® “All the Gnus Weather: Thic fog, followed That Fit, We Print” The New Times by brief but savage downpour. VOL. 4. . . .No. 2 —SUMMER 1985— INTERFERON EDITION New Release:

A Mind Forever Voyaging, the first were to be introduced. While you're advanced-level Science Fiction story busy exploring the future, the scien- from , is for true text- tists and programmers who created adventure buffs. Why? Because it you are honing and perfecting the has more locations to visit (several simulation's parameters. Thus, as the hundred), more things to do, more story progresses, you can travel responses, and a large vocabulary further and further in time, watching (1800+ words) than any of our previ- Rockvil prosper as the Plan ously released products. succeeds, or perish as it fails. Only The story takes place in 21st- you can tell on what course the century Rockvil, South Dakota. The country sets itself by adopting the United States of North America has Plan. fallen prey to incredibly high unem- While there are several puzzles to ployment and crime rates. Political keep players on their toes, designer indiffererence, perhaps caused by (author of backward educational systems or and Sorcerer, and co-author of The diminishing national resources, has Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) Items from Dr. Perleman’s desk are contained in every A Mind Forever swept the nation. Exploiting this op- concentrated more on immersing the Voyaging package. portunity, Senator Richard Ryder has player in a vast, highly detailed, develop (sic) the Plan for a Renewed realistic world; a vision of the National Purpose, stressing patriot- destiny of mankind. A Mind Forever Run For Your Lives! It’s ism and a return to American values Voyaging represents Infocom's as they were at the country's peak, greatest step yet away from games, the 1950s. The public, desperate for and toward true fiction: a serious, FOOBLITZKY a change, embraces the Plan, but often chilling, look at the future of many high government officials are the human race, reminiscent of such A Unique Graphics Strategy Game unsure whether it will succeed. That great works of science fiction as is where you come into the picture. 1984 or Brave New World. Infocom? Graphics? about any game is how much fun it You are PRISM (Perelman-Randu What makes an epic game like this No, hell hasn't frozen over. Pigs is, how enjoyable it is to play, not Introductory Soliptic Machine); the possible? "plus", haven't sprouted wings. But Infocom whether it does or doesn't have first intelligent, self-aware computer. the latest development system from is announcing its first non-interactive graphics. And Fooblitzky is a winner. You have been created to enter a Infocom, designed to complement fiction game — and it does have Already, there are addicts at simulation of Rockvil, years in the our currently-used "classic" system. graphics. Infocom. future, and return with recordings of "It's a hoax," you're thinking. Logic, deduction, chance, and what life would be like if the Plan Continued on Page 3 "Infocom would never use graphics social interaction are all big parts of to illustrate locations in text Fooblitzky — just like deductive adventures. Infocom hates graphics." reasoning is a part of Clue® and Well, yes and no. Mastermind®. (Fooblitzky reminds InfoNews Roundup Infocom has yet to see computer some people of a cross between graphics that add to the quality of a those games, even though its theme Event pastries. Over 300 people joined us text adventure. There may be ways is completely different.) Fooblitzky to celebrate the release of our 16th in which graphics could be used is a multiplayer game — 2, 3, or 4 This time it was not a mansion but a title. more subtly to enhance your mental people can play. The name museum, there were no murders, no Those who attended were treated imagery. But with today's machine "Fooblitzky" was chosen because it's clues, not a puzzle to be solved. Not to speeches from our Marc "Mark" resolutions, and even with proposed easy to remember and incredibly unless you found it a puzzling Blank, Jon "Buckingham" Palace, advancements in technology, difficult to pronounce. experience to have a good time. The Mike "Max the Knife" (Stan) graphics can't begin to compete with Okay, so the name is goofy. The event was the Wishbringer Dornbrook, and even the professor the scenes and characters you can game is goofy. But it's sophisticated announcement, and a good time was himself. The presentation drew a imagine. Therefore, Infocom still goofiness. had by all. standing-room-only crowd (thanks to firmly believes that words paint the The roots of Fooblitzky go back This party was held in the Field Max, who was seen before the party most vivid images in your mind. more than 2 years. and Museum of Natural History in removing the auditorium's 200 Of course, there is a place for wanted to develop Chicago. And it was no coincidence folding chairs!). graphics today: in a completely something unique, something totally that Summer CES was in Chicago as The party was more than anyone different setting and in a completely different from text adventures — or well. The press, distributors, and could have wished for, especially if different kind of game. In fact, any other kind of computer game. many of our own Infoployees you were one of the seven lucky Fooblitzky is all graphics, and has They hired a crazed crackerjack art- (including Wishbringer implementor prize winners. Infocom drew names more graphics in it than any other ist, Brian Cody, and a programming "Professor" ) attended from a crystal punch bowl to award computer game on the market. an evening of music, dancing, and But the really important thing Continued on Page 3 the 3 p's: presentation, prizes, and Continued on Page 3 PAGE 2 THE NEW ZORK TIMES SUMMER 1985

