  
 
The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction. Below is a transcript of Book and Volume, written by Nick Montfort. Book and Volume was independently released in 2005, and was selected for inclusion in the Iowa Web Review, the Medi@terra International Art+Technology Festival: Gaming Realities 2006, and the Slamdance Guerilla Gamemaker Competition 2007 (though it was withdrawn from this last competition by Montfort in protest of Slamdance's exclusion of another finalist). You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting the ifWiki.WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page. |
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| DavidW says, "There is a feelie map that people will want to look at. I don't think the map counts as a spoiler." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to DavidW), "The IFDB link to it is a 404." | EmacsUser asks, "Do you have a link?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hm, the link on IFDB is dead." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Huh" | Johnny says, "There's a spoilery map and a non-spoilery." | |||
| Binder | [LINK] | ||||
| EmacsUser exclaims (at Binder), "Thanks!" | DavidW says, "I have a copy; I'd have to upload it somewhere." | |||
| Binder says, "I was just puttering around and found it at [LINK]" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "[LINK]" | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to EU), "Yeah, save your final game as something else just to be safe, I think, though you can use the save counter up until then." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Oh, uh." | DavidW says, "oh. I couldn't find it on nick's site." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Sorry for conversing in two spots. Talking on channel is kindof reflex now." | ||||
| Binder says, "the Online Resources at [LINK] links to that and the spoilery one" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "I will update IFDB." | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to EU), "Heh - that's a good reflex. No worries." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Wow what a map" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Looking at the map, one suspects it is a pretty long game. (Although I don't know how deep the implementation is.)" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Well, this is nm we're talking about here." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "It has a Gelatinous Cube on it. Better not enter." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Probably on par with, say, A Mind Forever Voyaging." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I have never played that." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "haha - I love how many Starbucks there are on the map" | ||||
| Gunther arrives, full of fun, but no funk. | VictorGijsbers says, "It looks like Manhattan, yes." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I was expecting a McDonalds on every street corner, but it turned out to be a Starbucks." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "or Austin" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "The IFDB is up-to-date now." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Well done." | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Shall we start?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I suggest we head to the airport immediately, and take a flight out of nTopia. I'm sure something awful is going to happen in that town." | ||||
| Fang arrives, full of fun and funk. | jenrexrode says, "heh" | |||
| Fang asks, "so, how long is this game?" | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "It is indeed past time." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Sorry, was so engrossed in the map lost track of time." | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load bookvol" | ||||
Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message] | Binder says, "it's a fascinating map" | |||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | an [auto mata] release Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | >I Introduction to interactive fiction Floyd | >A Author's note and acknowledgments Floyd | >L License information Floyd | Floyd | >R Restore a previous session Floyd | >B Begin a new session | jenrexrode says, "hinting at a two-parter..." | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Fang), "^" | ||||
| Jacqueline asks, "Should we I or A, or just B?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "A, I guess." | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Book and Volume Floyd | by Nick Montfort Floyd | Floyd | Release 8, 2005-12-25 Floyd | Written in Inform 6.30 with library 6/11 Floyd | Floyd | I greatly appreciate the help I've received from the interactive Floyd | fiction community (particularly those who have discussed IF with me on Floyd | ifMUD), the broader electronic literature community, and my literary Floyd | collaborators. Thanks to all the authors, players, poets, reviewers, Floyd | and others who have led me to think about writing, computing, and Floyd | interactive fiction in new ways. Floyd | Floyd | Book and Volume was written in Inform, a language for IF development Floyd | created by Graham Nelson. It runs on the Z-Machine, a software Floyd | computer developed by Joel Berez and Marc Blank. Floyd | Floyd | I particularly want to thank the following people, who played Floyd | pre-release versions of Book and Volume and who offered their thoughts Floyd | and transcripts: Floyd | Floyd | Ian Bogost Floyd | Jeremy Douglass Floyd | Josh Kellar Floyd | Ryan McDonald Floyd | Scott Rettberg Floyd | Dan Shiovitz Floyd | Emily Short Floyd | Dirk Stratton Floyd | Jill Walker Floyd | Hanna Wallach Floyd | Noah Wardrip-Fruin Floyd | Floyd | Thanks to Andrew Suffield, Brian Rapp, Jose Manuel Garcia, Brian Kerr, Floyd | Jeremy Rogers, and Andrew Plotkin for post-release bug reports. Floyd | Floyd | Also, I'm very grateful that I was given the opportunity to read from Floyd | pre-release versions of Book and Volume at The Richard Stockton Floyd | College, at The Kelly Writers House at the University of Pennsylvania, Floyd | and at the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities at the Floyd | University of Maryland. Floyd | Floyd | Finally, thanks go to these Philadelphia coffeehouses, in which much Floyd | of Book and Volume was written: Intermezzo, Crimson Moon, Capriccio, Floyd | and The Last Drop. Floyd | Floyd | --Nick Montfort, 2005 Floyd | Floyd | === | EmacsUser nods. | |||
| Fang asks, "is the map neccesary for play?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Likely." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Based on the IFDB comments." | ||||
| maga arrives, full of funk, but no fun. | ||||
| EmacsUser pushes the green 'space' button. | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | an [auto mata] release Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | >I Introduction to interactive fiction Floyd | >A Author's note and acknowledgments Floyd | >L License information Floyd | Floyd | >R Restore a previous session Floyd | >B Begin a new session | ||||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Your pager tickles you awake. Floyd | Floyd | Upstairs in the house of your childhood, in your room, and it must be Floyd | time for school because -- no, it's the weekend, you remember, but Floyd | your alarm is going off anyway. You should have been awake already. Floyd | You're going to miss the bus. Your mother climbs in the window. You're Floyd | dreaming. Floyd | Floyd | You're a grown-up: It opens to you again, a sluggish window summoned Floyd | by a mouse click. Waking up now in your own apartment, your new Floyd | apartment. Your pager is buzzing and vibrating both, serious. It is in Floyd | fact the weekend, but you're not in elementary school. No one is Floyd | crawling in through the window. You're a system administrator for Floyd | nWare. Waking up urgently, here in nTopia. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Home Floyd | The constellations on the ceiling are as you left them: Pisces, Cetus, Floyd | Aquarius, and the ones without celestial referent, left by some crazed Floyd | astronomer in residence here before you. What could you call them? The Floyd | Cradle, The Way, The Burning Book... Floyd | Floyd | They're still glowing, too. Must not have napped for long. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says (to Fang), "it's better for everyone if I have a map :)" | |||
| Fang says, "wow, that's a pretty big map" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Didn't Curses have a room full of constellations?" | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "x pisces" | ||||
Floyd | If your milky memories of astronomy class serve, the glow-in-the-dark Floyd | stars seem not just slapped on at random but willfully misconfigured. Floyd | They lend the place some sort of character, though an Escher poster Floyd | would be hip in comparison. Floyd | Floyd | The pager buzzes and jars you, its motor driven to disrupt and demand Floyd | attention. This is no Harry Potter broomstick. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "get up" | ||||
Floyd | You get off the couch. Floyd | Floyd | The pager vibrates like it's repeatedly tapping you to get your Floyd | attention, and it buzzes gratingly. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "answer pager" | ||||
Floyd | You can't help but listen to the buzzing. As for listening to Floyd | messages, you usually do that by manipulating the pager's elegant user Floyd | interface. Floyd | Floyd | The buzzing of the pager continues. You are tooth to the dental drill Floyd | of the device. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x pager" | ||||
Floyd | It's too dark too see, like inside of a dog. Floyd | Floyd | MUEAAAAAHA THE PAGER THE PAGER THE PAGER MAKE IT STOP Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x pager" | ||||
Floyd | It's too dark too see, like inside of a dog. Floyd | Floyd | You return to lucidity for what is going to be a very brief moment, Floyd | unless you make the pager stop buzzing and vibrating. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "turn on light" | ||||
Floyd | You switch the light on. Floyd | Floyd | THE PAGER IT HURTS US IT HURTS US AAAAAHEHEHEE Floyd | Floyd | Home Floyd | Although almost unfurnished, since you've been here only a few days Floyd | and haven't had time to settle in, the place is more Fight Club than Floyd | Shade: young, urbane, professional. It's yours, though. It's your Floyd | residential canister. Your lime-green couch is against the longest Floyd | wall. And it looks like we also have your nLap 500 and a heap of Floyd | clothes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x pager" | ||||
Floyd | Cell phones are ubiquitous in nTopia, and your pager is a sort of Floyd | funky, retro sheriff's badge among them. Press the gray button there, Floyd | and any voice messages you have will play; hold the button to erase Floyd | them. The vibration and buzzing mean that an urgent message, or one Floyd | the sender thought was urgent, has arrived and has not yet been Floyd | played. Floyd | Floyd | Your nRich cybercash chip is installed in your pager, along with your Floyd | nPediment identifier tag for keyless entry, the same one that most of Floyd | your co-workers have installed in their phones, wallets, or upper Floyd | arms. Floyd | Floyd | The pager's buzzing and vibration seems to have set up a sort of Floyd | resonance in your body, which reacts like the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 0 of the 0 tasks Floyd | assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | Fang says, "..... huh" | |||
| DavidW says, "well. we suck" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Man, I haven't even caught up reading." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "I don't own a pager. Is there a trick to answering them?" | ||||
| Fang asks, "I guess we were too slow?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "What's the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Victor), "no idea" | ||||
| Fang asks (of Victor), "you haven't seen the video?" | ||||
| Johnny says, "Probably that weebly wobbly bridge." | ||||
| Fang says, "[LINK]" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Oh, right." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "oh, is it the bridge that wobbles like mad?" | ||||
| Binder says, "death by pager, that's naaaasty" | ||||
| Fang says, "the bridge that collapsed because the wind set up a resonance reaction" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "...because of resonance." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I guess we need to press the grey button." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | Home Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "press grey" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "press gray" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "press button" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Net extremely hoseled. Engine team being hideously masticated by this Floyd | outage. Demo rapidly approaching. Get to the cages. Reboot the Floyd | servers. Hasten. Do not rest. Please. All five of them. Email me to Floyd | confirm you're heading out to do this. Please. Engine boys are going Floyd | to run off and leap the railing if the network isn't restored. Floyd | Floyd | The frenetic voice is definitely that of your boss, Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Goal: email Wilbur." | |||
| jnc thought this town would be perfect for him, but when he got there it turned out to have no qualia. | Fang asks, "can wilbur even recieve the emails if the servers are down?" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Haha." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Home Floyd | It's your residential canister. Your lime-green couch is against the Floyd | longest wall. And it looks like we also have your nLap 500 and a heap Floyd | of clothes. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Wilbur uses gmail, not the company system." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "turn on nlap" | ||||
Floyd | It is already on, although it's in sleep mode. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x nlap" | ||||
Floyd | It's the nLap 500, tool of legend. Built-in Blacktooth and 811.02, Floyd | twelve hours of battery life, Optidrive, ten-inch Crispicleer display Floyd | and a tasty butterfly keyboard. Best to not even think about the Floyd | processor and memory, since you'd rather not fall to your knees Floyd | immediately in grateful tears. Floyd | Floyd | Your computer is ergonomically closed. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "wake nlap" | ||||
Floyd | That can only be done to a higher organism. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang asks, "a laptop isn't a higher organism?!?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open computer" | ||||
Floyd | You open the nLap 500, which wakes the moment it begins to unfold. A Floyd | window slams open. Ass. Complete ass. The red stapler appears. Floyd | Floyd | Welcome to nSys! I'm Stan! Oop, I don't know your name yet! Please Floyd | tell me your first name! Floyd | Floyd | : | Fang says, "oooh" | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "What do we want to be called?" | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "What shall our name be?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Floyd" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Nick Montfort" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "I hope it has an alternate personality" | ||||
