Here's a second look at three classic titles

Fooblitzky

Fooblitzky is a particularly special Infocom product for two reasons. First, it is our only multiplayer computer board game (2-4 players), and second, it uses whimsical graphics -— yes, graphics, to delight and captivate players.

After being introduced in 1985, Fooblitzky has been applauded. Our customers speak out in praise of its humor and imagination; critics discuss its ingenuity and skillful manipulation of graphics.

InCider magazine said, "The graphic screens are lively and amusing. The action is fast, and the unusual situations in which you find yourself are frustratingly funny. Fooblitzky is a guaranteed good time and perfect for family fun."

Analog Computing proclaimed, "Fooblitzky does for board games what the other Infocom games did for books —- revolutionize them... computerize them and... bring them into the 21st century and beyond."

In an animated city named Fooblitzky, your goal is to acquire the four objects secretly chosen by each of the four players at the beginning of the game. With each spin of the wheel (your computer does the spinning), you travel through the twelve Fooblitzky streets trying desperately to acquire the right objects and make it to the checkpoint before anyone else.

You buy objects with foobles (a fitting name for currency in Fooblitzky!) at the different animated city stores. You are allotted a cache of foobles at the start, but if you're not careful you could encounter speeding cars, bumping pedestrians, “The Chance Man” (a con artist/mugger) or falling pianos... which might rid you of your foobles or possessions, complicating the scavenger hunt. All is not lost if you run into any of these nuisances, for you can get a job to regain your foobles or trade to reacquire objects.

Don't be fooled; Fooblitzky is not as simple as it may sound. Obstacles and twists of fate graduate Fooblitzky from a whimsical foray in the board game world to a challenging computer strategy game. Learning and playing the game comes with ease, but success depends on how well you plan your strategy. You have to combine your strategic and deductive skills to move through the city while trying to figure out what the other players are thinking. Large, erasable worksheets are included with the game to make planning easier and more thorough.

In most of our games your adversary is hidden deep in the "mind" of your computer. In Fooblitzky, like in most board games, you are able to compete with, trick, and outsmart living, tangible competitors who are sitting right next to you.

Fooblitzky combines elements of favorite board games with the imagination of computer games, catapulting it into the Information Age in the guise of a computer game that is part luck, part skill.

A Mind Forever Voyaging

In A Mind Forever Voyaging, by Steve Meretzky, you leave puzzle-solving behind as you explore realistic worlds of the future and make decisions about the fate of the human race.

Since its introduction in 1985, A Mind Forever Voyaging has been the critical acclaim. A+ magazine said, "AMFV is a bewilderingly with a slightly different flavor than that of Infocom’s other offerings." Analog Computing proclaimed, "A Mind Forever Voyaging takes the Infocom concept to the next logical step in its evolution -– and takes you on a voyage you'll never forget."

In this realistic science-fiction novel you are brought to the United States in the 21st century... the year 2031: the world has deteriorated to a chaotic mess. Crime is rampant; social harmony has become a thing of the past. Massive government regulations have brought the United States, now USNA (the United States of North America) to the brink of becoming an immense police state. The future of the world looks grim. Something has to be done before it's too late.

Senator Ryder has a plan, a plan that would bring back the social tranquility and economic stability of the 1950s and combine it with the advanced technology of the 21st century to form an efficient, serene society.

Before the plan can be implemented it must be tested. Because you are PRISM, the world's first sentient computer, you are chosen to perform the test. Your job is to enter a simulation of the plan, which will take place in Rockvil, South Dakota, and report your findings so that it can be decided if the plan is worth implementing.

The world is depending on you. As a sophisticated computer with human perception, you must travel to the future and compile any information that might be useful in perfecting the plan and saving humanity from doom.

We wouldn't have you save humanity without giving you a little help, now, would we? In each AMFV package you find a map of Rockvil, South Dakota a Class One Security Mode Access Decoder and a "Quad Mutual Insurance" pen to help you in your travel through the future.

Planetfall

Travel to the 114th century in author Steve Meretzky’s first story, Planetfall. Planetfall is a hilarious science fiction game full of adventure and galactic intrigue.

Planetfall, introduced in 1983, has been the recipient of numerous awards and has been blessed with overwhelming popularity.

A panel of judges assembled for Chicago's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 1984 voted Planetfall one of the most original software programs for that year. Computer Games magazine named Planetfall "Best All-Text Game of the Year" in 1983. InfoWorld cited the product as "Best Adventure Game of '83."

As acclaimed as his story, author Steve Meretzky was named "The Best Software Designer" of 1984 by Video Review Magazine.

The story begins with you, a seventh class ensign in the Stellar Patrol, scrubbing decks aboard the S.P.S. Feinstein. You take your orders from miserable Ensign First Class Blather, who hands you demerits if you so much as take a short break from your drudging task. You are even forced to clean the trail of green slime left by alien ambassador, Br'gun-Te ‘elkneripg' nun — Ugh! Wouldn't it be nice for an unexpected adventure to come your way to rid you of this life of drudgery?

An explosion suddenly rocks the ship. You run for an escape pod to take you from the exploding ship. Safely aboard the pod, you plummet through space and land on the planet Resida. After swimming ashore, you find yourself alone on an abandoned planet.

Feeling your stomach rumble and your eyelids get heavy, you set out to find food, water shelter and sleep. “This can't be too difficult,” you say to yourself. Don’t be too sure; Resida has lots of surprises in store for you!

Your emergency ration will not last forever, so you must find food before starvation takes its toll. Finding liquid is no problem, but finding something safe to drink is another thing entirely.

Worried about companionship? Fear not, for during your exploration of Resida you meet Floyd, a mischievous little robot who takes an instant liking to you and becomes your constant companion. Floyd might be a bit too talkative at times but he really is a helpful little fellow!

The search for food, water and a safe place to sleep are not the only sources of adventure in Planetfall. The real intrigue begins as you try to save yourself and the lost planet of Resida from doom. Being a proud member of the Stellar Patrol you act with bravery and courage as you try to conquer the obstacles put in your path.

Planetfall comes complete with a Stellar Patrol ID Card, a space diary and postcards (great to send back to your home galaxy!) which will aid you in your adventure on Resida.

A Mind Forever Voyaging, Planetfall and Fooblitzky are available for a wide variety of personal computers. Turn to the middle of this issue for complete availability information.

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These historical, out-of-print articles and literary works have been GNUSTOed onto InvisiClues.org for academic and research purposes.