David Alan Hoag feature, "Searching for the Relics of translation of Zork for the PDP-11/ Mail Bag Placentia, CA the Emu," which appeared in the V-11 (translated from MDL for the You will notice that the number of Spring '85 issue of The New Zork ARPANET), the dam tour guidebook Dear Infocom: entries was down this time. Also, Times. I look forward to seeing the claims that FCD#3 was composed of What a great puzzle! I solved don't forget that The New Zork Times proper photographs in your next "3.7 cubic feet of concrete." To the puzzle number 5 two days after Puzzle Winner T-shirts can't be issue. Incidentally, I recently partici- best of my knowledge, it is very receiving my latest copy of The New bought — you must solve the puzzle pated in a research project at difficult, if not impossible, to take a Zork Times, but I had to replay Zork to own one — Ed. Hellspont Historical Institute which lump of concrete measuring one foot II to determine whether "FEEL uncovered startling evidence that the by one foot by three point seven feet FREE" was in the Crypt Anteroom Hi, Emus were NOT wiped out by the and build a structure the size of or the Crypt. I had made a Zork II encroachment of western man, but FCD#3. While on the topic of the I was really making progress on map, but I loaned it out, and my were instead conquered by a race of guidebook, how come the present the NZT puzzle in the Winter issue. I friend lost it. He claimed a little guy malignant Yaks native to mountain- day versions of don't mention have all the Infocom games and with a beard and pointy hat just ous New Zealand. A fellow the work force of "384 slaves, 34 spent hours and hours researching popped in, waved a wand, mumbled researcher proved this invasion pos- slave drivers, 12 engineers, 2 turtle the questions and filling in my grid. I something like "Filch," and the map sible by successfully traversing the doves and a partridge in a pear tree" had a ways to go but felt I was on the just vanished. The loss had occurred treacherous between New Zealand or the command team of "234 right track when I was called on to some time ago, and this current and Tasmania in a coracle made en- bureaucrats, 2,347 secretaries (at babysit a friend's cat. puzzle was just the motivation I tirely of spun Yak hair. The creatures least two of whom could type), To make a long story short, the cat, needed to play the game again to the Europeans discovered were the 12,256 paper shufflers, 52,469 unknown to me, had a craving for remap Zork II's world. sad remnants of their proud race, rubber stampers, 245,193 red tape graph paper and ate my almost who quickly died of culture shock processors, and nearly one million I must say, however, that I appreci- complete grid. (She gave birth to a from exposure to gunpowder weap- dead trees?" Keep The Times ate the definitive Infocom trivia little of black and white checked ons, canvas, and "pick-a-path" game coming. encyclopedia the puzzle solution kittens yesterday.) booklets (a primitive form of Interac- Marc Egazarian provides. Nobody I know had ever I would like to make a comment on tive Fiction!). I hope this sets the Blauvelt, NT thought to count the leaves, and sure the gender of computer gamers. record straight. enough ... there are 69,105 (I went Many of us have names or Stefan Jones P.S. Would somebody mind writing back and counted)! Other surprises nicknames that could either be male Lucust Valley, NY The Hitchhiker's Guide for the (at least for me) were the folding cot, or female. I write to a lot of gamers TRS-80 Model III, please? Thanks. and the Linder's radio. It just once and I find they usually assume I am Stardate 8411.04. again proves why Infocom has the male. After finding out I am (It may be impossible in the real finest interactive fiction: attention to definitely female they express To the staff of the NZT, preferably world to build a dam with such a detail! surprise such as "I didn't know Marc "Mark" Blank: small piece of concrete, but this is a GIRLS PLAYED computer games!" In reply to your "Call the Extermi- fantasy remember? Actually, it was I've tried other adventure games, nators" article (NZT: vol. 3 #1) I intended as a joke; it is not a typo. but as soon as the next Infocom ad- Then when I tell them I am 49+ they are shocked almost to silence. I just believe I have found a bug, or at Ed.) venture is available, they are forgot- least a typo. In the Fortran IV ten and I am once again happily lost hope by that time they realize I'm in another world of Infocom's mak- just as hooked on games as anyone else. ing. ® I suspect a lot of your Chris's, According to the statistics you've published, the number of people Leslie, Robins, Pats, etc. are female. The New Zork Times responding to the NZT puzzle is on Looking forward to more puzzles the rise. Worse, the number of and newsletters soon. Managing Editor Jennifer “Jen” Fine Pat Smith correct answers are also climbing. Left Field Dave “Hollywood” Anderson What chance does a 33 year old programmer from California have Dear NZT: Puzzle Editor Steven “Rock” Meretzky against all of those youngsters from I was shocked to see that in the Voyaging Editor Tomas “Tom” Bok around the country? Ah well, it article about music in the Great Sports Editor Jeff “Jeffrey” O’Neill really doesn't matter. I can, after all, Underground Empire, there was no afford a T-shirt. At least I still have mention of one of the foremost GUE Photo Editor Paul “PG-13” Gross my FrobozzCo stock options, but I heavy metal bands, Mötley Grüe. Editor Michael “Stan” “Max” Dornbrook do miss the fame and prestige that Lee Killpatrick Exterminated Editor Gary “Gary” Brennan winning the NZT puzzles bestows on Houlton, ME one. Cartoon Editor Jeffrey “Jeff” O’Neill Should you be hurting for good To the New Zork Times: InfoNews Editor Paul “144” Gross material to publish next issue, feel Seen on a truck on the Interstate in History Editor Stu “Noisome Stu” Galley free to use this letter in your Mail Arizona: Editing Editor Jon “Caesar’s” Palace Bag section or write me for a free Zork Hardware Co. Michael “The Beast” Dornbrook brochure. The brochure tells about El Paso, TX Publisher how I could write for The New Zork Now there's Zork hardware to go Production Manager Cindy “Cynthia” Curtis Times, work for Infocom, or create with the Zork software? Love your the next great American interactive © 1985 Infocom, Inc., 125 CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140 games — keep 'em coming. fiction adventure. Susan Heller Zork is a registered trademarks of Infocom, Inc. A Mind Forever Voyaging, Cornerstone, Cutthroats, Deadline, Enchanter, Fooblitzky, Infidel, InvisiClues, Planetfall, , Sorcerer, Starcross, Well, as the Wizard said: "Finish!" Tuscon, AZ Suspect, Suspended, Wishbringer, and The Witness are registered trademarks of Infocom, Inc. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a trademark of . Clue is a registered trademark of In Frobs we trust (and so should Parker Bros. Coke is a registered trademark of the Coca Cola Company. Diplomacy is a registered trade- Dear Sirs: mark of Avalon Hill, copyright 1976. Mastermind is a registered trademark of Invicta Plastics. The you), I was intrigued by your photo- Whopper is a registered trademark of The Burger King Corporation. SUMMER 1985 THE NEW ZORK TIMES PAGE 3

