Working a Deluxe case: the videophone, Crime Net and Wanda

Sign in, take the case

A Deluxe case starts with an instruction to “press the POWER button to turn on the Videophone and sign in.” Type a name, press TRANSMIT, and ACME checks its records (“ACME makes it a policy never to enlist the services of known felons”). Then the alert: “Carmen Sandiego reported still at large! Now linking your system to ACME Crime Net!” The case file names the loot and its home town under “Arrest on sight for the theft of”. The Windows build's script has the Chief nag until you call travel: “So, why aren't you calling ACME Travel? Do I have to do everything for you? Next I'll have to tie your shoelaces.”

Moving and digging

The DOS CD's executable lists the services in a row: ACME Phone Directory, Employee Travel, ACME CrimeNet, Warrant Department, Voice Mail. Travel books the trip from a destinations list, sometimes a seat, sometimes a car: “There is a rental car reserved in your name. Don't exceed the speed limit!” A Travel Log keeps the route. At each stop the game data lists four kinds of action, each worded several ways: question (speak to, query), search (inspect, investigate, check out), telephone (phone, call, ring up) and, in the Windows build, meet with. Searches turn up some sixty kinds of object, from a road map to a business card, or nothing: “We found nothing. We learned nothing. But it was good exercise.”

Crime Net and the mailbox

Crime Net tells you how warm you are. Off the trail: “Satellite surveillance indicates that you may be in the wrong location. Better check your facts!” Close in: “All reports indicate that you have cornered the criminal. Proceed with caution!” Witnesses in the wrong state are blunter (“You're barking up the wrong tree”). The data names a recurring cast, Herbert Heeberg, Professor Bob, Belle Graham, “Valley” Sally, Wild Will, Duane Bwuane, Mick Donald and Tolltaker Tina, and the Windows clue script comes in distinct voices: a cowboy (“Well, scout”), a Valley girl, a surfer, a short-order cook shouting at a waitress called Cindy. Voice Mail holds messages headed “V-Mail from:”; empty, it says “Don't take it personally, but your mailbox is empty.”

Wanda, the warrant and the judge

Evidence goes to the Warrant Department under hair colour, eye colour, hobby, food, sport, music and other (the choices are listed at the Deluxe gang). Wanda answers (“Warrant Division, Wanda speaking”) with a list of possible suspects, a warrant, or “Sorry, Sherlock, the information you sent me eliminates every single suspect.” Send new evidence and the previous warrant is cancelled. “A V.I.L.E. Henchman! You must be on the right track” means you're on the trail; there are chase sequences, and a good arrest goes to court: “Order in the court! The court finds the defendant guilty!” Without a warrant the suspect “could not be held”; with the wrong one, Wanda tells the paper “That warrant didn't seem right to me.” The general rules are at issuing the warrant.

Rank

The ladder is shorter than the Enhanced build's eleven: Gumshoe, Investigator, Senior Investigator, Inspector, Senior Inspector, Detective, Master Detective, Super Sleuth. Promotions come with solved cases, but can be held back: “Your promotion will be withheld until you are able to pass the qualification quiz.” Super Sleuth is “ACME's highest working rank”; after it come commendations and the Hall of Fame. Catching Carmen doesn't close the file: the floppy and Windows builds both carry jailbreak bulletins that put the gang back on the street. Other games' ladders are compared at ranks and difficulty by game.