In version 7, you were able to give commands to some inanimate objects. Contrary to the report in XYZZYnews #2, you cannot use the standard Infocom command syntax (such as AQUARIUM, GO EAST, which generates the reply “You must supply a verb”), but must use the same types of commands that you use to direct the robot. For example, you could say TELL AQUARIUM “GO EAST”, and the game would say “The aquarium has left the room.” TELL AQUARIUM “GO EAST THEN GO EAST” results in a message saying that you have been killed by a grue, but in reality it is the aquarium that has “died.”, as the next line informs you.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: The world needs more grues.