Mission: Mainframe

Mission: Mainframe is an interesting shareware variation of the classic Wizard's Castle game, a mix of boardgame-like strategy and role-playing, but it greatly expands the original concept and sets it into a weird contemporary / sci-fi setting.

The background story: Some time in the recent past, the main computer of a big corporation went mad due to some electrical disturbance. It gained control over its operator and began to influence other employees. Your mission is to find the main frame, defeat the operator and return to the lobby alive.

Before beginning the game, you first create your character. You may choose one of four character types which differ in their D&D-like vital stats. As in any self-respecting rpg, the stats may be increased by gathering experience. You then start in the lobby of the corporation, where you can buy some basic equipment buy spending chips and bytes (instead of gold) on such wonder- and useful items as Junk Food (*very* important, otherwise you'll starve quickly), Strategies (corresponding to magic spells in fantasy RPGs) and Office Supplies (replace weapons and armor, thus assisting you in dealing with reluctant corporate employees).