Here's a good lesson for how to submit a game for consideration. The disk comes with an informative label, giving the name of the game, loading instructions and the message "For more information about the game, type RUN"START and press RETURN". The accompanying letter is short and precise, giving both the game and the programmer an efficient image.

Furthermore, there's a comprehensive hint sheet with the game too. This is a great bonus and you should always include a hint sheet or solution together with some general information about gameplay. I'm afraid that just because you may have spent six months writing a game doesn't mean that the evaluator is going to spend six months playing it. You'll be lucky, frankly, if they spend six minutes on it.

This may sound grossly unfair, and you may claim that no-one can evaluate your masterpiece without playing it for at least a century. The fact is, however, that any game worth its salt immediately proclaims that fact from the very first screen. If that first six minutes doesn't get the evaluator excited enough to carry on playing then he (or she) is going to load something else.

Paul Lucas' game does grab attention from screen one by having a very attractive, redesigned character set, a tidy and professional text layout, and clear, well-written location descriptions. Even without graphics, the program keeps the player involved long enough for the plot to cast its spell over you. The story is a simple one (most good ideas are!) and in the traditional mould of magic and evil deeds, as you attempt to save your village from the spell of a black magician.

Paul's decision to make the game text-only is a brave one, but he does his best to make up for it with the new character set and a number of useful commands including RAMSAVE, TAKE ALL and other syntax goodies. The puzzles are well thought-out and quite challenging, though you shouldn't find casual exploration a problem. You can get a copy from the address above for £4.99. I think this is a little bit steep for a homebrew game, since there are some excellent games around for £2.99 these days, but if you've got a fiver to spend, you'll get a good lesson in how to present your programs for evaluation, and the game isn't bad either!

However, you need to think very carefully about text-only games. They really do need to have a very high standard of programming and authorship to stand a chance these days. Steer clear of them unless you're absolutely sure you've got what it takes.

Now all you've got to do is check out the box on where to send your games, and keep your fingers crossed...!