| Fang says, "I'd suggest Nick Montfort for the metaness" | ||||
| Binder says, "no wonder we need so much computing power, we're running Clippy on it" | ||||
| Fang asks, "but Floyd is good too... surname?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Floyd Montfort" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "Floyd Montfort" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | The desktop flashes light blue for a moment. Floyd | Floyd | Good to meet you, Floyd! I'm here to help you work different! With Floyd | nWare's nSys operating system, you don't have to think! You can just Floyd | USE THE COMPUTER! Don't fret about what to click and what to type, Floyd | just work better, faster, and more limberly! Just USE THE COMPUTER! Floyd | I'll be back if you need help! Floyd | Floyd | "Stan" steadies his metal jaw and winks out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | Your boon companion "Stan" has somehow reset himself like that three Floyd | times already. Fortunately he -- it -- only forgets your name in the Floyd | process. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | You dash off a quick and reassuring email to Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A compulsive glance at the text file that holds your notes reassures Floyd | you about the locations of the five servers: Wendy, at RelOfCoTn, Floyd | Abalone and Second; Nora, in the airport; Ester, in the East Berm; Floyd | Sophie, in City Hall, on the south end of Main; and Cindy, in F7 on Floyd | the main campus. Floyd | Floyd | Not that you have a great sense of direction and remember exactly how Floyd | to get to all of those places, but nTopia is pretty small -- you'll Floyd | find them. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Writing it down..." | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Oh wait, they're already on the map?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Uh, no, they don't seem to be." | ||||
| Fang asks, "where are we?" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "get up" | ||||
Floyd | You switch the light off as you leave. The door swings shut after you. Floyd | Floyd | Hallway Floyd | The palate-cleansing corridor that leads to your apartment. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says (to Fang), "That's what I'm trying to figure out too." | |||
| Fang says, "er.." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | Home Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Home Floyd | It's your residential canister. Your lime-green couch is against the Floyd | longest wall. And it looks like we also have your nLap 500 and a heap Floyd | of clothes. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser exclaims, "Oh!" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying your pager and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "if the map is to be believed we're at Abalone & 5th." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Bottom left corner." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "get clothes" | ||||
Floyd | Since you've changed clothes today, and don't enjoy the Floyd | clothes-changing process itself, there's not much point. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "search clothes" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "get nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You conduct the acquisition. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x couch" | ||||
Floyd | It doesn't go with art, which isn't a problem at the moment. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "search clothes" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "search couch" | ||||
Floyd | There is nothing on the couch. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Home Floyd | It's your residential canister. Your lime-green couch is against the Floyd | longest wall. And it looks like we also have a heap of clothes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "look under couch" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "Where's East Berm on the map?" | |||
| Fang says, "guess there's nothing here" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Hust go?" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying your nLap 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I don't see East Berm." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "But we can do the other one's first." | ||||
| Fang asks (of DavidW), "let's cross that bridge when we come to it. Relofcotn first?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Sure." | ||||
| Binder says, "sure" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | You switch the light off as you leave. The door swings shut after you. Floyd | Floyd | Hallway Floyd | The palate-cleansing corridor that leads to your apartment. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "lock door" | ||||
Floyd | ... What do you want to lock the door with? Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "lock door with key" | ||||
Floyd | The door conveniently locks when it is closed. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | The old-style lock opens to you with already-practiced ease, and you Floyd | walk in. You switch the light on. Floyd | Floyd | Home Floyd | It's your residential canister. Your lime-green couch is against the Floyd | longest wall. And it looks like we also have a heap of clothes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | You switch the light off as you leave. The door swings shut after you. Floyd | Floyd | Hallway Floyd | The palate-cleansing corridor that leads to your apartment. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I think you have to CLOSE DOOR" | |||
| Fang says, "I think it just autocloses and locks" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "It's already closed." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | There's more than one exit. Specify a direction to take one of them. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Not clear" | |||
| Fang says (to DW), ""The door swings shut after you."" | ||||
| DavidW says, "That came later." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "exits" | ||||
Floyd | From here, it looks like it's possible to go down, north and in. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Your Apartment Building's Lobby Floyd | Clean, if not homey. The doorman waits in a Plexiglas cube that looks Floyd | curiously bulletproof. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x doorman" | ||||
Floyd | You've seen him here before. An intensely distracted and Floyd | friendly-looking guy of middle age, probably of New Mexican or Mexican Floyd | ancestry. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x doorman" | ||||
Floyd | He's staring at the far wall intently, as if deciphering SETI data. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "plexos, the curiously bulletproof mint" | |||
| Gunther has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "talk to doorman" | ||||
Floyd | Since you know less about small talk than about Smalltalk -- and that Floyd | isn't saying much -- it would be best to specify what you want to Floyd | discuss. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "ask doorman about me" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Your attempt to talk to the doorman either doesn't make it through the Floyd | Plexiglas or doesn't make it into his head. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Onward, into the intentional city. nWare crafted it well -- built from Floyd | the ground up with security and scalability in mind, it's fully Floyd | pedestrianized but hums, almost full-size, like a city center. Floyd | Floyd | The night sky is completely cloudless. The dry warmth of the air hints Floyd | at the desert that surrounds nTopia. Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fifth Floyd | Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a Floyd | windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia Floyd | sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | I see you're outside! Hey, the nice thing about this city is that it Floyd | uses the grid system, so you can just go NORTH, EAST, SOUTH, or WEST, Floyd | and you'll pretty much always end up somewhere else! Floyd | Floyd | The window winks away. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "We're heading north, yes?" | |||
| EmacsUser nods. | ||||
| Binder also nods. | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yep." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fourth Floyd | Parts of the city like this one give you a special tingle and suggest Floyd | that Santa Claus and Jesus will be able to coexist in peace. The Floyd | styling retail space on the northeast corner, nTune, is almost bare. Floyd | To the southeast is the nTopia All-Faiths Chapel Complex. Unmistakable Floyd | typography announces The Gap to the southwest, while the remaining Floyd | corner features the smaller but less restrained posters of Comics Floyd | Command. Floyd | Floyd | One guy on Rollerblades and one in a racing wheelchair whisper past, Floyd | both with hockey sticks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Third Floyd | A multi-level grocery store dominates the northeast corner, occupying Floyd | the whole side of the block from here to Second. A windowless Floyd | building, this one with a logo like a fork of lightning, is southeast. Floyd | A shrouded establishment called "Gelatinous Cube" is southwest. On the Floyd | final corner is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | A familiar whiff rustles a flood of memories free. Floyd | Floyd | Well, not a flood, maybe. But there was that pepperoni and mushroom Floyd | thin-crust you consumed right after moving in, after solving the Floyd | difficult solid geometry puzzle posed by your doorway and your one Floyd | piece of legacy, non-flat-pack furniture. The movers went away shaking Floyd | their heads that afternoon. You did the Snoopy dance of triumph. Floyd | Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A bicyclist hurtles by, speaking Spanish on a hands-free phone. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | You head into the building and over to the server room. Floyd | Floyd | RelOfCoTn Server Room Floyd | There are racks and racks, with the usual drop ceiling and raised Floyd | floor one finds in the upscale server room. And it looks like we also Floyd | have Wendy. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers struggles to keep up. | DavidW says, "This is rather wordy, yeah." | |||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "x wendy" | ||||
Floyd | It's a box that powers Engine's network, an nSure 3000. Bristling like Floyd | a brain in a vat, this 10U monster can perform the functions of a few Floyd | racks full of specialized Crisco hardware with herculean ease. Except Floyd | it can't do that after it has crashed. A red button, deeply recessed Floyd | to avoid accidental activation, is the only visible control. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang asks, "wendy is a machine?" | |||
| Binder says, "that's a lot of U." | ||||
| Binder says (to Fang), "Evidently." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "It's one of our servers." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Yes. It's one of the servers we need to reboot." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "examine the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | Just as the trash can is the one essential piece of office furniture, Floyd | the reset switch is the one essential feature of an nWare server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "press button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "press the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | The button clicks in. As you release it, the box falls silent and dark Floyd | for a moment, then begins to power back up. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "woo" | |||
| Binder asks, "hey, shouldn't we get a food pellet now?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Heh. nWare -- our computers do your thinking for you." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Nope, just a satisfied feeling." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x wendy" | ||||
Floyd | This is an nSure 3000, one of five that powers Engine's network. It's Floyd | got a red button on it. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Head to airport next." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & First Floyd | The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire Floyd | station, sporting the double oddity of two garage doors, is across Floyd | from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is the tall, Floyd | cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What dominates the Floyd | intersection, though, is that even more striking and unusual pushpin Floyd | of the swooping MuseRoom, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "Sure." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Front Floyd | You haven't been missing anything in this corner of town. The earth of Floyd | the West Berm is heaped right up against the tall airport wall to the Floyd | north, making this just a big dead-end alley. Floyd | Floyd | Two indistinguishable warehouses flank Abalone Street to the south. Floyd | Floyd | Carrie Fisher appears more or less in front of you, in flowing robes, Floyd | and begins to crouch down. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x carrie" | ||||
Floyd | To all appearances, it's actually Carrie Fisher. Floyd | Floyd | Carrie Fisher seems to go out of tune for a moment. Quite suddenly, Floyd | she's wearing a slave-girl costume and looking rather surprised. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang asks, "...wha?" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "Hologram?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Must be an ad for the next Star Wars film." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "kiss carrie" | ||||
Floyd | This occurrence is absolutely stunning. Floyd | Floyd | Carrie Fisher flickers and disappears. Floyd | Floyd | A woman wearing some small display on her glasses pushes herself past Floyd | on a Razor scooter, dictating Python into a headset. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "aha, a clue. this is the West Berm area" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | The immense metal wall of the airport is interposed as if there were Floyd | Palestinians on the other side. Or perhaps you're the Palestinian. You Floyd | won't get over it. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "heh" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | Hey! Just letting you know! If you're not tickling the user interface Floyd | or doing something like compiling a program, you can, you know, close Floyd | the computer and save the battery a bit. Floyd | Floyd | The window winks away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x nlap" | ||||
Floyd | Your computer is ergonomically open and awake. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "close computer" | ||||
Floyd | You close the nLap 500. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Server Room Floyd | Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make Floyd | this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it Floyd | looks like we also have Nora. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x nora" | ||||
