C&VG


Bureaucracy

Publisher: Infocom
Machine: Amiga 500

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #69

Bureaucracy

Unfortunately, there's a radio connected to my brain.

You could not expect anything other than something completely zany from Douglas Adams, although word is that his original story has been substantially modified in this, the latest Infocom adventure.

It appears you have just moved house and changed jobs. Unfortunately, the removal firm has hit a snag, and been unable to deliver your furniture to the new address - but not to worry, you are about to visit Paris for a fortnight. All expenses are paid by The Happitec Corporation, for they are sending you on a training course.

Bureaucracy

All you have to do is to take their letter to the travel agent to collect your airline ticket, pick up the $75 cheque they have mailed to your address, and head for the airport. One thing at least, is in your favour - listed in your address book is the phone number of Getlost Airport Cab. Now where's that cheque?

Outside, your mailbox has a leaflet in it. It's all about what wonderful graphics adventures in blue boxes have. Yes, Infocom are having a go at Magnetic Scrolls!

Scoring is by increments of a single point, out of 21, but it is also necessary to keep a watch on your blood pressure.

Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy tends to have the effect of raising it, and perhaps this game is a warning to the world against letting jumped up clerks get in a position of authority for which they are neither qualified, nor have the intelligence to handle.

With the $75 you were promised having failed to arrive, and your credit cards either expired, or had their limit exceeded, money becomes quite a problem. You have the airline ticket, but how will you pay for the cab?

There is plenty of text, born out by the fact that although the game isn't written in Infocom's large Interactive Fiction Plus system, the game is only available for the Plus range of machines - those with at least 128K of memory. Although a very funny game, occasionally the humour is overdone with too much text, to the extent of becoming a little childish.

Bureaucracy

On the whole, though, that is worth putting up with for the good bits, which account for most of the game.

But £34.99 seems helluva price to pay, £10 less would be a lot more reasonable - so if you are a potential purchaser, watch out for clubs and mail-order firms offering discounts.

"Look mister, I ain't got all day. Unfortunately, there's a radio connected to my brain. What d'ya say to that?"