<!--
	Title: Experiencing an Infocom "Marathon of the Minds"
	Source: Computer Entertainer
	Date: April 1987
	Transcription by Steve Derby
-->

The average high school student who enjoys interactive
fiction would jump at the opportunity to spend a night with a
like-minded bunch of kids, all racing to complete an
unreleased Infocom game and win prizes. Sixty-three Southern
California youngsters recently did just that at the California
Museum of Science and Industry. The event was a "Marathon
of the Minds," a continuation of an Infocom tradition begun at
the Museum of Science in Boston, MA. Participating museums
provide the facility and invite local high schools to send a
team of three students. Infocom provides an unreleased game
for the competition, along with T-shirts and games for all
participants and a selection of prizes. Marathons start on a
Friday or Saturday evening, and the kids play right through
the night until one of the teams arrives at the solution. The
winning team earns a computer for their school and three
games each for themselves.

<figure class="float-right-half">
	<img src="/public/img/articles/ce-experiencing-an-infocom-marathon-of-the-minds/marathon-of-the-minds.jpg" alt="High School Students at Marathon of the Minds">
	<figcaption style="font-style: italic;">CE Editor Celeste Dolan watches over one of the teams competing in the Marathon</figcaption>
</figure>

## *The Atmosphere of the Marathon*

We had been curious to see a Marathon of the Minds ever
since we heard about them. Since Infocom was kind enough to
have one in our back yard, we couldn't resist! When we
arrived, the teams had just begun tackling "Bureacracy" by
Douglas Adams, which had not been released at the time of the
marathon. School spirit was very much in evidence: giant
banners on computer paper were hung around the room, each
proclaiming the superiority of a particular school or its
computer club. Piles of sleeping bags, never to be used,
cluttered the corners of the room. Fingers flew over keyboards.
Some kids consulted dictionaries, while others began making
maps for their team. Kids tried to coax hints out of Infocom
personnel. No luck -- the teams were on their own with their
computers, their quick minds, and plenty of fortification from
the snack room provided by Infocom and the museum.

## *A Teacher's View*

Meanwhile, some of the teachers who had accompanied their
students to the marathon were trying "Bureaucracy" in the
lounge downstairs. (Teachers were not permitted in the room
where the competition was held.) We spent some time with
Elijah Mackey, who teaches math and programming classes at
Inglewood High School (near Los Angeles International
Airport). We were curious to hear a teacher's opinion of the
Marathon of the Minds. Mackey saw it as an opportunity for
kids to "go beyond their school environment, which in some
cases may be very limited." And he thinks that playing
interactive fiction fosters logical thinking and helps kids to
keep track of facts and develop patience. Aside from the
educational benefits of interactive fiction, Mackey felt that it
was exciting for the kids to meet Marc Blank, author of
"Zork." Mackey added, "I was moved myself when they said
that this was the guy who wrote 'Zork,' and he was right here."

## *Farewell to the Marathon*

We checked in on the marathon team once more before
leaving. They were still hard at it and would be for many more
hours. One team was trying to feed a llama. Someone else
suggested, "nuke the whales." Yes, they were definitely
playing an Infocom game!
