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26 FRIDAY- OCTOBER 1973
299TH DAY-66 DAYS TO COME

Rcd. Oct. PLAYTHINGS. "Showcase" lists UNGAME.
"Classified" had the following ad: "Adult Games Wanted. Must be
[illegible strikeout] copyrighted and trade marked. Will either purchase or promote
on exclusive basis with royalty. Reply Box 1009, Playthings."
"Showcase" also lists WORDMATE.

(cont. from 10/30) [10/30]
Told Stan that PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOCKS was close with
Illin Owens-Illinois but finally was rejected. Now it is with
3M. Also I have the model of CLUE-WORDS/.
Started work on a new SLEUTH problem for G&P.
Called Bob Abbott about the FEENSCHACH article on ULTIMA
(see 10/23). He is not interested in contacting them as sug-
gested by Phil Cohen.
He spoke to Paul Axel about the article. I asked if he had Paul's
address since the letter I sent to him in answer to the material
he sent to me (see 12/24/70)- MINIATURE BAROQUE, etc- was returned
due to moving. {Paul Axel
{33 Remsen Ave.
{New Brunswick, N.J. 08901
Bob spent a week in England since we got together. He saw Graeme Levin,
who is agenting his EPAMIONDAS- so far without success. He sat in
on some game testing sessions. One game was STOCK BROKER
(which is reviewed in the October G&P) As far as Bob is concerned
it doesn't give any opportunity for skill. SPANISH CHATTER was a
language learning game which was some fun but was only good
for playing once.
David Welles (spelling?) who was some kind of a CHESS
champion liked EPAMINONDAS but played it lousy.
David Parlett (who writes for G&P) has prepared a book on
new card GAMEs. Bob doesn't know if he has a publisher
lined up. The games are original, but not very much fun.
One is a NIM type where players can take from 1 to 3 of
cards exposed. They try to get various scoring combinations.
Their final score is determined by their scoring combinations mul-
tiplied by the number of cards their opponent (2 play)
has taken. (Rough idea.)
Someone set up a computer to play ELEUSIS. the computer makes
the rule and the humans try to discover it. When a player thinks
he has the rule he asks tells the computer and the computer gives
him four cards and asks if they suit or not. If he gets all four
right he wins. (Rough idea.) This gave Bob the idea of changing
his rules to allow a player to play up to 5 cards on a turn.
If anyone is wrong he must take them all back. Bob seems
to think that this will solve the problem of a player knowing the
rule but not having a card that fits it. He may deal out
(cont. on 10/25)