FrobozzCo International

FrobozzCo International is a fictional monopolous conglomerate from the Infocom text adventure Zork universe. FrobozzCo International's motto is "You name it, we do it." The company endured until the end of the Age of Magic. FrobozzCo products are littered throughout all Zork games, often with humorous effect.

1 History
2 FrobozzCo greetings
3 List of subsidiaries
4 References

[edit] History

The original headquarters of FrobbozCo from the Zork III Annual Report.

FrobozzCo International was founded as the Frobozz Magic Cave Company by King Duncanthrax the Bellicose in 668 GUE. Later that year, FrobozzCo International was formed as a parent company for the rapidly expanding subsidiaries. A popular alternative view, according to Encyclopedia Frobozzica is that it was founded by J.B. Frobozz with the slogan: "Sell Good Magical Aids".

The same year FrobozzCo was founded, John D. Flathead graduated from Borphee Business School and founded Flathead Industries, a company which invented other companies and then sold them to FrobozzCo. By 671 GUE, Flathead Industries purchased FrobbozCo International, renaming it Frobozz Magic Company Company. Using his royal connections, John D. Flathead quickly advanced from one of FrobozzCo's 39,000 vice-presidents to the Chairman of the Board, a position his descendants would control for nine generations.

The 400-story Headquarters of FrobozzCo International in Flatheadia

When Dimwit Flathead became King of Quendor in 770 GUE, FrobozzCo experienced another period of rapid growth fueled by Dimwit's excessive and expensive projects. John D. Flathead's goal was for FrobozzCo to control every zorkmid ever minted. This occurred in 789 when a small rutabaga farm in Mithicus, finally sold out. Unfortunately, John D. would never hear the news because the acquisition coincided with his untimely disappearance.

The company's 400-story headquarters in Flatheadia, the tallest building in Quendor, was completed in 781 GUE by Frank Lloyd Flathead. However, the Curse of Megaboz destroyed Flatheadia in 883, and FrobozzCo relocated to a smaller headquarters in Borphee.

The first Dungeon Master, the adventurer from Zork III, awarded a controlling share of FrobozzCo's stock by Megaboz.

In 1048 GUE, Mir Yannick took control of the Frobozz Magic Company, renaming it Frobozz Electric.

[edit] FrobozzCo greetings

FrobozzCo products appearing in the games routinely came with instructions which greeted the adventurer in a similar way:

"Hello, Footpad" (Frobozz Magic Alarm Company, Zork II)
"Hello, Sailor" (Frobozz Magic Boat Company, Zork I)
"Hello, Aviator" (Frobozz Magic Balloon Company, Zork II)
"Hello, Pusher" (Frobozz Magic Button Company, Zork II)
"Goodbye, Bugs" (Frobozz Magic Bug Repellent Company, Zork: The Undiscovered Underground)
"Hello, Flamingo Owner" (Frobozz Magic Flamingo Food Company, Zork Zero)
"Hello, Builder" (Frobozz Magic Passage Company, Zork Zero)
"Hello, Master" (Frobozz Magic Robot Company, Zork II)
"Hello, Intruder" (Frobozz Magic Vault Company, Zork II)

[edit] List of subsidiaries

By 743 GUE, FrobbozCo International reportedly had more than 17,000 subsidiaries. By 778 GUE 18,000 more companies were founded or acquired. The following is a list of subsidiaries which are mentioned in the Zork games and/or accompanying literature: