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Loyalists Preserve Past Through Text-Only Games

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "'You are at the edge of a clearing with an impressive view of the mountains. A trail splits off toward some standing stones to the southwest, while the main road emerges from the forest to the east and continues westward down the hill, via a series of switchbacks.' So begins 'A New Life' (downloadable from here), part of a group of game hobbyists going back to text-only basics. They try to keep the genre alive by posting their titles online for free and meeting in chat rooms dedicated to the craft, the Wall Street Journal Online reports. 'Console games are demanding,' says Mike Snyder, a 33-year-old computer programmer in Wichita, Kan. 'With text games, you can sit there at the prompt, go make a sandwich, then come back and play more.'"

38 of 399 comments (clear)

  1. d'oh by rbochan · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have been eaten by a grue :(

    --
    ...Rob
    The American Dream isn't an SUV and a house in the suburbs; it's Don't Tread On Me.
    1. Re:d'oh by hungrygrue · · Score: 4, Funny

      Does that mean I have to change my name now?

    2. Re:d'oh by Prospero's+Grue · · Score: 3, Funny
      Does that mean I have to change my name now?

      I hope not.

      --
      The opinion above is fiction. Any similarity to real opinions, including facts and logic, is purely coincidental.
    3. Re:d'oh by meringuoid · · Score: 5, Funny
      I have been eaten by a grue :(

      > WHAT IS A GRUE?

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    4. Re:d'oh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      This grue you speak of sounds terrifying - can you provide a screenshot?

    5. Re:d'oh by rubberbando · · Score: 4, Funny

      'With text games, you can sit there at the prompt, go make a sandwich, then come back and play more'

      It was much worse in my case, I took a bathroom break and came back to find that my SANDWICH was eaten by a grue. :(

      --
      DEAD DEAD DEAD DELETE ME
    6. Re:d'oh by broggyr · · Score: 2, Funny
      Want some rye?

      Of course you do!

      --
      Irony? Yea, it's like goldy and bronzy, only it's made of iron!
    7. Re:d'oh by IdleTime · · Score: 4, Funny

      Posting AC since I have modpoints and wanted to mod the parent -1 TROLL ...

      --
      If you mod me down, I *will* introduce you to my sister!
    8. Re:d'oh by AviLazar · · Score: 2, Funny

      So basically have Galstaf with you?

      "I am Galstaf, Sorcerer of Light!"

      "I cast Magic Missile at the darkness!"

      --

      I mod down so you can mod up. Your welcome.
    9. Re:d'oh by IdleTime · · Score: 3, Funny

      Duh...

      I have to quit smoking herb....

      --
      If you mod me down, I *will* introduce you to my sister!
    10. Re:d'oh by BushCheney08 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hey dude. You really should change your homepage. All that comes up is the "Apache has been successfully installed!" page. Fucking noobs...

      --
      Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
    11. Re:d'oh by meringuoid · · Score: 2, Funny
      Posting AC since I have modpoints and wanted to mod the parent -1 TROLL ...

      > MOD -1 TROLL WITH NASTY KNIFE

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    12. Re:d'oh by Destoo · · Score: 3, Funny

      /
      Specify unknown object by cursor? [ynq] (q) n
      Specify what? (type the word) Grue

      I don't have any information on those things.


      And a good thing this is.. Can you imagine grues in Nethack?

      --
      Nouvelles de jeux et technologies en français. TC
  2. What fun by AKAImBatman · · Score: 5, Funny

    You wake up.

    > get up

    You can't get up, it's dark.

    > turn on light

    You turn on the lamp.

    > get up

    You can't get up. You've got a headache from that hangover.

    > look in pockets

    While you look in pockets, your house is demolished by a bulldozer.

    Try Again?[y/n]

    #$@@#$! That's the third time in a row! !@#%!#@ text games!

    1. Re:What fun by Pollardito · · Score: 5, Funny

      that's more of a cultural problem, as apparently bucket-excreting slugs aren't common in north america. if they were, that solution would have been obvious

  3. You are in a twisty maze of comments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...all alike.

    1. Re:You are in a twisty maze of comments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      > North

    2. Re:You are in a twisty maze of comments by zardor · · Score: 3, Funny

      You are in a twisty maze of articles. ...all alike

      --
      -- We don't understand software, and sometimes we don't understand hardware, but we can *see* the blinking lights
  4. This is a game I could play by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    ... at the prompt: go make a sandwich,.

    Now if it told me to grab a beer while I was up I'd be addicted to playing.

  5. Text mode Quake, anyone? by Ragetech · · Score: 5, Funny

    QUAKE II
    Copyright (c) 1991-2001. All rights reserved.

    West of steaming pit of hell
    You are standing in an open room west of a steaming pit of hell leading down.
    There is a gun here.