Floyd | This nSure 3000 looks a lot like Wendy. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "push the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | The button clicks in. As you release it, the box falls silent and dark Floyd | for a moment, then begins to power back up. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Save?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf1" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Lionheart arrives, full of fun, but no funk. | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Airport Server Room Floyd | Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make Floyd | this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it Floyd | looks like we also have Nora. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "City Hall next?" | |||
| Fang says, "no, let's try to find east berm" | ||||
| DavidW says, "No, see if we can locate East Berm next." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Ok." | ||||
| Fang says, "should be around here" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | An enormous but rather well-behaved gorilla strides to the middle of Floyd | the area, brandishing what looks like a giant can of Jolt Cola. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "After that, Cindy on Campus" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Front Floyd | Even Main Street has nothing but a pair of warehouses on this end, Floyd | where it meets Front Street. The airport wall is north. Floyd | Floyd | A bicyclist hurtles by, speaking Spanish on a hands-free phone. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & Front Floyd | Front Street continues its run alongside the airport. There is a Floyd | warehouse on the southwest corner. Excitement is in store on the Floyd | southeast corner, where a walled-off construction site is plastered Floyd | with "Coming Soon: Mall of nTopia!" signs. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin & Front Floyd | Ghetto, hood, barrio -- they all seem a lot catchier than "housing for Floyd | construction and infrastructure employees." If your skill at rebooting Floyd | computers had been classified differently, you might have ended up Floyd | living in this part of town. With the empty strip of sand there. And Floyd | so much farther away from the arcade. Floyd | Floyd | In a seedier version of this city, a version of you that was skilled Floyd | in martial arts might come here for some practice before tournaments. Floyd | The city goes no further north or east. There's just Front Lodge to Floyd | the southwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | There's nowhere to go. Past a small patch of desert that is no doubt Floyd | reserved for future construction, the city ends at the East Berm. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "hm" | |||
| Fang says, "hmm" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Walk south until we find something? Or enter every building?" | ||||
| Fang asks, "I assume berm is some kind of earthwork?" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin & First Floyd | First Lodge is on the northwest corner. The nWare Media Campus is Floyd | southwest of here, but there's no way onto campus from this Floyd | intersection. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I don't know what a berm is." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Fang), "That's the only definition I know." | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "a lump of earth?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "In Dutch it's the earth next to the road. Could be something similar in English." | ||||
| inky | a narrow shelf, path, or ledge typically at the top or bottom of a slope; also : a mound or wall of earth or sand | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Like a snowbank, but of dirt?" | ||||
| Binder says, "I think here it's def2" | ||||
| inky says, "(says it's from the german / middle dutch)" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | The door, not recognizing you as a resident or previously cleared Floyd | guest, politely turns you away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus North Floyd | The path to the west looks as nice as all the other campus walkways, Floyd | but this is clearly an alley at the edge of town. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Heh." | |||
| Fang says, "I'm going to keep going south" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus South Floyd | The eastern edge of the city looks like a long, empty parking lot. The Floyd | path onto campus to the west is typically impressive, though. There's Floyd | a subtle brown door to the east here, set right in the dirt of the Floyd | East Berm. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "et viola" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | East Berm Server Room Floyd | Much like other server rooms in this world of ours: racks, raised Floyd | floor, drop ceiling. It seems to have been made a bit more spacious Floyd | than it needs to be. Perhaps that was done to keep you from thinking Floyd | about the fact that the room is buried in a large heap of earth for no Floyd | apparent reason. And it looks like we also have Ester. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x ester" | ||||
Floyd | This nSure 3000 looks a lot like Wendy. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "push the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | The button clicks in. As you release it, the box falls silent and dark Floyd | for a moment, then begins to power back up. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode exclaims, "yay!" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "We're so good." | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 3 of the 5 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I have the feeling pushing these five buttons is not going to be the end of the story. Or not the happy end." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus South Floyd | The eastern edge of the city looks like a long, empty parking lot. The Floyd | path onto campus to the west is typically impressive, though. There's Floyd | a subtle brown door to the east here, set right in the dirt of the Floyd | East Berm. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Cindy is on campus somewhere." | |||
| DavidW says, ""F7"" | ||||
| Fang says, "I think we fight as well go in the order we are given" | ||||
| Fang says, "*might" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's head west." | ||||
| Fang says, "so city hall next" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "ok" | ||||
| DavidW says, "oh, all right" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Fine." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin & Fourth Floyd | This particularly desolate spot on the eastern edge of town has an Floyd | empty lot to the southwest and the boundary of the nWare Media Campus, Floyd | offering no entrance, to the northwest. The lot has a chain link fence Floyd | around it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin & Fifth Floyd | A convenience store, ShopLite, is on the southwest corner, here at the Floyd | eastern end of nTopia. There's an empty lot, ringed with a chain-link Floyd | fence, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A bearded figure wearing glasses and a Hawaiian shirt is very suddenly Floyd | standing aways to your left, as if he just appeared there. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x figure" | ||||
Floyd | To all appearances, it's actually a bearded guy. Floyd | Floyd | At the second glance, there's no mistaking it. You recognize him from Floyd | that Con however many years ago. It's Gary Gygax. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang exclaims, "!" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "hit gygax" | ||||
Floyd | This occurrence is absolutely stunning. Floyd | Floyd | Gary Gygax twists one hand over the other and, somehow, vanishes. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Sorry, I scared him away." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "hehe" | ||||
| Fang says, "sure seems to be a lot of celebrities around here" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "There's definitely a lot of geek culture going on here." | ||||
| Fang says (to Victor), "ITYM hit on gygax" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & Fifth Floyd | The eastern corners are occupied by the two nicest residential options Floyd | in town, The Maple Copse and Yew Village. City Hall has a face turned Floyd | this way to the southwest. On the northwest corner are the colors and Floyd | leafy tufts of the city gardens. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Hologram ads, I think. Advertising what, I dunno." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and nWare's monarchically wealthy Floyd | founder, shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Server Room Floyd | There are just the usual racks here. The rest of the room is bare, Floyd | with the usual drop ceilings and the usual raised floor providing a Floyd | contrast to the unusual wooden walls outside. And it looks like we Floyd | also have Sophie. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "press button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "press the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | The button clicks in. As you release it, the box falls silent and dark Floyd | for a moment, then begins to power back up. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Franklin and Von Neumann -- ha." | |||
| Fang says, "and finally, the campus" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x diorama" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The diorama. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | You notice that it has a brass button on it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push button" | ||||
Floyd | ... Are you referring to the diorama's brass button or the pager's Floyd | button? Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push diorama" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | inky says, "look at bb 4 here" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "push brass" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "push brass button" | ||||
Floyd | Ben Franklin twitches a bit for a moment, but then grinds to a halt. A Floyd | hollow voice says "nSys for Diorama error number n plus one. Floyd | Attempting reboot." And then nothing else seems to happen. Floyd | Floyd | Except that a small brass stick slowly juts out from near where the Floyd | button is, in a sort of juvenile way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x stick" | ||||
Floyd | It's an nStick, a proprietary memory storage device. You haven't seen Floyd | this particular sort before, and it's not going to fit into any of the Floyd | usual computer suspects -- your nLap or the servers you manage. Floyd | Floyd | > | inky says, "though I see it's as patchy as ever" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take stick" | ||||
Floyd | As you remove the stick from the diorama, the slot or plug or whatever Floyd | this thing was in unhelpfully seals itself closed. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "er, are we abondoning our task?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "No, just stealing a stick." | ||||
| inky says, "er, whoops" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | A blue-white cloud rapidly coalesces in the middle of the Floyd | intersection. As it dissipates, an elegant yet thuggish man steps from Floyd | it, casually wielding a huge sword. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Though you can undo it you wish. :)" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x man" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "examine the elegant thug." ) Floyd | Floyd | To all appearances, it's actually an elegant thug. Floyd | Floyd | As the thug looks around without seeming to see you or anything else, Floyd | something assures you, as blatantly as a Queen soundtrack would, that Floyd | this is Christopher Lambert. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x lambert" | ||||
Floyd | To all appearances, it's actually Christopher Lambert. Floyd | Floyd | A tremendous lightning strike suddenly intersects Christopher Lambert Floyd | and either toasts him, or, if you're inclined to a more generous Floyd | interpretation of the event, teleports him away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "time" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. A Starbucks is on the southeast corner. There is a Floyd | coffeehouse called "Independent Grounds" to the southwest. Another Floyd | Starbucks is on the northwest corner. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | Your stomach speaks to you in twangs of pain. Although you don't know Floyd | Morse code, the jist of the message is that it would be a good idea to Floyd | get something to eat soon. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "there can be only one" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F7 Server Room Floyd | The raised floor is charcoal in color -- it's the sort seen in all Floyd | nWare buildings that house really official business. The racks all Floyd | around are also especially businesslike. And it looks like we also Floyd | have Cindy. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Lipa goes home. | Fang exclaims, "hunger puzzles!" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "push the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | The button clicks in. As you release it, the box falls silent and dark Floyd | for a moment, then begins to power back up. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | "Hey! You gotta hear this!" Floyd | Floyd | You whirl around for a moment, then keep whirling around, and finally, Floyd | when you hear a "What?" in reply, realize that this snippet of speech Floyd | is being carried to you through some ventilation system or other Floyd | unseen passageway. Floyd | Floyd | "You know how I was saying that this nonsense we're working on has got Floyd | to be a cover for something? Check this out --" Floyd | Floyd | There is a rustle of pages. Floyd | Floyd | "They have one of these for congressmen, see, in case of nuclear war. Floyd | I bet this whole site was just put together as a bunker like this, so Floyd | the execs can get away in case the terrorists start opening up on the Floyd | real cities." Floyd | Floyd | "Really?" Floyd | Floyd | "Well, yeah." Floyd | Floyd | The voices drift away, leaving you disappointed at your own lack of Floyd | inane workplace prattle. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf2" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 5 of the 5 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "So, we need to get something to eat." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Supreme Food is nearby." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "(Main & 3rd)" | ||||
| Fang asks, "anyone wanna drive?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "okay. I didn't see a wallet or money, but perhaps it doesn't matter in nTopia." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "it's in the pager" | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "x pager" | ||||
Floyd | Cell phones are ubiquitous in nTopia, and your pager is a sort of Floyd | funky, retro sheriff's badge among them. Press the gray button there, Floyd | and any voice messages you have will play; hold the button to erase Floyd | them. Floyd | Floyd | Your nRich cybercash chip is installed in your pager, along with your Floyd | nPediment identifier tag for keyless entry, the same one that most of Floyd | your co-workers have installed in their phones, wallets, or upper Floyd | arms. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "a money chip" | |||