currency) and sell items at pawn New Zork Times, you can buy shops and work in restaurants to get Fooblitzky before anyone else! Re- Run, it’s Fooblitzky more foobles. Players can also get search shows that the people who smacked by cars at street crossings, learn Fooblitzky the fastest and enjoy the multiple-personality type, you or get flashed by the Chance Man it the most are the people who enjoy Continued From Page 1 can't play Fooblitzky by yourself. (If and squashed by a falling piano. Infocom's interactive fiction the you don't have any friends and your Through all this, each player tries to most. family is no longer returning your deduce and then obtain the 4 Therefore, for a limited time, magician, Poh C. Lim. More telephone calls, tough nuggies.) "correct" items needed to win. Since Fooblitzky is available ONLY recently, Paula Maxwell joined the Fooblitzky is intellectually the 4 items change each time you through The New Zork Times. That's graphics group as an artist. Together challenging, requiring a sharp mind, play, no 2 games are alike. right: For the first six months, they played board games, computer careful note-taking, and a penchant Fooblitzky is unlike any game Fooblitzky is available exclusively to games, video games, mind games .... for chattering teeth and flipping hot you've ever played before. And YOU, since you read The New Zork They discussed game theory: what dogs. It's not a shoot-em-up arcade- Infocom is proud of that. Fooblitzky Times. Once you learn Fooblitzky made a game interesting, challeng- style game requiring joystick coordi- opens up new frontiers in computer and play it with your friends, you'll ing, intricate, multifaceted, and nation, so even adults can play! A gaming, and that's what Infocom is love it. You'll become an Infocom replayable. And then they designed game typically takes 1 to 2 hours to all about. ambassador, spreading the word Fooblitzky. play. Fooblitzky is so different and about Fooblitzky. When Fooblitzky is People play against each other in Players move around the "city" of innovative that Infocom's marketing released to the rest of the world, Fooblitzky, not against some poor, Fooblitzky on sidewalk squares, department hit upon a different and everyone will have heard of it and misguided computer. The fun is in much like you move tokens around a innovative marketing approach. will want the new game. But you trying to bluff, outsmart, or just plain board game. Players can buy items at Because you're a special customer of don't have to wait: you can start lie to the other players. Unless you're stores with "foobles" (the unit of Infocom's, because you read The enjoying the new game now.

technology promises to please the Meretzky began work on the A Mind Forever Voyaging tastes of even the most discriminat- project by writing a short, intriguing ing player, allowing for more of just fictional piece, which introduces the about everything (game bugs being player to the concept of artificial no exception). Finally, this size in- intelligence, as well as to the main In fact, the entire Zork trilogy could crease should not be seen as "the characters and themes of the story. Continued From Page 1 have fit into one game if we'd had beginning of the end" of our support This short story, part of an issue of the "plus" system at our disposal in for machines with under 128K of "Dakota Online Magazine," is found 1981. Thus, large projects, like A memory. Owners of smaller in the game package, along with the "Plus" will be available for most ma- Mind Forever Voyaging, are now computers can rest assured that we instruction manual, a full-color map chines that have 128K or more of entirely within our capabilities. will continue to produce plenty of of Rockvil, a "21st-century" plastic internal RAM, allowing us to more Unlike the new Whopper®, or New products for their machines, using pen, and a Class One Security Mode than double the size of our products. Coke®, this revolutionary gaming the "classic" system. Access Decoder.

