HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: pds@lemming.webo.dg.com (Paul D. Smith)
Subject: Re: Info-flop and new thread (mild spoilers)
Date: 14 Oct 92 18:16:43 GMT
	<1992Oct13.034427.22877@ucc.su.OZ.AU>
	<1992Oct13.070813.12710@nwnexus.WA.COM> <Bw2GDy.KGv@unix.amherst.edu>
Organization: NSDD/ONSD, Data General Corp., Westboro, MA

[] Regarding Re: Info-flop and new thread (mild spoilers);
[] twpierce@unix.amherst.edu (Tim Pierce) writes:

Mild Planetfall spoiler follows:

    tp> For another *week* I tried to figure out the correct command
    tp> syntax.  Mostly I tried "HOLD MAGNET OVER CRACK" or some
    tp> variant on that.  Nothing worked.  Finally I broke down and
    tp> bought a hint book (the only one I have ever purchased) and
    tp> discovered that the command was "GET KEY WITH MAGNET."  Grrrr
    tp> .....

This must have been your version of Planetfall, because I just tried
"hold magnet over crack" and that worked just fine :)

I think I originally used "put bar on crevice" or some such.
--

                                                                paul
-----
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
| Paul D. Smith                          |    paul_smith@dg.com    |
| Data General Corp.                     | pds@lemming.webo.dg.com |
| Network Systems Development Division   |                         |
| Open Network Systems Development       |   "Pretty Damn S..."    |
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
From: magnus@thep.lu.se (Magnus Olsson)
Subject: Re: Best and worst problems (was: Re: Info-flop and new thread (mild spoilers))
Organization: Theoretical Physics, Lund University, Sweden
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 16:06:36 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.133153.20665@news.acns.nwu.edu> msr@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Michael Rosenberg) writes:
>In article <1992Oct8.221209.16588@pollux.lu.se> magnus@thep.lu.se (Magnus Olsson) writes:
>>Then there are really stupid problems. The worst I've ever seen is the
>>"baseball problem" in Zork: I've had it explained to me, I've read
>>Infocom's InvisiClues, and I still don't get it - it's still
>>incomprehensible. (Maybe that's because I don't know anything about
>>baseball, not being American).
>
>That's weird, because I can't remember any problem in Zork relating to a
>baseball. It's been a long time since I played it, but I think I'd remember
>something along those lines.

It's not about _a_ baseball, but about the game of baseball. Do the
words "Babe Flathead" ring a bell? Or what about diamond-shaped window
in the floor?

>There are a lot of other games with dumb/simple problems, but what may seem
>simple to one person may drive others insane.  It all depends on how you
>think.  The answer to the riddle in Leather Goddesses seemed obvious to me,
>but I know other people who have racked their brains for hours trying to
>answer it.

I was totally stuck on the riddle in Zork, and had actually to ask a
friend for a hint. After the fact it seemed quite obvious...

Magnus Olsson                   | \e+      /_
Dept. of Theoretical Physics    |  \  Z   / q
University of Lund, Sweden      |   >----<           
Internet: magnus@thep.lu.se     |  /      \===== g
Bitnet: THEPMO@SELDC52          | /e-      \q
From: pdc@lunch.wpd.sgi.com (Paul Close)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: Draft of the FAQ
Date: 15 Oct 92 19:42:56 GMT
Reply-To: pdc@sgi.com (Paul Close)
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc., Mountain View, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: lunch.wpd.sgi.com
Originator: pdc@lunch.wpd.sgi.com

Molley the Mage (mollems@wkuvx1.bitnet) writes:
>In the list of games for LTOI 2, _Shogun_ was included.  This is not
>correct.  The following games are not in either of the collections:
>
>_Shogun_
>_Arthur : The Quest For Excalibur_
>_Journey_
>_Quarterstaff_ (a pseudo-RPG bought from another co. and reworked)

>_Mines of Titan_ (I don't believe this was really Infocom's work)

It was done by Westwood and Associates, the same folks who did Eye of the
Beholder for the PC.

>There might be another graphic adventure, but I can't remember it
>right now.

You missed Circuit's Edge, which was also released under the Infocom label,
although it, like mines of titan, is not true interactive fiction.  I think
Westwood did Cuircuit's Edge, too, but I'm not sure.  I have both, so I can
check if anyone cares.  I particularly liked Circuit's Edge, since I'm a fan
of Alec Effinger, who wrote Circuit's Edge to go with his other novels (read
em if you like Cyberpunk).
-- 
Paul Close	     pdc@sgi.com	   ...!{ames, decwrl, uunet}!sgi!pdc

			No fate but what we make
From: uerics@mcl.ucsb.edu (Eric D. Shepherd)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: Need help on A Mind Forever Voyaging
Date: 9 Oct 92 15:57:22 GMT

Ack!  I can't get that far!

