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28 SUNDAY * OCTOBER 1973
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST * 301ST DAY * 64 DAYS TO COME

Gave a copy of HOLIDAY to Elliot, which I had promised him a long time ago. Played a game with Elliot, Morris, and Ricki's wife Nancy. She caught on very well and came in second, after me.

Call from Claude. He talked about DIABOLIQUE some more.

(Cont. from 10/29) [10/29]

She started talking again about the rumors of 3M going out of games. Couldn't tell whether she was angry at them or at me. She rambled and. among other things, said that she wouldn't scrounge around for a thousand dollars.

Called Phil Orbanes. Not in and asked Anna to have him call me. Wanted to ask him about CARTEL.

Called Tom Atwater (about $4.15 to $4.30, plus tax). Told him that I want him to black out my name on the rules for HIT THE JACKPOT, repeating my argument of the letter, and he agreed that he wouldn't be happy seeing Alex' games competing with him under another agent. However the one company he intends showing the game to is Four Generations, and Felicia hasn't contacted them.
I said I thought that Four Generations only did fancy wood things but Alex Tom said that they were up against it getting wood and are interested in two dimensional games - and he thinks HIT THE JACKPOT would be just the type they'd want. They put Phil Shoptaugh's name on his three games - the first proprietary games they did. And he thinks they'll want to continue giving credits. I asked him to present my game anonymously and then if they want it we'll discuss it further.
He would also like to show it to the Germans. I asked if it was Ravensburg [Ravensburger]. Yes. They presently have 5 of Alex' things and are considering 3 more. Because of the large number they asked for, and received, Alex' permission to use a nom-de-plume. They take a long time in considering a game and Tom has to push them. They like to be the first to see an item. So far they have only rcd. [received] 1 royalty report, but it seems to be better than 3M. Incidentally, they sell in the whole common market, not only Germany.
They didn't tell me the details but part of Ravensburg's knowledge of Alex came from AGOG.
He will be meeting with the representatives of Ravensburg in N.Y. about the middle of November. He asked if I'd like to meet them. Yes, but I want to talk to him before.
He has the latest Ravensburg catalog and 20 games are marked as being "new". Most are strategic games.
He is not sure whether they want an "economic" game or not. I told him that CARTEL is a good game, that I didn't get the chance to talk to Phil Orbanes (who he has heard of), and that I would
(cont. on 10/27)