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From: Matthew Murray <i9717029@wsunix.wsu.edu>
Subject: Re: ***WTB: Several archaic IBM games*** 
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Date: Sat, 27 May 1995 17:19:38 GMT
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On 23 May 1995, Sarinee Achavanuntakul wrote:

> Jason Compton (jcompton@flood.xnet.com) wrote:
> : : 	Fooblitzky (Infocom)
> 
> : What WAS this game?
> 
> 	An old Infocom's computer/board game. It came with 4 boards for 
> 4-player games. I don't remember exactly what type of board game it is, 
> but it was an original board game concept, meant to be played with the 
> aid of computer.
> 
> 	-Sarinee

     Also, I forgot the main reason I replied!  No, each player does not 
have four individual game boards, and no, it wasn't designed as a board 
game with the aid of a computer.  It was designed as a computer game with 
the aid of the boards.  :)  What the boards did was provide an easy, 
efficient, and private way of keeping track of which objects were 
available, where, how much, and other such information.  They came with 
markers that would clean off the boards with water, and while you never 
really needed these, they were very helpful to keep track of your items 
(and other peoples' items because sometimes you could prevent them from 
buying something they needed and then trade that for an item of yours you 
know they have--whether by agreement or by "bump" where you ran into 
someone else, causing all of both of your items to drop to the ground, 
and then picking them up, ending up with the same number you started 
with, but not necessarily the same object).  You could also keep track of 
your money (I want to say Foobles, but I'm not sure), which could go up 
or down if you buy something, stay in the hospital, sell something, or do 
something else.  But the entire game was played on the computer, and the 
boards weren't really necessary--only an extremely useful tool for 
keeping track of things.  (The boards listed the entire contents of all 
the stores in the game, included a complete map of the city, had places 
to keep track of your money, etc., etc.)

   /------------------Matthew Murray at mmurray@wsu.edu-------------------\
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