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From: blasius@gmd.de (Volker Blasius)
Subject: Infocom Fact Sheet
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Keywords: Infocom Fact Sheet Doherty
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Paul David Doherty has updated his Infocom Fact Sheet to version 4.3; it is 
included below. Please note that I only post it for him because of technical 
problems at his site, so don't reply to this posting for comments, but send 
email to  h0142kdd@rz.hu-berlin.de .

The latest version of this fact sheet can always be found at
ftp.gmd.de:/if-archive/infocom/fact-sheet.txt  and at the mirror site
wuarchive.wustl.edu:/mirrors/if-archive/...

                       ------------------           4.3 - April 19, 1992
                       Infocom Fact Sheet
                       ------------------
                  Compiled by Paul David Doherty

This file includes some information about Infocom's games and related
subjects. Maybe it is useful as a reference. Thanks to the many people
who made contributions. For suggestions and corrections, please mail me
at <h0142kdd@rz.hu-berlin.de>. You can obtain the most recent version
of this file via FTP from ftp.gmd.de (129.26.8.90).

List of contents:

I   Released Games
II  Packaging Details
III Data Files
IV  Implementors
V   Newsletters
VI  Trivia
VII Chronology


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

This table lists all software products sold 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                         IB1 IBM & 100% Compatibles
 AP1 Apple II series (48 K 18-sec.)  IB2 IBM & MS-DOS Compatibles
 AP2 Apple Macintosh                 KA1 Kaypro II (CP/M)
 AT1 Atari XL/XE (48 K, 810/1050)    MS1 MS-DOS 2.0
 AT2 Atari ST                        NE1 NEC PC-8000 (56 K, CP/M)
 CO1 Commodore 64/128 (1541)         NE2 NEC APC (CP/M-86)
 CO2 ?                               OS1 Osborne (CP/M)
 CO3 ?                               TA1 TRS-80 Model I (48 K, disk)
 CO4 Commodore Amiga                 TA2 ?
 CO5 Commodore 128 ONLY              TA3 TRS-80 Model III (48 K, disk)
 CP1 CP/M (2.0+, 48 K, 8")           TA4 TRS-80 Color Computer (48 K, disk)
 DE1 PDP-11 (RT-11)                  TI1 TI Professional
 DE2 DEC Rainbow (CP/M)              TI2 TI 99/4 A (48 K, disk)
 EP1 Epson QX-10
Other supported platforms: Commodore Plus/4 (without System Code);
Amstrad CPC/PCW (System Code: UQD [or similar]).

There have been 4 difficulty ratings:
   i - Introductory (called Junior on "Seastalker")
   s - Standard
   a - Advanced
   e - Expert


I.1 Interactive Fiction (IF)
----------------------------

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 (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 (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)

Chronicles
IJ1 - 89  Journey (Marc Blank)

Living Literature
IL1 - 89  Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur (Bob Bates/Duane Beck)


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

Demos
ID1?- 84  Zork Demo

Four-In-One Samplers
ID2 - 84  [Excerpts from The Witness, Infidel, Planetfall, and Zork I;
          contains Catch-a-butterfly tutorial]
ID3 - 87  [Excerpts from Zork I, Leather Goddesses, Trinity and a
          Wishbringer tutorial]

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 Berkowitz/Rich Ilson et al.)
GS1 - 86  Fooblitzky (Mike Berlyn/Marc Blank/Brian Cody/Poh C. Lim/
          Paula Maxwell)
??? - 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.)
??? - 90  Circuit's Edge (Westwood Ass.)
??? - 91  BattleTech 2: The Crescent Hawks' Revenge (Westwood Ass.)
--- - 91  The Lost Treasures of Infocom
--- - 92  Leather Goddesses of Phobos II (Steve Meretzky)
--- - 92  The Lost Treasures of Infocom II
--- - 93  Return to Zork


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

(All sizes given in mm.)


II.1 Very Old Packagings
------------------------

The first "Zork I" was apparently available from Personal Software as
"Zork".


