Date   : Mon, 11 Jan 1988 14:57:49 GMT
From   : MA18@SYSE.SALFORD.AC.UK
Subject: Infocom Games

Customising and Buying Infocom(tm) games

Recently Gar Nelson contributed a note (ZORKNOTE.TZT) which contained the
details of how to customise the screen display for ZORK etc. I can confirm that
he was correct in every detail. My confirmation comes from Infocom itself. In
days gone by Infocom used to ship CP/M games wtih the source of a program to
patch the COM file with the terminal control codes. I have used this successfull
on all their games - even the ones shipped without such files.

He also notes that Infocom have dropped their CP/M support. I don't know
if that
is also true in the U.K. BUT I can purchase Infocom games over here that don't
exist in CP/M form according to the Infocom sales literature which comes with
their games. e.g. Leather Goddesses, Suspect, Stationfall, etc. This appears to
be due to the success of Amstrad Z80 computers in the UK. I have to buy the
games on 3" disks (yes three.zero) inch disks. It is then necessary to have the
media converted - either commercially or buy hooking up an Amstrad and my
machine and using good old Kermit!

I believe almost all Infocom games are available in the UK for the Amstrad. The
exception which I know of are: the two IBM PC specific games, and possibly
Plundered Hearts and Bureaucracy. Trinity and A Mind Forever ... are supposed
to be available, but I have not tried to get them, so I cannot comment. Two of
their newest releases (over here) - Lurking Horror and Stationfall are
definitel
available.  The prices are higher than the $14.95 mentioned by Gar however -
we have prices of some 26 pounds = $47 (approx).

-- Tony Addyman