A Surprising "IF Kick"

[krpalmer]

In the days since spotting the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" adventure game running in an unexpected setting, I seem to be on a fresh "interactive fiction kick." I've played through a new game, found and installed an interpreter program with a pre-loaded library on my iPod touch, and when, after the annual family reunion picnic, I followed up on the invitation of a distant relative and made the short side trip to look at his rather large collection of old computing equipment, I spotted the package for an Infocom game, which he graciously let me take. Before all of that, I played another one of Infocom's games once again. "A Mind Forever Voyaging" may be one of my particular favourites from the Infocom catalogue, not only through setting but through it being "experimental" to the point of being somewhat light on puzzles. I came out of the experience with new insights and thoughts on the comments of others... although when I began contemplating setting them down in a post, I wound up wondering about "giving everything away." With a regular work of fiction, you're waiting to see what happens, and perhaps being pleased you anticipated the developments or interested in the unexpected... but it seems that when it comes to interactive fiction, unlocking each development through your own efforts is a barrier against "giving it away" to others. On the other hand, I can also wonder about how my dabblings in various adventure games usually seem to end in either finding the walkthroughs and hint files or just being convinced I can't think the way the game authors do. (Or maybe my wrists are just getting tired from all of the typing in the games...)

(I also happened to remember that when it comes to posting about Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes, I describe quite a way into most of the movies... but then, the appeal of the series doesn't quite seem to be being surprised by the conclusions.)