    >

    (recycled: http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/12/31/ 043214&tid=112)

    --

    RageTech

    1. Re:Text mode Quake, anyone? by meringuoid · · Score: 3, Funny
      You hear a distant sound of rending flesh to the SE

      > nw

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  6. Like the Amish by NardofDoom · · Score: 4, Funny

    They'll produce wonderful text-based games, and people from the cities of MMORPG and FPS will travel out to them to buy blankets and marvel at their monochrome screens.

    --
    You have two hands and one brain, so always code twice as much as you think!
  7. WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    'With text games, you can sit there at the prompt, go make a sandwich, then come back and play more.'"

    It's called the Pause button. Frickin' old people..

  8. Re:Love text adventures by Snarfangel · · Score: 4, Funny

    You have to realize, though, that we only use words like "xyzzy," "zorkmid," and "blorple" on formal occasions.

    --
    This tagline is copyrighted material. Please send $10 for an affordable replacement.
  9. Re:hmmm... by cyber0ne · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's part of the beauty of Everquest. You don't have to play it at all and it's still just as interesting.

    --
    http://publicvoidlife.blogspot.com
  10. Slashdot as a text game ... by Hulkster · · Score: 4, Funny

    Computer is on
    > Surf to /.
    Page Loads - no recent stories
    > Reload 7,512 times
    A new story pops up
    > Click on the story
    Nothing to see here - move along
    > Reload 389 times
    You see the new story
    > Write pithy First Post comment - hit Submit
    Comment accepted - 8/8
    > Reload page
    Your comment is gibberish because you didn't preview it
    > Reload page again
    Comment moderated to -1 as Troll
    > Change race to Elf
    Change not accepted - you are now permanently cursed as a Troll.

  11. Re:hmmm... by mustafap · · Score: 5, Funny

    'With text games, you can sit there at the prompt, go make a sandwich, then come back

    Must have been written in Java then.

    --
    Open Source Drum Kit, LPLC deve board - mjhdesigns.com
  12. Re:Love text adventures by meringuoid · · Score: 4, Funny
    Um... you learned English from text adventures?

    Please tell me that when you first met a native English-speaker, you did not greet them with 'Hello sailor'...

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  13. Welcome to the World of Slashdot by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 5, Funny
    You are in a Slashdot article with 3 mod points left. There's an obvious Troll on your left that deserves to be modded down to negative infinity. Ahead of you is a post you really want to respond to. The Reply button beacons to the right, offering you a chance to get your original thoughts higher up on the page. The Back button will return you to the mundane world.

    >_

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  14. Re:Love text adventures by Golias · · Score: 5, Funny

    Was the main exercise that tought me English pretty early.

    You must be a lot of fun around the office.

    "Hey, which way is it to the bathroom in this building?"

    "Get up; go left; y; y; door; light; use stall."

    "Uh... thanks."

    --

    Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

  15. Re:WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN, "TEXTMODE QUAKE"? by Eric604 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I am the only who feels a sudden urge to ask him for the source code of Quake?

  16. Re:WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN, "TEXTMODE QUAKE"? by BushCheney08 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I say you should go for it. I think he might have it, despite his repeated assertions to the contrary. Be sure to put "STUPID QUESTION" in the subject line.

    --
    Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
  17. Oh Man... by psbrogna · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh man, I have to know how to read to play these games!? That doesn't sound like much fun at all.

  18. Re:Can't Belive nobodys mentioned... by Lord+Dimwit+Flathead · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm glad you like it. FCD #3 was my crowning achievement, you know.

  19. A hollow voice says "Plugh" by Ranger · · Score: 2, Funny

    You find yourself transported to a site containing a worthless slashdot story about text adventure games. You make a witty comment that you hear FORTRAN is making a comeback. Your post is moderated Troll.

    --
    "You'll get nothing, and you'll like it!"
  20. Just what I'm looking for by ChrisF79 · · Score: 2, Funny

    FTA: 'With text games, you can sit there at the prompt, go make a sandwich, then come back and play more.'

    And that's the kind of excitement I'm looking for.

    --
    Finance tutorials and more! Understandfinance
  21. Not only text games by Sierpinski · · Score: 2, Funny

    'With text games, you can sit there at the prompt, go make a sandwich, then come back and play more.'"

    I do this in WoW all the time. Hit 'Stealth'. Go make a sandwich, etc. Come back, and I'm still stealthed. In the unlikely event (mostly depending on where I am when I go afk) that I die, I can just resurrect. Sure I'm out a few silver for repairs, but at least I have a sandwich!

  22. It certainly is... by DeafByBeheading · · Score: 2, Funny

    After being burned to a crisp by the dragon in King's Quest, you were told something about how by venturing too close to the dragon's flame, you made an ash out of yourself.

    --
    Telltale Games: Bone, Sam and Max