                       ------------------           4.8 - September 3, 1995
                       Infocom Fact Sheet
                       ------------------
        by Paul David Doherty <h0142kdd@rz.hu-berlin.de>

This file includes some information about Infocom's games and related
subjects. Thanks to all the people who made contributions. Special thanks
this time to David Beazley, Graeme Cree, Evan Day, Mark Howell, Tony
Hutchins, George Janczuk, Stefan Jokisch, Mark Knibbs, Mathias Maul, and
Stephen Tjasink. The most recent release is always available as
                 ftp://ftp.gmd.de/if-archive/infocom/info/fact-sheet.txt


List of contents:

I    Released Games
II   Packaging Details
III  Books & InvisiClues
IV   Newsletters
V    Data Files
VI   Game Statistics
VII  Implementors
VIII Re-Releases
IX   Trivia
X    Chronology
XI   Interpreters & Tools


                        I  Released Games
                        =================

This table lists all software products released under the Infocom label.
The information is given in the form "PrC R Yr  Title_of_program (Author)",
where PrC is the Product Code, R is the difficulty rating and Yr the year
of publication.

Every Infocom product had a specific Order Code which consisted of the
Product Code (to identify the program) and a System Code which identified
the platform for which this product was produced. For example, the Order
Code IM3-CO4 identifies the game "Suspect" (IM3) for the Commodore Amiga
(CO4). The Order Code was printed on the program disk as well as on the
box.

The following System Codes have been used:
   AC1  Apricot
   AP1  Apple II
   AP2  Apple Macintosh
   ??   Apple IIgs
   AT1  Atari 800/XL/XE
   AT2  Atari ST
   CO1  Commodore 64 (1541)
   CO4  Commodore Amiga
   CO5  Commodore 128 ONLY
   CP1  CP/M
   DE1  PDP-11 (RT-11)
   DE2  DEC Rainbow (under CP/M)
   EP1  Epson QX-10
   IB1  IBM & 100% Compatibles
   IB2  IBM & MS-DOS Compatibles
   KA1  Kaypro II (under CP/M)
   MS1  MS-DOS 2.0
   NE1  NEC PC-8000 (under CP/M)
   NE2  NEC APC (under CP/M-86)
   OS1  Osborne (under CP/M)
   TA1  TRS-80 Model I
   TA3  TRS-80 Model III
   TA4  TRS-80 Color Computer
   TI1  TI Professional
   TI2  TI 99/4 A

Other supported platforms: Commodore Plus/4 (no system code), Amstrad
CPC/PCW (system code: UQD [or similar]).

Not all games were available on every platform; e.g. the four graphics
(V6) games were only available for Macintosh, Amiga, Apple IIgs and IBM.
These were probably the seven best-supported platforms:
  IBM:        all 35 IF games (plus Fooblitzky & Cornerstone)
  Macintosh:  all 35 IF games (plus Quarterstaff)
  Apple II:   all 35 IF games (plus Fooblitzky) -- V6 games need 128k RAM
  Amiga:      34 IF games (all except Border Zone)
  C128:       31 IF games (all V3-5)
  Atari ST:   30 IF games (all V3-5 except, probably, Sherlock)
  C64:        27 IF games (all V3 and Nord & Bert, Border Zone, Sherlock)

Difficulty ratings were introduced in late 1984:
   i - Introductory (called Junior on "Seastalker")
   s - Standard
   a - Advanced
   e - Expert

I.1 Interactive Fiction (IF): The 35 canonical games
----------------------------------------------------

Fantasy
IZ0 i 85  Wishbringer: The Magick Stone of Dreams (Brian Moriarty)
IZ1 s 80  Zork I: The Great Underground Empire (Marc Blank/Dave Lebling)
IZ2 a 81  Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz (Marc Blank/Dave Lebling)
IZ3 a 82  Zork III: The Dungeon Master (Marc Blank/Dave Lebling)
IZ4 s 83  Enchanter (Marc Blank/Dave Lebling)
IZ5 a 84  Sorcerer (Steve Meretzky)
IZ6 e 85  Spellbreaker (Dave Lebling)
IZ7 s 86  Trinity (Brian Moriarty)
IZ8 - 87  Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor (Brian Moriarty)
IZ9 - 88  Zork Zero: The Revenge of Megaboz (Steve Meretzky)

Science Fiction
IS1 e 82  Starcross (Dave Lebling)
IS2 e 83  Suspended (Mike Berlyn)
IS3 s 83  Planetfall (Steve Meretzky)
IS4 s 84  The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams/Steve
          Meretzky)
IS5 a 85  A Mind Forever Voyaging (Steve Meretzky)
IS6 - 87  Stationfall (Steve Meretzky)

Mystery
IM1 e 82  Deadline (Marc Blank)
IM2 s 83  The Witness (Stu Galley)
IM3 a 84  Suspect (Dave Lebling)
IM4 s 85  Ballyhoo (Jeff O'Neill)
IM5 i 86  Moonmist (Stu Galley/Jim Lawrence)

Tales of Adventure
IA1 a 83  Infidel (Mike Berlyn/Patricia Fogleman)
IA2 i 84  Seastalker: [Your Name] and the Ultramarine Bioceptor (Stu
          Galley/Jim Lawrence) -- first released as IK1
IA3 s 84  Cutthroats (Mike Berlyn/Jerry Wolper)
IA4 s 86  Hollywood Hijinx  (Dave Anderson/Liz Cyr-Jones)
IA5 - 89  James Clavell's Shogun (Dave Lebling)

Comedy
IC1 s 86  Leather Goddesses of Phobos (Steve Meretzky)
IC2 - 87  Bureaucracy (Douglas Adams et al.)
IC3 - 87  Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It (Jeff O'Neill)

Horror
IH1 - 87  The Lurking Horror (Dave Lebling)

Romance
IR1 - 87  Plundered Hearts (Amy Briggs)

Espionage
IE1 - 87  Border Zone (Marc Blank)

Immortal Legends
CS1 - 87  Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels (Bob Bates) -- developed
          by Challenge Inc.

Chronicles
IJ1 - 89  Journey (Marc Blank)

Living Literature
IL1 - 89  Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur (Bob Bates) -- developed by
          Challenge Inc.

I.2 Demos, Samplers, Compilations
---------------------------------

Demos & Samplers
ID1?- 84  Zork Demo
ID2 - 84  The Four-In-One Infocom Sampler
            (contains samples of Infidel, Planetfall, and Zork I, a session
            transcript from The Witness, and Marc Blank's Catch-A-Butterfly
            tutorial)
ID3 - 87  The Four-In-One Infocom Sampler
            (contains samples of Zork I, LGOP and Trinity, and a
            Wishbringer tutorial)
--- - 87  Mini-Zork I
            (only available for the C-64, this one came with Infocom's one
            and only cassette based ZIP; it was finally published in the
            British "Zzap! 64" #67, Nov. 1990)

Trilogies
IT1 - 87  Zork Trilogy              [IF1, IF2, IF3]
IT2 - 87  Enchanter Trilogy         [IF4, IF5, IF6]
IT3 - 87  Classic Mystery Library   [IM2, IM3, IM5]
IT4 - 87  Science Fiction Classics  [IS4, IS3, IS5]

I.3 Non-IF
----------

InfoComics
SL1 - 88  Lane Mastodon vs. The Blubbermen (Steve Meretzky)
SG1 - 88  Gamma Force in Pit of a Thousand Screams (Amy Briggs)
SZ1 - 88  ZorkQuest: Assault on Egreth Castle (Elizabeth Langosy)
SZ2 - 88  ZorkQuest II: The Crystal of Doom (Elizabeth Langosy)

Others
BC1 - 85  Cornerstone (Brian "Spike" Berkowitz/Rich Ilson et al.)
GS1 - 86  Fooblitzky (Mike Berlyn/Marc Blank/Brian Cody/Poh C. Lim/
          Paula Maxwell)
IF1 - 88  Quarterstaff: The Tomb of Setmoth (Scott Schmitz/Ken Updike &
          Amy Briggs)
IF2 - 88  BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception (Westwood Ass.)

I.4 Post-Infocom "Infocom" releases
-----------------------------------

224 - 89  Mines of Titan (Westwood Ass.) -- originally published by
            Electronic Arts as "The Mars Saga"
225 - 90  Circuit's Edge (Westwood Ass.)
--- - 91  BattleTech [2]: The Crescent Hawks' Revenge (Westwood Ass.)
--- - 92  Leather Goddesses of Phobos II (Steve Meretzky)
--- - 93  Return to Zork (Eddie Dombrower/William D. Volk/Joe Asprin)
--- - 94  Simon the Sorcerer (Mike Woodroffe/Adventuresoft) --
            US distribution under the Infocom label
--- - 95  Planetfall: The Search for Floyd (Steve Meretzky/Richard
            Manning/Hans Beimler)
--- - 96  Zork: Nemesis (Eddie Dombrower)


                  II  Packaging Details
                  =====================

All sizes (width x height x depth) are given in mm.