| DavidW says, "okay. I missed that." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | Here we go again. Your pager goes off in its usual buzzing, vibrating Floyd | fit. Floyd | Floyd | The pager buzzes and jars you, its motor driven to disrupt and demand Floyd | attention. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "push the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | The button clicks in. As you release it, the box falls silent and dark Floyd | for a moment, then begins to power back up. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Now it's really rebooted. Floyd | Floyd | The pager vibrates like it's repeatedly tapping you to get your Floyd | attention, and it buzzes gratingly. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push pager" | ||||
Floyd | Nothing obvious happens. Floyd | Floyd | The buzzing of the pager continues. You are tooth to the dental drill Floyd | of the device. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison arrives, ready to play with the toys. | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "push pager's button" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Net extremely hoseled. Engine team being hideously masticated by this Floyd | outage. Demo rapidly approaching. Get to the cages. Reboot the Floyd | servers. Hasten. Do not rest. Please. All five of them. Email me to Floyd | confirm you're heading out to do this. Please. Engine boys are going Floyd | to run off and leap the railing if the network isn't restored. Floyd | Floyd | The frenetic voice is definitely that of your boss, Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | You were notified by email recently about a very critical internal Floyd | intensive update and are listed as being responsible for the Floyd | administration of several nSure servers. Our records show you have not Floyd | yet initiated a download of the update as is mandated by our "Patch Floyd | now!" policy. Please check your email, if necessary, and attend to the Floyd | update. Floyd | Floyd | It sounds like the older brother of that stupid stapler. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push gray button" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Net extremely hoseled. Engine team being hideously masticated by this Floyd | outage. Demo rapidly approaching. Get to the cages. Reboot the Floyd | servers. Hasten. Do not rest. Please. All five of them. Email me to Floyd | confirm you're heading out to do this. Please. Engine boys are going Floyd | to run off and leap the railing if the network isn't restored. Floyd | Floyd | The frenetic voice is definitely that of your boss, Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | You were notified by email recently about a very critical internal Floyd | intensive update and are listed as being responsible for the Floyd | administration of several nSure servers. Our records show you have not Floyd | yet initiated a download of the update as is mandated by our "Patch Floyd | now!" policy. Please check your email, if necessary, and attend to the Floyd | update. Floyd | Floyd | It sounds like the older brother of that stupid stapler. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "You have to push gray button" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "open laptop" | ||||
Floyd | You open the nLap 500, which wakes the moment it begins to unfold. You Floyd | hear a cheery robot voice almost immediately. Floyd | Floyd | It looks like you're trying to open -- oop! You got it. Floyd | Floyd | As you swing the screen into place, you catch a glimpse of a window Floyd | blinking away. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "?" | |||
| Binder says, "I don't trust this laptop." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Now 'use computer', I guess." | ||||
| Fang asks, "did we just get phished?" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "use Cindy." ) Floyd | Floyd | Cindy hasn't been dumbed down enough to be used in only one way. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Mind-reading computer I think?" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A metallic sound, a twinkling like a dozen will-o-the-wisps, and then Floyd | Leonard Nimoy is standing about three feet above the ground, wearing Floyd | jeans and a black turtleneck. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | Hey, this looks like the nWare media campus! This place is where other Floyd | helpful entities like me are being developed, along with a lot of Floyd | other really cool stuff! Floyd | Floyd | The window winks away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Complete ass. An automated email tells you that a new very critical Floyd | internal intensive update has been issued, which means you'll have to Floyd | download it, compile it here on the nLap -- the only place you've got Floyd | the build environment set up -- and then apply it to all five servers. Floyd | Fortunately you can do that remotely. Unfortunately this thing will Floyd | probably take ten minutes to download and four hours to compile. Floyd | Floyd | Okay, that's an exaggeration. It will probably take eight minutes to Floyd | download and maybe two and a half hours to compile. Floyd | Floyd | You start the download. Floyd | Floyd | Leonard Nimoy looks around calmly and raises an eyebrow. His whole Floyd | body raises and lowers itself, too, finally coming to rest on the Floyd | ground. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "well, time to get lunch, I guess" | |||
| Fang says, "good thing there's wifi" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "Close the computer first, to save the battery?" | |||
| Fang says (to DW), "it's downloading" | ||||
| Fang says, "and compiling" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "No, we need it to download an compile." | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Does it need to be open to do that?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yes." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "oh. It doesn't work when open?" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "er when closed?" | ||||
| Fang says, "it sleeps when closed" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "It said explicitly that we could close it unless we were using it or compiling something." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Oh. I missed that too." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Oh yeah." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "oh good catch" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Hard to read everything at CF pace." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | The Supreme Food Court is not open right now. Looks like it opens at Floyd | ten. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser nods. | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x time" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "We can slow down a bit." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "i don't want to drive but if I did, you'" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "d have time to read. :)" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Well, I'm not a tech head, my background notwithstanding." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "cuz I'm not reading that fast either" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Starbuck south of here should be open." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I've always been a decade behind the times." | ||||
| Fang says, "starbucks doesn't serve food" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "I wonder what they sell at Arcadia Ego? Gravestones?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Bagels." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Maybe Starbucks *here* serves food?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "biscotti" | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Also, House of Roy looks to be always open?" | ||||
| Fang says (to DavidW), "I assume the symbols on the map" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "(Oct. and 1st)" | ||||
| Fang says, "shows it just has drinks" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I can't read the symbols. They're too small." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Oh, right." | ||||
| Fang says, "maybe House of Roy" | ||||
| Fang says, "it doesn't have an opening hour listed" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Coyote and Crown might be closer." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's go there." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Eel and 2nd." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "oh, symbols and times on map" | ||||
| Fang says, "sure, that seems good too" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Third Floyd | A multi-level grocery store dominates the northeast corner, occupying Floyd | the whole side of the block from here to Second. A windowless Floyd | building, this one with a logo like a fork of lightning, is southeast. Floyd | A shrouded establishment called "Gelatinous Cube" is southwest. On the Floyd | final corner is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "er" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Proud Pie Floyd | Magenta color. A bouquet of dough and cheese with smoky nuance and a Floyd | touch of pepper. Hints of oak, leather, and plastic. The finish is Floyd | long and satisfying. Floyd | Floyd | Since you were here last, they seem to have installed a man-sized Floyd | stuffed mouse in one corner. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "mmm, automat sounds like fun" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x mouse" | ||||
Floyd | After you pull your attention away from the hideous rictus the mouse Floyd | wears, you notice that there's a panel on the creature's back that is Floyd | open and streaming with wires. It must be some sort of robot Floyd | entertainer. Floyd | Floyd | "Man, we ordered DDR and they sent that thing," some guy calls from Floyd | behind the counter. "Can you believe it?" Floyd | Floyd | That must have been a rhetorical question, as the guy proceeds to slip Floyd | away out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x counter" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "DDR?" | |||
| Alex says (to VictorGijsbers), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that ddr is Dance Dance Revolution." | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Proud Pie Floyd | So, it's a pizza place. With a huge fake mouse in one corner. And it Floyd | smells pretty nice. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "As in, East Germany?" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Great, great. Downloaded. You fiddle with the makefile a bit and then Floyd | kick off the build. Floyd | Floyd | Your nTerm fills with the kind of stuff that viewers of The Matrix Floyd | thought was sexy, for some reason. Hopefully this will go without a Floyd | hitch and be done in ... whenever. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Oh, uh, thanks Alex." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "buy food" | ||||
Floyd | Food does seem like a good idea. You order some and prepare to focus Floyd | completely on the meal, like Martha Stewart on her salad... Floyd | Floyd | A guy you met during new employee reorientation -- Knut, you think his Floyd | name is -- furtively joins you as you're dining. He looks even more Floyd | feverish and high-strung than he did a few days ago. Floyd | Floyd | "Hi. Hi again. Gotta tell. Tell you something." Floyd | Floyd | "Reality. Illusion. Theme is reality versus illusion. Must discern Floyd | reality. And illusion." Floyd | Floyd | "Behind a small plate I have placed it. In F2, the downstairs lab. Floyd | Hopefully you can get into F2. I have placed the device. The device Floyd | you will need. The magic helmet." Floyd | Floyd | Knut tilts forward as if he was going to relate to you some ultimate Floyd | secret, then, surprisingly, bolts away and out the door. He's long Floyd | gone before you even manage to conceive of pursuing him, so you turn Floyd | back to your meal. Floyd | Floyd | You conclude your culinary experience. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder blinks | |||
| Fang says, "...okay..." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf3" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Must discern reality." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x nlap" | ||||
Floyd | Your computer is ergonomically open and awake. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Perhaps we live in dis-nTopia?" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "use nlap" | ||||
Floyd | Your nTerm is still flickering along, so the update must be compiling Floyd | properly. You read a bit more of that fascinating thread about the Floyd | ethics of patenting an overclocking technique. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "guess we need to go to the campus, F2" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Ah, Slashdot." | ||||
| DavidW says, "F2 sounds like campus, yeah." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Yep. And we probably can't get in." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Second Floyd | Main runs along the west edge of the nWare Media Campus. To the Floyd | northwest is a Starbucks. The glass cube of the nWare Store sits on a Floyd | park-like plot to the southwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "I concur, let us accept the task for the crazy man." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | You didn't get a great look around here during your on-site interview, Floyd | since the wiry guy walking with you was enthusiastically posing an Floyd | elaborate problem in queueing theory. Luckily you were able to Floyd | convince him that your mind can flex in the nWare way. Floyd | Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "hmm" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus North Floyd | The path to the west looks as nice as all the other campus walkways, Floyd | but this is clearly an alley at the edge of town. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus South Floyd | The eastern edge of the city looks like a long, empty parking lot. The Floyd | path onto campus to the west is typically impressive, though. There's Floyd | a subtle brown door to the east here, set right in the dirt of the Floyd | East Berm. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "er.." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "It's a donwstairs lab." | ||||
| Binder asks, "will it accept something like 'go to f2'?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "go to f2" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "guess not" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Octopus... Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & Fourth Floyd | The nWare Media Campus is north; Octopus turns into the campus's main Floyd | path on the north side of Fourth Street. To the southwest are the Floyd | city's gardens, complementing the green of the campus with other Floyd | herbifarous colors. A store called "Beverage Rack" is to the Floyd | southeast. Floyd | Floyd | A man and woman ride by on a tandem bicycle, with a toddler riding in Floyd | a sidecar. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Octopus... Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Was there a way down in F7?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & First Floyd | A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest Floyd | corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on Floyd | the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a Floyd | little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Floyd | Campus. Floyd | Floyd | Sleep attempts to settle down upon you like a blanket that you keep Floyd | kicking off. If the time leading up to the demo wasn't so hectic, Floyd | you'd be hitting the sack about now. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "F2 is a building number though, I thought..." | |||
