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	Title: Another Good Time with Infocom
	Source: Computer Entertainer, v6(3)
	Date: June 1987
	Transcription by Steve Derby
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Infocom can always be counted on for a good time, whether you're
playing their games, chatting with their authors, or just attending one
of their classy press previews at CES. Since we've managed to engage
in all three endeavors within the past few weeks, we feel thrice blessed!
Results of playing the latest Infocom releases can be found elsewhere
in this issue. At CES we had the opportunity to talk briefly with Steve
Meretzky and Dave Lebling about their new programs. Both are
veteran Infocom authors: Steve's STATIONFALL is his sixth game,
while Dave's THE LURKING HORROR is his eighth. And it seems
there is something of a friendly rivalry between the two, which
explains the unusual, simultaneous release of two Infocom titles.
These two authors have a contest going (and probably a side bet as
well) to see which of them can produce the better-selling program!

## *Meeting the Authors*

STATIONFALL is the sequel to Steve Meretzky's first game, PLANETFALL,
which was written four years ago. (Since then he has had two
very notable successes with LEATHER GODDESSES OF PHOBOS
and HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, which was co-authored
by Douglas Adams.) We asked Steve why he waited so long
to do a sequel since PLANETFALL was so popular. He gave us the
expected bit about waiting until he had a really good idea to build the
story around. And then he quipped, "and besides, that's how long
Lucas waits between sequels." That was the Steve Meretzky we know
and love, he of the irreverent sense of humor that can make an
interviewer feel like the straight man in comedy act! Dave Lebling can
be just as humorous as Steve Meretzky, but his humor is a bit more
subtle. Dave is a senior author at Infocom, co-author of the original
mainframe ZORK I, II, and III, as well as sole author of ENCHANTER,
STARCROSS, SUSPECT, and SPELLBREAKER. In
THE LURKING HORROR, he meant to create a modern horror story
combining the "terrifying suggestions of horrible creatures" found in
the work of H.P. Lovecraft with the "real world settings" typical of
Stephen King's works. Like many people at Infocom, both Steve and
Dave are graduates of MIT. In fact, the settings in THE LURKING
HORROR are based on real MIT locations, and the story is full of
references that will be familiar to others who know that institution,
such as the Tomb of the Unknown Tool ("tool" is the MIT expression
for a nerd) and the brass rats. We wish Steve and Dave all the best in
their private contest -- may the best interactive fiction win!
