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From: demillo@uwmacc.UUCP (Rob DeMillo)
Newsgroups: net.games,net.micro.pc,net.micro.atari16
Subject: Infocom takeover
Message-ID: <2089@uwmacc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-Apr-86 10:28:53 EST
Article-I.D.: uwmacc.2089
Posted: Tue Apr  8 10:28:53 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 10-Apr-86 07:19:35 EST
Organization: UWisconsin-Madison Academic Comp Center
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Xref: watmath net.games:2697 net.micro.pc:7717 net.micro.atari16:389

Roughly quoting from PC Products magazine regarding Infocom, Inc. and
its venture into the business community with a DB product called
"Cornerstone:"
   "...although Cornerstone was received favorably in the trade press,
    the $495 package failed to attract enough attention to survive in
    the tough and un-gamely business software market. The result:
    Infocom reduced the price of its software to $99. A few days later,
    it was announced that the firm was acquired by Activision...for
    a reported $7.5 million stock swap."

The article goes on to say that the development - and flop - of Cornerstone
drained enough of Infocom's resources that they had to let 65 employees
go, and this is part of what made it an easy target for a takeover.

This may explain why I haven't received my "New Zork Times" lately. Also, does
this mean that all future "Infocom" games are actually coming from the
"Mind of Activision"?

Depressing news always makes me thirsty...


-- 
                           --- Rob DeMillo 
                               Madison Academic Computer Center
                               ...seismo!uwvax!uwmacc!demillo


          "If you can't trust wimp lawyers anymore,
                 who can you trust...?"
                        -- Mildred Crebs