| Fang asks, "are there only two campus locations?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Oh, sorry, I was trying to enter a building." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "exits" | ||||
Floyd | From here, it looks like it's possible to go north, east, south, west Floyd | and northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | You're not cleared to enter the building over there. Although you work Floyd | for nWare, the subdivisions of the Media division are pretty much Floyd | walled off from each other. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x buildings" | ||||
Floyd | Upon closer inspection, the city's buildings still seem to be Floyd | buildings. To look at a particular one, specify one. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x f2" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x f2" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F7 Server Room Floyd | The raised floor is charcoal in color -- it's the sort seen in all Floyd | nWare buildings that house really official business. The racks all Floyd | around are also especially businesslike. And it looks like we also Floyd | have Cindy. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | There's no way to go down into the raised floor. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "hmm" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open floor" | ||||
Floyd | The raised floor is made to open up, but you would have to have the Floyd | appropriate tool for the job. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Hmmm." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying an nStick, your nLap 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Can we google F2 on the computer?" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "use nlap" | ||||
Floyd | Your nTerm is still flickering along, so the update must be compiling Floyd | properly. You download and watch another hilarious reality-based video Floyd | snippet of mobile robots guarding a warehouse. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x nstick" | ||||
Floyd | It's an nStick, a proprietary memory storage device. You haven't seen Floyd | this particular sort before, and it's not going to fit into any of the Floyd | usual computer suspects -- your nLap or the servers you manage. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "We could try visiting the nWare offices." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Or the nWare store." | ||||
| Fang asks, "where are those?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Maybe we have a desk or storage locker or whatever." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Store is just west of campus." | ||||
| Fang asks, "wanna drive?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Incinerator also sounds like a fun place to be. :D" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Sure." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I assume our office is in the store." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Assuming we have an office." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | The nWare Store is not open right now. Looks like it opens at ten. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Can we see what time it is?" | |||
| DavidW says, "Maybe it's in the status line." | ||||
| Fang says, "maybe this is something that n... right" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I tried 'time' and it's didn't recognize it as a verb." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hm. Let's go the mailboxes in the meantime." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "about" | ||||
Floyd | ( Book and Volume is a work of interactive fiction written, designed, Floyd | and programmed by Nick Montfort. It was published in 2005 -- first Floyd | release was on November 17 -- and was written in Inform, a language Floyd | for IF development created by Graham Nelson. It runs on the Z-Machine, Floyd | a software computer developed by Joel Berez and Marc Blank. Bug Floyd | reports and other correspondence about Book and Volume can be sent to Floyd | Nick at <nickm@nickm.com>. For license information, type LICENSE. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x time" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "status" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "commands" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "help" | ||||
Floyd | ( Ways to leave the current location are shown in the upper left, when Floyd | there are such ways, and can also be revealed by typing EXITS. SCORE Floyd | shows the current score and FULL SCORE adds a breakdown of which tasks Floyd | have been done and which remain. Book and Volume is a fairly typical Floyd | piece of interactive fiction as far as the interface and possible Floyd | commands to the player character are concerned. Those unfamiliar with Floyd | interactive fiction should read the introduction that is available Floyd | from the starting menu. It can be accessed from the prompt by typing Floyd | INTRO. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x clock" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "intro" | ||||
Floyd | ( Interactive fiction provides a world, complete with a setting that Floyd | is a simulated space, objects and characters that exist within that Floyd | space, and even unusual physical laws. Floyd | Floyd | This world and the things that happen in it are described to you, the Floyd | player, in text. You control a character, the "player character," by Floyd | typing short commands that express what you want the character to do Floyd | next. Many simple commands that you could give to an actor, standing Floyd | on stage with the appropriate props around, should be understood. Floyd | Floyd | The ">" prompt is what indicates that it's your turn to type Floyd | something, for instance: Floyd | Floyd | >OPEN THE CD CASE Floyd | >PURCHASE A WIDGET Floyd | >ASK THE GOON FOR THE TIME Floyd | Floyd | The first of these is only a sensible command when there is a CD case Floyd | in the player character's possession or in the area; the second can Floyd | only be expected to work if the player character has money and is Floyd | somewhere where widgets are sold; and the last command will only be Floyd | meaningful if there is a goon nearby or otherwise available for Floyd | communication. Floyd | Floyd | Headings, shown in bold, indicate the current location of the player Floyd | character. Floyd | Floyd | The current location is also named in the upper right; the obvious Floyd | ways to leave are indicated in the upper left. The command EXITS will Floyd | result in the obvious ways to leave being named explicitly. Floyd | Floyd | Upon entering a location, the area will be described. To take a closer Floyd | look at something in the location or in the player character's Floyd | possession, you can EXAMINE or LOOK AT it. In Book and Volume, the Floyd | first description may provide more commentary or reminisces than later Floyd | descriptions. Floyd | Floyd | You can command the player character to manipulate things in the Floyd | world, too: to pick up certain things, turn some devices on and off, Floyd | and eat food, for instance. The player character can also be commanded Floyd | to talk to some other characters. Floyd | Floyd | SCORE and FULL SCORE provide some information about how you are Floyd | progressing at some tasks. Floyd | Floyd | First-time players are sometimes frustrated that certain commands will Floyd | not work, but there is some sort of system to interactive fiction. The Floyd | sort of commands that usually don't work include: Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | [No...] >DONATE MY ORGANS TO SCIENCE Floyd | Floyd | Unless the player character has just been presented with a blank organ Floyd | donor card, there would be no obvious way to do this. Even in that Floyd | case, something more specific and concrete, such as CHECK THE TOP BOX, Floyd | might be more effective. Commands should generally have something to Floyd | do with concrete things in the immediate area, although conversations Floyd | with other characters might be about abstract topics. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | [No...] >GO TO TANGIERS Floyd | Floyd | The player character is usually only able to move around locally, Floyd | following such commands as GO NORTH, LEAVE, and GO TO THE RESTAURANT Floyd | (when there is a single restaurant in the immediate area). An Floyd | indicator in the upper left shows what directions the player character Floyd | can move in. You can also type EXITS to see these directions listed. Floyd | Floyd | More generally, complex actions that involve numerous steps Floyd | (purchasing a plane ticket, booking a hotel room, packing for a trip, Floyd | arranging ground transportation to the airport, waiting in line at Floyd | security, and so on) cannot usually be accomplished with a single Floyd | command. Some actions of moderate complexity might be possible with Floyd | single commands, however, if they are routine ones for the player Floyd | character. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | [No...] >WALK TO THE COFFEE TABLE Floyd | Floyd | If there's a coffee table in the room, you can just directly command Floyd | the player character to do several things: look at it, take things off Floyd | it, put things on it, and so forth. There's usually no need to move Floyd | the player character around in front of specific pieces of furniture; Floyd | just specifying what is to be done is enough. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | [No...] >SLYLY SPRYLY RUN Floyd | Floyd | One problem is that the command does not specify where to run to or Floyd | what direction to run in. Also, the adverbs will not be understood. Floyd | Generally, adverbs are unnecessary. You are asked to choose what basic Floyd | things the player character does, not the very fine details of how Floyd | those actions are accomplished. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | You may want to take some notes as you play interactive fiction. Floyd | Traditionally, players have drawn a map as they progress through a Floyd | particular interactive fiction world; this may or may not be necessary Floyd | for particular people playing particular pieces of interactive Floyd | fiction. Floyd | Floyd | Finally, playing interactive fiction with others, in person or online, Floyd | is probably the best introduction. Even if your fellow players are not Floyd | interactive fiction experts, different people will have different good Floyd | ideas about how to make progress, and working together can be fun. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "oops, sorry" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Looks like we have to live without the status line." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. A Starbucks is on the southeast corner. There is a Floyd | coffeehouse called "Independent Grounds" to the southwest. Another Floyd | Starbucks is on the northwest corner. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | The Mailboxes Ultra is not open right now. Looks like it opens at Floyd | seven thirty. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "So it's not even 7:30." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x pager" | ||||
Floyd | There's nothing really wacky about it. Press the gray button: messages Floyd | play. Hold it: they are erased. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x sky" | ||||
Floyd | You gaze for a while at the sky, tracing a few of the constellations Floyd | you know. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Shall I delete the messages?" | |||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "ask nlap for the time" | ||||
Floyd | That can only be done to a higher organism. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "yeah, not even dawn yet" | |||
| DavidW says, "That was the weirdest help info." | ||||
| Binder says, "there was an example command in intro in that form but evidently requires something more animate to consult." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Instead of explaining what to do, it gave examples of what NOT to do?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to VictorGijsbers), "Go for it." | ||||
| Fang says, "so... um, let's go to the chapel and pray until the sun comes up" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "hold button" | ||||
Floyd | The pager emits a low beep after you hold the button down for about a Floyd | second and a half. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "or maybe I'm thinking vespers" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "The chapel has no entry." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's try a shop." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | A wisp of grilled beast lingers around Public Char, to the northeast. Floyd | A Starbucks is on the southeast corner. A complex of tall apartment Floyd | buildings, The Planar Forest, is southwest. To the northwest is a shoe Floyd | store. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fifth Floyd | Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a Floyd | windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia Floyd | sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Pharmicopia Floyd | The white, high-ceilinged place is run through with cliffs of boxed-up Floyd | blister packs. Around the edges are toys, books, even a selection of Floyd | electronic gadgets and gizmos and such, along with small appliances. Floyd | Ringed within these are household and personal supplies, while nearest Floyd | the core -- by the enclosure where the pharmacists and their Floyd | attendants no doubt circulate -- are the brand-name over-the-counter Floyd | philters of vibrant color, along with the alternatives: vitamins, Floyd | herbs, and homeopathic dilutions. Floyd | Floyd | As you walk in, some punky-looking teenagers file out past you. Floyd | Floyd | "That is totally what my mom has been doing," one of them says, "Crazy Floyd | weird apocalypse stuff. It's entirely a Watchmen situation, what else Floyd | could it be? Best thing would be to clear out before whoever the Floyd | Ozymandias dude is lays down the smack. Maybe go to Tokyo." Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "hehe" | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "ask teenager for the time" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "these npcs are spry" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "We have to fight Ozymandias, king of kings? I despair." | ||||
| Fang asks (of Victor), "not seen or read Watchmen?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "Nope." | ||||
Floyd | The situation calls for action. Or, at least, it calls for something Floyd | other than negation. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Uh, nope." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy painkiller" | ||||
Floyd | You are gripped by paralysis, unable to decide where to begin or end Floyd | your shopping spree. After you breathe for a moment, the panic Floyd | subsides. Perhaps you'll be able to go and shop after the stress of Floyd | the demo has passed. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "it's a pretty good comic book/graphic novel" | |||
