Fooblitzky

The game's idea emerged when Mark Blank and Michael Berlin, two leading authors of Infocom, sought to create something entirely unprecedented and different from their usual text adventures. It took over two years to develop, with contributions from local artists Brian Cody and Paula Maxwell and programmer Poh Lim from Malaysia. The result was an original multiplayer board game based on logic, social interaction, and chance, resembling a mix of Monopoly, Cluedo, and Mastermind.

One of the most significant innovations in Fooblitzky was the use of graphics, which was an uncommon choice for Infocom, known for its focus on quality writing. However, the graphics in Fooblitzk" were subpar, chosen to be compatible with various platforms, but it resulted in unimpressive visuals even for its time.

The game was marketed poorly, being distributed exclusively through direct mail for more than six months after its release, limiting its exposure to only subscribers of Infocom's newspaper. Despite eventually appearing on store shelves, it struggled to compete with other popular games, leading to its commercial failure and subsequent obscurity.

It's unfortunate that Fooblitzky faced commercial failure and remained relatively unknown in the gaming community because the game itself is quite enjoyable. The gameplay revolves around players navigating the city, visiting establishments, and purchasing specific goods while trying to guess their opponents' choices.