreams come true. At least, that’s chase of a computer” by Mem- and his wife, Hildegard have what you think... until you get phis Magazine. As the story be- passed away. And lucky you behind the scenes. Beyond the gins 120 centuries in the future, have inherited their mansion, spangles lies a seedy world of you’re a lowly deck-swabber in the stellar patrol. filled with a lifetime of Holly- deception and crime. Exploring Then your ship explodes and you’re jettisoned on a wood memorabilia. But there’s the tattered corners of the circus mysterious deserted planet. Luckily you have Floyd, one stipulation—you can only lot, you learn that the owner’s daughter has been a multipurpose robot with the personality of a mis- claim your booty if you find the treasures hidden kidnapped. Good samaritan that you are, you de- chievous 8-year-old who easily takes the prize for throughout the sprawling estate in one short night. cide to find her. But watch your step. Or the kid- the best-loved Infocom character. Includes on- “You can’t help but be entertained.”—Analog napper will set you up for a permanent slot in the screen hints. (Apple II and IBM versions require Computing freak show. A unique puzzle-oriented mystery. 128K. Macintosh version requires 512K.) ITEM #1372 C64/128 $14.95 ITEM #1408 C64/128 $14.95 ITEM #1565 C64/128 $14.95 ITEM #1373 Apple II $14.95 ITEM #1409 Apple II $14.95 ITEM #1566 Apple II $14.95 ITEM #1374 IBM $14.95 ITEM #1410 IBM $14.95 ITEM #1567 IBM $14.95 ITEM #1375 Amiga $14.95 ITEM #1411 Amiga $14.95 ITEM #1568 Macintosh $14.95 ITEM #1376 Macintosh $14.95 ITEM #1412 Macintosh $14.95 ITEM #1377 Atari ST $14.95 ITEM #1413 Atari ST $14.95 A MIND FOREVER VOYAGING™ ITEM #1378 InvisiClues™ $9.95 ITEM #1414 Atari XL/XE $14.95 It’s 2031. The world is on the ITEM #1415 InvisiClues™ $7.95 brink of chaos. In the United INFIDEL® ® States of North America, our lead- A soldier of fortune by trade, SEASTALKER ers have developed The Plan for you’ve come to the Egyptian Journey through a suspenseful Renewed National Purpose. Will desert in search of a great lost undersea world in your own The Plan ensure peace and pros- pyramid. Now you’ve been ma- submarine, the Scimitar. Never perity? Or will it set the earth on rooned by your workers and mind that it hasn’t been tested in a suicide course to destruction? As the world’s first must struggle along to locate deep water. As an undersea ex- conscious, intelligent computer, only you have the and enter the tomb, decipher its plorer and renowned inventor, ability to enter a simulation of the future and test hieroglyphics and unravel its mysteries. Death licks you’re used to taking risks. When The Plan’s effectiveness. “A.M.F.V. isn’t 1984, but at your heels as you race to the shattering climax of the alarm sounds at the under sea research center, in some ways it’s even scarier”—Newsweek. Writ- this match of wits between you and the most in- you must learn to operate and pilot the submarine ten by Steve Meretzky. (All versions require at least genious architects, builders and murderers of all in time to save the center from a menacing sea 128K. Macintosh and Amiga versions require 512K.) time—the ancient Egyptians. monster. ITEM #1546 C128 $14.95 ITEM #1384 C64/128 $9.95 “Though pitched to the younger set, Seastalker ITEM #1547 Apple II $14.95 ITEM #1385 Apple II $9.95 can just as easily enthrall an oldster.”—People ITEM #1548 IBM $14.95 ITEM #1386 IBM $9.95 ITEM #1447 C64/128 $9.95 ITEM #1549 Amiga $14.95 ITEM #1387 Amiga $9.95 ITEM #1448 Apple II $9.95 ITEM #1550 Macintosh $14.95 ITEM #1388 Macintosh $9.95 ITEM #1449 IBM $9.95 ITEM #1551 Atari ST $14.95 ITEM #1389 Atari ST $9.95 ITEM #1450 Amiga $9.95 ITEM #1553 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1390 Atari XL/XE $9.95 ITEM #1451 Macintosh $9.95 ITEM #7391 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1452 Atari ST $9.95 SPECIAL OFFER ITEM #1453 Atari XL/XE $9.95 Buy Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Planetfall ITEM #1454 InvisiClues™ $7.95 and A Mind Forever Voyaging in the Science Fiction Classics™ Package for only $29.85. (Does not include on-screen hints.) A savings of $15.00! ITEM #1534 C64/128 ITEM #1535 Apple II TO ORDER OR ASK A QUESTION, CALL TOLL-FREE 800-227-6900 ITEM #1536 IBM ITEM #1537 Macintosh