II.1 Extremely Old Packaging
----------------------------

The Personal Software version of "Zork I" was simply called "Zork". It came
in a 226x320x5 plastic zip-lock bag containing the disk and a 36-page
booklet.

II.2 Very Old Packaging
-----------------------

The Infocom version of "Zork", before it was renamed "Zork I". No more
details available.

II.3 Old "Folio" Packagings (first twelve games)
---------------------------

Zork I-III    blister pack [i.e. card with plastic tray]
              158x249 for 5.25" disks, 238x256 for 8" disks
 [nothing except piece of paper with instructions]

Deadline      police folder in 302x256x3 pouch
 1. Inspector's Casebook
 2. plastic bag with 3 white pills
 3. interview notes (5 pages)
 4. Corpus Delicti (coroner's note)
 5. letter from Coates to Chief of Police
 6. Police Dept. official memo
 7. Lab report
 8. photo of murder scene

Starcross     304x306x45 flying saucer
 1. space map
 2. instruction booklet

Suspended     240x317x70 box with recessed white face mask
 1. instruction booklet with congratulatory letter
 2. laminated colored cardboard map (600x230x3) of the Underground
    Complex (folded once)
 3. six robot tracking devices (flat black round plastic chips)
 4. plastic mask

The Witness   police folder in 302x256x3 pouch
 1. February 1938 issue of "Nat'l Detective Gazette"
 2. Virginia Linder's suicide note
 3. Western Union telegram from Freeman Linder
 4. matchbook of "The Brass Lantern"
 5. February 1, 1938 issue of Santa Ana's "The Register"

Planetfall    240x304x8 folder
 1. "Today's Stellar Patrol" - recruitment brochure
 2. Special Assignment Task Force I.D. card
 3. three postcards (Ramos II, Nebulon, Accardi-3)
 4. personal diary (4 pages, 1 of them empty)

Enchanter     308x239x12 box, containing pouch with
 1. Guild directory [Guild instructions, large!]
 2. ancient scroll with "wax" (rubber) seal

Infidel       235x304x8 folder in form of writing case
 1. True tales of adventure
 2. letter to Rose Ellingsworth (5 pages)
 3. envelope addressed to Rose Ellingsworth
 4. pergament map of excavation site
 5. pergament with stone rubbing of hieroglyphs and hieroglyph translations

Sorcerer      308x239x12 box, containing pouch with
 1. "Popular Enchanting" magazine
 2. Infotater

Seastalker    238x300x7 folder
 1. "Scimitar Logbook"
 2. nautical chart of Frobton Bay (integrated in folder)
 3. sticker "The Discovery Squad * Dive Deep * Dive Far"
 4. eight clue cards and 1 instruction card
 5. Infocard decoder (integrated in folder)

II.4 Standard Box Format
------------------------

For all games released from Summer 1984 onwards, and for the re-releases of
the old games, a consistent format (a 229x189x25 grey box with colored
horizontal stripes) was employed. It opened like a book to reveal a booklet
("browsie") and the Instruction Manual. (The browsie is always listed as
first item.) A re-closable tray contained all the other package elements.

a) Re-releases:

Zork I
 B. "The GUE: A History" by Froboz Munbar
 1. a map

Zork II
 B. "G.U.E. on nine zorkmids a day" - a traveller's guide
 1. travel brochure "Bozbarland"
 2. travel brochure "Grayslopes"

Deadline
 B. Documentary evidence, file #H657/SJ43.1
 1. plastic bag with 3 white pills
 2. Corpus Delicti (coroner's note)
 3. letter from Coates to Chief of Police
 4. photo of murder scene

Zork III
 B. "FrobozzCo International Annual Report 778 GUE"
 1. stock certificate (100 shares a 1 zm)
 2. letter from Chairman of the Board of FrobozzCo

Starcross
 B. "Log of the M.C.S. STARCROSS"
 1. space map
 2. "Bureau of Extra-Solar Intelligence" instructions for alien encounters

Suspended
 B. "Briefing for the Contra Central Mentality"
 1. cardboard map of the Underground Complex [playing board]
 2. robot tracking devices (6 black rubber chips) [markers]
 3. Contra Central Mentality Lottery Card
 4. congratulatory letter from Lottery Commision HQ

The Witness
 B. February 1938 issue of "Nat'l Detective Gazette"
 1. Virginia Linder's suicide note
 2. Western Union telegram from Freeman Linder
 3. matchbook of "The Brass Lantern"
 4. February 1, 1938 issue of Santa Ana's "The Register"

Planetfall
 B. "Today's Stellar Patrol" - recruitment brochure
 1. Special Assignment Task Force I.D. card
 2. three postcards (Ramos II, Nebulon, Accardi-3)
 3. personal diary (4 pages, 1 of them empty)

Enchanter
 B. "A Brief History Of Magic" by Gustar Woomax
 1. ancient scroll with "wax" (rubber) seal

Infidel
 B. "Expedition Log, Ellingsworth Pyramid Search"
 1. letter to Rose Ellingsworth (2 pages)
 2. envelope addressed to Rose Ellingsworth
 3. pergament map of excavation site
 4. pergament with stone rubbing of hieroglyphs

Sorcerer
 B. "Popular Enchanting" magazine
 1. "Field Guide to the Creatures of Frobozz" (replaced Infotater)

Seastalker
 B. "Scimitar Logbook"
 1. nautical chart of Frobton Bay
 2. sticker "The Discovery Squad * Dive Deep * Dive Far"
 3. five hint cards (4 "Infocards", 1 instruction card)
 4. Infocard decoder

b) New Games:

Cutthroats
 B. "True Tales of Adventure"
 1. "Four Shipwrecks off Hardscrabble Island" booklet
 2. Outfitters Int'l Price List (with tide table)

HHGG
 B. "How Many Times has This Happened to you?" - HHGG sales brochure
 1. two "Orders for Destruction" (yellow and silver)
 2. black cardboard sunglasses
 3. "Don't Panic!" button
 4. fluff (in plastic bag)
 5. "microscopic space fleet" (empty plastic bag)

Suspect
 B. "Murder and Modern Manners" by Jane Darling Worthington
 1. invitation to Veronica's Halloween Ball
 2. note from editor of "The Washington Representative" newspaper
 3. page from "The Maryland Countryside" magazine
 4. William Cochrane's business card (with message to Veronica)
 5. receipt from "Costumes Unlimited"

Wishbringer
 B. "The Legend of Wishbringer"
 1. Wishbringer (glow-in-the-dark stone)
 2. postal map of Festeron and Antharia
 3. sealed envelope (contains letter)

AMFV
 B. hardcopy of "Dakota Online Magazine" (April 2031)
 1. map of Rockvil, South Dakota
 2. yellow plastic pen ("Quad Mutual Insurance")
 3. "Class One Security Mode Access Decoder"

Spellbreaker
 B. "Frobozz Magic Magic Equipment Catalog" (Fall 966)
 1. six enchanter trading cards
 2. Enchanter's Guild pin

Ballyhoo
 B. "The Traveling Circus That Time Forgot, Inc." souvenir program
 1. "Dr. Nostrum's Extract" trade card
 2. blue balloon (sometimes also in orange or black!)
 3. circus ticket (August, 21) with punch-out holes

Trinity
 B. comic "The Illustrated History of the Atom Bomb"
 1. map of Trinity site
 2. cardboard DIY sundial
 3. instructions for folding origami crane

LGOP
 B. "The Adventures of Lane Mastodon #91" (3-D comic)
 1. 3-D glasses
 2. map of catacombs
 3. Scratch N Sniff card

Moonmist
 B. "Legendary Ghosts of Cornwall"
 1. visitor's guide "Welcome to Tresyllian Castle"
 2. two letters from Tamara (3 pages)
 3. MOONMIST iron-on logo

Enchanter Trilogy
  [Contains standard boxes of Enchanter, Sorcerer and Spellbreaker in a
   specially designed trilogy slipcase]

Zork Trilogy
 B. "The GUE: A History" by Froboz Munbar
 1. metal coin (1 zorkmid) - "In Frobs We Trust"
 2. a map
 3. travel brochure "Bozbarland"
 4. travel brochure "Grayslopes"
 5. stock certificate (100 shares a 1 zm)
 6. letter from Chairman of the Board of FrobozzCo

Hollywood Hijinx
 B. "Tinsel World" magazine (vol. 35 no. 27)
 1. Aunt Hildegarde's will
 2. photo of Uncle Buddy (with poem on flip side)
 3. "Lucky Palm Tree Swizzle Stick" (green plastic)

Bureaucracy
 B. "You're ready to move!" (bank brochure)
 1. letter from your boss
 2. membership flyer for "Popular Paranoia"
 3. red pencil
 4. Beezer card application form (in triplicate)

Classic Mystery Library
  [Contains standard boxes of The Witness, Suspect and Moonmist in a
   specially designed trilogy slipcase]

Science Fiction Classics
  [Contains standard boxes of HHGG, Planetfall and AMFV in a specially
   designed trilogy slipcase]

II.5 New Standard Box Format
----------------------------

It had the same size as the old (booklike) standard box but was a slipcase
containing a cardboard tray. All package elements were put into that tray.
A "Technical Manual" came with every game.