Request for help follows!
(Possible spoilers if you haven't gotten far in the game)

I keep bringing back data collected from various time periods, but
Perelman's never satisfied -- he keeps saying, "more, more, more".  The
problem is that I can't get to any more time periods to analyze!  What's
wrong?

- Eric S.

--
Eric Shepherd  |  Internet: uerics@mcl.mcl.ucsb.edu  |  AOL: Sheppy
-------- ACM Member ----- Apple II Alliance Charter Member --------
"Apple II Forever!"   is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
						 Isn't that ironic?
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: FAQ?
From: gnat@kauri.vuw.ac.nz (Nathan Torkington)
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 02:17:49 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: Contract to CSC, Victoria Uni, Wellington, New Zealand

Is there an FAQ being produced for this group?  If not, I offer to
create one.

Nat
From: xeno@iastate.edu (Gary L Snethen)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: Best and worst problems (was: Re: Info-flop and new thread (mild spoilers))
Date: 17 Oct 92 00:50:12 GMT
Article-I.D.: pv34ad.xeno.719283012
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA

In <12696@sail.LABS.TEK.COM> toma@sail.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy) writes:

>By *far* the worst was not in an Infocom game, but the original Adventure --
>the "extra point". When everyone at work was going nuts with that game
>(back in the late 70's) we finally got the solution by having someone
>at Stanford send the source listing.

>Also low on the list is the Bank of Zork, which I still don't understand.

The bank really isn't all that bad if you map it out...  Although I still
to this day do it the 'trial and error' method.

>The best, most enjoyable puzzle -- the Babble fish (HHGTTG).

>-- 
>Tom Almy
>toma@sail.labs.tek.com
>Standard Disclaimers Apply
From: dmb@case.ai.mit.edu (David Baggett)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: TADS and ANSI?
Date: 15 Oct 92 22:32:42 GMT
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

In article <1992Oct15.124112.17501@gn.ecn.purdue.edu> mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas) writes:
>Do you all have any idea when TADS 2.0 will be available?  I have my registra-
>tion check for the current version all set to go out in the mail, but if
>the new version is due out shortly, I figure it'd be easiest just to wait...

I don't know when 2.0 will be done, but I'd just register the current
version; the assumption that TADS 2.0 will be shareware may not be a
valid one.   (Note that I'm not saying that it won't be -- just that I
have no idea if it will be or not, and it's getting to the point where
it would be a viable commercial product, at least from a quality and
comprehensiveness standpoint.  I know he has also done a huge amount of
work to bring the system from 1.X to 2.0, e.g., rewriting nearly the
whole thing from scratch.)

If 2.0 is shareware, then I'm sure there'll be some fair upgrade policy
from 1.X.  You might also mention your concerns w.r.t. upgrading in a
letter you include with your registration.  Mike is a very reasonable guy.

Dave Baggett
--
dmb@ai.mit.edu           MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory                  
ADVENTIONS: interactive fiction (text adventures) for the 90's!
dmb@ai.mit.edu *** Compu$erve: 76440,2671 *** GEnie: ADVENTIONS
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
From: spacey@kauri.vuw.ac.nz (Michael Keith)
Subject: Re: Magnetic Scrolls games
Organization: /u/cscs/spacey/.organization
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 00:18:57 GMT

In article <Bw2LG8.3Cr@news.cso.uiuc.edu> htc@dcl-nxt01 (htc) writes:

   Guild of Thieves
   Pawn
   Fish!
   Jinxter
   Wonderland
   Corruption??? - something like that

Myth was a mini adventure released by them, however as far as i know, it
was only available thru a now sadly deceased magazine "official secrets"
which was founded by tony rainbird who, surprise surprise, set up rainbird
(publisher of magnetic scrolls). of course, rainbird is now part of
microprose i think, and magnetic scrolls switched to virgin.
anyway, back to your question - myth is the only other one i know of (which i
have, along with the others), apart from the compilation that was released and
contained 4 of their games which were revamped to use the Wonderland interface
(which i think is pretty nifty - as long as you have a hard drive and a decent
monitor) - i can't remember what games were included.