BUY ANY 4 TITLES... AND QUALIFY FOR 1 OF BUY 4 . . . GET 1 FREE! THE “BONUS GIFT” TITLES IDENTIFIED BY THE

THE WITNESS® LOWEST PRICE EVER! SHERLOCK: THE RIDDLE OF THE February 1938. Los Angeles. STATIONFALL™ CROWN JEWELS™ FDR’s New Deal is rolling. Hit- Planetfall has long been a favor- Travel back in time to Victorian ler’s rolling, too; this time through ite of Infocom fans. Now Floyd is London, where the city is bustling Austria. But as Chief Detective for back in the boffoid sequel! with preparations for Her Maj- a quiet burgh on the outskirts of Since your incredible heroics in esty’s Golden Jubilee. But, unbe- L.A., you’ve got other fish to fry. Planetfall, things have hardly knownst to the celebrants throng- One gilt-edged society dame is changed at all. Life in The Stellar ing the city, a crisis has arisen: the dead. And now it looks like some two-bit drifter is Patrol is still a bore. Today’s thrill- Crown Jewels have been stolen putting the screws to her multi-millionaire old ing assignment: travel to a space station to pick up from the Tower of London. If they’re not recover- man. Then you step in, and the shakedown turns some trivial forms. Arriving at the space station, ed before the festivities begin, the theft will be ugly. You’re left with a stiff and a race against the you find it strangely deserted with a spooky alien exposed and the government will fall into interna- clock to nail your suspect . . . unless you get nailed ship resting in a dock bay. Luckily, Floyd is on hand tional disgrace. first. to help you identify and overcome the dangerous Use your wits, intuition and a myriad of clues to ITEM #1498 C64/128 $9.95 forces at work. But then, even he begins acting solve the riddles and piece together the mystery. ITEM #1499 Apple II $9.95 oddly... written by Steve Meretzky Includes on- screen hints. (All versions except ITEM #1500 IBM $9.95 ITEM #1341 C64/128 $14.95 C64/128 require at least 128K. Macintosh and ITEM #1501 Amiga $9.95 ITEM #1342 Apple II $14.95 Amiga versions require 512K.) ITEM #1502 Macintosh $9.95 ITEM #1343 IBM $14.95 ITEM #1316 C64/128 $34.95 ITEM #1503 Atari ST $9.95 ITEM #1344 Amiga $14.95 ITEM #1317 Apple II $39.95 ITEM #1504 Atari XL/XE $9.95 ITEM #1345 Macintosh $14.95 ITEM #1318 IBM $42.95 ITEM #1505 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1346 Atari ST $14.95 ITEM #1319 Macintosh $39.95

ITEM #1347 Atari XL/XE $14.95 ITEM #1320 Amiga $39.95 SUSPECT® ITEM #1348 InvisiClues™ $9.95 WISHBRINGER® At an elegant costume ball, you mingle with bluebloods and “There’s no better introduction power brokers. It’s a delightful BORDER ZONE™ to the richness of adventure- evening —until you go from un- Where the Iron Curtain divides gaming experience than this beau- suspecting newspaper reporter to East and West, the frontier is a no- tiful, imaginative game.”—inCider murder suspect. It takes all your man’s land between freedom and When the story begins, your life as newspaper skills of observation, captivity. In Border Zone, you a postal clerk in the seaside village of deduction and interrogation to come up with the cross this barrier not once, but Festeron, is quite ordinary. But proof of your innocence. Don’t dally over the three times—as an easy-going when you’re asked to deliver a strange envelope to champagne—you only have ‘til morning. Written by American businessman, an the outskirts of town, things become quite extraordi- Dave Lebling. ambitious