Stationfall
 1. space station blueprints (envelope, 9 blueprints, 1 legend page)
 2. three forms (QX-17-T, JZ-59-G, HB-56-V)
 3. Stellar Patrol patch (Lieutenant First Class)

The Lurking Horror
 1. "G.U.E. at a Glance" (G.U.E. Tech guide)
 2. G.U.E. Tech student ID card
 3. red rubber centipede (between 2 sheets of clear plastic)

Nord and Bert
 1. "Home on the range" (12 page booklet with Kevin Pope cartoons)

Plundered Hearts
 1. "elegant velvet reticule" (blue pouch), containing
 2. 50 guinea note and
 3. letter from Jean Lafond

Beyond Zork
 1. "The Lore and Legends of Quendor"
 2. map of "Southland of Quendor"

Border Zone
 1. "I am Frobnia" tourist guide and phrasebook
 2. business card from "Riznik's Antiques"
 3. Frobnia National Railway matchbook
 4. map of the border

Sherlock
 1. tourist map of London
 2. copy of June 17, 1887 "The Thames"
 3. black rubber key fob (Holmes and Watson)

Zork Zero
 1. The Flathead Calendar (883 GUE)
 2. folded map - blueprints of Rockville Estates, with
 3. yellow Post-It attached to it
 4. scrap of parchment

Shogun
 1. folded map "The Known World 1600"
 2. "The Soul of the Samurai" paper

II.6 The Last Two Games
-----------------------
...came in non-standard software cartons.

Journey     202x202x27 box
 1. red velvet sack (contains piece of crystal)
 2. map

Arthur      178x228x25 box
 1. "Book of Hours"

II.7 Commodore Packagings
-------------------------

The Commodore 64 versions of 6 (maybe 8) games -- Zork I, Zork II, Zork
III, Deadline, Starcross and Suspended (and maybe Cutthroats and Suspect,
too) -- were exclusively distributed by CBM from 1983 to 1985. They came
in the usual blue-and-grey Commodore packaging without most of Infocom's
packaging elements.

II.8 Solid Gold Packagings
--------------------------

The five Solid Gold releases in 1987/88 came in thin folders (229x189x6)
containing disks and a technical manual. In addition, Wishbringer had the
postal map, and LGOP included the Scratch N Sniff card and a non 3-D
reproduction of the comic (plus the catacombs map inside the technical
manual). [In Wishbringer and Planetfall, other parts of the documentation
were incorporated into the actual game.]

II.9 Other Games
----------------

Four-In-One Samplers
  [161x252 blister packs, no additional packaging elements]

Fooblitzky
  [298x223x36 box]
 1. booklet "Official Ordinances Rules and Regulations for the City of
    Fooblitzky"
 2. booklet "How to Play Fooblitzky. The Bare Essentials"
 3. four felt-tip pens (blue, green, yellow, red)
 4. four 279x216x2 workboards (folded once)

InfoComics
  [229x189x6 folders]
 1. a page with "Everything you need to know about InfoComics"

Quarterstaff
  [202x202x27 box]
 1. "The Path to Enlightenment" parchment
 2. Wooden coin
 3. Quarterstaff box-art poster

BattleTech
  [202x202x27 box]
 1. Weapon and 'Mech Recognition Guide
 2. Battletech poster
 3. Crescent Hawk's lapel pin (only included with first release!)
 [The instruction manual was printed in green ink on glossy paper in early
 releases and later in black ink on cheap paper.]

II.10 Business Products
-----------------------

Cornerstone
  [no packaging info yet]

II.11 Product Brochures
-----------------------

One of these catalogues was usually put in every game package.

1983: "Our Worlds, and Welcome to Them"
1983: "Infocom Games and Accessories"
1983: "Our Circuits Ourselves!"
1984/85: "The Incomplete Works Of Infocom, Inc."
1985: "You are about to see the fantastic worlds of Infocom unfold before
       your very eyes"
1986: "Passport to the United Products of Infocom"
1986: "Infocom Transports You to Six New Worlds in 1986"
1987: "The Master Storytellers"
1988: "Infocom's New Graphics will blow you out of the water..."


                   III  Books & InvisiClues
                   ========================

III.1 Zork interactive (choose your own path) novels
----------------------------------------------------

Four "What Do I Do Now Books" books written by Steve Meretzky and published
in Tor Books' "Young Adult Series":

                                PUBL    ISBN
 Zork: The Forces of Krill      8/83    0-8125-7975-5
 Zork: The Malifestro Quest     ?/83    0-8125-7980-1
 Zork: The Cavern of Doom       9/83    0-8125-7985-2
 Zork: Conquest at Quendor     10/84    0-8125-5989-4

III.2 Infocom Books
-------------------

Published by Avon Books, N.Y. with Byron Preiss Visual Publications, these
books had nothing much to do with Infocom but are listed here anyway. All
the books were grey and had colored stripes running horizontally across
the cover (in the style of Infocom's packaging).

                        AUTHOR                PUBL    ISBN
 Planetfall             Arthur Byron Cover    8/88    0-380-75384-7
 Wishbringer            Craig Shaw Gardner    8/88    0-380-75385-5
 Enchanter              Robin W. Bailey       5/89    0-380-75386-3
 Stationfall            Arthur Byron Cover   12/89    0-380-75387-1
 The Zork Chronicles    George Alec Effinger  7/90    0-380-75388-X
 The Lost City of Zork  Robin W. Bailey       2/91    0-380-75389-8
 Futurefall             Arthur Byron Cover       unpublished

III.3 InvisiClues
-----------------

The InvisiClues booklets (hint books with answers printed using invisible
ink) were introduced by Mike Dornbrook of the ZUG. The first one was
published in April 1982. #1a-4a had illustrations by David Ardito. The last
ZUG InvisiClues booklet was published in Spring 1983.

After the ZUG's shutdown Infocom took over and published their first 10
booklets in December 1983. All Infocom InvisiClues came with separate maps,
except for Suspended and Seastalker (which had maps in the game packages)
and HHGG (where the map was printed in the InvisiClues booklet).

 #   Game(s)                     Pages  Year

a) published by Zork Users Group (ZUG)

 1a  Zork I                        ?    82
 2a  Zork II                       ?    82
 3a  Zork III                      ?    82
 4a  Starcross                     ?    82
 5a  Deadline                      ?    83

b) published by Infocom

 1b  Zork I                        24p  83
 2b  Zork II                       ?    83
 3b  Zork III                      24p  83
 4b  Starcross                     32p  83
 5b  Deadline                      24p  83
 6   Suspended                     20p  83
 7   Witness                       28p  83
 8   Planetfall                    28p  83
 9   Enchanter                     36p  83
10   Infidel                       20p  83
11   Sorcerer                      44p  84
12   Seastalker                    24p  84
13   Cutthroats                    32p  84
14   HHGG                          52p  84
15   Suspect                       24p  84
16   Wishbringer                   40p  85
17   AMFV                          24p  85
18   Spellbreaker                  40p  85
19   Ballyhoo                      40p  86
20   Trinity                       32p  86
21   LGOP                          24p  86
22   Moonmist                      16p  86
23   Hollywood Hijinx/Bureaucracy  28p  87
24   Stationfall/Lurking Horror    48p  87
25   Plundered Hearts/Beyond Zork  56p  87
26   Zork Trilogy                  ?    88


                       IV  Newsletters
                       ===============

IV.1 "The New Zork Times" & "The Status Line"
---------------------------------------------

 #  Vol No  Date            Pages  Featured game(s)

a) "The New Zork Times" as ZUG (Zork Users Group) newsletter

 1  -   -   [Spring 82?]     [1p]  Deadline
 2  II  1   Fall 82          [2p]  Starcross/Zork III
 3  III 1   Spring 83        [2p]  Suspended
 4  II  oo  Summer 83        [6p]  The Witness

b) "The New Zork Times" (NZT)