for Meretzky and Adams' collabora- short of glowing, but don't take our InfoNews Roundup Reviews tion (known affectionately as word for it. Computer Entertainment Suspect reviews have been turning "HHGG"), we've chalked up another says that Wishbringer is "a great in- up faster than clues for the murder of award to put in the trophy case (and troduction for newcomers to the Continued From Page 1 Veronica Ashcroft. Suspect, our there would be room if it weren't so Adventure Experience, and is latest murder mystery, shadowed by full of those silly Zork I treasures). suitable for all ages." The praise the overwhelming acclaim for The W.H. Smoth Game of the Year extends well beyond the puzzles of the prizes. These gifts each brought a Hitchhiker's has recently been Award was presented to Infocom for the game, characterizing Moriarty's real-life chance to experience one of receiving its well-deserved spot in Hitchhiker's by The British Micro- writing style as carrying "a fondness Wishbringer's seven magic wishes: the limelight. A+ magazine said that computing Awards of 1985. All New for Lovecraft, Hawthorne, and things binoculars for Foresight; a lucky "with this game, Infocom Zork Times subscribers were invited that go bump in the night." Chinese gold coin for Luck; an all- demonstrates (again) that the all-text to attend the award ceremony which weather camera for Rain; a twilight adventure is ideal for a murder took place on June 12th in London. New News at Infrobozz helicopter ride over Chicago for mystery .... What makes the game Unfortunately, the person assigned to Can you name the sixteen software Flight, a crystal ball for Advice; a truly exciting are the more than the mailing of the invitations was titles that run on the new Atari ST? If Watchman for Freedom; and a ample opportunities for failure. You busy trying to get by a tiny vicious not, we'll give you a hint: Zork I, telescope for Darkness. And the can really get yourself in a lot of poodle; consequently, we were Zork II, Zork III, Deadline ... and prizes didn't end there. Infocom also trouble here." In another Apple unable to mail the invitations in time. Wishbringer. Thanks to the Micro donated $2500 to "A Child's Wish interest magazine, "Suspect is The person responsible for this error Group (that nutty bunch of micro- Come True" — an organization that another great mystery from Infocom, has since been sacked! scopic programmers) the Atari ST fulfills the wishes of children who a company that seems unable to And if you haven't gotten past the will NOT be the hot new machine are terminally ill. And if you think write a bad game." Congratulations aforementioned poodle yourself, then with NO software to brag about. And all these people were lucky, just to implementor P. David Lebling for you probably haven't played our keep your eyes peeled (doesn't that imagine all the luck that your very adding yet another genre to his list of latest title, Wishbringer. The reviews hurt?) for the ? Can you name own Wishbringer Magick stone will game writing fortes. for the first game by "Professor" sixteen software titles that run on the bring.… Speaking of overwhelming acclaim Brian Moriarty have been nothing Amiga???

PAGE 4 THE NEW ZORK TIMES SUMMER 1985 The History of Zork — The Final (?)