Mike

ps. Myth was pretty cool, altho it only took an afternoon to complete.
From: bruce@uxb.liv.ac.uk (Bruce Stephens)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: Magnetic Scrolls games
Date: 16 Oct 92 11:05:05 GMT
Organization: Centre for Mathematical Software Research, Univ. Liverpool, UK

>>>>> On 15 Oct 92 00:18:57 GMT, spacey@kauri.vuw.ac.nz (Michael Keith) said:

> In article <Bw2LG8.3Cr@news.cso.uiuc.edu> htc@dcl-nxt01 (htc) writes:

>    Guild of Thieves
>    Pawn
>    Fish!
>    Jinxter
>    Wonderland
>    Corruption??? - something like that

> Myth was a mini adventure released by them, however as far as i know, it
> was only available thru a now sadly deceased magazine "official secrets"

I think that's the complete list, and probably will remain so since MS
doesn't seem to be making games anymore (and two of the technical
people that I knew left a while ago to work on other things).  One of
them (the guy that wrote the ATN parser generator) was working on an
OO design language for adventures, but he never actually finished it
as far as I know---he certainly didn't send me a demo, anyway.

--
Bruce
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
From: htc@dcl-nxt01 (htc)
Subject: Magnetic Scrolls games
Summary: Info on list of Magnetic Scroll games
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 17:19:18 GMT

Hello,

Just wondering what were all the games published by Magnetic Scrolls
I know they programmed

Guild of Thieves
Pawn
Fish!
Jinxter
Wonderland
Corruption??? - something like that

Info on other games would be great.

Hyung
From: ralf@ark.abg.sub.org (Ralf Stephan)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: LTOI in Germany
Date: 10 Oct 92 19:50
Organization: Magick Shoppe, Gurth City

Someone asked for it --- sorry I lost your address, but here it is:
Wial Versand GmbH, Phone 08142-9011 or 8079 or 8273, Fax 08142-54654
Delivery was fast and they now have also LTOI 2, both go for DM 105.

--ralf
From: uerics@mcl.ucsb.edu (Eric D. Shepherd)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: Best and worst problems (was: Re: Info-flop and new thread (mild spoilers))
Date: 10 Oct 92 00:57:52 GMT

I agree that the Babel fish puzzle was one of the all-time classic,
quality, way-cool puzzles.  Infocom had several games which had "meet
yourself" or "go back in time so that something you've already done can
actually happen" kinds of puzzles, and those were all a lot of fun to do.

The all-time nastiest, most difficult puzzle I've found so far in probably
the two-stacks-of-cubes puzzle in Spellbreaker.  That one was a royal
pain.

The dumbest puzzle in an Infocom game that I can think of would definitely
be Zork I's Echo Room. :)

- Eric S.

--
Eric Shepherd  |  Internet: uerics@mcl.mcl.ucsb.edu  |  AOL: Sheppy
-------- ACM Member ----- Apple II Alliance Charter Member --------
"Apple II Forever!"   is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
						 Isn't that ironic?
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
From: rdippold@qualcom.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold)
Subject: Re: Best and worst problems (was: Re: Info-flop and new thread (mild s
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 18:40:52 GMT

Todd Keenan Bowman <tb0o+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>Anyone play any of the other classic adventure - not the KABUL SPY was a
>classic...

I beat "Wizard" - written in BASIC, hires line graphics, interesting
in that you could switch from character class to character class a
certain number of times.  And the first adventure I beat without
cheating (really, a game in BASIC is just too much temptation) was
Escape from Rungistan.  The ending really bit.
-- 
If it wasn't for Newton, we wouldn't have to eat bruised apples.
From: fjh@bbn.com (Frederick J Hirsch)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: LTOI where to buy?
Date: 7 Oct 1992 13:51:25 GMT
Distribution: ne
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com

Can anyone recommend where to buy Lost Treasures of InfoCom #1, and how much
to expect to spend? I haven't found any mail order places, except for one
who didn't know LTOI 2 existed and became indignant when I said it did.
I want to make sure that I really get LTOI 1 and not some other package.

Thanks
From: xeno@iastate.edu (Gary L Snethen)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: WOLF 3D and more!
Date: 17 Oct 92 01:15:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: pv34ad.xeno.719284547
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA

In <93090@netnews.upenn.edu> givanov@pixmap.seas.upenn.edu (George Ace Maverick) writes:


>	Hi people!
>I was wondering, is there an ftp site from which one can get
>some of the other levels of WOLF3D?
>How do you go through the part where this huge GUY comes from behind
>this gate and kills you with his two machine guns?
>Thank you.