 5  3    1  Winter 84          4p  Sorcerer
 6  3    2  Spring 84          4p  Seastalker
 7  3    3  Summer 84          8p  Cutthroats
 8  3    4  Fall 84            4p  Suspect/HHGG
 9  4    1  Winter 85         12p  Cornerstone
10  4    2  Spring 85         12p  Wishbringer
11  4    2  Summer 85          8p  AMFV/Fooblitzky
12  IV   4  Fall 85            8p  Spellbreaker
13  V    1  Winter 86          8p  Ballyhoo

c) "* * * *"

14  V    4  Spring 86         12p  Trinity

d) "The Status Line" (TSL)

15  V    3  Summer 86         12p  Moonmist/LGOP
16  V    4  Fall 86            8p  Hollywood Hijinx/Enchanter Tril.
17  VI   1  Winter/Spring 87  12p  Bureaucracy/Zork Trilogy
18  VI   2  Summer 87         12p  Lurking Horror/Stationfall
19  VI   3  Fall 87           12p  Plundered Hearts/Nord and Bert
20  VI   4  Winter 87         12p  Beyond Zork/Border Zone
21  VII  1  Winter/Spring 88  12p  Sherlock/InfoComics 1-3
22  VII  2  Summer 88          8p  InfoComics 4
23  VII  3  Fall 88            8p  BattleTech/Zork Zero/Quarterstaff
24  VIII 1  Spring 89          6p  Shogun/Journey/Arthur

The Status Line's successor ("ZQ" or "Escape") was never published.
 
IV.2 "InfoDope"
---------------
[For internal circulation only]


                        V  Data Files
                        =============

V.1 Story Data Files
--------------------

a) Legend

Name   : Game title. "Solid Gold" releases (which have the same Product
         Codes as normal ones) are marked "SG".

?      : Versions marked with an "*" are the ones I have only heard of
         but never actually seen.

V.A    : Version number (a.k.a. "Release") and assembly date (a.k.a.
         "Serial number"). Typing VERSION in a game usually gives you
         this information.

Z-C    : The Z-code version (1...6) of the data file. An "s" marks a data
         file that requires an interpreter with sound (not only beep)
         capabilities.
         The Z-code versions correspond with the development stages of ZIP
         ("Z-machine Interpreter Program", the virtual interpreter) in the
         following way:             ZIP      Z-code
                                    ---------------
                                    ZIP         1-3
                                    EZIP (LZIP)   4  ("extended")
                                    XZIP          5  ("experimental")
                                    YZIP          6

Length : The "real" length of the data file, as indicated in the "game
         length" field of the data file header. IBM data files are often 1
         byte longer (padded with a $1a byte); Amiga data files are always
         padded to a page size of 256 or 512 bytes. Older data files (pre
         July 1982) had no $VERIFY command and therefore lack the game
         length field in the header; their correct length is listed in
         brackets, and their checksum is given after "CHK:".

b) Versions

Name                      ?    V.A       Z-C  Length
----------------------------------------------------
A Mind Forever Voyaging       77.850814   4   262016
                              79.851122   4   262036

Arthur                        54.890606   6   270848 (Amiga/Mac)
                          *   63.890622   6        ? (Apple II)
                              74.890714   6   269200 (IBM)

Ballyhoo                      97.851218   3   128556

Beyond Zork                   47.870915   5   261952     1)
                              49.870917   5   261900
                              51.870923   5   261548
                              57.871221   5   261388

Border Zone                    9.871008   5   178372

Bureaucracy                   86.870212   4   243144
                             116.870602   4   243340

Cutthroats                    23.840809   3   112558

Deadline                      18.820311   3  [111342]  CHK: $39d5
                              19.820427   3  [111420]  CHK: $780e
                              21.820512   3  [111706]  CHK: $bf83
                          *   22.     ?   3   111782
                              26.821108   3   108372
                              27.831005   3   108454

Enchanter                     10.830810   3   109126
                              15.831107   3   109230
                              16.831118   3   109234
                              24.851118   3   108638
                              29.860820   3   111126

Four-In-One Sampler I         26.840731   3   112610
                              53.850407   3   126708
                              55.850823   3   126902

Four-In-One Sampler II        97.870601   3   125314

HHGG                          47.840914   3   112622
                              56.841221   3   113444
                              58.851002   3   113332
                              59.851108   3   113334

HHGG SG                       31.871119   5   158412

Hollywood Hijinx              37.861215   3   109650

Infidel                       22.830916   3    93556

Journey                       26.890316   6   279872 (Mac)
                              30.890322   6   280472 (Amiga)
                          *   77.890616   6        ? (Apple II)
                              83.890706   6   282312 (IBM)

LGOP                      *  118.860325   3   129012 (beta)
                          *    ?.     ?   3   128998
                          *   50.860711   3   128988
                              59.860730   3   129022
                              59.861114 (same as previous)

LGOP SG                        4.880405   5   159928

Lurking Horror               203.870506   3   128986
                             219.870912   3s  129704
                             221.870918   3s  129944

Mini-Zork I                   34.871124   3    52216

Moonmist                       4.860918   3   129002
                               9.861022   3   128866

Nord and Bert                 19.870722   4   170284

Planetfall                    20.830708   3   107958
                              29.840118   3   109052
                              37.851003   3   109398

Planetfall SG                 10.880531   5   136560

Plundered Hearts              26.870730   3   128962

Seastalker                    86.840320   3   116456 (beta)
                              15.840501   3   117738
                              15.840522   3   117728
                              16.850515   3   117752
                              16.850603   3   117762

Sherlock                      21.871214   5   188444
                              26.880127   5s  190180

Shogun                       292.890314   6   341416 (Mac)
                             295.890321   6   341912 (Amiga)
                          *  311.890510   6   344224 (Apple II)
                             322.890706   6   344816 (IBM)

Sorcerer                  *   67.000000   3   107096 (beta)
                               4.840131   3   109734
                               6.840508   3   109482
                              13.851021   3   108692
                              15.851108   3   108682
                              18.860904   3   111052

Spellbreaker                  63.850916   3   128480
                              87.860904   3   128916

Starcross                     15.820901   3    84984
                              17.821021   3    83792
                          *    ?.     ?   3    84740

Stationfall                  107.870430   3   128934

Suspect                       14.841005   3   118692

Suspended                      5.830222   3   105418
                               7.830419   3   105500
                               8.830521   3   105492
                               8.840521   3   105584

Trinity                       11.860509   4   262016
                              12.860926   4   262064

Wishbringer                   68.850501   3   128952
                              69.850920   3   128904

Wishbringer SG                23.880706   5   164712

Witness                       13.830524   3   102608
                              18.830910   3   103728
                              20.831119   3   104740
                              21.831208   3   104704
                              22.840924   3   104664

Zork I                         5.         1   [82836]  CHK: $a8a4
                              15.UG3AU5   2   [78566]  CHK: $e987
                              23.820428   3   [75780]  CHK: $e6dc
                              25.820515   3   [75808]  CHK: $dfa0
                              26.820803   3    75964
                              28.821013   3    76018
                              30.830330   3    76324
                              75.830929   3    84868
                              76.840509   3    84874
                              88.840726   3    84876

Zork I SG                     52.871125   5   105264

Zork Demo                      ?.     ?   ?        ?

Zork I German                  3.880113   5   116216 (beta)

Zork II                        7.UG3AU5   2   [85260]  CHK: $6fb6
                              17.820427   3   [82368]  CHK: $cf13
                              18.820512   3   [82422]  CHK: $cf14
                              18.820517 (same as previous)
                              19.820721   3    82586
                              22.830331   3    82920
                              23.830411   3    81876
                          *    ?.     ?   3    89136
                              48.840904   3    89912
                          *    ?.841220   3        ?

Zork III                      10.820818   3    82334
                              15.830331   3    82558
                              16.830410   3    81626     2)
                              15.840518   3    82642
                              17.840727   3    82714

Zork Zero                    296.881019   6   295536 (Mac)
                             366.890323   6   296376 (Amiga)
                          *  383.890602   6        ? (Apple II)
                             393.890714   6   299968 (IBM)

c) Footnotes

1) The IBM version appears longer because the character definitions (used
   for the runes) are simply appended to the data file. On other platforms
   (e.g. Amiga and Atari ST), the definitions are in a separate font file.

2) Might be a beta test version.

V.2 Graphic Data Files
----------------------

The graphics were originally designed on the Amiga; the same data files
seem to have been used for the Mac releases. Later they were converted to
Apple IIgs and IBM.

At the moment I only have information about the IBM graphics files. I don't
know whether the "version numbers" shown by the VERSION command (byte 0x1b
of the graphic file) are really version numbers or just random bytes.

The MS-DOS versions of the YZIP games came with 3 graphics files: for
MCGA/VGA graphics cards (*.MG1), for EGA (*.EG1) and for CGA (*.CG1). You
could chose the graphics file via command line options; the syntax was
"YZIP /D[M,E,C]". If invoked without this option the interpreter tries to
determine the type of graphic card (and usually ends up with EGA).

