PC Magazine, v1(8)

~2 minute read

Dec 1982

From Fantasy To Video Game Reality

Deadline

Richard Cook

The dead man in Deadline is the millionaire philanthropist Marshall Robner, killed by an overdose of ebullion, a powerful antidepressant. Suicide is suspected, but there are some unanswered questions. It is the Inspector’s job to conduct an investigation and to determine whether Robner’s death was an accident, a suicide, or the result of a heinous murder.

The investigation begins at the Robner estate at 8 a.m. The Inspector (player) has only 12 hours in which to interview the people who live and work there, search for clues overlooked by the police, and uncover evidence leading to a possible suspect.

A dossier labeled "Documentary Evidence" contains the particulars of the case: a letter from the deceased's attorney, the coroner's report, a lab report, a photograph of the location at which Robner's body was found, tablets found near the body, some official memos, and transcripts of interviews with Robner's wife, son, secretary, business partner, and housekeeper. The dossier also includes the Inspector's Casebook (also known as the instruction manual), an IBM Interlogic Reference card, a warranty card, and, of course, one floppy disk. Information contained in the casebook is vital to the success of the investigation.

PLAYERS HAVE been known to do without food or sleep until the case has been solved.

Use of Graphics

Just as a good mystery story needs no illustrations. Deadline neither has nor needs graphics. The program stimulates players’ imaginations with verbal descriptions and the enigma of a Sherlock Holmes mystery.

Error Handling

Deadline is not without its limitations. A player will find it difficult to question the characters involved unless the questions are carefully and politely worded. Deadline will not accept peculiar input. Commands must be phrased carefully or the program will respond. "Come again?" or "I'm sorry. I don't understand that."

THE PLAYER has only 12 hours in which to solve the murder.

The Inspector deals with people who are undergoing great stress. Some may be reluctant to talk to the police, and one of them may be a murderer. Failure to proceed swiftly in a logical and orderly manner may result in the loss of valuable clues or in the death of another person — even the Inspector.

Warranty Support

Deadline will quickly reveal one thing: It is a program of the highest quality. The program is thoroughly researched and tested, and it is virtually flawless. Infocom, Inc. provides a limited warranty that covers the performance of the disk for a period not to exceed 90 days from the date of purchase.

Deadline is an interesting, sophisticated program with a wide range of responses that guarantee that each play of the game will be fascinating and unique. The pleasures of discovering clues, building a case, and outwitting a fiendishly clever murderer should provide entertainment and challenge enough for any detective. Players have been known to do without food or sleep until the case has been solved. Rumor has it that Infocom, Inc. has even more difficult riddles of detection coming in the near future

Richard Cook is a free-lance writer based in San Francisco.

This article appeared in
PC Magazine
Dec 1982

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