| Fang says, "and a decent movie" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "We can't shop." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "And Shelley's Ozymandias is in it?" | ||||
| Binder says, "we can't shop until after we've dropped, it seems" | ||||
| Binder says, "yes, Shelley's Ozymandias informs the text." | ||||
| Fang says (to Victor), "in a manner of speaking" | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Pharmicopia Floyd | At the center is the inner pharmacy of prescription drugs, with Floyd | over-the-counter medicine and more traditional remedies around it and Floyd | soaps and such in the next ring. Various other goods, ranging from Floyd | books to toasters, are displayed along the walls. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "full score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 5 of the 6 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | You have accomplished these important job-related tasks: Floyd | Floyd | - Rebooting Nora. Floyd | - Rebooting Ester. Floyd | - Rebooting Sophie. Floyd | - Rebooting Wendy. Floyd | - Rebooting Cindy. Floyd | Floyd | These labors remain: Floyd | Floyd | - Compiling and installing the crucial update. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x computer" | ||||
Floyd | Your computer is ergonomically open and awake. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Your nTerm is still flickering along, so the update must be compiling Floyd | properly. You play a quick game of Minefield, losing, as always. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Your nTerm is still flickering along, so the update must be compiling Floyd | properly. You download and watch another hilarious reality-based video Floyd | snippet of mobile robots guarding a warehouse. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "oh. N, E, S, W, C. Cute." | |||
| Fang says, "ah" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Ah." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers exclaims, "Ah!" | ||||
| DavidW says, "heh. I missed THAT too." | ||||
| Fang says, "maybe we can go back to the apartment and 'sleep until' something" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers exclaims, "Yeah. Or visit the... Incinerator!" | ||||
| Binder says, "in which case we might sleep MUCH longer" | ||||
| DavidW says, "'Something' would seem to be a bomb exploding the city." | ||||
| Fang says, "ITYM a giant squid" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "There is no city. Must discern reality." | ||||
| Binder says, "yea, I have no better idea beyond walking around and visiting places" | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Idd arrives, ready to play with the toys. | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fifth Floyd | Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a Floyd | windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia Floyd | sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Your Apartment Building's Lobby Floyd | Clean, if not homey. The doorman waits in a Plexiglas cube that looks Floyd | curiously bulletproof. Floyd | Floyd | You're now really pretty tired, such that the phrase "keel over" keeps Floyd | running through your hazy mind. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "up" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Hallway Floyd | The palate-cleansing corridor that leads to your apartment. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "u" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "in" | ||||
Floyd | The old-style lock opens to you with already-practiced ease, and you Floyd | walk in. You switch the light on. Floyd | Floyd | Home Floyd | It's your residential canister. Your lime-green couch is against the Floyd | longest wall. And it looks like we also have a heap of clothes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sleep" | ||||
Floyd | Sleep is a great idea, and would be a great state of being for you Floyd | right now. But even if you have the time to sleep, you aren't on an Floyd | appropriately cushioned surface. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "keel over" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "oh, is THAT what it means when you obsessively think 'keel over'? Now I know." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "enter bed" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Idd says (to Floyd), "go on bed" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "get on couch" | ||||
Floyd | You get onto the couch. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sleep" | ||||
Floyd | You release yourself into slumber. Floyd | Floyd | You feel a bit more rested, at least. Floyd | Floyd | The pager buzzes and jars you, its motor driven to disrupt and demand Floyd | attention. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push gray button" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Gus needs his password reset now. Immediately. At the current time. Floyd | Sorry it's so early. Also, be nice to him when you walk over and Floyd | deliver his new password, since this weekend has been rough on Floyd | everyone. He's in F2 and I'm now having your nPediment privileges set Floyd | so you can walk right in there and find him. Thanks for rebooting the Floyd | machines, by the way. Floyd | Floyd | It is, of course, Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "There we go." | |||
| Binder says, "this game is frighteningly like my real life" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers exclaims, "Ha!" | ||||
| Binder says, "yay, we slept our way to success" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "yay" | ||||
| Fang asks, "why do we need to personally deliver a password?" | ||||
| Binder says, "I like how we're admonished to BE NICE as our boss ruins our life." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "In Planescape: Torment, you could occassionaly die your way to success..." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Your nTerm is still flickering along, so the update must be compiling Floyd | properly. You attempt to reset Gus's password, but get "UNABLE [562] Floyd | to acquire resources [e.g., 472, 83] for password reset during Floyd | download/compile progression" as a response. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says (to Fang), "they must have very tight security protocols" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Hmm." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "so off to f2" | ||||
| Fang says, "hmm" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "So Gus has to wait several hours?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "pause compile" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "I guess we can go talk to him or somehing first" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Sure." | ||||
| Fang says, "also discern reality" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "nOS apparently has no multitasking." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Yeah." | ||||
| Fang says (to Victor), "Typical." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Fang), "Yeah, and no Flash either." | ||||
| Binder LAUGHS at VictorGijsbers | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "play angry birds" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Ok, let's go to F2." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "stand" | ||||
Floyd | You get off the couch. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | You switch the light off as you leave. The door swings shut after you. Floyd | Floyd | Hallway Floyd | The palate-cleansing corridor that leads to your apartment. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "down" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Your Apartment Building's Lobby Floyd | Clean, if not homey. The cube by the doorway is unattended. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "enter cube" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can enter. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fifth Floyd | Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a Floyd | windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia Floyd | sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | Two men on unicycles, the larger one with a third unicycle over his Floyd | shoulder, wobble along the street and away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| genericgeekgirl arrives, full of fun, but no funk. | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast Floyd | corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is Floyd | southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & Fifth Floyd | The eastern corners are occupied by the two nicest residential options Floyd | in town, The Maple Copse and Yew Village. City Hall has a face turned Floyd | this way to the southwest. On the northwest corner are the colors and Floyd | leafy tufts of the city gardens. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Octopus... Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & Fourth Floyd | The nWare Media Campus is north; Octopus turns into the campus's main Floyd | path on the north side of Fourth Street. To the southwest are the Floyd | city's gardens, complementing the green of the campus with other Floyd | herbifarous colors. A store called "Beverage Rack" is to the Floyd | southeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Octopus... Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Tada." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "It didn't use to be here..." | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Foyer Floyd | This particularly uninviting room may have been included simply to Floyd | reassure those without proper clearance that they are in the wrong Floyd | place. To the north is the building's main floor. Floyd | Floyd | An unwashed hacker paces here fretfully. Noticing you, he freezes and Floyd | turns. "I AM GUS," he says feverishly, "AND YOU MUST BEAR MY NEW Floyd | PASSWORD!" Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf4" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "ask gus for the time" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "PASSWORD DESIRED NOW," he says. He does some quick exercises designed Floyd | to relax his lumbar region. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Righteous. Everything actually compiled and built successfully. You Floyd | install the update. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Deftly you request a photo of Gus for purposes of positive ID, reset Floyd | his account, and store in your short-term memory his Floyd | cryptic-yet-memorable temporary password. Now you just need to share Floyd | this important bit of information with Gus, and you'll have executed Floyd | your responsibilities most gloriously. Floyd | Floyd | And people wonder why you fantasize about being a astronaut. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "give password to gus" | ||||
Floyd | You tell Gus his cryptic-yet-memorable temporary password. Floyd | Floyd | His face lights up with some combination of relief and prophetic Floyd | rapture. He pulls a miniscule PDA from one of the pockets on his Floyd | photographer's vest and taps happily, presumably gaining access. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | Some glitch, neurological or digital, causes Gus to scream "ODYSSEUS" Floyd | and run toward the exit. This involves his running right over you, Floyd | knocking you down. Your head strikes the floor in a painless and Floyd | consciousness-eliminating way. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | "... tests were, again, all just fine," some woman in a doctor costume Floyd | tells you. Or maybe she is a doctor. You're both walking along an Floyd | aqua-colored corridor now. There are pictures of semi-rigid airships Floyd | on the walls. "You shouldn't have any problems except perhaps for a Floyd | bit of short-term memory loss, but if you do have any other trouble, Floyd | come back and tell it to the kiosk. Oh, and you'll want this back." Floyd | She hands you your pager, which, annoyingly, is buzzing and vibrating. Floyd | "Take care!" Floyd | Floyd | You find yourself here in the lobby. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Torres Quevedo Memorial Hospital Floyd | The shuffling of those in despair, the rapid, professional pace of the Floyd | strained nurses and assistants, the occasional groan -- all of these Floyd | are absent, since this pale green lobby, curiously, holds no one Floyd | besides yourself. It's also completely without furnishings, except for Floyd | a kiosk, placed dead center. Floyd | Floyd | Remembering the menu of health insurance options that you were Floyd | presented, you congratulate yourself on buying the extended warranty Floyd | on yourself. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | The pager buzzes and jars you, its motor driven to disrupt and demand Floyd | attention. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | Hey, this looks like the hospital! This is where you can go if you're Floyd | sick! If you're really sick, sometimes emergency medical workers will Floyd | helpfully bring you here! Floyd | Floyd | The window winks away. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "uh." | |||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push gray button" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Gus needs his password reset now. Immediately. At the current time. Floyd | Sorry it's so early. Also, be nice to him when you walk over and Floyd | deliver his new password, since this weekend has been rough on Floyd | everyone. He's in F2 and I'm now having your nPediment privileges set Floyd | so you can walk right in there and find him. Thanks for rebooting the Floyd | machines, by the way. Floyd | Floyd | It is, of course, Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | This is an automatic report about how you got owned, champ. That's Floyd | right, one of your machines is puking out denial of service packets Floyd | and needs to be offlined immediately. Better get it off your network Floyd | before somebody other than a robot tells you about it. The victim is Floyd | Nora. Floyd | Floyd | It sounds like the perky cousin of that stupid stapler. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Man." | |||
| Fang says, "yeah, that update was obviously dodgy" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Nora is at the airport." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "But perhaps we wish to investigate F2 first?" | ||||
| Fang says, "the page makes fixing Nora sound time sensitive" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "I wish we had some idea how much time we have to deal with the issue." | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to floyg), "close computer" | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to floyd), "close computer" | ||||