Arthur and Shogun contained the program FILECVT.EXE, which can create EG1
and CG1 graphics from the MG1 graphics file.

Zork0
  (James Shook)  conversions etc.: Tanya Allan/Denise Audette/Andy Briggs/
                                   Rob Dunlavey/Sophia Green/Joy Pulver/
                                   Charlie Voner

  MG1    Pix 14    226436         (89-07-10 11:35)
  EG1    Pix 29    333654         (89-07-13 17:48)
  CG1    Pix 29    244507         (89-07-14 16:42) 

Shogun
  (Donald Langosy)  conversions: Tanya Allen [Apple II]/
                                 Donna Dennison [IBM]
  MG1    Pix 9     213425         (89-07-06 15:21)
  EG1    Pix 21    278669         (89-06-28 11:47)
  CG1    Pix 20    141450         (89-07-06 15:34)

Journey
  (Donald Langosy)
  MG1    Pix 2     465606         (89-06-23 13:38)
  EG1/2  Pix 12    360500/249241  (89-07-07 12:37/38)
  CG1    Pix 8     297105         (89-07-07 17:01)

Arthur
  (Darrell Myers/Tanya Isaacson/Sophie Green/Donna Dennison/Jim Sullivan)
  MG1    Pix 27    292279         (89-07-14 11:32) 
  EG1/2         [EGA file not included]
  CG1    Pix 15    209359         (89-07-13 18:50) 

V.3 Title Pictures
------------------

The 4 YZIP games had title pictures which were incorporated in the
graphics files. The only other game with a title picture was the Atari
ST version of "Beyond Zork". ("Fooblitzky" had a title screen too.)

V.4 Sound Files
---------------

The Amiga and Macintosh versions of "The Lurking Horror" and "Sherlock"
came with sampled sounds. "The Lurking Horror" had 14 sounds, "Sherlock"
15.

V.5 Font Files
--------------

It seems that the only game that needed special character definitions was
"Beyond Zork". Infocom put these special characters in a separate font
file (called "Graphic.Data" on the Amiga and "FONT3.DAT" on the Atari 
ST). In the MS-DOS version, the font file was appended to the game's data
file.

The Amiga versions of "Journey" and "Arthur" also came with font files
(called "Char.Data"). In "Arthur", it is used for the game's proportional
font. The "Journey" font file is used for the runes; it is identical with
the one from "Beyond Zork".

V.6 Boss Keys
-------------

The (original) MS-DOS version of "Leather Goddesses of Phobos" came with
a boss key picture ("LEATHER.DAT") displayed by the ZIP (version 3 N).


                      VI  Game Statistics
                      ===================

Game          Version   Rooms  Words  Objects    Opcodes
                        (int)        (takeable)  (total)

Zork I             88    110    697     60        6798
Zork II            48     86    684     50        6804
Deadline           27     51    656     37        6977
Zork III           17     89    564     23        5952
Starcross          17     86    557     25        6566
Suspended           8     63    676     33        6902
The Witness        22     30    715     22        8945
Planetfall         37    105    669     45        7879
Enchanter          29     74    723     33        8070
Infidel            22     77    613     57        7386
Sorcerer           18     84   1013     36        8963
Seastalker         16     30    911     15       14460
Cutthroats         23     68    790     21       12600
HHGG               59     31    971     45       10723
Suspect            14     57    674     43       10737
Wishbringer        69     52   1043     35       16223
AMFV               79    178   1812     30       18696
Spellbreaker       87     79    850     60       12472
Ballyhoo           97     36    962     42       15132
Trinity            12    134   2120     49       31389
LGOP               59     75    978     41       13763
Moonmist            9     69    955     26       15900
Hollywood Hijinx   37     67    854     58       10355
Bureaucracy       116     50   1416     44       24116
Stationfall       107    105    789     53       10662
Lurking Horror    221     71    773     44       12398
Nord and Bert      19     41   1230     69       13831
Plundered Hearts   26     57    816     28       13859
Beyond Zork        57    128   1569     77       32778
Border Zone         9    111    803     42       11273
Sherlock           26     92   1194     67       19702
Zork Zero         393    215   1624    106       23587
Shogun            322     75   1389     63       28346
Journey            83      -     27      -       16187
Arthur             74     90   1059     32       28242

The number of rooms refers to the internal representation; externally
(from the player's point of view) there can be less/more rooms. The number
of takeable objects can sometimes be higher than the figure given here.
(I have only counted objects which have the takebit set in the initial
state of the game.)


                         VII  Implementors
                         =================

These are all the games written by the 10 best known Infocom implementors
(plus Elizabeth Langosy). A "#" after a year means that the game has not
been finished or never been released.


"Hollywood" Dave Anderson
-------------------------
Hollywood Hijinx  <+ L.Cyr-Jones>                       86   (Infocom)

Bob Bates
---------
Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels                86/7 (Infocom/Challenge)
Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur                         89   (Infocom/Challenge)
The Abyss                                               89#  (Infocom/Challenge)
[Untitled Robin Hood game]                              89#  (Infocom)
Timequest                                               91   (Legend)
Eric the Unready                                        93   (Legend)
The Great Game  <+ W.Colby/J.Adams>                     95   (Activision)
[Educational game for US government]                    95   (??)

Michael Berlyn
--------------
Oo-Topos  <+ Muffy Berlyn>                              81   (Sentient)
Cyborg                                                 ~82   (Sentient)
Gold Rush                                                ?   (Sentient)
Suspended                                               83   (Infocom)
Infidel  <+ P.Fogleman>                                 83   (Infocom)
Cutthroats  <+ J.Wolper>                                84   (Infocom)
Fooblitzky  <+ M.S.Blank et al.>                        85/6 (Infocom)
Tass Times In Tonetown  <+ Muffy Berlyn>                86   (Interplay)
Dr. Dumont's Wild P.A.R.T.I.                            87   (First Row)
Altered Destiny                                         90   (Accolade)
Bubsy, in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind
   <+ J.Skeel>                                          93   (Accolade)
Live Action Football  <+ M.S.Blank>                     95   (Accolade)

Marc S. Blank
-------------
Zork  <+ P.D.Lebling/T.A.Anderson/B.K.Daniels>          77-9 (MIT)
Zork I: The Great Underground Empire  <+ P.D.Lebling>   80   (Infocom)
Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz  <+ P.D.Lebling>         81   (Infocom)
Zork III: The Dungeon Master  <+ P.D.Lebling>           81   (Infocom)
Deadline                                                82   (Infocom)
Enchanter  <+ P.D.Lebling>                              83   (Infocom)
The Four-In-One Infocom Sampler                         84   (Infocom)
Fooblitzky  <+ M.Berlyn et al.>                         85/6 (Infocom)
Border Zone                                             87   (Infocom)
Journey                                                 88   (Infocom)
Live Action Football  <+ M.Berlyn>                      95   (Accolade)

Amy Briggs
----------
Plundered Hearts                                        87   (Infocom)
Gamma Force in Pit of a Thousand Screams                88   (Infocom/TSP)
Quarterstaff  <+ S.Schmitz/K.Updike>                    88   (Infocom)
[Untitled Vampire game]                                 89#  (Infocom)

Stuart W. Galley
----------------
The Witness                                             83   (Infocom)
Seastalker: [Your Name] and the Ultramarine Bioceptor
   <+ J.Lawrence>                                       84   (Infocom)
Midnight Rider/Escape from Boston                       85#  (Infocom)
Moonmist  <+ J.Lawrence>                                86   (Infocom)
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe               87#  (Infocom)

Elizabeth Langosy
-----------------
ZorkQuest: Assault on Egreth Castle                     88   (Infocom/TSP)
ZorkQuest II: The Crystal of Doom                       88   (Infocom/TSP)
[Untitled "adult" InfoComic]                            89#  (Infocom/TSP)

P. David Lebling
----------------
Zork  <+ M.S.Blank/T.A.Anderson/B.K.Daniels>            77-9 (MIT)
Zork I: The Great Underground Empire  <+ M.S.Blank>     80   (Infocom)
Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz  <+ M.S.Blank>           81   (Infocom)
Zork III: The Dungeon Master  <+ M.S.Blank>             81   (Infocom)
Starcross                                               82   (Infocom)
Enchanter  <+ M.S.Blank>                                83   (Infocom)
Suspect                                                 84   (Infocom)
Spellbreaker                                            85   (Infocom)
The Lurking Horror                                      87   (Infocom)
James Clavell's Shogun                                  88   (Infocom)