by Stu Galley imaginary computer chip called the longer led to the stairway where SPECIAL TO The New Zork Times "Z-machine". This chip would be Zork III later began, the crystal skull able to run Zork (or at least part of (a brand-new treasure) was put there it) if the program were coded in a instead. The year: 1979. As Tim Anderson wonderfulness (or "taste and special, very compact language. By late 1979, Joel and Marc had has recounted in previous install- winnage" in M.I.T. jargon) could Then the design called for each both moved back to Boston. Joel had ments in this series, Zork was one somehow be brought to more personal computer to have a been elected president of large computer game, about a mega- people. But very few people had program (called a Z-machine Infocom and started business school, byte in size — as large as it could be access to the large computers that Interpreter Program or ZIP) that and Zork I was shaping up as and still fit in its original home, a could run Zork. More and more would interpret the special Infocom's first product. Zork I first DECsystem-10. Marc Blank and people were beginning to buy Z-machine language and make the saw the light of day on a designed and wrote personal computers — like the computer act the same way that a DEC-system-20 on which the the program, with the help of Bruce Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I or the real Z-machine would. In order to company was renting time, then on Daniels and Tim. They had met and Apple II — but those computers get Zork written in this special the PDP-11 in Joel's bedroom. Scott worked together in a research group were too small to run Zork. Or were language, another language was Cutler (who had graduated from the at M.I.T., and now the group was they? invented, called Zork Implementa- group a couple of years before) used losing valuable talent through tion Language (ZIL), similar in his TRS-80 Model II to create a ZIP graduation and the lure of "the real Joel and Marc began some seat-of- many ways to MDL. Marc built a for a TRS-80 Model I. As 1980 world." Several members of the the-pants design work (much of it on two-stage translator program that dawned, Infocom spent a large group believed that they could still Joel's parents' coffee table) on how would translate a ZIL program, first portion of its bank account to produce outstanding computer-based much Zork could be compressed, into an assembly language and then purchase a Model I, and Scott and products in almost any category — and how to do so in a flexible way to further into the Z-machine language. Marc demonstrated that Zork I was from programming languages like allow for different, incompatible He also built a ZIP so that a alive in it by starting the game and MDL (an important influence on personal computers in the future. DECsystem-20 could emulate the actually collecting points with the modern Lisp) to data bases, They considered using available Z-machine. incantation "N. E. OPEN. IN." (It's electronic mail and artificially intel- "portable" tools for programming, There was still the problem of certainly no less inspiring than ligent systems — if only centrifugal like UCSD Pascal, but it soon cutting Zork in half. Dave examined "Come here, Mr. Watson; I want force didn't separate them. became clear that Zork had too much his complete map of Zork and drew you!") The problem: What sort of text in it. (Keep in mind that a a boundary around a portion that product could the group work on standard personal computer at this included about 100 or so locations: We had another product in which together, and to whom could they time came with 16K bytes of everything "above ground" and a PS had no interest: the PDP-11 sell it? As early as 1976, they had memory and no disk drive.) They large section surrounding the Round version of Zork I. We sent product discussed the potential marketability finally concluded that, by inventing Room. The object was to create a announcements to various places, of various computer games that had a programming system specifically smaller Zork that would fit within including a newsletter for PDP-11 been designed or implemented by for Zork, they could fit about half of the constraints established by the users, and as a result, the first copy group members just for fun. Now it into a computer with 32K bytes of design of Joel and Marc. Whatever of Zork I sold was a PDP-11 their attention was focused on memory and one floppy-disk drive. wouldn't fit was to be saved for version! It came on an eight-inch various potential products based on another game, another day. floppy disk with a manual that I mini-computers, some involving Meanwhile, the group at M.I.T. In the process of being converted wrote and Joel had reproduced from custom hardware as well as was in the process of forming a from MDL into ZIL, the program a typewritten master. software. The group was ignoring corporation — choosing "Infocom" became "cleaner" and friendlier. The By the end of 1980, the version of the potential of a mass market for as the name least offensive to geographies of the maze and the coal ZIP for the Apple II had been micro-computers, not only from lack everyone — and searching for a mine were simplified so that the created by Bruce, who had designed of experience with them (the group's project that would quickly produce a connections were less arbitrary, and puzzles for the original Zork before unofficial motto is "We hate product to start generating income in other places complexity was graduating from M.I.T. and going to micros!") but also from serious for the company. Among the removed whenever it didn't serve a work for Apple Computer Inc. concerns about software piracy. projects they considered were justifiable purpose. For example, Apple Zork I proved more popular Joel Berez had graduated from the systems for keeping track of there was originally a barrel sitting than the TRS-80 version; PS sold group and was working in his documents, handling electronic near the top of Aragain Falls, but it over 6000 copies in eight months. family's business in Pittsburgh. Marc correspondence, and processing text. was just a red herring; its only The first press reviews of Zork I had finished medical school (and When Zork was added to the list of purpose was to lure unsuspecting were encouraging. In February 1981, moonlighting on Zork development) possibilities, Joel and Marc worked adventurers inside and carry them BYTE magazine said, "No single and was starting his medical intensively during the summer and over the falls to destruction. The advance in the science of Adventure residency in Pittsburgh. These two autumn creating the programming Rainbow Room had its name has been as bold and exciting as the had long been friends, and they liked tools for their design. And they had changed to On the Rainbow, and introduction of Personal Software getting together for a Chinese dinner to work for IOUs, since the that meant removing the silly joke Inc.'s Zork, The Great Underground and conversation. company treasury — which started about Rockefeller Center and the Empire. . . . That the program is with only $11,500 — could afford to NBC Commissary. Since the Land One topic of conversation was "the entertaining, eloquent, witty, and pay only for the hardware they of the (Living) Dead (the word good old days" at M.I.T., and one precisely written is almost beside the needed at the time. "Living" was removed in order to fit reason that the old days were good point. Unlike the kingdoms of the the name on the status line) no was Zork. They wished that Zork's The key to their design was an Adventures for machines with 16K SUMMER 1985 THE NEW ZORK TIMES PAGE 5 Chapter: MIT, MDL, ZIL, ZIP bytes of memory and far from the (The last was re-oriented to the the next nine months PS sold about most of all, money. But we threw classic counter-earthiness of the compass based on Mike's belief that 1500 copies of the TRS-80 version*. caution to the wind, and hired Mort Colossal Cave in the original "southpaw" should be a hint.) The Also in June, we paid for a search