young American Spy and a and a ruthless nary. All versions except Atari XL/XE, Atari ST and ITEM #1506 C64/128 $14.95 KGB agent—in this fast-paced story of international Amiga include on-screen hints. Written by Brian ITEM #1507 Apple II $14.95 intrigue. Moriarty. (Apple II and IBM versions require 128K. ITEM #1508 IBM $14.95 The pulse-pounding tension of espionage is Macintosh version requires 512K.) ITEM #1509 Amiga $14.95 heightened by the addition of real time, which ITEM #1400 C64/128 $14.95 ITEM #1510 Macintosh $14.95 ticks on regardless of your actions. As you race ITEM #1401 Apple II $14.95 ITEM #1511 Atari ST $14.95 against the clock to complete your missions, you’ll ITEM #1402 IBM $14.95 ITEM #1512 Atari XL/XE $14.95 find yourself caught up in an incredibly suspense- ITEM #1403 Amiga $14.95 ITEM #1513 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ful and spine-tingling adventure. Includes on- ITEM #1404 Macintosh $19.95 screen hints. (All versions except C64/128 require ITEM #1405 Atari ST $14.95 MOONMIST™ at least 128K. Macintosh version requires 512K.) ITEM #1406 Atari XL/XE $14.95 ITEM #1322 C64/128 $34.95 ITEM #1407 InvisiClues™ $7.95 More ghosts haunt the misty seacoast and stone ramparts of ITEM #1323 Apple II $39.95 ® ITEM #1324 IBM $39.95 CUTTHROATS Cornwall than any place on earth. Hardscrabble Island is a little seaport that’s about One such soul roams Tresyllian ITEM #1325 Macintosh $39.95 as picturesque as it sounds. As an expert diver, you Castle. You arrive at the castle in ® have agreed to help salvage the sunken treasure response to an urgent plea from SUSPENDED Winner of numerous accolades from one of the four local shipwrecks. The only your friend. Her life is threatened thing between you and the treasure is the gang of and the culprit seems to be the ghost. You’ll meet and awards—your library is in- complete without this highly cutthroat characters you’re working with. Of an eccentric cast of characters as you hunt down course, the only link between you and the treasure the phantom and search for secret treasures. challenging game. You awake from a cryogenic is those same cutthroat characters. Moonmist has four variations, each with a different ITEM #1392 C64/128 $14.95 guilty party, hidden treasure and hiding place. suspension when an earthquake destroys the systems of the under ITEM #1393 Apple II $14.95 ITEM #1514 C64/128 $14.95 ITEM #1394 IBM $14.95 ground complex you inhabit. You’re the only one ITEM #1515 Apple II $14.95 ITEM #1395 Amiga $14.95 ITEM #1516 IBM $14.95 capable of putting things right, but you must do so ITEM #1396 Macintosh $14.95 ITEM #1517 Amiga $14.95 from within your cyrogenic capsule, commanding ITEM #1397 Atari ST $14.95 ITEM #1518 Macintosh $14.95 your six robots to perform actions for you. ITEM #1398 Atari XL/XE $14.95 ITEM #1519 Atari ST $14.95 ITEM #1439 C64/128 $9.95 ITEM #1399 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1440 Apple II $9.95 ITEM #1520 Atari XL/XE $14.95 ® ITEM #1521 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1441 IBM $9.95 STARCROSS ITEM #1442 Amiga $9.95 You’re a down-at-the-heels asteroid miner in the ITEM #1443 Macintosh $9.95 year 2186. While searching for black holes, you ITEM #1444 Atari ST $9.95 find an apparently abandoned spaceship. After you SPECIAL OFFER ITEM #1445 Atari XL/XE $9.95 succeed in gaining entry to its mysterious interior, Buy The Witness, Suspect and ITEM #1446 InvisiClues™ $7.95 you find that it contains a community of other Moonmist in the Classic Mystery worldly beings, as well as a challenging puzzle Library™ Package for only $29.85. whose solution could be the key to the galaxy. A savings of $10.00! For your convenience in placing an order or Written by Dave Lebling. ITEM #1534 C64/128 ITEM #1535 Apple II ITEM #1536 IBM ITEM #1537 Macintosh asking a question ITEM #1431 C64/128 $9.95 CALL TOLL-FREE ITEM #1432 Apple II $9.95 ITEM #1433 IBM $9.95 (800) 227-6900 ITEM #1434 Amiga $9.95 Monday-Friday 6AM-6PM ITEM #1435 Macintosh $9.95 ITEM #1436 Atari ST $9.95 Saturday 9AM-4PM Pacific time ITEM #1437 Atari XL/XE $9.95 ITEM #1438 InvisiClues™ $7.95