II.2 Old Packagings
-------------------

The first 12 Infocom games were released in the following formats:

Zork I       ?
Zork II      ?
Deadline     police file (255/303/4)
Zork III     ?
Starcross    large flying saucer
Suspended    box with recessed white face mask (240/304/8)
The Witness  police file (?)
Planetfall   folder (240/304/8)
Enchanter    box (307/240/13)
Infidel      ?
Sorcerer     box (307/240/13)
Seastalker   folder (241/320/72)


II.3 Standard Box Format
------------------------

From Summer 1984 onwards (and for the re-releases of the old games), a
consistent box format (229/187/25) was employed. The box 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
  [no info available for standard box]

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
 2. robot tracking devices (6 black rubber chips)
 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" (instead of Infotater)

Seastalker
 B. "Scimitar Logbook"
 1. nautical chart of Frobton Bay
 2. badge (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
 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. two letters from Tamara (2 pages)
 2. visitor's guide "Welcome to Tresyllian Castle"
 3. MOONMIST iron-on logo

Enchanter Trilogy
  [Contains standard boxes of Enchanter, Sorcerer, and Spellbreaker]

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)


II.4 New Box Format
-------------------

The new box had the same format as the old one, but it was not possible
to open it like a book. All package elements are now separate. Every game
contains a "Technical Manual".

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 pieces of 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)


II.5 Graphics Games
-------------------

Just normal software cartons...

Zork Zero
 1. The Flathead Calendar (883 GUE)
 2. folded map - blueprints of Rockville Estates
 3. scrap of parchment

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

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

Arthur
 1. "Book of Hours"


II.6 Commodore Packagings
-------------------------

From 1983 to 1985, the Commodore-64 versions of 8 games (Zork I, Zork II,
Zork III, Deadline, Starcross, Suspended, Cutthroats, Suspect) were
exclusively distributed by Commodore. They came in the usual blue-and-grey
Commodore packaging without most of the packaging elements.


II.7 Product Brochures
----------------------

One of these five catalogues was put in each and every game package.

1983: "Our Circuits Ourselves!"
1984/85: "The Incomplete Works Of Infocom, Inc."
1986: "Passport to the United Products of Infocom"
1987: "The Master Storytellers"
1988: "Infocom's New Graphics will blow you out of the water..."


                        III  Data Files
                        ===============

III.1 Story Data Files
----------------------

a) Legend

Game   : This is the name of the game. "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. [Assembly dates in "<>" could be fakes!]

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
         ("Zork Interpretive 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. Usually, data files are
         slightly longer because they have been padded to a page size of
         256 or 512 Bytes. Older data files (Z-code 1, 2 and early 3) have
         been marked with "---"; these files have no game length field in
         the header, and they also lack the $VERIFY command.


b) Versions

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

Arthur                        54.890606   6   270848
                              74.890714   6   269200

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                      26.821108   3   108372
                              27.831005   3   108454

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

Four-In-One Sampler ID2   *   26.840731   ?        ?

Hitchhiker's Guide            47.840914   3   112622
                              56.841221   3   113444
                              58.851002   3   113332
                              59.851108   3   113334

Hitchhiker's Guide SG         31.871119   5   158412

Hollywood Hijinx              37.861215   3   109650

Infidel                       22.830916   3    93556

Journey                       30.890322   6   280472
                              83.890706   6   282312

Leather Goddesses         *  118.860325   3        ?
                          *   50.860711   3        ?
                              59.860730   3   129022

Leather Goddesses SG           4.880405   5   159928

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

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                    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                       295.890321   6   341912
                             322.890706   6   344816

Sorcerer                       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

Stationfall                  107.870430   3   128934

Suspect                       14.841005   3   118692

Suspended                 *    5.830222   3        ?
                               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
                              20.831119   3   104740
                              21.831208   3   104704
                              22.840924   3   104664

Zork I                    *    5.<      > 1      ---
                              23.820428   3      ---
                              25.820515   3   (75808)    2)
                              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 II                   *    7.<UG3AU5> 2      ---
                              17.820427   3      ---
                              18.820517   3      ---
                              22.830331   3    82920
                              48.840904   3    89912

Zork III                      10.820818   3    82334
                              15.830331   3    82558
                              15.840518   3    82642
                              16.<823242> 3    81626     3)
                              17.840727   3    82714

Zork Zero                    296.881019   6   295536
                             366.890323   6   296376
                             393.890714   6   299968


c) Footnotes

1) The IBM version is longer because the character definitions (used for
   the runes and similar things) 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) I have seen ZorkI.025 with and without a game length field in the
   header. I don't know how it was originally released by Infocom.

3) Either a beta test version or a fake.


III.2 Graphic Data Files
------------------------

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.

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]". EGA support was the default.

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

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) 

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)

Shogun
  (Donald Langosy)
  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)

Zork0
  (James Shook & 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) 


III.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".