Steven Eric Meretzky
--------------------
Planetfall                                              83   (Infocom)
Sorcerer                                                84   (Infocom)
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy  <+ D.N.Adams>     84   (Infocom)
A Mind Forever Voyaging                                 85   (Infocom)
Leather Goddesses Of Phobos                             86   (Infocom)
Stationfall                                             87   (Infocom)
Lane Mastodon vs. The Blubbermen                        88   (Infocom/TSP)
Zork Zero: The Revenge of Megaboz                       88   (Infocom)
[Untitled Titanic game]                                 89#  (Infocom)
Spellcasting 101: Sorcerers Get All The Girls           90   (Legend)
Spellcasting 201: The Sorcerer's Appliance              91   (Legend)
Leather Goddesses Of Phobos 2: Gas Pump Girls Meet the
   Pulsating Inconvenience from Planet X                92   ("Infocom")
Spellcasting 301: Spring Break                          92   (Legend)
Superhero League of Hoboken                             94   (Legend)
Hodj 'n' Podj                                           95   (Boffo)
Planetfall: The Search for Floyd
   <+ R.Manning/H.Beimler>                              95   ("Infocom")

 Meretzky also wrote:
  - four "Zork" interactive novels (see III.1)
  - a "Rex Nebular" short story for Microprose (1993)

"Professor" Brian Moriarty
--------------------------
Adventure in the Fifth Dimension                       ~83   (Analog #11)
Crash Dive!                                            ~83   (Analog #18)
Trinity                                                 84-6 (Infocom)
Wishbringer: The Magick Stone of Dreams                 85   (Infocom)
Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor                     87   (Infocom)
[Untitled MacII SciFi RPG]                              88#  (Infocom)
Loom                                                    88-90 (Lucasfilm)
The Dig  <+ S.Spielberg>                                93-5 (LucasArts)
Loadstar                                                95?  (Rocket Science)

Jeff O'Neill
------------
Ballyhoo                                                85   (Infocom)
Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of it          87   (Infocom)
Zork I (German Version)                                 88#  (Infocom)
[Leather Goddesses of Phobos sequel]                    88#  (Infocom)


                        VIII  Re-Releases
                        =================

While Infocom's original releases are slowly becoming collectors' items,
most of their games have been re-released as budget editions or in
compilations. These are listed here in chronological order. The game
version information is given (where known) in the format
"Version number.Assembly date (Interpreter version)".

a) Infocom from Mastertronic
----------------------------

The "Infocom from Mastertronic" (aka "Budgets") were published in 1990
(#1-5) and 1991 (#6-10) by Virgin Mastertronic in Great Britain (with a 
license from Activision). They came in flat square-shaped cardboard boxes
(black with blue stripes, 160x160x18 mm). All of them included a reprint
of the original manual as a small (140x140) booklet; #2 and #4 also had
maps.

All games were priced at £9.99 and released for IBM, Amiga and Atari ST.

 # Game           IBM              Amiga            Atari ST
----------------------------------------------------------------
 1 HHGG           31.871119 (5E)     ???            56.841221
 2 Zork I         52.871125 (5E)   88.840726 (3A)   52.871125
 3 Planetfall     10.880531 (5J)   37.851003 (3B)     ???
 4 Wishbringer    23.880706 (5J)   69.850920 (3B)   68.850501
 5 LGOP            4.880405 (5I)   59.860730 (3B)     ???
 6 Zork II        48.840904 (3L)     ->      (3B)     ???
 7 Zork III       17.840727 (3L)     ->      (3B)     ->
 8 Enchanter      10.830810 (3A)   16.831118 (3B)     ->
 9 Sorcerer        6.840508 (3L)   13.851021 (3B)     ???
10 Deadline       27.831005 (3L)     ->      (3B)     ->

In late summer 1992 Virgin Mastertronic published two CD-ROMs called "The
Zork Trilogy" (containing #2,6,7) and "The Infocom Collection" (#1,3,4,5).
A third CD-ROM with the Enchanter Trilogy was planned but may not have been
released.

Address of publisher:   Virgin Mastertronic Ltd.
                        16 Portland Road
                        London W11 2LA
                        Tel. 071-727-8070

b) The Lost Treasures of Infocom
--------------------------------

This package ("LTOI I") was released by Activision (under the Infocom
label) in December 1991 for the IBM (Macintosh version: January 1992;
Amiga version: February 1992). CD-ROM versions (different CD-ROMs for PC
and Mac) followed in 1993.

It contained 20 games, complete with manual, hintbook (more or less
identical to the text in the InvisiClues) and maps. The IBM and Amiga
versions had $59.95 as RRP, the Macintosh version $69.95.

Due to Activision's financial situation, the package had to be produced on
a shoestring budget. The hintbook was full of typos; the manual left out
some vital information (the radio station ad for "Ballyhoo"; the "Moonmist"
letters). Some early packages did not include the parchment for "Zork Zero"
either.

The IBM packages lack some not-so-vital files (the MCGA/VGA graphics for
"Zork Zero", the boss key picture for the 3N interpreter). Early IBM
versions had read errors on the disks. 

Game                   IBM               Macintosh         Amiga
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ballyhoo               97.851218 (3M2)     ->      (3G)      ->
Beyond Zork            57.871221 (5J)      ->      (5B)      ->
Deadline               27.831005 (3M2)     ->      (3G)      ->
Enchanter              29.860820 (3N)      ->      (3G)    16.831118
HHGG                   31.871119 (5E)    59.851108 (3G)    58.851002 
Infidel                22.830916 (3M2)     ->      (3G)      ->
Lurking Horror        203.870506 (3N)      ->      (3G)   219.870912
Moonmist                9.861022 (3N)      ->      (3G)      ->
Planetfall             37.851003 (3N)    10.880531 (5C)    37.851003
Sorcerer               15.851108 (3M2)     ->      (3G)    13.851021
Spellbreaker           87.860904 (3N)      ->      (3G)      ->
Starcross              17.821021 (3M2)     ->      (3G)      ->
   (some IBM packages: 15.820901)
Stationfall           107.870430 (3N)      ->      (3G)      ->
Suspect                14.841005 (3M2)     ->      (3G)      ->
Suspended               8.840521 (3M2)     ->      (3G)     8.830521
Witness                22.840924 (3M2)     ->      (3G)      ->
Zork Zero             393.890714 (6.71) 296.881019 (6.1)  366.890323
Zork I                 88.840726 (3M2)     ->      (3G)      ->
Zork II                48.840904 (3M2)     ->      (3G)      ->
Zork III               17.840727 (3M2)     ->      (3G)      ->

Address of publisher:  Activision (until Jan 92: Mediagenic)
                       P.O. Box 3048
                       Menlo Park, CA 94025
                       Tel. (415) 329-0800

c) The Lost Treasures of Infocom II
-----------------------------------

Following the (unexpected?) success of LTOI I, Activision released a second
compilation in July 1992 (IBM, Macintosh). An Amiga version was planned but
not released.

This one contained only 11 games; "Journey", "Shogun", "Arthur" and
"Leather Goddesses of Phobos" were not included (but the package contained
a special $9.95 priced offer for LGOP). The CD-ROM version (PC and Mac on
the same CD) was released end-1993; it included the 3 graphic games but not
LGOP.

The package did not contain maps or hintbooks but a 1-800 number for hints
was listed. The RRP was $49.95.

Game                   IBM               Macintosh     
-------------------------------------------------------
AMFV                   77.850814 (4A)      ->      (4E)
Border Zone             9.871008 (5J)      ->      (5B)
Bureaucracy           116.870602 (4D)      ->      (4I)
Cutthroats             23.840809 (3M2)     ->      (3G)
Hollywood Hijinx       37.861215 (3N)      ->      (3I)
Nord and Bert...       19.870722 (4E)      ->      (4I)
Plundered Hearts       26.870730 (3N)      ->      (3G)
Seastalker             16.850603 (3L)    15.840522 (3G)
Sherlock               21.871214 (5J)    26.880127 (5C)
Trinity                12.860926 (4E)      ->      (4H)
Wishbringer            69.850920 (3M2)   68.850501 (3G)
Arthur (CD)            74.890714 (6.71)  54.890606
Journey (CD)           83.890706 (6.68)  26.890316
Shogun (CD)           322.890706 (6.68) 292.890314

Address of publisher:  Activision/Infocom
                       P.O. Box 67001
                       Los Angeles, CA 90067

d) Zork Anthology
-----------------

Published by Activision in 1994 as a CD-only companion piece to the
pseudo-Infocom "Return to Zork".