BUY ANY 4 TITLES... AND QUALIFY FOR 1 OF BUY 4 . . . GET 1 FREE! THE “BONUS GIFT” TITLES IDENTIFIED BY THE

LOWEST PRICE EVER! ENCHANTER® LOWEST PRICE EVER! PLUNDERED HEARTS™ Enchanter is the introduction to THE LURKING HORROR™ In the 17th century, the seas are the highly acclaimed Enchanter Ever since you arrived G.U.E. as wild as the untamed heart of a Trilogy which takes you to a world Tech, you’ve heard stories about young woman. But as you set out of magic, where spells are power the creepy old campus base- for the West Indies, your thoughts and magicians rule the land. As a ments and storage rooms. Until are only of your ailing father novice magician, you are sent to now, you’ve kept a safe distance. awaiting your care. do battle with the warlock Krill. But tonight, something draws Your innocent journey turns To succeed in your quest, you’ll need to use all the you down into the mysterious dangerous as you barely survive an encounter with cunning you can muster, along with spells acquir- depths of the institute. Suddenly, you’re in a world pirates and other obstacles you must overcome ed on the way. By Dave Lebling and Marc Blank. that rivals your most hideous visions, a realm of with your cunning and agility. True, it’s not easy; ITEM #1459 C64/128 $14.95 horror lurking beneath the calm corridors and but at least you can control your fate. What you ITEM #1460 Apple II $14.95 study halls. cannot control is much more dangerous: your pas- ITEM #1461 IBM $14.95 Shapes emerge from dark corners. Eerie sounds sion for Nicholas Jamison, the handsome pirate ITEM #1462 Amiga $14.95 draw closer. Slimy passageways lead to sights so captain. ITEM #1463 Macintosh $14.95 horrifying that they will feed your nightmares for ITEM #1333 C64/128 $14.95 ITEM #1464 Atari ST $14.95 weeks. Written by Dave Lebling. ITEM #1334 Apple II $14.95 ITEM #1465 Atari XL/XE $14.95 ITEM #1349 C64/128 $14.95 ITEM #1335 IBM $14.95 ITEM #1466 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1350 Apple II $14.95

ITEM #1336 Amiga $14.95 ® ITEM #1351 IBM $14.95 ITEM #1337 Macintosh $14.95 SORCERER ITEM #1352 Amiga $14.95 ITEM #1338 Atari ST $14.95 In Steve Meretzky’s Sorcerer, ITEM #1353 Macintosh $14.95 ITEM #1339 Atari XL/XE $14.95 you have advanced to the illustri- ITEM #1354 Atari ST $14.95 ITEM #1340 InvisiClues™ $9.95 ous Circle of Enchanters. Now you ITEM #1355 Atari XL/XE $14.95 must show an even greater com- ITEM #1348 InvisiClues™ $9.95 LOWEST PRICE EVER! mand of magic as you attempt to ® NORD AND BERT COULDN’T MAKE rescue your mentor Belboz and DEADLINE defeat the evil demon Jeearr. “The A classic! The first computer HEAD OR TAIL OF IT™ world of Sorcerer is rich in detail and wonderment. mystery. Eight Tales of Cliches, Spoonerisms and The final solution is like a delicate orchid achiev- As the chief of detectives, Other Verbal Trickery ing full bloom. Long after the game is over, the you’re up against a 12-hour time If you’re looking for a fun way heady fragrance stays with you.”—St. Game. limit trying to solve a classic to spend an evening alone or ITEM #1467 C64/128 $14.95 locked-door mystery. A wealthy with friends, Nord and Bert ITEM #1468 Apple II $14.95 industrialist is dead of a drug could be just the ticket. ITEM #1469 IBM $14.95 overdose and you’ve been called in to determine Nord and Bert takes you to the ITEM #1470 Amiga $14.95 whether it’s suicide or murder. To learn “who- mixed-up town of Punster, where ITEM #1471 Macintosh $14.95 dunit”, you must sift through a myriad of clues and nothing is quite as it seems. It’s a ITEM #1472 Atari ST $14.95 motives. No easy