As I recall, only the first level is shareware... All other modules for
Wolf 3D are NOT shareware and are only obtainable directly from the company
at purchase price.

---Xeno
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
From: jsvrc@rc.rit.edu (J A Stephen Viggiano)
Subject: Re: Best and worst problems (was: Re: Info-flop and new thread (mild spoilers))
Organization: RIT Research Corp
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 15:14:08 GMT

In article <1992Oct8.221209.16588@pollux.lu.se> magnus@thep.lu.se (Magnus Olsson) writes:

>Then there are really stupid problems. The worst I've ever seen is the
>"baseball problem" in Zork: I've had it explained to me, I've read
>Infocom's InvisiClues, and I still don't get it - it's still
>incomprehensible. (Maybe that's because I don't know anything about
>baseball, not being American).

It's tough for Americans to figure out, too! And I played Little League! :-)

>Then there's the problem of catching the bird in ADVENT: How the
>!("/#* are you supposed to find out that the bird is scared by taht
>particular object? I mean, there's no logic to it!

Well, in the versions I've played, the bit about the bird is spelled out
when you type "help".

Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
From: jrs@netcom.com (John Switzer)
Subject: Re: Info-flop and new thread (mild spoilers)
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 17:55:40 GMT

In article <1992Oct7.111433.3007@wkuvx1.bitnet> mollems@wkuvx1.bitnet writes:
>(I bet that subject line got your attention quick, didn't it?) :-)
>
>What is your all-time single favorite puzzle or problem in an IF game? 
>(by "problem" I define a single quandary or tightly defined section of
>a game - for example, the "12 cubes" puzzle in _Spellbreaker_ or the
>coal mine area in Zork I both qualify, but the whole endgame of
>_Trinity_ is too broad for what I'm talking about -- though I loved
>it).
>
>I would have to say that mine is the "meeting yourself" time quandary
>in _Sorcerer_.  That was too cool.  Honorable mention honors go to the
>Island Where Time Runs Backward in Spellcasting 101, for pure creative
>thought; the umbrella and perambulator puzzle in _Trinity_ for most
>humorous image conjured in my mind, and the chessboard/construction
>site in Zork Zero for most imaginative use of a chesspiece I've ever
>seen.

I'd have to see the Bable fish in HHGTTG gets my vote - such a simply
designed puzzle, yet still a b*tch. Very satisfying when you get through
it.
-- 
John Switzer               | Why am I voting for Clinton? Because... 
                           | Bill Gates: 36, CEO Microsoft, $6 billion
74076.1250@Compuserve.com  | Me: 36, Tech Writer, 1978 Diesel Rabbit
jrs@netcom.com             | Screw the nerdy rich! (at least 'til I get there)
From: tao@fine.princeton.edu (Terry Tao)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: Best and worst problems (was: Re: Info-flop and n
Date: 11 Oct 92 19:37:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: Princeto.1992Oct11.193719.28142
Organization: Princeton University

Best puzzle: getting the Babel fish.  Well, it is a simple puzzle, but it
is one that just gets you feeling closer and closer to your goal, not
somethingin one line that just *works*.

Worst puzzle: this isnt a infocom game, but getting the silver orb in
Shadowgate.  Shadow gate had some great puzzles for its limitations, (only
six verbs), but the  lever-pulling puzzle is just silly.  by the way: I
only got it on my 27th try.

ps is it ok to discuss games like that on this net?

Terry 
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
From: ddj+@cs.cmu.edu (Doug DeJulio)
Subject: Re: Itf, .dat files, file permissions, and legal questions:
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 13:58:11 GMT

In article <PDS.92Oct12161412@lemming.webo.dg.com> pds@lemming.webo.dg.com (Paul D. Smith) writes:
>As far as I can tell there are basically two types of Infocom games
>out today (legally speaking).  The "normal" Infocom games, which
>include all the original versions plus the games in LTOI II, have a
>very restrictive copyright notice which says, among other fascist
>things like you can't even make a backup copy [1], that you may not
>use the game on any machine other than that which it was purchased
>for.  This means that you can't (legally) use the data file on any
>other system than your PC (or Mac or Amiga or whatever).

Ah, but my Unix system *is* the system I bought LTOI2 for.  My sole
intent in buying the game pack was to run it under an interpreter
under Unix.  I've never installed it on any other platform.