Rosenthal (who later founded Cor- Adventure, Zork can be felt and last of the original puzzles — the of trademark records in preparation porate Software Inc.) as marketing touched — experienced, if you long slide and "sending for the for registering "Zork" as our own manager, who found a time-shared will — through the care and brochure" — were left out of Zork trademark. We discovered that office in Boston's venerable Faneuil attention to detail the authors have III and didn't reappear until Mattel Inc. had registered "Mighty Hall Marketplace, a time-shared rendered. ... [A] most excellent and Sorcerer. Zork" in 1973 for a toy model production plant in Randolph, an ad memorable work of computerized Mike Dornbrook was enlisted motorcycle, but that registration was agency in Watertown, an order- fiction." again to fulfill mail orders for cancelled in October 1979. Other taking service in New Jersey, a Mike Dornbrook was enlisted to personalized hints. Joel collected trademarks discovered in the search supplier of disks in California, and test Zork I for bugs and other bad orders from the post office box, were the likes of Zorr, Zorak, Zark, so on. The money came both from features, because he had some passed orders for maps and posters and Zowees (all by Mattel); Zogg, the company's founders and from a experience with computers but no to his Significant Other for fulfill- Zon, Zak, Zok, Zot, Zonk, and bank loan that they personally experience with the original Zork, ment, gave requests for hints to Zerak; and variations on Mork and guaranteed. exactly like our intended audience. Mike, and gave me the numerous Ork (by Paramount Pictures). Not to We announced Zork II and our (One of his contributions was the small checks to deposit in the bank. mention the Zork Hardware Com- new role as publisher with a Christ- alternate — and, some say, more Mike created personalized hints off pany of El Paso and Albuquerque. mas promotion as eye-catching as logical — solution to the Loud the top of his head, typing them on we could afford. Thanks to our ad Room puzzle, which was added only an old office typewriter. (When Zork II was offered to PS in April agency, we had a new style of pack- after the first users of Zork I asked Mike started business school in and licensed in June 1981, about the aging for both Zorks (the stone-built so often for hints for that September 1981, he founded a same time that Joel graduated and letters that are still in use), a counter puzzle). He played it so much that separate company, the Zork User's became Infocom's first salaried display for stores, ads in major com- he memorized the entire geography, Group, and took over all mail-order employee. But we had serious puter magazines, and direct-mail ads and he fell in love with the game. He sales. Only then did he computerize concerns about PS's commitment, for dealers. We also bought PS's was convinced that it would attract a the operation. In 1983, Mike came even to Zork I. After an initial rush entire inventory of Zork I (except the cult following, although others back to work for Infocom, bringing of advertising, Zork I seemed to join TRS-80 version, which they still thought it would last maybe a year Z.U.G. with him.) PS's range of products as just wanted to sell) to prevent them from on the market and then fade away, "dumping" it on the market at Now that the company had a flesh- another game. We were eager to like a video game. He urged the bargain prices and lowering the and-blood product, how could a make new versions and new titles — company to start planning spin-off public's image of "Zork" in general. small group of hackers market and including Zork III, "Zork: the products, like maps, hints, posters, Our first shipment went out just in sell it? One possibility was to Mystery"(Deadline), and "Zorks in T-shirts, etc. So the first published time for Christmas sales. produce it ourselves and distribute it Space" (Starcross) — but not if our release of Zork I had another feature through computer chain stores. But publisher wasn't also eager. The fact On New Year's Day 1982, we added, a "small piece of paper" in that meant devoting time and energy was that PS was planning to drop its moved the company to larger space the artist's studio that said something to finding suppliers, producing pack- line of entertainment software — at the far end of Cambridge — 55 like "Write to Infocom, P.O. Box ages, supporting users, and so on. since their titles neither sold well Wheeler Street. Now we had office 120, Cambridge, Mass. 02142 for Another possibility was to over the long term nor brought in space for everyone, especially for info on other products, including contract with a software publisher, enough money to satisfy them — Marc (now vice-president for Movement Assistance Planners (M. but which one? Joel contacted and to change its name to Visicorp product development) to finish Zork A.P.s) and Hierarchical Information Microsoft, but they were already in order to identify closely with its III. And we had enough space to set for Novice Treasure Seekers (H.I.N. publishing the original "Colossal "Visi-" series of business up all the personal computers — T.S.)." Besides leaving the door Cave" adventure game — the one products**. instead of shuffling them from one open for an after-market in Zork that inspired Zork — and by the time person's home to another — for accessories, we wanted to start Zork fan Bill Gates heard of our testers to use, and for programmers building a mailing list of customers It now appeared that we had two offer, Infocom was deep in to create or adapt ZIPs for Atari, for future direct mailings (like the choices: to negotiate and contract negotiations with Personal Software CP/M, IBM PC, and other machines. one you are reading!). with another publisher (and to hope Inc. (PS). for more satisfaction), or to take the Zork III was finished in the autumn, Meanwhile, Dave was designing plunge and become a publisher. We about the same time that the Zork II. At first, the most straight- PS had several good features: it company began hiring people to was the first true publisher of definitely preferred the second forward approach seemed to be to choice, but that required office begin developing its first business use everything left out of Zork I and software developed by others; it was product. But that's another story. the leading publisher of space, production facilities, an simply convert it from MDL to ZIL. advertising agency, and so on — and But Dave's active imagination kept computer games at the time; and it inventing new puzzles that virtually had strong ties to Software Arts Inc., begged to be implemented. So the where VisiCalc was invented final design left out the Royal (requiescant in pace), and where Zork I was demonstrated in February * Zork I came under the wing of PS's ** In December 1984, after a long Puzzle and the "end-game" (both to New Products Manager, a fellow legal tangle with Software Arts over appear in Zork III) and instead 1980. PS agreed in June to publish Zork I and sent us an advance on named Mitch Kapor, who later VisiCalc, Visicorp eventually included the Wizard of Frobozz, the founded Lotus Development Corp. merged into one of its own spin-off garden, and the new diamond maze. royalties, our first bonafide income! Sales began in December, and over companies and disappeared. PAGE 6 THE NEW ZORK TIMES SUMMER 1985 Third Title for ’85 Coming Soon At Infocom, we believe that good things come in threes. Our third interactive fiction story this year will be one of those things. It's for those of you who are two-thirds done with our second trilogy. It's for those of you who want something three times harder than Sorcerer, or three times more exciting than Enchanter. It's for those of you who want to know if there's life after AIMFIZ. Dave Lebling, co-author of the Zork trilogy and Enchanter, has been spied writing spell scrolls, polishing his crystal ball, and muttering incomprehensible syllables under his breath. What it all means, only time (and the next issue of The New Zork Times) will tell.