feat, for all six of your suspects place where you really can make a mountain out of ITEM #1473 Atari XL/XE $14.95 exercise free will—coming and going, scheming a molehill, where “the fur is flying” is taken literally ITEM #1474 InvisiClues™ $7.95 and maneuvering independently of your actions. and where a happy Sam is transformed to a sappy Written by Marc Blank. ham. SPELLBREAKER™ ITEM #1424 C64/128 $9.95 Each of the eight short stories involves a differ- As leader of the Circle of En- ITEM #1425 Apple II $9.95 ent type of wordplay. Includes on-screen hints. (All chanters and the most powerful ITEM #1426 IBM $9.95 versions except C64/128 require at least 128K. magician in the land, you face a ITEM #1427 Macintosh $9.95 Macintosh and Amiga versions require 512K.) crisis in Spellbreaker. Magic itself ITEM #1428 Atari ST $9.95 ITEM #1310 C64/128 $14.95 is failing, and you must save the ITEM #1429 Atari XL/XE $9.95 ITEM #1311 Apple II $14.95 kingdom even as your own pow- ITEM #1430 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1312 IBM $14.95 ers fade. Author Dave Lebling has ITEM #1313 Amiga $14.95 created a complex story with some of the hardest BUREAUCRACY™ ITEM #1314 Macintosh $14.95 puzzles in interactive fiction. Spellbreaker is sheer Douglas Adam’s interactive ITEM #1315 Atari ST $14.95 joy... It’s the perfect conclusion for the Enchanter version of Hitchhiker’s Guide to

® Trilogy, which can now join the classic Zork Tril- the Galaxy was a runaway suc- TRINITY ogy as a must-have for all fantasy gamers.”— cess. Now the distinctive humor It’s the last day of your London Computer Entertainer. that made Hitchhiker’s a #1 best- vacation. Unfortunately, it’s also ITEM #1475 C64/128 $14.95 seller will keep you in stitches in the first day of World War III… ITEM #1476 Apple II $14.95 Bureaucracy. Author Brian Moriarty has cre- ITEM #1477 IBM $14.95 Everyone, at one time or another, feels bound ated an epic odyssey across the ITEM #1478 Amiga $14.95 up in an endless swathe of red tape. In Bureauc- borders of reality, in a world remi- ITEM #1479 Macintosh $14.95 racy, you’ll find yourself in the midst of a bureau- niscent of Alice in Wonderland ITEM #1480 Atari ST $14.95 cratic muddle so convoluted that you can’t help and The Twilight Zone. ITEM #1481 Atari XL/XE $14.95 but laugh. “Trinity mixes logic and magic with history and ITEM #1482 InvisiClues™ $7.95 You’ve just landed a great new job and moved to fiction. Often poetic in its imagery, the evocative a spiffy house in a nice little town. You’re even prose is as entertaining to read as the puzzles are FOOBLITZKY™ being sent to Paris this very afternoon for a combi- to solve.”—Family Computing Fooblitzky is a unique graphics strategy game for nation training seminar and vacation. What could (All systems require at least 128K. Macintosh and 2 to 4 players. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, as you rove possibly go wrong? The answer, of course, is every- Amiga versions require 512K.) the crowded streets and busy shops of Fooblitzky, thing. ITEM #1417 C128 $14.95 trying to deduce and obtain the four objects need- (All versions require at least 128K. Macintosh ITEM #1418 Apple II $14.95 ed to win the game. Victory depends on how well and Amiga versions require 512K.) ITEM #1419 IBM $14.95 you use funds, keep records and outsmart your ITEM #1379 C128 $14.95 ITEM #1420 Amiga $14.95 opponents. (Requires 128K, IBM version requires ITEM #1380 Apple II $14.95 ITEM #1421 Macintosh $14.95 Graphics Card with Composite Monitor recom- ITEM #1381 IBM $14.95 ITEM #1422 Atari ST $14.95 mended.) ITEM #1458 Amiga $14.95 ITEM #1423 InvisiClues™ $7.95 ITEM #1455 Apple II $9.95 ITEM #1382 Macintosh $14.95 ITEM #1456 IBM $9.95 ITEM #1383 Atari ST $14.95 ITEM #1457 Atari XL/XE $9.95 ITEM #1378 InvisiClues™ $9.95

TO ORDER OR ASK A QUESTION, CALL TOLL-FREE 800-227-6900