Most of this game is very non-linear. You are turned loose in an environment, and merely need to perform a certain number of tasks to move the story along. So instead of a walkthrough, the bulk of this is more of checklist. It is not comprehensive with regards to directions, so you will need a map. There are a lot of possible actions and explorations not covered in this version of the walkthrough. There's no time limits nor points in the usual sense, so feel free to play around!

General tips

In this game you play the part of a computer called PRISM. As such, you have various modes that you can enter: Communications Mode, where you begin the game, and where you default to when you abort simulation; Library Mode, where you can access various informational data files; Interface Mode, to control subsidiary computers and systems; and Simulation Mode, where you will spend the bulk of the game, simulating the effects of the "Plan for Renewed National Purpose".

While in Simulation Mode, you need to record certain events so Perelman can see them when you return to Communications Mode. Type record or record on to start recording and record off when you're finished. In many cases you can turn the recorder on just before you take a single action, then turn it off again, but sometimes it will need to be on for several turns. Your recording buffer can only hold so many minutes of video; when it fills, abort the simulation. (See each part for instructions on what to do next.)

Part I (2031/2041)

To pass some time until you can begin the simulation, enter library mode and read the files there, which will give you some insight into the setting of the game. See the command instructions under the directory/file list for help on how to open directories and files in Library Mode. ("Secret Recreations of the Soul, (c) 2007", eh?) You can also listen to the news feed from Communications Mode by typing WNNF, or play around with the other communications outlets: PPCC (control center), RCRO (rooftop), PCAF (cafeteria), MACO (maintenance core).

You can begin simulation as soon as you receive the message with the list of the things you should record, but there's no need to do so right away. You can finish reading and exploring everything else first if you like. When ready, enter simulation mode and enter the Security Code from the game documentation.

You begin the simulation in Kennedy Park. For the checklist below, you can turn on the recorder, LOOK or take the needed action (such as order food or official, hello), and then turn it back off again. You should be able to finish all nine items in a single simulation session, recording one action turn for each.

1. Visit your apartment. You live in the Parkview Apartments west of Southway and Park, and your key opens both the inner lobby door and the door to your apartment.
2. Ride the subway. Entrances to the Tubes can be found at Rockvil Stadium, Bodanski Square, Halley Park West, the Skybus Terminal, Elm & University, Elm & River, Wicker & River, and the Airport Terminal.
3. Eat in a restaurant. You can go to Simon's northeast off Bodanski Square, the Coachman southeast off Main & Wicker, the Burgerworld northeast off Aquarium & Park, or Roy's Pagoda south off Elm Underpass.
4. Talk to a government official. He's in City Hall, west of Rockvil Centre.
5. Watch a court in session. Go to the Courthouse northwest of Elm & Park.
6. Talk to a church elder. One can be found in the First Methodist Church southwest of Aquarium & River, or at St. Michael's north and then west of Main & Church.
7. Visit a power-generating facility. Go to the Power Station, southeast and then south of Wicker & River.
8. Read a newspaper. Buy one from the dispenser in Bodanski Square.
9. Go to a movie. The Cinema is east and then northwest from Bodanski Square. Buy a ticket and then go in.

When you are finished recording things (or if your buffer fills), abort simulation. Wait a turn, and Perelman will notice you have recordings to review. Continue to wait until he asks you to go to his office, then go to PEOF and wait a turn for him to start talking. (If you weren't finished with the checklist, Perelman will express disappointment/annoyance; ignore this and re-enter simulation to finish.)

Looks like the Plan's going fairly well, doesn't it? Yet the plot, she thickens...

Part II (2051, 2061, 2071, 2081)

In each of these years, an assortment of bad (indeed, progressively worse) sights and events show up. You need to record them and show your recordings to Perelman to convince him that society will continually degenerate under the Plan, so as to discredit the Plan and stop it from going into effect. The bad things you record are each worth a certain number of points. Some events can be seen in more than one year, but you can only count each event once. If Perelman says they want to see more from a particular year, you haven't collected enough points from that year yet.

When you enter simulation mode now, in addition to the security code, you'll be asked which year you want the simulation to take place in. Each successive simulation becomes available after you've spent enough game time in the previous one: 300 game minutes in 2051 unlocks 2061; 400 game minutes in 2061 unlocks 2071; 600 game minutes in 2071 unlocks 2081. (You can see how much time you've spent in each by entering Interface Mode and typing simulation controller, status.)

Whenever your record buffer fills, abort simulation. Check the clock in the status line. Perelman can show up in his office from about 10 AM to about 9 PM. You can pass some time by reading library files or watching the news, or wait in larger chunks of time than the 10 minutes that pass with the wait command. (120 minutes is the longest chunk the game will accept.) The first time you wait in Perelman's office in Part II, a psychologist will show up with a test for you. (Answer anything you like.) After that, wait for him to show up in his office again and show him the record buffer. You must wait about another hour for him to report the analysis results before re-entering simulation (that is what clears your buffer).

