Status Line, The, v7(2)

~3 minute read

Jul-Sep 1988

Infocomics: New approach to entertainment

Lane Mastadon, Gamma Force and ZorkQuest receive rave reviews from far and wide

"Even a completely computer illiterate person can enjoy an Infocomics story..."

Praises like this one from Computer Entertainer are being sung nationwide about Infocomics, the new line of comic stories from Infocom and Tom Snyder Productions that come to life on the screen. Introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last January, each Infocomic, Lane Mastodon vs. The Blubbermen; Gamma Force in Pit of a Thousand Screams; and Zork Quest: Assault on Egreth Castle, has won favorable reviews.

After seeing for the first time "a highly entertaining demo" of Infocomics (given at CES by Tom Snyder and Peter Reynolds of Tom Snyder Productions and Infocom's Jon Palace), INFO enthused, "These guys were giving off sparks of creativity like a plasma generator."

The April issue of Commodore Magazine highlighted Infocomics in its news section. Newsweek, in its March 14 issue, listed Infocomics as one of the entertainment programs helping to revive the industry.

In its review of Lane Mastodon vs. The Blubbermen, Computer Entertainer dubs Infocomics "a whole new approach to the concept of entertainment software for computers... It is simply a story, with a single ending and no user control over the final outcome, like a book or a movie."

Dan Gutman, a New York-based syndicated columnist, likens the Infocomics experience to "curling up with a good book." Indeed, each Infocomic is an intricate1y-woven story which branches out into many directions. As the story unravels, you can jump from character to character to explore their points of view or to flashback to their thoughts, dreams or memories. Or, you can simply follow the plot and enjoy the story. But, as Dan points out, "No matter what route you take through the story, everybody reaches the same ending, like a novel."

L.R. Shannon of the New York Times distinguishes Infocomics from other forms of entertainment software: "They are not computer games as we know them... These are real stories with beginnings, middles and ends, except that they may be followed from the viewpoints of different characters, with related subplots that do not necessarily come in the same way every time. The exact path of the story, in fact, depends on decisions the player makes."

Shannon continues, "In another difference from computer products, these comics do not require an intimidating manual or advanced flight training. Only four keys are needed to move the story along, and you can switch to fast forward, stop or rewind at any time."

Of Lane Mastodon, Computer Entertainer continues, "The story itself is wonderfully funny –- not surprising when you learn that it was written by one of Infocom's most humorous writers, Steve Meretzky (Leather Goddesses of Phobos, among others). It follows the adventures of the a bumbling accountant-turned-super-hero, Lane Mastodon, as he saves Earth from the threatened invasion of the Blubbermen of Jupiter... The basic story is told from Lane's point of view, but it's great fun to step into the shoes of his young companions, Ivory and Lambert, or those of the Thin Men, the Blubbermen, or a number of others."

Computer Entertainer concludes, "It's a novel approach to computer entertainment software and one that appears to have plenty of potential, particularly at its very low price. Infocomics present a new direction for storytelling, one of man's oldest pastimes."

From what we can tell, many of you are waiting on the edge of your seats for the next Infocomic. Another sequel to ZorkQuest perhaps? A sequel to Lane Mastodon? Or maybe a collaboration with a world famous comic book author? Whatever it is, you can be sure the creative geniuses at Infocom and at Tom Snyder Productions will blow all of our socks right off.

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