Floyd | You close the nLap 500. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says (to jenrexrode), "Ah, thanks for remembering." | |||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Torres Quevedo Memorial Hospital Floyd | Like a new and never-used aquarium, the lobby. Featuring a kiosk. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Hm, the other events seemed to be triggered by us doing something rather than by time." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "wonder how much time has passed" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "The Starbucks to the north opens at 7:30; the Gap to the east at 10:00." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Decades. Book and Volume is a retelling of Rip van Winkle." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "wah" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Not really." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I believe." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Heh." | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "maybe we can tell time by finding certain stores open/closed?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Did we decide what to do first?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "We have a recent save; I vote for F2, checking the time along the way." | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "is that where nora is?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "No, Nora is at the airport. F2 houses the secret magic helmet." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Supposedly." | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "oh yeah, nora=north?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Yep." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Gotta choose now. Anyone against F2?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf5" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "Unopposed" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & First Floyd | A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest Floyd | corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on Floyd | the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a Floyd | little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Floyd | Campus. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Foyer Floyd | This particularly uninviting room may have been included simply to Floyd | reassure those without proper clearance that they are in the wrong Floyd | place. To the north is the building's main floor. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode asks, "behind a plate?" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Uh huh." | ||||
| Idd says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Main Floor Floyd | This is a large, open, and curiously empty workspace. Presumably Floyd | employees come in here with their own laptops and work in some sort of Floyd | hoteling arrangement, but the place seems rather desolate at the Floyd | moment. Perhaps the team that uses this space isn't working feverishly Floyd | for the demo, the way Engine team is. Or perhaps they're just Floyd | elsewhere, who knows? Floyd | Floyd | There are racks all around the place. And it looks like we also have Floyd | the F2 server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Idd says (to Floyd), "x server" | ||||
Floyd | This nSure 3000 looks a lot like Wendy. Floyd | Floyd | One thing seems pretty funny, though. The machine is hooked up in a Floyd | completely ass-reversed fashion, or, actually, in a way that's even Floyd | worse. It just seems to be plugged into itself all over the place. It Floyd | couldn't actually be doing anything useful, set up like this. This is Floyd | a fake server, the equivalent of a blank book that is used for Floyd | interior decorating purposes. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "this game could use a 'go to location' mechanism like the Magnetic Scrolls games" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hm." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "connect server" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "that's ... interesting" | |||
| Binder says, "set dressing" | ||||
| Idd says (to Floyd), "move server" | ||||
Floyd | Something doesn't seem quite right about how this server is seated, Floyd | but when you give it a push, it doesn't move forward at all. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "look under server" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "pull server" | ||||
Floyd | You pull the server towards you a bit and then release it. It falls Floyd | back into place. The rack next to it slides aside to reveal a Floyd | stairway, leading down, as if it were the most natural thing in the Floyd | world. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers exclaims, "!" | |||
| Binder says, "woot" | ||||
| jenrexrode yay | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "down" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | West End of Colossal Cave Floyd | You are at one end of a vast hall stretching out of sight to the east. Floyd | The walls are liquid rivers of orange stone, except for one dark patch Floyd | where the stairway traces a path upward. The hall is filled with wisps Floyd | of white mist that sway like Voldo from Soul Calibur. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "...what" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Wahaha. :D" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf6" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | East End of Colossal Cave Floyd | The orange pulsing walls and sadomasochistic ripples of mist that so Floyd | disturbingly livened up the west side of this huge room are absent Floyd | here. This part of the underground space is pretty much bare and Floyd | white, shaped like a giant Bose speaker. One notable feature is the Floyd | large black button with a right-pointing triangle on it. Curiously, Floyd | you also notice a small plate on one of the walls here -- there must Floyd | have been some method to Knut's madness. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "x button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "examine the black button." ) Floyd | Floyd | Ah, yes. The black button. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "push button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "push the black button." ) Floyd | Floyd | The floor suddenly takes on the appearance of a street. And that's not Floyd | all. Floyd | Floyd | A bearded figure wearing glasses and a Hawaiian shirt is very suddenly Floyd | standing aways to your left, as if he just appeared there. Floyd | Floyd | Oh, yeah. Gary Gygax again. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yay plate" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "x plate" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x plate" | ||||
Floyd | Not like one of those plates you eat off of, but rather, like the Floyd | proverbial metal plate in your head. Floyd | Floyd | Gary Gygax just stands there looking smug. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "read plate" | ||||
Floyd | Not like one of those plates you eat off of, but rather, like the Floyd | proverbial metal plate in your head. Floyd | Floyd | Gary Gygax twists one hand over the other and, somehow, vanishes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Idd says (to Floyd), "push plate" | ||||
Floyd | The plate can basically be opened, if it's closed, or can be closed, Floyd | if it's open. Other sorts of struggles with the plate are not likely Floyd | to be efficacious. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open plate" | ||||
Floyd | You open the plate, revealing a futuristic helmet. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x helmet" | ||||
Floyd | It's a head-enclosing helmet, mirrored on the front. Not the thing Floyd | you'd want to wear to a formal dinner. Here in nTopia, though, it Floyd | would probably be a perfectly acceptable accessory. It's discretely Floyd | labeled "SimulacCam." Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yay" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "WEAR HELMET okay?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers exclaims, "sure!" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "ok" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You enclose your head in the blackness of the helmet. An instant and a Floyd | soft beep later, you can somehow see and hear again. You don't seem to Floyd | have any trouble breathing in the strange device, and it isn't as Floyd | uncomfortable as one would imagine. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "look" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | East End of Colossal Cave Floyd | This part of the underground space is pretty much bare and white, Floyd | shaped like a giant Bose speaker. One notable feature is the large Floyd | black button with a right-pointing triangle on it. The metal plate Floyd | Knut mentioned is here, tilting open. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "No Gygax?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "press button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "press the black button." ) Floyd | Floyd | Very well. That was one of the least interesting button-pressing Floyd | experiences of the past week. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "We are now immune to holograms." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Must discern reality." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "oh" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Gygax vanished." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "But no replacement, yeah." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "I wonder if the city still exists?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Perhaps one of the holograms was hiding something from view." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Seems likely." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers will be right back, but do play on! | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | West End of Colossal Cave Floyd | This is the west end of a cavernous space, all white and oddly-angled. Floyd | Some sort of studio or research facility, no doubt. A stairway leads Floyd | up. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang says (to Floyd), "up" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Main Floor Floyd | This is a large, open, and curiously empty workspace. There are racks Floyd | all around. Floyd | Floyd | The one next to the F2 server has moved aside to reveal a stairway Floyd | leading down. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Should we cover our tracks?" | |||
| Binder says, "hm, it no longer looks like a cave, nice" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Sure, push the server back." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "push server" | ||||
Floyd | Something doesn't seem quite right about how this server is seated, Floyd | but when you give it a push, it doesn't move forward at all. Floyd | Floyd | Seems like it might move. But cannot be pushed. Your mind races as you Floyd | try to figure this one out. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "pull server" | ||||
Floyd | You give the server a tug towards you. The rack unit slides closed, Floyd | and it's now as if the hidden stairway were a figment of your Floyd | imagination. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "'K; carry on." | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "To the airport?" | ||||
| Idd says, "sure" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Foyer Floyd | This particularly uninviting room may have been included simply to Floyd | reassure those without proper clearance that they are in the wrong Floyd | place. To the north is the building's main floor. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yeah" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & First Floyd | A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest Floyd | corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on Floyd | the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a Floyd | little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Floyd | Campus. Floyd | Floyd | A gray and black designer herd hurries past you, almost at a trot, Floyd | brandishing picapoles. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode asks, "a what?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Picapoles?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "No idea" | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "reality or no?" | ||||
| Binder says, "reality with the helmet on." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Oh." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Pica poles." | ||||
| Binder says, "or maybe just alternate unreality" | ||||
| Binder says, "yeah, for measuring typefaces" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "A thin length of brass (the older ones) or aluminum, a pica pole measures inches on one side, ems or picas, on the other." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "oh like a pica stick" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "but bigger" | ||||
| Binder says, "maybe it was a herd of tiny designers" | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Did we want to check to time, or go straigt to the airport?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Front Floyd | Even Main Street has nothing but a pair of warehouses on this end, Floyd | where it meets Front Street. The airport wall is north. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "O, sorry." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "No worries; go ahead." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Server Room Floyd | Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make Floyd | this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it Floyd | looks like we also have Nora. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "press button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "press the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | The button clicks in. As you release it, the box falls silent and dark Floyd | for a moment, then begins to power back up. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Now it's really rebooted. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Was that what we needed to do?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 7 of the 8 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "full score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 7 of the 8 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | You have accomplished these important job-related tasks: Floyd | Floyd | - Rebooting Nora. Floyd | - Rebooting Ester. Floyd | - Rebooting Sophie. Floyd | - Rebooting Wendy. Floyd | - Rebooting Cindy. Floyd | - Compiling and installing the crucial update. Floyd | - Resetting and delivering Gus's password. Floyd | Floyd | These labors remain: Floyd | Floyd | - Offlining the rooted server. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "Incidentally, have we seen anything in the game that helps explain why it has the title 'Book and Volume'?" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Not that I can think of." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hm, it's a Hamlet and Inform 7 reference." | ||||
| Binder says, "we rebooted Nora, not offlined it" | ||||
| inky says, "well, this is the guy who brought you Curveship, you recall" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "And thy commandment all alone shall live / Within the book and volume of my brain, / Unmix'd with baser matter"" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x server" | ||||
Floyd | This nSure 3000 looks a lot like Wendy. Unfortunately, this server is Floyd | probably now serving as a massive repository of pirated ninja movies. Floyd | You sure wish you could remember how to turn these things off. Floyd | Floyd | > | inky says, "but yeah, look at the top of [LINK]" | |||
| Ellison says, "thanks, inky" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x cables" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "hit server" | ||||