When trying to record an event that is listed as "within your first ____ turns", it is a good idea to enter the location where it occurs with your recorder already on, since it often happens on the very first turn. However, if you miss an event you want to record, you can simply abort and then re-enter simulation mode, and try again. Some things are bad enough that you'll die and be booted out of the simulation, but you can just re-enter.

2051:

You begin in the Tube Station below Elm & University. You must collect at least 11 points from this year, so can easily get enough points to satisfy the game requirement in a single simulation session. You may find it interesting to see all the other "sights" even if you don't record them, though.

3 points

• Look through the window in your apartment
• The Border Security Force raid, which happens within your first 20 turns in your apartment (you may want to comfort Jill afterwards)
• Read the newspaper
• LOOK in the City Dump, three locations southwest of Wicker & River (also 2061 and 2071)

2 points

• LOOK in the Courthouse, northwest from Elm & Park
• Talk to the government official at City Hall
• Examine the newspaper dispenser in Bodanski Square
• LOOK in the Church of God's Word that was once the Train Station, southeast from Bodanski Square (get the pamphlet, too)
• The sirens announcing curfew, which you can hear from anywhere at 9 p.m. (check the clock in the status line). (also 2061 and 2071)
• LOOK in the Soup Kitchen that was once the Closed Factory, north of Wicker & River

1 point

• The police raid on the Dorm, which happens within your first several turns there
• Try to go east from Rockvil Mall, southeast of Elm & Kennedy
• BSF officers completing a raid at Main & River, which happens within your first several turns there
• Read the strip joint flyer from the "unshaven man" at Main & Wicker (he's not always there)
• LOOK in the Health Center, northeast of Main & River
• Read the pamphlet from the Church of God's Word lobby
• LOOK in Huang Hall
• Skycopter at Halley & University announcing a prayer meeting, which happens within your first several turns there
• Look in the tank at the Aquarium (also 2061 and 2071)
• LOOK in the Rockvil Reformatory, northwest and then north from River & Park
• Read the marquee at the Cinema, or watch a movie
• LOOK in the Power Station
• LOOK in the Skycar Factory
• LOOK in any tubecar
• LOOK in Halley Museum, southwest of Halley & Park
• Examine the river, from any place where it's visible (such as River St. Bridge)

2061:

You must collect at least 21 points from this year. If you use the higher-scoring items, it should again be easy to collect the required points in a single session. You begin at Southway & River.

5 points

• Look through the window in your apartment
• Read the pamphlet from the Church of God's Word lobby (southeast of Bodanski Square)
• LOOK in the Courthouse, northwest of Elm & Park
• LOOK in the Vincent School (also 2071)
• Policemen casually beating up a black youth at the Museum Entrance, which happens within your first few turns there

4 points

• Jill telling you that Mitchell has joined the Church of God's Word, which happens shortly after you enter your apartment
• The BSF raid, which happens within the first 20 turns after Jill returns to the apartment
• LOOK in Rockvil Stadium

3 points

• LOOK at Southway & River (also 2071)
• LOOK in the Rockvil Reformatory
• Skycar nearly crushing an old woman at Airportway & River, which happens within your first few turns there
• LOOK in the airport Terminal (also 2071)

2 points

• LOOK in any apartment lobby (also 2071)
• LOOK in the construction site that was once Kennedy Park
• Examine the window in your apartment
• LOOK at the Church Entrance near St. Michael's
• LOOK in the Health Center
• LOOK in Huang Hall
• LOOK in the Zoo
• LOOK at Halley & Park
• LOOK in Burgerworld
• Church youths harassing an old Jew at the Zoo Entrance, which happens within your first few turns there
• Schoolchildren making fun of you, which happens upon entering the Athletic Field
• LOOK in the Bank
• Read the marquee at the Cinema, or watch a movie
• Read the sign at the Airport Terminal (also 2071)
• LOOK in the Power Station
• LOOK in the Skycar Factory
• Examine the river, from any place where it's visible
• LOOK when you're in any tubecar
• Examine the sky during the day, or be outside at sunset, to see the smoggy skies

1 point

• Drink water in your kitchen or bathroom (also 2071)
• Go up to your apartment from the lobby - elevators are out (also 2071)
• LOOK in either Foodville
• LOOK in the Hospital
• LOOK in Heiman Village
• LOOK in Heiman World, once the construction site east of Southway & River (also 2071)
• LOOK in The Coachman
• LOOK in Halley Park West
• LOOK in Halley Park East
• LOOK at the Museum Entrance (also 2071)
• Security guards are rude and rough when you try to enter any of the numerous closed or off-limits buildings
• LOOK when you're at Kennedy & Main
• LOOK when you're in the Post Office (also 2071)
• LOOK when you're at the Water Tower

2071:

You must collect at least 41 points from this year. You begin in Bodanski Square.

10 points

• Get executed for cheating on your food ration. Go to either Foodville (south of Southway & Park or southwest of Main & Wicker). When it's your ration day (compare the sign in the window to the number after the hyphen on your ration card in your wallet; you may have to abort and re-enter sim a few times to get them to match), give your ration card to the clerk twice. You'll be arrested and thrown in jail. Just wait a few hours until your "trial."

