Our next entry into the GTW archives is a slightly controversial title due to its rather risqué advertisement that featured in the Italian press at the time. Ifigonia was an erotic/adult themed text adventure, with graphics created by artist Mauro Mazza. The game was based on a poem from 1928.
After a few adverts for the ZX Spectrum, C64 and Amstrad CPC – the game disappeared without a trace, and some even wondered if it was a hoax of some kind. One magazine (Sperimentare) showed a rather different looking cover-art case and talked about the game. We don’t think they actually review it, as the details about the title are quite vague. It is mentioned though that the graphics would be a mixture of comic-like graphics and animations throughout.
The question is whether the game actually ever saw completion or release on any of the three platforms overall? At the moment, there is no evidence of any copies sneaking out – but who knows, perhaps one or two did manage it.
There is a general feeling that it was nothing more than a sophisticated April Fools joke, though the address for the company did exist and you could send off money to order the game. Damiano Gerli confirmed that the address was a computer shop that was in Milan back in the day. He’s 90% sure that the game was just a hoax or April Fools to get people to go into the shop to ask for the game.
Quattro Bit felt that the selling price was far too low, and in all their years of research – never heard of anyone ordering it. GilesGoat feels that the fact you could send off money to someone for *something* suggests that there had to be a product, otherwise it would have been stealing. The plot thickens! :)
If you know anything more about the title or can help us preserve it – please do get in touch.
Contributions: GilesGoat, Archive.org, Quattro Bit, Damiano Gerli
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