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	Title: (PERIPHERALS) Comic-Book Fantasies
	Author: L.R. Shannon
	Source: The New York Times
	Date: 23 February 1988
	Transcription by Steve Derby
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MANY computer games already look like translations of comic books, as indeed
some of them are. Now one publisher is making the connection explicit.

Infocomics cost about $12 apiece, as opposed to the $2 or $3 of the
traditional printed magazines. But instead of curling up with one in the shade
of the old ginkgo tree, or reading under the blankets by flashlight, you run
these on a personal computer -- Apple II, Commodore 64/128 or I.B.M. compatible.

They are not computer games as we know them. The riddles of "Zork" and the
"Hitchhiker's Guide," the constant zapping of loathsome creatures in
"Gauntlet," the carefully weighed strategy decisions of baseball, football or
war simulations -- say goodbye to all that.

These are real stories with beginnings, middles and ends, except that they may
be followed from the viewpoints of different characters, with related subplots
that do not necessarily come in the same way every time. The exact path of the
story, in fact, depends on decisions the player makes. The illustrations are
described by the company as minimalist.

In another difference from other computer products, these comics do not
require an intimidating manual or advanced flight training. Only four keys are
needed to move the story along, and you can switch to fast forward, stop or
rewind at any time.

There are three Infocomics to start. The titles give you an idea of their
nature: "Lane Mastodon vs. the Blubbermen" is in the style of 1930's science
fiction; "Gamma Force in Pit of a Thousand Screams" is a superhero tale by Amy
Briggs, author of the immortal "Plundered Hearts," last year's computerized
adventure, one of the few with a woman as the leading character, and
"Zorkquest: Assault on Egreth Castle" is an evil-magician fantasy.

Infocomics are a joint venture of Infocom, the hitherto-well-thought-of
publisher of mind-stretching prose adventure games, and Tom Snyder
Productions, just down the road apiece in Cambridge, Mass. The companies cite
research indicating that computer ownership among comic book readers is three
times the national average, and they foresee a bright future for this new
literary form. They will be sold in some comic-book stores, as well as in
software outlets.

Mindscape, in Northbrook, Ill., already had a cut-rate software division,
Thunder Mountain, producing fresh and recycled games. This winter, they have
brought out a dozen titles at $14.95 and $9.95.

In the $14.95 line are "Winter Challenge," "Tau Ceti," "Tai-Pan," "Implosion,"
"Mutants," "Wizball" and "Head Over Heels." "Winter Challenge" is especially
timely, with ski jump, downhill, bobsled, giant slalom and biathlon events.
And "Tai-Pan," if the name sounds familiar, is based on James Clavell's
best-selling epic novel of 19th-century Hong Kong..

In the $9.95 line are "Murder by the Dozen," a mystery game, "Railroad Works,"
"Felony," "Army Moves" and "Doc the Destroyer."

The Thunder Mountain games are available for Commodore 64/128, Atari ST, Atari
800's, I.B.M. PC, Amiga, Apple II and Macintosh. Not all the programs are
offered for all the machines, however.

Let's say you have one of the older eight-bit computers, an Atari 400/800,
Apple IIe or IIc, or Commodore 64/ 128. The newer, 16-bit babies offer a lot
more in terms of memory, speed and everything else. But what about the huge
investment you have in software for the current machine?

There's no easy answer. You're certainly going to have to replace major
software -- your word processor or spreadsheet, for example. You would not
want to do otherwise: the 16-bit versions are generally far superior.

Electronic Arts is taking a small step in the right direction. Its "Software
for Life Program" allows the owner of any of its titles for an eight-bit
computer to buy the same title in a 16-bit version for half price. Software
produced by E.A. affiliates is included, so the products of 15 publishers are
thus at hand.

The new 16-bit versions can be used on the Atari ST, Apple IIGS, Amiga and
I.B.M. and compatibles. You must include the manual cover from the original
version and a check or money order for half the price of the 16-bit version.
For information, call Electronic Arts at (415) 571-7171, Monday through Friday
from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., Pacific standard time.