NZT Cartoon Winner

Among the many amusing and and are fortunate enough to win, sions become the property of well-drawn cartoons submitted for your prize will be a free Infocom Infocom, Inc. Be sure to send your Yak Facts. this issue's cartoon contest, the game of your choice. cartoon to:

eventual winner is the work of Andy Here are the rules. Cartoons will be NZT Cartoons, Infocom, Inc., 125 Did you know that... "Inksipper" Speer of Waltham, printed approximately 4 1/4 inches CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge, ? when overloaded or exhausted, the Massachusetts. He receives a copy of wide by 5 inches deep, so draw your MA 02140. And don't forget to yak will lie down, hiss, spit and kick, Planetfall for his Commodore 64 and cartoons proportionally. Entries must include a separate sheet that tells us and refuse to move? our congratulation. If you dare to be in black ink (not in pencil or in who you are, what game you wish to take on the competition and cross color) on white unlined paper. Do win, your computer system, and ? when asked "What is your favorite pens with your Infocom brethren, not fold your entries. All submis- where you live. mammal," 5 out of 7 game writers did NOT choose the yak? (Significantly, when asked the same They’re back; question, 7 out of 7 yaks did not Puzzle Number 5 Winners choose game writers.) C-64 versions Once again our incorruptible 13. William Frenchu ? no yak in captivity has ever lived compatible with random number generator selected Hopewell, NJ more than 3 weeks, although wild 25 lucky T-shirt winners: 14. Robert Dionne yaks have a life span of over 90 C-128 machines 1. Thomas Anthony Dingbaum Port Jefferson Station, NY years? Millersville, MD At Infocom, we believe that good 15. P. DeGano ? the silent, black-and-white, 1922 things come in threes. Our third 2. David Gleeson Grand Terrace, CA version of The Wizard of Oz featured interactive fiction story this year will Van Nuys, CA 16. Ray Burton III a cowardly yak instead of a cowardly be one of those things. It's for those 3. Judy Bezzone Roseville, CA lion? ("Yaks and tigers and bears, oh of you who are two-thirds done with Sacto, CA 17. Brandy Brooks my!") our second trilogy. It's for those of 4. David Bennett Lynchburg, VA ? the hair of wild yak is black and you who want something three times Bexley, OH 18. Greg Swieringa short, except on the flanks and tail harder incomprehensible syllables 5. Ruth Anderson-Barnett Anoka, MN where it forms a long, shaggy under his breath. What it all means, San Diego, CA 19. Bruce Stedwell fringe? only time (and the next issue of The 6. David Gatewood Lake Havasu City, AZ New Zork Times) will tell. ? Charlottesville, VA a newborn yak is called a yaklet 20. Andy Plotkin and usually arrives in a litter of 30 or 7. Jeff Williams Rockville, MD more? Nashville, TN 21. Larry Pedersen ? domestic yaks, which breed freely CORRECTION 8. Dave Kassing Atlanta, GA with domestic cattle, are often Gresham, OR 22. Fred Nemec piebald black and white? SORRY! Due to space restrictions, 9. Tom "Floyd" Wright Tustin, CA we are unable to run the photo essay Midland, MI 23. Ted Murach ? The Witness author Stu Galley is a "Searching for the Relics of the 10. Amy Hinshaw Western Springs, IL former yak trainer? Emu" in this issue. We hope to find Loma Linda, CA 24. Michael McSurley ? wild yaks live in large herds of enough room in a forthcoming issue 11. Gary Laskowski Wilmington, DE to run this interesting and provoca- females, young bulls, and calves (the Roseville, MI 25. Mike Lipinsky tive feature. mature bulls staying together in 12. Mark Hausherr Millers Falls, MA smaller groups)? Duxbury, MA SUMMER 1985 THE NEW ZORK TIMES PAGE 7 Interactive Softball: > LOOK AROUND You are standing in an open field HDA for short, which you're not. No, these better than standard-level skills You can feel nothing, hear west of a white plate. There is a you tower over most trolls and second mean vastly more than mere personal nothing, see nothing, smell nothing, catcher here. basemen. And, forsooth, you have a glory on the field. Yes, they mean job taste nothing and you don't even The late afternoon sun is a fiery not undeserved reputation as a slug- security. No, that's the cynic talking. know your own batting average. orange ball on the horizon. ger, be it leaning over a bar or leaning Talent translates into opportunity for over home plate. For the moment it's pride in the name of Infocom. > I > INVENTORY the latter: You're the batter. But this Okay, Julio, what do you want to You have: You have: time something goes awry. Maybe it do now? broken your nose in 4 places a bat was the too-poor grip on the bat. a Hawaiian shirt (being worn) Maybe it was a too-firm grip on the > ARGUE THE CALL (go to para- D. You wisely amble over toward the your heart (also being worn, on beer can. You sent a lil' nubber up graph E) ice chest, shrugging your shoulders your sleeve) along the third base line. while keeping your head held high, "a First base is northeast of here, > CALL OFF THE ARGUMENT (go to trick few people can do, as it requires > WHO AM I? and you can see the ice chest to the paragraph F) a lot of technically complex deltoid You are southpaw vice president east. muscle work." Like stealing signs Marc Blank. The shirt is the mock- Ok, Hollywood, what do you want A. Which ball do you mean, the white from the opposing catcher, a team- touristy uniform, and the heart's in the to do now? ball or the fiery orange ball? mate reads your mind, tossing a cool right place (not a bug) because what (I assume you mean the white one in your direction. It goes down is at stake here is no less than the > RUN NORTHEAST (go to para- ball.) well. bragging rights to the Eastcoast graph C) Slash! The shaft of your bat connects Software Softball Leage. with the pitch! But since this is E. Since you were right on top of the Off to the north, the pitcher lobs an > WALK EAST THEN EMPTY THE softball and not mortal combat, you play, credibility is yours. The man's arching white ball in your direction. ICE CHEST THEN ENJOY THE merely send a harmless pop-up into foot was three car lengths off the bag. Okay, Marc, what do you want to BEER (go to paragraph D) the field. Walking to the bench, you Not even in the same area code. The do now? mutter something about KNOWING other team argues that "proximity" You're sitting in the cool shade of a better than to have swung at the first and "informality" somehow equals > SWING AT BALL (go to paragraph large drooping tree that dwarfs the side- pitch. "out." Proximity: Sure, in the same A) lines between first and home. The home sense Hawaii is a contiguous state. team is up to bat. *** You have flied out *** In the same sense that the space > TAKE THE PITCH (go to paragraph A teammate dribbles a grounder to Better luck next at-bat. shuttle is "on the pad" half an hour B) third. There is a play at first. Or rather after liftoff. The "informality" argument there would have been a play had the first B. Taken. itself breaks down, analogous to a It's one of those tea kettle days in baseman's foot not been pulled off the Your patience pays off, as on the "fight for peace." summer when Massachusetts might as bag by a wild throw. The runner is safe. next pitch you watch the right fielder well be spelled M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i. Info- Or is she? The opposing team collapses stopping short of the fence as the ball F. Just as well. Losing the battle com vs. Lotus. Lotus is like New England upon first base like an implosion, eager to sails over it. (Your score just went up hastens the winning of the war. Hail weather. Can't make up their minds. Half make the unbiased call of "Out!" by 1 run! You now have 3 runs out of Infocom, victors deserved! Ending dozen of their guys show up. They import an eventual 14.) the regular season and starting the some of ours; the game's for fun, evi- > WHO AM I TO ARGUE THE CALL? playoffs, the team is leading the denced by the ice chest, which is overfull. You are David "Julio" Cavallo. C. You race toward the bag, colliding league with a record of 7-1, having Alternatively, Crazy Legs. You are with the first baseman. There is an bested the likes of Lotus, Spinniker, et > WHO AM I? thief-like on the basepaths. With a awful "crunch!" For a moment every- al. Hail Infocom, indeed. You are "Hollywood" Dave Anderson, Cyclops hunger at the plate. But thing becomes ... Dark