-- 
Doug DeJulio
ddj+@cmu.edu
From: jdevlin@pollux.usc.edu (Joseph T. Devlin)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: Zork I Echo Room <Stupid spoiler>
Date: 16 Oct 1992 17:21:04 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: pollux.usc.edu


[ Spoiler deleted ]

>I find this solution infinitely preferable to the stupid "say echo"
>solution ... I wonder why that one was put in?  Any thoughts?

  Sean's right.  The real solution, which he explained very well,
was pretty clever and made it a cool puzzle.  I only learned about
the dumb echo business a while after I solved it.  I can't 
imagine a reason for putting in such a dumb solution to an otherwise
elegant problem.

							- Joe

*************************************************************************
Joseph Devlin                      * email: jdevlin@pollux.usc.edu
University of Southern California  *
Department of Computer science     * "You have been eaten by a slavering
Los Angeles, CA 90089              *  grue."
*************************************************************************
From: martin@thed.uk22.bull.com (Martin Percival)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: InfoTaskForce Infocom Interpreter hack
Date: 13 Oct 92 08:31:19 GMT
Organization: Bull HN Informations Systems Inc.

In <1992Oct7.161018.29020@PacBell.COM> tlhouns@ns.pacbell.com (Lee Hounshell) writes:

>KIENENBERGER MIKE L (fxmlk@acad3.alaska.edu) wrote:
>: If you've been having problems with the InfoTaskForce Infocom Interpreter V4.01
>: crashing as soon as it starts up ["bus error" under BSD unix], the
>: following hack will probably fix it:
>: 
>: in "file.c", insert the following line (at line 524 -- right after all variable
>: declarations for script_char() but before the if statement):
>: 
>: 	script_status_ptr = (byte_ptr) &(data_head.script_status);
>: 
>: This hack seems to work.  It may mess up the script command, though.
>: I'm reporting the bug as well.

>The fix is actually a little more involved than that.  You need to check
>"data_head" for NULL and if it is, DON'T execute this line of code (or the one
>after that, which incriments "script_status_ptr").  Also there is another
>routine in file.c where "*script_status_pointer" is referenced.  You can't
>execute the associated code if "script_status_pointer" is NULL.  I've mailed
>a full patch for SunOS to the InfoTaskForce folks.  You can probably get
>the official fix from them.  It fix allows InfoTaskForce to be compiled
>by either gcc or cc on a Sun SPARCstation.  Have fun!

>--
>Lee Hounshell - (510) 823-2432
>tlhouns@srv.pacbell.com
>Alchemical Engineer and Virtual Realist


In fact, if you use init_script() before init() in main() all the necessary
pointers, memory etc, are allocated BEFORE use. I find this always helps :-)

Martin
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
From: rdippold@qualcom.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold)
Subject: Re: #478 should be Re: Best & Worst Problems
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 23:59:12 GMT

mollems@wkuvx1.bitnet (Molley the Mage) writes:
>On another thread, has anyone played Spellcasting 301 yet?  I only
>heard that it was out, and I am considering going to get it (having
>enjoyed the first two), so I am casting about for a review...

4 disks, they seem to have all the bugs worked out, and it's up to the
level of the other two.  Lots of cheesecake in this one, of course.
-- 
Card-carrying Temporal Anomaly
From: dpn2@po.CWRU.Edu (Damien P. Neil)
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction
Subject: Re: Best and worst problems (was: Re: Info-flop and new thread (mild spoilers))
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 04:54:56 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University
NNTP-Posting-Host: b63519.student.cwru.edu

In article <uerics.718678672@mcl> uerics@mcl.ucsb.edu (Eric D. Shepherd) writes:
>The dumbest puzzle in an Infocom game that I can think of would definitely
>be Zork I's Echo Room. :)

Ha! That's what _you_ think! :-) There are two ways to do this one...one 
stupid, one smart. (I figured out one, and had to be told the other.)

The ways are:
SPOILERS!!!
























echo (stupid)

Go up to the dam, and open the floodgates. Wait. Close the floodgates, go
down to the loud room, and pick up the bar. The noise is caused by the
water falling over the dam, and you have just enough time to make it before
the water overflows...

IMO, this would be one of the worst puzzles I have ever seen if it were not
for the second solution.

>
>- Eric S.
>
>--
>Eric Shepherd  |  Internet: uerics@mcl.mcl.ucsb.edu  |  AOL: Sheppy
>-------- ACM Member ----- Apple II Alliance Charter Member --------
>"Apple II Forever!"   is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
>						 Isn't that ironic?
+-------------+------------------+---------------------------------+
| Damien Neil | dpn2@po.cwru.edu | Case Western Reserve University |
+-------------+------------------+---------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.games.int-fiction