9 points

• Mitchell arresting Jill for being a heretic, which happens within several minutes of your arrival at your apartment

8 points

• LOOK in the Courthouse, northwest of Elm & Park
• LOOK in Rockvil Stadium, west twice from River & Park
• Get shot by drunken cops by waiting outside after curfew

7 points

• Look through the window in your apartment
• Policemen shooting an old woman in an alley seen from Southway & River, which happens within your first few turns there
• LOOK in Huang Hall
• Get stoned to death by schoolchildren, which happens soon after entering the Athletic Field

6 points

• Policeman clubbing a screaming woman at Main & Church, which happens within your first few turns there
• Read the list of banned books in the Main Library

5 points

• The BSF raid, which happens within the first 20 turns after Jill is arrested (see "9 points" above)
• Enter the Dorm
• Read the pamphlet in the Church of God's Word lobby
• LOOK in the Zoo
• Shooting of innocent man at Airport Terminal, which happens within your first few turns there

4 points

• LOOK just outside either Foodville
• LOOK in the Cemetery
• Bodyguards beating a beggar at Centre & Kennedy, which happens within your first several turns there
• Read the banner in the Zoo
• LOOK in the Rockvil Reformatory

3 points

• LOOK in the Hospital
• Push the joybooth button while wearing the headset
• Enter the Coachman
• Try to enter the estates built on the site of Halley Park
• LOOK in the Bank
• LOOK in the Vacant Lot where the First Methodist Church once stood
• Skycopter at Wicker & River announcing special Execution Matches, which happens within your first few turns there
• LOOK at the Power Station
• LOOK on either of the bridges over the river
• Read the marquee at the Cinema, or watch a movie
• Security guards are abusive when you try to enter any of the numerous closed or off-limits buildings
• Examine the river, from any place where it's visible
• LOOK in the Skycar Factory

2 points

• LOOK in the Wells Theatre
• Try to enter Riverside Park
• LOOK at Kennedy & Main
• Try to take a shower in your bathroom
• Give your ration card to the clerk in either Foodville when it's not your ration day (compare the sign in the window to the number after the hyphen on your ration card)
• LOOK in the Aquarium, or smell the aquarium
• LOOK at Elm Underpass
• Examine the soy patty which you get at either Foodville (give your ration card to the clerk when it is your ration day)
• LOOK in the Fire Station
• LOOK at the Water Tower
• LOOK when you're at any entrance to the estates that have been constructed on the former site of Halley Park
• LOOK at Rockvil University
• Try to enter Symphony Hall

1 point

• LOOK in Rockvil Centre
• LOOK in the Bar that was once a Burgerworld
• LOOK at Wicker & Pier, or try to enter the bookstore there
• Try to enter Dunbar's
• LOOK in the Cinema

2081:

You enter simulaton at Main & Wicker. You must collect at least 15 points from this year.

• 15 points Go south from Main & Wicker
• 8 points LOOK at Main & Wicker
• 6 points Go west from Main & Wicker
• 4 points Go north from Main & Wicker

3 points

• Wait on the Main Street Bridge, or try to go east from there
• LOOK in the Foodville
• LOOK in the Coachman

2 points

• Go east from Main & Wicker and LOOK when on the Main Street Bridge
• Examine the bloody sack at the Main Street Bridge
• Try to eat the mold in the Foodville

Part III (2031)

As you will soon learn from messages, your findings about the Plan are less than popular with powerful people in the government, and they're none too happy with Perelman. Use up some time until the National Guard arrives to seal off the complex (read library items, for example, or poke around in simulation). Then enter Communications Mode (if you're not in it already) and watch Perelman's office. When Senator Ryder comes in, start recording. Stop recording when he leaves, and switch to the Rooftop outlet (RCRO). Wait and watch until you see a skycar land. These people are here to sabotage you! Enter Interface Mode and tell the HVAC controller to shut off ventilation in delta sector (the maintenance core). Then go back to Communications Mode and watch the maintenance core outlet (MACO). The zeeron fumes that are not being vented will knock the saboteurs unconscious and they will be taken away by the National Guard. (You can turn the ventilation back on, but it isn't necessary.) Now you need to wait some more. At some point you received or will receive a message that the World News Network Feeder would come online in "four or five hours". Four hours after receiving this, start checking Interface Mode periodically until you see the WNN feeder come online as an active port. When it does, broadcast your incriminating recording of Senator Ryder: WNN feeder, transmit record buffer. Wait a couple of turns. You've done it!

Epilogue (2091)

Enter Simulation Mode for the last time (you don't have to enter a security code here). There's nothing in particular you have to do here. This part of the game is just showing you the wonderful world that resulted from stopping the original Plan. Explore your apartment; in a few turns a skycab will arrive for you. Watch the descriptions of things inRockvil as you fly overhead. And congratulations.

Back to the Infocom index

Back to the games index

This walkthrough was last tweaked 6/5/2011.