Game                   IBM               Macintosh     
-------------------------------------------------------
Zork I                 88.840726 (3M2)     ???
Zork II                48.840904 (3M2)     ???
Zork III               17.840727 (3M2)     ???
Beyond Zork            57.871221 (5J)      ???
Zork Zero             393.890714 (6.71)    ???
Planetfall             37.851003 (3N)      ???

e) Infocom Classics
-------------------

A set of 5 PC-and-Mac CD-ROMs published by Activision in June 1995. Each
CD-ROM comes with manual and maps; a 1-900 line for hints is listed and
separate hintbooks can be ordered for $10 (per collection). LGOP and three
V6 games (Arthur, Shogun and Journey) are not included. The collections go
for $20-25.

Mystery Collection:         Deadline, The Witness, Suspect, Moonmist, The
                            Lurking Horror, Sherlock (plus Zork Zero and
                            Planetfall)

Comedy Collection:          Ballyhoo (!), Bureaucracy, Hollywood Hijinx,
                            Nord & Bert (plus Zork I and Planetfall)

Fantasy Collection:         Enchanter, Sorcerer, Spellbreaker, Wishbringer,
                            Seastalker (!) (plus Zork II and Planetfall)

Adventure Collection:       Border Zone, Cutthroats, Infidel, Plundered
                            Hearts, Trinity (!) (plus Zork III and
                            Planetfall)

Science Fiction Collection: AMFV, HHGG, Starcross, Stationfall, Suspended
                            (plus Beyond Zork and Planetfall)

[All versions and interpreters are as on LTOI 1 and 2.]


                          IX  Trivia
                          ==========

IX.1 Game titles prior to eventual release
------------------------------------------

Many game titles we know have been chosen by the marketing department. The
in-house beta versions were called differently.

AMFV                PRISM
Border Zone         Spy
Deadline            Was It Murder?
Enchanter           Zork IV
Hollywood Hijinx    Aunt Hildegarde's Secret
Infidel             Pyramid
Planetfall          Sole Survivor
Spellbreaker        Mage
Starcross           A Gift From Space
Suspended           Suspension
The Witness         Invitation to Murder/Witness

IX.2 The Gribnitz Apartments
----------------------------

These are the 27 names that can appear as inhabitants of the Gribnitz
Apartments in Marc Blank's "Border Zone". Each time the game is started,
18 or 19 names are randomly inserted into the directory in the Apartment
Lobby.

Bextra     (maybe Duane Beck)
Blenka     (Marc Blank)
Blivik     ?
Brgmiz     (Ernie Brogmus)
Brlensk    (Mike Berlyn)
Brzni      (Joel Berez)
Carlyni    (Linda Carlow)
Cnezeni    (Cezanne Blank)
Cyrink     (Liz Cyr-Jones)
Dimwitz    (Lord Dimwit Flathead the Excessive)
Dornik     (Michael Dornbrook)
Endrizen   (Tim Anderson, or "Hollywood" Dave Anderson)
Flipni     ?
Galnitz    (Stu Galley)
Gentezek   (Carl Genatossio)
Kooplitz   ?
Lebniz     (Dave Lebling)
Lengnoz    (Elizabeth Langosy, or Donald Langosy)
Mrtzki     (Steve Meretzky)
Onilik     (Jeff O'Neill)
Profnim    ("Professor" Brian Moriarty)
Rivni      (Christopher Reeve)
Robnerim   (the family name from "Deadline")
Sinkriz    (maybe Anita Sinclair)
Urg        ?
Veznich    (Al Vezza)
Winip      ?


                         X  Chronology
                         =============

69-70:   Programming language Muddle (later called MDL) developed by
         several people affiliated with the MIT's Dynamic Modelling (DM)
         Group (Dave Cressey, Chris Reeve, Bruce K. Daniels) and AI
         Laboratory (Gerald Sussman, Carl Hewitt). The MDL development
         system runs on a DEC PDP-10 under ITS.

Dec 76:  First preliminary meeting of future Infocom founders.

Jun 77:  "Zork" created by Marc Blank, Bruce K. Daniels, Tim Anderson, and
         Dave Lebling. Written in MDL.

Feb 79:  Last puzzles added to the mainframe "Zork".

Apr 79:  First article about "Zork" published.

6/22/79: Infocom founded by 10 DM Group members (Tim Anderson, Joel
         Berez, Marc Blank, Mike Broos, Scott Cutler, Stu Galley, Dave
         Lebling, J. C. R. Licklider, Chris Reeve, Al Vezza). The first
         Board of Directors consists of Berez, Broos, Galley, Lebling,
         and Vezza.

Aug 79:  Mike Broos resigns; Marc Blank replaces him as Director.

Nov 79:  Joel Berez elected Infocom's President.

Mar 80:  Infocom gets own P.O. box.

Jun 80:  Agreement with Personal Software Inc. to publish "Zork I".

Nov 80:  "Zork I".
         First sold copy: PDP-11 version.

Dec 80:  ZIP for TRS-80 Model I (written by Scott Cutler).
         About 1500 copies of Model I "Zork I" sold by PS until 9/81.

Feb 81:  ZIP for Apple II (written by Bruce K. Daniels).
         Over 6000 copies of Apple II "Zork I" sold until 9/81.

Mar 81:  Chris Reeve becomes Director.

May 81:  TRS-80 Model II version (never sold).

Jun 81:  First 2 employees (Joel Berez and Marc Blank).
         Zork II agreement with Personal Software.

Aug 81:  ZIP V2 introduced.

Sep 81:  Infocom moved to 6 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston.
         Mort Rosenthal becomes Manager of Marketing.

Oct 81:  End of the sales agreement with PS. (Infocom buys all Apple II
         versions of "Zork I" back from PS.)
         Mike Dornbrook founds "Zork Users Group" (PO Box 20923, Milwaukee,
         WI 53220-0923) to handle requests for hints and merchandise. In
         1983, the ZUG has 20000 members.

Nov 81:  "Zork II".
         Repackaging of "Zork I".

1/1/82:  Infocom moves to 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.
         Marc Blank becomes vice-president (VP) for product development.

Apr 82:  "Deadline".
         ZIP V3 introduced.
         New ZIPs for Atari 400/800 and CP/M.
         ZUG issues first InvisiClues booklet (Zork I).

May 82:  Marc Blank meets Mike Berlyn at an Applefest trade show.

Jun 82:  ZIP for IBM-PC.
         Employees: 4.

Aug 82:  ZIPs for TRS-80 Model III and NEC APC.

Sep 82:  "Zork III".
         "Starcross".

Oct 82:  Business Products division founded. "Cornerstone" development
         begins.

Dec 82:  DECsystem-20 bought for development.

end-82:  Sales: $1.65 million (net income: $335.000).

Mar 83:  "Suspended".
         ZIP for DEC Rainbow.

Apr 83:  ZIPs for Commodore 64 and TI Professional.

Jun 83:  "The Witness".
         Employees: 20.

Jul 83:  Shutdown of ZUG.

Aug 83:  "Planetfall".
         Mike Dornbrook joins Infocom as Product Manager for Entertainment
         Products.

Sep 83:  "Enchanter".

Nov 83:  "Infidel".
         ZIP for DECmate.

Dec 83:  ZIP for Tandy-2000.
         Ray Stata elected Director.

end-83:  Sales: $6 million (net income: $526.000).

Jan 84:  Al Vezza became Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Feb 84:  ZIPs for Kaypro II and Osborne.

Mar 84:  "Sorcerer".
         ZIPs for MS-DOS and TI 99/4 A.
         John Brackett new General Manager (GM) of Business Products
         division.

May 84:  Second DECsystem-20 bought.

Jun 84:  "Seastalker".
         ZIP for Apple Macintosh.
         John O'Leary new GM of Consumer Products division.
         Employees: 50.

Sep 84:  "Cutthroats".

Oct 84:  "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

11/1/84  Cornerstone announced at NYC press conference.

Nov 84:  "Suspect".

Dec 84:  Management restructured.

end-84:  Sales: $10 million.

Jan 85:  "Cornerstone".
         CES in Las Vegas: For promotion of "Suspect", Infocom rents a
         mansion and invites ~5000 people to become murder suspects.

Mar 85:  ZIP for Epson QX-10.

Apr 85:  Move to 125 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140.
         New Mail Order Department (PO Box 478, Cresskill, NJ 07626).
         ZIP for Apricot.

Jun 85:  "Wishbringer".
         Employees: 100.

Aug 85:  ZIP for Atari ST.

Sep 85:  "A Mind Forever Voyaging".
         First layoffs due to "Cornerstone"s commercial failure (despite
         hiring a separate sales and marketing team).

Oct 85:  "Spellbreaker".

Dec 85:  Business Products division laid off.
         ZIP for Amiga.

end-85:  Sales: $11.5 million.

Jan 86:  Marc Blank and CEO Al Vezza leave.
         Joel Berez new CEO. (He remains president.)

Feb 86:  "Ballyhoo".
         Price cut for "Cornerstone" (from $495 to $99.95).

2/19/86: Directors of Infocom and Activision approve of merger.

