How Lucky Can You Be? Or More Lost Treasures Found An article - and addendum - by James Johnston After I had managed to find and, with lots of assistance, made operational - The Lost Treasures of Infocom, I felt that I had used up most of my luck and for the time being settled back to enjoy the games. However, the fact that there was also, so I was informed, a Lost Treasures of Infocom Part 2, had me keeping a weather eye out for any indication of its availability. Surfing the Net, one night I arrived at a site in the Department of Computer Science, Middlesex College, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. There I found a page (Infocom - Imagination sold and serviced here) which gave details of a site in America called CD-ROMs ON-LINE, where, to my delight, I found they were offering The Lost Treasures Part 2 on CD (and LTOI part 1 on CD). I was sufficiently interested to start the net ordering process for both CDs, as I thought that on CD the better to store. While in this ordering process, at the credit card part, a screen alert appeared, warning that other people could intercept the detail I was about to disclose. It warned of the dangers and gave me the opportunity to cancel the transaction without proceeding further. I took the warning and decided not to proceed with the order. Some time later, looking through the page I had downloaded from Middlesex College, Canada, I noticed in the middle of the article there was a suggestion that, in UK, interested people could try an address in Manchester - giving address and tele/fax numbers. I decided it was a waste of time to pursue this suggested source and filed it away. After the turn of the year (when Spring turns young men's fancy to thoughts of love (so I am informed), this old man decided to give the firm a ring (telephone) and find out what was on offer). (What a lot of brackets !!!!!!). To my surprise and delight I found that I had struck gold. The lady dealing with my query, explained in detail what was on offer, pointed out that the copy LTOI 2 was the original 3.5 disc but that the full printed documentation was included (as per LTOI 1). Before ordering I should consider the CD of Infocom games they also had available. This CD ( known as Masterpieces of Infocom) had some 33 adventures on it, along with all the documentation, maps, etc. in Adobe Acrobat format ... and many other inducements. I agreed with her and asked for both. Courteously, the lady (Judy) pointed out that I would have duplicated most of the games by purchasing both. I agreed and again asked for both. Once convinced this was indeed what I wanted, the business was concluded and all I had to do was wait for the postie to knock on the door. One week Judy estimated. Friday morning. 8.30 a.m., the padded envelope arrived in good condition (Postie obviously not yet recovered from new year). I dismembered the parcel and gloated for a while (20 seconds) then dived on the computer. The Classic Text Adventure Masterpieces of Infocom CD loaded each of the selected adventures straight from the disc. No installation required. I checked the 2 discs - most of the adventures I had already, but some were more up to date than mine but including the two Infocom files were good value for my money. They are, however, an optional purchase. Last but not least, I opened the LTOI 2 box. Two maps, a newspaper, a manual and two discs. Magic, it even had the original reference card for the MAC. Among the papers was an installation guide. This was followed to the letter and minutes later LTOI 2 was on my zip drive and running. I spent "a few minutes" playing about with old time favourites then discovering that the clock had moved on to 3 p.m., I decided to phone and thank 'Judy' for the service received and to report the safe arrival. I also asked her to confirm that more copies were available, if required. While the firm is dealing with stock held and no replacement is possible, they do have some copies available. With what I have now, I have copies of all the Infocom games - most on both CD and 3.5 discs. I have the full hard copy documentation for all the games. While I do not have all the beautiful trivia included with my Atari ST Copies, I know that the person I gave them to fully appreciates their completeness and it is surely no loss what a friend gets. What was the cost ? Lost Treasures of Infocom Part 2 - œ25.95 or about œ2.35 per adventure (inc. Printed Docs.) Masters of Infocom - œ21.99 or about 67p per adventure (no Printed Docs.) 2 Discs - with two text files, missing from the original package and 14 PC shareware adventures - œ5 (Optional) Postage is extra. Nota Bene / Note Well 1. Remember - These games are no longer produced commercially. If you are interested, I suggest prompt action 2. Lacegem is a firm specialising in Psion and PC Databases. They have permission from Activision to convert the stock of LOTI 2 they have from Mac to PC. This is, however, not their main business - so no sales pressure, just good service. Finally, my thanks to Sue at SynTax (for cheering me on!). Internet addresses Department of Computing Science, Middlesex College, Ontario, Canada http://www.csd.uwo.ca/infocom CDROMs ON-LINE http://www.cdromsonline.com/clgames.htm http://www.cdromsonline.com/infocom.htm Lacegem (or Interdata Developments) 6 Okeover Road, Salford, Manchester. M7 4JX Tel: 0161 7922871 Fax 0161 7922114 E-mail lace@cix.compulink.co.uk And if you wish Service 'par excellence' - Ask for Judy Activision /Infocom P.O. Box 67001 Los Angeles, CA USA 90067 US Order Line: 1-800-477-3650 Tech Support: 1-310-207-4500 (Mon-Fri, 0900-1700 PST) E-mail http://www.activision.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Lost Treasures Of Infocom 2 - The Addendum After I had sent my little story off to you, I felt that there would be no more pressies due to me for a while. Wrong !!! I visited a local boot sale (flea market etc.) and was doing my usual rounds. I was a bit disappointed that there were PC games on display (Starwars type etc) but at prices too high to consider for untried games of doubtful completeness and runability. Just as I had given up I noticed a game box buried under the goods spread over one table. I dug it out and found that it was a PC/Tandy version of Magnetic Scrolls 'Wonderland'. The box contained all the paper work including manual, installation sheets, a map of Wonderland and a Wonderland poster. There was also 9 discs (5 1/4" floppies). I do have a 5 1/4" drive fitted so only price remained to be settled. On asking the stall holder, he informed me that he had purchased it recently at another sale, but his son's machine would not take the discs and as it was useless I could have it for 20p. I explained that I was delighted with the price and pointed out that I had a suitable drive. He countered by saying that his son had told him that the likelyhood of the discs being fully functional was remote and only the paperwork was of any value. The 20p paid and away I went, happy with my purchase. On arriving home, I first ran a copy of each disc into separate folders on the desktop. This I put into a common folder and moved to my zip adventure storage disc. Second move - each disc was copied to a 3 1/2" disc. Now the original discs were used to install the program to zip disc. This it did as sweet as a nut. I had chosen the minimum operating level - no graphics and no music. It worked fine. Using another zip and the 3 1/2 disc copies, I did the full installation. This again worked perfectly I now have the original discs, backup files on hard and a working set of 3 1/2" discs. The program has location pictures which can be turned on or off at will - as can the sound. The manual is needed when restoring a saved game - to prove you have a legitimate copy but that is no hardship. Once again, I've been very lucky. I just hope that it continues. JGJ 3.2.98 - o -