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10/5
October 1975 - Monday 6
279th day - 86 days to come

Was working on a review of BALI for my column when I dis- covered that the rules just couldn't be understood - particu- larly the difference between a player's own and the opponents' layouts, and also that only a finished word can be challenged.
Called Ed Schifman. He was aware that something was wrong but hoped that Felicia and the ad people who wrote the rules had come to an agreement. Pointed out the problem and he agreed. All of the rules are being rewritten by a technical writer who he said is very good. I asked that, if at all possible, he have the rewrite of my games sent to me before publication. He said he would.
Told him about EUROPA and Walter Luc Haas. He asked if it would be all right to send BARRIER as well as TOTALLY, PUSHOVER and INTERSECTION. I said "of course," send all of the games - except BALI, since Walter is not interested in word games. Told him about Don Miller and he said he'd send review copies- didn't discuss which to send.
He heard from Graeme Levin who said they will be reviewing TOTALLY and PUSHOVER (How about the others?)
Richard Moon has reviewed PUSHOVER (and possibly some others). I asked Ed to send me repros. He said he was sorry he hadn't thought of doing it himself. I told him that I knew he was very busy - and thanking him for the picture of PUSHOVER (see 9/24).
He hopes to be in New York before the end of the year, and he'll visit and show me their game line for '76. They are "strategy" games but also "fun" games. Most are mainly plastic. A very important thing in all of them is variations!! I asked, and some of them are his.
I asked when they will be looking for '77. At "Toy Fair." I told him a little about FOUR ARMED BANDIT and he said he'd like to look at it when he comes here.
TRIPPPLES, BARRIERS, and TOTALLY are doing the best in the line. They are trying to push INTERSECTION and PUSHOVER, pos- sibly as premiums (I think he said this). The Japanese versions came up and he agreed they looked good - but they sell for about $8.
They are actively pushing their games all over the word and when they redo the rules they'll be in a number of languages. Told him about BEYOND TIC TAC TOE and he said he'd like a copy, said that if he couldn't find one by the time he comes here I'd give him one.
He brought up Gini Scott. He is going to the conference she wrote to me about (see 9/11). He is going to lecture on TRIPPPLES and BARRIER, but will push all the games. He asked my opinion of her and I said she was knowledgable [sic] on games, but more into the social aspects than into the mechan- ics. He said he gets the impression that she is mainly inter- ested in pushing herself.
He brought up the Edu-Cards games WORD FOR WORD, etc. He
(cont. on 10/5)

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