Mar 86:  "Fooblitzky".

Jun 86:  "Trinity".
         EZIP for Commodore 128.

6/13/86: Merger. Activision Inc. (Mountain View, CA) buys Infocom for
         stock swap worth $7.5...9.0 million.
         GM John O'Leary leaves.
         Employees: 40.

Sep 86:  "Leather Goddesses of Phobos".

Oct 86:  "Moonmist".

Nov 86:  "Enchanter Trilogy".

87-89:   Losses of ~$200.000 per fiscal quarter.

Jan 87:  "Zork Trilogy".

Feb 87:  "Hollywood Hijinx".

Mar 87:  "Bureaucracy".

Jun 87:  "Stationfall".
         "The Lurking Horror".

Sep 87:  "Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It".
         "Plundered Hearts".

Oct 87:  "Beyond Zork".
         "Classic Mystery Library".
         "Science Fiction Classics".
         XZIP for Apple IIgs.

Nov 87:  "Border Zone".

Dec 87:  Solid Gold "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and "Zork I" (Apple
         II, Macintosh, C64, IBM).

Jan 88:  "Sherlock" (Apple II, C64, IBM).
         Mike Dornbrook new VP.

Mar 88:  "Lane Mastodon".
         "Gamma Force".
         Sound version of "Sherlock" (Macintosh, Amiga, maybe Atari ST and
         Apple IIgs too).
         Chris Reeve leaves.

Apr 88:  "ZorkQuest I".

Jun 88:  Employees: 30.

Jul 88:  Solid Gold "Leather Goddesses of Phobos" and "Planetfall".
         Joel Berez resigns. Joe Ybarra (formerly at Electronic Arts)
         becomes new president.

Aug 88:  "ZorkQuest II".

Sep 88:  Solid Gold "Wishbringer".
         "Quarterstaff" (Macintosh).

Oct 88:  "Zork Zero"
         YZIP for Macintosh (written by Duncan Blanchard; YZIP
         specification by Tim Anderson & Dave Lebling,).

Nov 88:  "BattleTech" (IBM).

Mar 89:  "Shogun"
         "Journey"
         YZIP for Amiga (written by Clarence Din).
         "BattleTech" (C64).

May 89:  YZIP for Apple II with 128k RAM (written by Jon D. Arnold), maybe
         another one for the Apple IIgs.

5/5/89:  Of Infocom's 26 employees, 15 are laid off. The 11 others are
         offered the chance to move to Silicon Valley. Only 5 accept,
         including President Joe Ybarra and GM Rob Sears. Duncan Blanchard
         is the only long time Infocommie among the five.

Jun 89:  Activision (now Mediagenic) moves Infocom from Cambridge, MA to
         Menlo Park, CA.
         "BattleTech" (Amiga, maybe Apple II)

Jul 89: "Arthur".
         YZIP for IBM (written by Scott Fray).


                     XI  Interpreters & Tools
                     ========================

XI.1 Infocom's own interpreters
-------------------------------

Some Z-code interpreter versions and their length:

Platform  Version  Length
Amiga     3 A      25180
          3 B      25128/25584
          3 C      42224       (supports sound)
          4 A      26088
          4 B      26160
          4 C      42860       (supports sound)
          5 A      37148
          5 B      46472       (supports sound)
          6.8      45844/45862
          6.14     48368
Atari ST  3 A      21093
          3 ?      15721
          4 B      21706
          5 ?      40295       (loads title screen "SCREEN.DAT")
IBM       3 A      ???         (boot disk, no file)
          3 L      11394 [V3/4 are .COM files from 3L onwards]
          3 M2     11402
          3 N      12004       (loads boss key "<GAMENAME>.SCR")
          4 A      12640
          4 B      12604
          4 C      12642
          4 D      12688
          4 E      12682
          5 A            [V5/6 are .EXE files]
          5 B
          5 C      31910 (MS-C 4.00)
          5 D
          5 E      31924 (MS-C 4.00)
          5 F      32689 (MS-C 4.00)
          5 G      32713 (MS-C 4.00)
          5 H
          5 I      34390 (MS-C 5.00)
          5 J      33946 (MS-C 5.00)
          6.68     47442/47402 (Turbo-C 2.0)
          6.71     47494/47528 (Turbo-C 2.0)
Mac       3 B
          3 C
          3 G
          3 I
          4 E
          4 H
          4 I
          5 A
          5 B
          5 C                  (supports sound)
          6.1

XI.2 Public Domain Interpreters
-------------------------------

These Z-code interpreters are freely available, as PD or at least as
freeware. Source code and executables for most of them resides in the IF
archive (ftp://ftp.gmd.de/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/).

a) InfoTaskForce/ITF (1987-92)

Written by the InfoTaskForce, i.e. David Beazley <dbeazley@awadi.com.au>,
George Janczuk, Peter Lisle, Russell Hoare and Chris Tham. Development
started in early 1987 when the authors were undergrads at Sydney
University (Australia). No public release was planned but an early version
turned up on a Sydney University FTP server (physics.su.oz.au) in March
1991. This version (1.0/2.0, written June 1987) supported Z-code V3 only.

In September 1992 the interpreter was officially released, now supporting
Z-code V1-5 (lacking some V5 features). This version (4.01) has been widely
ported since. The interpreter is no longer supported by the authors.

b) zmachine (1988-90)

The first publically available portable Z-code interpreter. Written by
Matthias Pfaller <leo@marco.de>. Started in 1988, finished October 1989 and
posted to comp.os.minix on 12 March 1990. Supports Z-code V3; version 2.24
was the only release. No longer supported.

c) pinfocom (1992)

Based on the inofficial release of ITF 1.0/2.0. The code was taken over in
January 1992 by Paul D. Smith <psmith@wellfleet.com>. Many bug fixes and
enhancements were made but V4/5 support was still lacking. The announcement
of pinfocom prompted the ITF to release their code officially. Final
version (3.0) released in October 1992.

d) ZIPdebug (1991-93)

This interpreter/debugger by Frank Lancaster <fl@pierre.tools.de> started
life on the Apple II (written in UCSD Pascal). It was ported to the Acorn
Archimedes in 1991. A V3 interpreter (in TLA assembler) was written the
same year. In 1992, full V4 and partial V5 support was implemented in the
debugger, and it was p2c-ported to C. The latest version (0.6o, 21 Oct
1993) has full V5 and partial V6 support.

e) ZIP (1991-94)

Currently the most popular interpreter. Developed by Mark A. Howell
<howell_ma@movies.enet.dec.com> starting in late 1991. The first public
release (1.0, Oct 1992) supported V3 and V4, the second (2.0, Mar 1993)
also V5. V6 support is planned. Since August 1995 ZIP is maintained by
David Rose <drose@freenet.tlh.fl.us,72437.2335@compuserve.com>.

f) Zterp (1992)

Written by Charles M. Hannum <mycroft@gnu.ai.mit.edu>, this interpreter
(V3-5) has unfortunately never really caught on. It is the fastest one
and also the first to abandon Infocom's now unnecessary virtual memory
system. The only version (0.3alpha) was posted to alt.sources on 22 Feb
1993.

g) Frotz (1995)

A new interpreter currently in the works. It will support V1-6; the author
is Stefan Jokisch <jokisch@ls7.informatik.uni-dortmund.de>.

XI.3 Tools
----------

a) vocab/zorkword (1991-92)

The first portable vocabulary dumper for Infocom games, written by Mike
Threepoint <sxl6400@hertz.njit.edu> and posted to rec.games.misc in early
1991 (rec.arts.int-fiction and rec.games.int-fiction weren't available
before late summer 1991 and 1992, respectively). Its comments were the best
source of information on Z-code's internal data structures until Graham
Nelson's Z-machine specification came along in 1993. Made obsolete by Mark
Howell's infodump. Final version: 9/920920.

b) Ztools (1991-95)

Infocom toolkit by Mark Howell. The most useful tools are 'txd' (a Z-code
disassembler) and 'infodump' (a datafile dumper). The Ztools were first
released in September 1992, but 'txd' dates back to April 1991 (V3 only,
V4 support implemented January 1992, V5 in July 1992). Since May 1994 'txd'
supports all Z-code versions (V1-6). Current maintainer (as of August 1995)
is Stefan Jokisch.

c) Inform (1993-95)

A compiler for Z-code compatible datafiles (first released in April 1993),
written by Graham Nelson <nelson@vax.ox.ac.uk>. Being freeware it has
become one of the most widely used (and discussed) text adventure design
tools. Inform gets updated rather frequently and comes with extensive
documentation. A debugger called Infix (based on Mark Howell's ZIP) is
being developed by Dilip Sequeira <djs@dcs.ed.ac.uk>.

                       -------   ***   -------
