Michael Bywater wrote Jinxter. He's the gentleman responsible for Punch magazine's ‚wild invecitve', so if you are a reader of this mildly amusing mag you will know what style of humour to expect from the game. The award-winning team Magnetic Scrolls also had quite a lot to do with the program, you remember them, they're the bods (except for Anita Sinclair who is definitely un-bod-like) who brought us The Pawn - winner of twelve international awards - and Guild of Thieves - winner of the British Microcomputing Federation's Game Of The Year award 1987.

The story opens with the player on the local bus on his way home. What could be more innocent? The only worrying thoughts on the player's mind at present concern the general level of good fortune within his country which has been decreasing rapidly of late.

A bridge not far enough - don't dally, staring at the beautiful landscape, there's much to be done. (All three pictures are from the Amiga)

The reason for this is somewhat abstruse to say the least. It appears that a secret masonic society of Green Magicians (here we go!) has been working behind the scenes subverting society and changing the land's fortunes and that of its inhabitants. To counter these nefarious dealings, a Guardian from beyond the realms of time has chosen the player to undertake the great quest and save civilization as he knows it. (Stop yawning!). However, this particular Guardian is not what one might expect, he wears a herring-bone overcoat, tends to forget words and his main aim in life appears to be avoiding his wife and kids (not as daft as he looks perhaps).

Jinxter's cast of supporting characters include a megalomaniac gardener, a postmistress who thinks she's Calamity Jane and a dim-witted postman who goes by the name of Poor Bloody Lebling (nothing to do with Infocom's David I trust?).

Whilst being crushed at the last PCW show, Anita Sinclair took me on whirlwind tour of an unfinished Jinxter; she demonstrated the pretty graphics and the general feel of the game.