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From: jwj001@acad.drake.edu
Subject: Hint Books - Literature and Art
Message-ID: <1993Sep11.005904.1@acad.drake.edu>
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Organization: Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1993 06:59:04 GMT

There seems to be a little confusion as to how Infocom originally did things,
so I will try to clarify.  I do not mean to be rude or incorrect, so if anyone
thinks I am either, please let me know.  Anyway, as Infocom (in my opinion, the
only ones who knew how to package their games) used to do it, they sold the
game, then after a couple of months, the hintbook for the game would be
available.  The hint books were not merely solutions, they were additions to
the game.  The hint book would tell someone how each point was scored, where
each item was to be found, and some neat things to try during different points
of the game.  The hintbooks were not just solutions, they were supplements.  I
really enjoyed the hint books.  And although the hint book included in LTOI I
may have been too much of a temptation, I am glad it was packaged, because even
though the books were already "revealed" (as opposed to using the ink marker to
show each clue) it still provided the fake funny clues, and much of the Infocom
wit.  To not include these in LTOI II is a mistake, and a mistake for which I
will never forgive Activision.  And therefore, I say, DOWN WITH ACTIVISION's
Packagaing Company!!!! (even though without them,  I would be sans Mac versions
of Infocom classics)  Infocom games that included on-line help  of course had
no hint book, but the online hints were equally funny, and equally usefull in
aditional information they provided.  I wish I had hint books for those games
in LTOI II that do not have online hints, not only for their wit, but also
because the maps were pieces of art as well.
-- 

John Jordan
jwj001@acad.drake.edu

"Be Free With Your Tempo, Be Free..." - Queen
