Iconia

It was nearly nine years ago that the famous astronaut and explorer, Vade Mowban, emr barked on his final voyage. He departed Earth toward Jupiter in his spaceship, lconia , in a gallant effort to observe and attempt to reveal the mystery of a huge black cube that was orbiting the planet. But once Mowban’s ship reached its destination, strange things began to happen.

First, the lconia 's super computer, XAL, began to malfunction, refusing to execute commands. The machine seemed to take on a mind of its own and soon endangered Mowban’s life. Fortunately, he was able to deactivate XAL and avoid immediate catastrophe, never¬ theless, his efforts were deemed frivolous as the inexplicable happenings continued.

Illuminating globes began sprouting on the surface of the dark cube. Within minutes, the globes burst and a variety of horrendouslooking creatures began emerging from them.

Shortly after the sighting of the creatures, Mowban, for reasons still unknown, boarded his space pod and ejected from the Iconia in the direction of the cube. And, even though he had the most sophisticated weaponry available on the Iconia , he took none with him aboard the tiny escape vessel.

Some experts speculate that he was drawn by the powerful force of the cube. Others, however, think he had simply lost his mind. The last radio transmission received from the great explorer was, “Oh my! It’s full of boxes.” The Iconia has been drifting aimlessly ever since.

Chosen f rom a cast of the world’s most proficient astronauts, your assignment is to return the Iconia to Earth. After weeks of space travel, you reach your destination and must complete the operation, remembering that if the mission is not 100 percent successful, the chances of returning alive are exceedingly slim.

Ejection from the mother ship in your egg-like space pod is executed to perfection. The memory of a theme park joy ride fills your mind — but only briefly, for the wondrous Iconia quickly engulfs your entire visual spectrum. The ghost-like spaceship seems bound for its destiny as it glides unmanned in orbit between you and Jupiter.

Checking your controls, you see that only 1,000 feet lie between you and the legend of the Iconia. As your pod reaches the vessel and you cross through the emergency gate, you recall the seemingly simple instructions of the mission:

Reactivate the spaceship

Reactivate the ship’s computer

Program the ship’s return to Earth

Leave the spaceship

Iconia is a randomized Adventure requiring a joystick. Graphics represent the Iconia spaceship, which is divided into two main compartments: the body and the carrousel. To pass from the body to the carrousel or vice versa, you must first be in a room with a ladder. Use of the ladder is activated by pressing the ‘V’ key. The four arrow keys are used to move through the spaceship.