III.4 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 identical with the one from "Beyond
Zork".)


III.5 Boss Keys
---------------

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


                        IV  Implementors
                        ================

These are all the games written by the 10 most famous Infocom implementors.
A "#" after a year means that the game has not been finished or not (yet?)
been released.


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

Bob Bates
---------
Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels                87   (Infocom)
Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur  <+ D.Beck>             89   (Infocom)
Robin Hood                                              89#  (Infocom)
Timequest                                               91   (Legend)
Gateway  <+ G.Dahlgren/M.Lindner/M.Verdu/D.Beck>        92   (Legend)
Eric the Unready                                        93   (Legend)

Michael Berlyn
--------------
Oo-Topos  <+ Muffy Berlyn>                              81   (Penguin)
Cyborg                                                 ~82   (Sentient)
Gold Rush                                                ?   (Sentient)
Suspended                                               83   (Infocom)
Infidel  <+ P.Fogleman>                                 83   (Infocom)
Cutthroats  <+ J.Wolper>                                84   (Infocom)
Fooblitzky  <+ M.Blank et.al>                           85/6 (Infocom)
Tass Times In Tonetown  <+ Muffy Berlyn>                86   (Interplay)
Dr. Dumont's Wild P.A.R.T.I.                            ??   (First Row)
Altered Destiny                                         90   (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)
Fooblitzky  <+ M.Berlyn et.al>                          85/6 (Infocom)
Border Zone                                             87   (Infocom)
Journey                                                 88   (Infocom)

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

Stuart W. Galley
----------------
The Witness                                             83   (Infocom)
Seastalker  <+ J.Lawrence>                              84   (Infocom)
Moonmist  <+ J.Lawrence>                                86   (Infocom)
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe               87#  (Infocom)

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)
Titanic                                                 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)

 [Meretzky also wrote 4 "Zork" interactive novels in 1983:
        1  The Forces of Krill
        2  The Malifestro Quest
        3  The Cavern of Doom
        4  Conquest at Quendor]

"Professor" Brian Moriarty
--------------------------
Adventure in the Fifth Dimension                       ~83   (Analog Comp.)
Crash Dive!                                            ~83   (Analog Comp.)
Trinity                                                 84-6 (Infocom)
Wishbringer: The Magick Stone of Dreams                 85   (Infocom)
Beyond Zork                                             87   (Infocom)
[unnamed MacII game]                                    88#  (Infocom)
Loom                                                    90   (Lucasfilm)

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)


                        V  Newsletters
                        ==============

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

 #  Vol No  Date            Pages  Featured game(s)

a) "The New Zork Times" as ZUG newsletter

 1       <No info available>
 2  -   -   [Spring 82?]     [1p]  Deadline
 3  II  1   Fall 82          [2p]  Starcross/Zork III
 4  III 1   Spring 83        [2p]  Suspended
 5  II  oo  Summer 83        [6p]  The Witness

b) "The New Zork Times" (NZT)

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

c) "* * * *"

15  V    4  Spring 86         12p  Trinity

d) "The Status Line" (TSL)

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

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


                           VI  Trivia
                           ==========

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

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


                         VII  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).
         Until 9/81, PS sells ~1500 copies of this "Zork I" version.

Feb 81:  Apple II version of "Zork I". Over 6000 copies sold in 8 months.
         (ZIP by Bruce K. Daniels)

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.

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".
         New ZIPs for Atari XL 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".

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).
         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".
         Apple IIgs interpreter.

Nov 87:  "Border Zone".

Jan 88:  "Sherlock".
         Mike Dornbrook new VP.

Mar 88:  "Lane Mastodon".
         "Gamma Force".
         Chris Reeve leaves.

Apr 88:  "ZorkQuest I".

Jun 88:  Employees: 30.

Jul 88:  Joel Berez resigns. Joe Ybarra (formerly at Electronic Arts)
         becomes new president.

Aug 88:  "ZorkQuest II".

Sep 88:  "Quarterstaff".

Oct 88:  "Zork Zero" (Macintosh version).

Nov 88:  "BattleTech" (IBM version).

Mar 89:  "Shogun" (Amiga and Mac).
         "Journey" (Amiga and Mac).
         Amiga version of "Zork Zero".
         Commodore 64 version of "BattleTech".

May 89:  Of the 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.

Jul 89: "Arthur".
         YZIPs for MS-DOS, Apple II and Apple II GS.


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

---
 *Origin: a twisty little maze of passages, all different (2:243/50.37)