(Left) Deep in the hole at short, Jeff O'Neill scoops up a hard-hit grounder. Jones' arm. Coach Hollywood Dave Anderson, who frowns on intra-team (Right) Max Buxton, Gayle Syska, Linda Mazzota, Spencer Steere and Renata cannibalism, looks away. In the background is Chris Gugger's '77 Plymouth Sorkin enjoy the game while Andrew Kaluzniacki takes a bite of Liz Cyr- Grand Fury. PAGE 8 THE NEW ZORK TIMES SUMMER 1985 NEW ZORK TIMES PUZZLE NUMBER 7

This puzzle is based entirely on magic course, in weeks. the mass detector output was number of the Brass Lantern information in the game packages K. Length, in days, of Ellings- made. restaurant. themselves. The following phrases worth's trip from El Menhir to X. Arthur's street number on HH. Excelsior Tower suite number correspond to numbers, and are the campsite. Country Lane. of Coates, Shavely & Coats. arranged in numerical order by those L. Age of the knight who was Y. Marshall Robner's weight, in II. Turgid Eddy's post office box numbers. Except — one is out of sent to Lord Nimbus. pounds, at the time of his number. order. The correct answer is the letter death. or double-letter of the phrase that is M. Depth of the Frobton Bay JJ. Year that the Sao Vera sank. out of numerical order. shipping channel, in meters. Z. Model number of Joo Janta's KK. Year that King's Point Realty N. Length of the Linder marriage, Super-Chromatic Peril- was founded. A. Seconds a hellhound takes to Sensitive Sunglasses. devour a human twelve times in years. LL. Year of the Fianna's ship- its size. O. Grotches produce this amount AA. Number of pounds lost by wreck. time their weight in trot each several National Inquisitor MM. Year of the unsuccessful B. In the Local History Series, the staffers. number of "The Legend of day. Ellingsworth expedition. Wishbringer." P. Page number that "There Goes BB. Street number on Wisconsin NN. Publication year of "Four the Neighborhood" article Avenue of Costumes Unlim- Shipwrecks Off Hardscrabble C. Number of Ensign Lim's planet ited. in the Ash-Down system. begins on. Island." Q. Length of the Mary Margaret, CC. Depth of the HMS Intransigent OO. Zip code of Rose Ellingsworth. D. "Foreign" newsstand price of wreck. Popular Enchanting, in in feet. PP. Receipt number for cowboy Zorkmids. R. Volume of Ellingsworth's DD. Outfitters International's street costume. number on Wharf Road. E. Row of the postal grid where hieroglyphic cube, in cubic QQ. Linder's street address on the poodle is located. inches. EE. Number of years that Gregory Lyman Drive. S. Number of pocket calculator Franklin served as Central F. Number, in the S-513 series, Mentality. RR. William Cochrane's business of the Ultramarine Bioceptor functions on a Mark IV with zip code. that option. FF. Number of thrills awaiting you drawing. SS. The "zip code" of the Magick T. Amount of Outfitters Interna- on "The Galaxy's Playground," G. Number of questions that Accardi-3. Shoppe, with hyphens re- Detective Anderson asked tional's price increase for moved. Leslie Robner. diving cages. GG. ADeline-exchange phone H. Nate's price for dragon scales, U. Monthly subscription rate for in zorkmids. the Santa Ana Register, in 1938 pennies. Solution to NZT Puzzle Number Five I. Your SW Contra sector num- ber. V. Price of special delivery to Puzzle Five produced a fairly low number of entries for an admittedly

Festeron. "Expert Level" puzzle, but most of the entries we received were correct. If

J. Length of the GUE Tech

W. Phi value of AX01 at the time you answered the 165 True-False questions correctly, and blackened the

" corresponding squares on your grid, you would have wound up with the following graphic:

ANSWER: ______1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Name: ______1 2 Address: ______3 ______4 T-shirt Size (S, M, L, XL): ______5

6 CONTEST RULES: 1. All entries must be submitted on this form. No copies accepted. 7

2. All entries must be received by November 1, 1985. 8

3. Up to 25 prizes will be awarded. If more than 25 correct 9 answers are received, a drawing will be held to determine the 10 winners. Void where prohibited by law. 11

PRIZE: This is the message over the doorway in the Crypt Anteroom in Zork II. A New Zork Times Puzzle Winner T-Shirt There were exactly 100 entries, of which 70 were correct. For the six people who answered "Crypt" — close, but no cigar. The most common RETURN TO: Infocom wrong answer was the Royal Puzzle from Zork III. Many of the wrong NZT Puzzle answers were understandable: the Maze in Zork I, the Map Room in 125 CambridgePark Drive Enchanter, the Dark in Hitchhiker's. Other wrong answers were very cryptic: Cambridge, MA 02140 the Burial Chamber in Infidel, Forest Path in Zork I, Shuttle Car Betty in Planetfall, and the Tool Shed in Deadline.