Floyd | If you only knew how to attack a problem like this one. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying the SimulacCam (being worn), an nStick, your nLap Floyd | 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "f unplug server" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "unplug server" | ||||
Floyd | Plugging and unplugging things is so 1997. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to floyd), "pull server" | ||||
Floyd | That is not manipulable in that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "..." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "disconnect server" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "use nlap" | ||||
Floyd | Your nLap 500 is portable, but not very usable, when closed. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| genericgeekgirl disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. | Binder says, "I was thinking we could maybe remote shutdown" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You open the nLap 500, which wakes the moment it begins to unfold. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "use Nora." ) Floyd | Floyd | Nora hasn't been dumbed down enough to be used in only one way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "use nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You delete a half-dozen emails offering porcine organs for Floyd | xenotransplantation. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "or not" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x nora" | ||||
Floyd | This nSure 3000 looks a lot like Wendy. Unfortunately, this server is Floyd | probably now serving as a massive repository of pirated ninja movies. Floyd | You sure wish you could remember how to turn these things off. Floyd | Floyd | A crackling sound comes, somehow, from all around. Floyd | Floyd | This is a test of the nTopia civil alert system. If this were actually Floyd | a -- Floyd | Floyd | The recorded voice breaks off. Floyd | Floyd | ATTENTION. This is actually not a test. This is an alert. Severe dust Floyd | and wind conditions are anticipated. In a calm and orderly fashion, Floyd | please find shelter indoors, or remain indoors if you are there Floyd | already, and refer from going outside until further notice. Refrain. Floyd | Refrain from going outside. Don't be nervous. High risk of death if Floyd | you don't get indoors. Calmly. Get indoors. Immediately. Floyd | Floyd | Then there is quiet. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "close nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You close the nLap 500. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Oh boy." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Well, at least we can check out some pirated ninja movies." | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "x nora" | ||||
Floyd | This nSure 3000 looks a lot like Wendy. Unfortunately, this server is Floyd | probably now serving as a massive repository of pirated ninja movies. Floyd | You sure wish you could remember how to turn these things off. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "x nora's button" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "turn off nora" | ||||
Floyd | Once you figure out how to turn this server off, you can do whatever Floyd | it is that turns this server off, and, as a result, the server will be Floyd | turned off. Floyd | Floyd | There's a granular howl from outside. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode asks, "press and hold?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "hold button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "hold the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | You hold the server's button in a for a while, and the box whines to a Floyd | halt, falling silent. When you release the button, the server remains Floyd | lifeless. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers exclaims, "Brilliant!" | |||
| DavidW says, "yay" | ||||
| EmacsUser exclaims (at jenrexrode), "Nice!" | ||||
| Binder says (to jenexrode), "clever" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "works on pager.." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Save?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf7" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Shall we go see the storm?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers Sure. | jenrexrode says, "if we want to die, but we've saved" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "exits" | ||||
Floyd | From here, it looks like it's possible to go west and out. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. The city outside remains obscured Floyd | by dust. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | There's more than one exit. Specify a direction to take one of them. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. The city outside remains obscured Floyd | by dust. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "exits" | ||||
Floyd | From here, it looks like it's possible to go east and south. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "hm, must be Lubbock" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | A wall of shifting orange-brown slams through the space and around Floyd | you. What you were breathing is quickly as thick as an hourglass. Floyd | First grit -- then stupor -- then the letting go -- Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 8 of the 8 tasks Floyd | assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | Airport Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "So it really is dust." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. The city outside remains obscured Floyd | by dust. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "You thought it'd be illusionary dust?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | At airport security they find that you are without a boarding pass. Floyd | After a quick strip search, they politely turn you away. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. The city outside remains obscured Floyd | by dust. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "I though that they were just trying to keep us indoors for a while." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Er, thought." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Perhaps use computer?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "ok" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Yes, that's a good idea." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Is a pager a one-way device?" | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Wait, I am confused. Where are we?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "We're stuck at the airport." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Server Room Floyd | Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make Floyd | this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it Floyd | looks like we also have Nora. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Okay, and inside now." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to VictorGijsbers), "Usually." | ||||
| DavidW says, "If use computer doesn't help, try pull nora." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Okay. Well, let's check the computer." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "use Nora." ) Floyd | Floyd | Nora hasn't been dumbed down enough to be used in only one way. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "use nlap" | ||||
Floyd | Your nLap 500 is portable, but not very usable, when closed. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "I think we already pulled Nora?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You open the nLap 500, which wakes the moment it begins to unfold. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "use nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You read a bit more of that fascinating thread about the ethics of Floyd | patenting an overclocking technique. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | The civil alert system huffs on again. Floyd | Floyd | ATTENTION, the adverse weather conditions are over. It is safe to go Floyd | outside now. Have fun. Floyd | Floyd | The announcer clears his throat, even though the announcement is over, Floyd | and the speakers go silent. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yay" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Everything is not as it seems in nTopia. Mark my words." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf8" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to floyd), "score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 8 of the 8 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | Hey, this looks like the airport! You can get on a plane here and go Floyd | somewhere else! After you purchase a ticket, after you get your Floyd | manager's approval for vacation time, and so forth! Floyd | Floyd | The window winks away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Idd says (to Floyd), "close nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You close the nLap 500. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | There seems to be no trace of whatever sand was blowing all around, Floyd | unless some of the buildings now have a slightly glossier finish. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Do we have a goal?" | |||
| jenrexrode asks, "wander around til pager goes off?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Not a clear one. Discerning reality perhaps." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Shall we go the Library? Or the Incinerator? Or the Police Station? Or..." | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "figure out what time it is?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Starbucks Floyd | Hey, it's Starbucks. Just like in You've Got Mail. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "After 7:30." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "yup" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy tea" | ||||
Floyd | They only really have stuff like coffee for sale here. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "There's also a visitors' center across the street." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy coffee" | ||||
Floyd | You purchase your caffeine solution and gratefully slurp it down. Floyd | Floyd | > | Fang says, "I think if we have nothing to do, we can just sleep" | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Shall we check out whether the visitor's centre is open?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "yeah" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Fang was killed when the Heinkel He 111 which was shuttling him to Berlin crashed shortly after takeoff in Salzburg at Ainring on 21 April 1944. Only his black metal hand was recovered from the wreckage. It received a full state funeral. | VictorGijsbers asks, "It's our day off! We ought to be enjoying ourselves. Hit on some... are we male or female, or certified gender neutral adventurer?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | VNRC Floyd | Words cut out of dark wood cover most of the walls, although a central Floyd | space has a triptych of enormous video panels. A woman who exceeds the Floyd | conventional standards of beauty is standing around cheerfully. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ask woman about ntopia" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Lovely place we live in," she says. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "there's your target" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ask woman about date" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she replies. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "ask woman about triptych" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she says. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "woman, go out" | ||||
Floyd | If you're trying to communicate, try asking about something specific. Floyd | If you're trying to give orders, you don't seem to be in much of a Floyd | position to do that. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Binder says (to Floyd), "ask woman for the time" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she replies. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x panels" | ||||
Floyd | The video panels display cheerful promotional views of nTopia. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "She's not my type." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "heh" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Shall we go somewhere else?" | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Sure. How about something tagged general shop?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Sure." | ||||
| Ellison says, "only if we ever want to progress in this game" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "sure." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A very important-looking person wearing a green visor speeds by on a Floyd | golden Sinclair C5. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | The Gap Floyd | Hey, it's The Gap. Just like in Minority Report. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy" | ||||
Floyd | To accomplish that, you'll need to focus your consumer frenzy somewhat Floyd | by saying what you want to purchase. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy gap" | ||||
Floyd | You are gripped by paralysis, unable to decide where to begin or end Floyd | your shopping spree. After you breathe for a moment, the panic Floyd | subsides. Perhaps you'll be able to go and shop after the stress of Floyd | the demo has passed. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I don't think we can buy anything untel the demo has been finished." | |||
| Binder says, "hrmph, this doesn't match MY experience when shopping" | ||||
| Binder says, "focus my consumer frenzy? NEVER" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "We might try the Wheelman for a unicycle." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Where is that?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Or shell we just enter every likely building?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Main & 5th, a ways away." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "I don't know. Maybe it's easier just to nap." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "All right with me, whatever you want." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Though I do want to know what Arcadia Ego is. :)" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "With its eery invocation of Death." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "wah there's more than one Gap, too" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Arcadia Ego Floyd | Hey, this is just like in War Games, pretty much, except for the loads Floyd | of games where you can control 3D figures that kick each other's ass, Floyd | and the games where you dance or play a drum or fire shotguns, and the Floyd | section of retro games. That section is just like in War Games, Floyd | actually, except now it's all retro. Floyd | Floyd | There's a din of digitized sound. What's visible of the walls is Floyd | covered with multicolored squares, presumably in an attempt to make Floyd | the atmosphere even more festive. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Ah, an arcade." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "play game" | ||||
Floyd | What you have mentioned seems to be neither instrument or game, and Floyd | not obviously playable. Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "play drum" | ||||
Floyd | What you have mentioned seems to be neither instrument or game, and Floyd | not obviously playable. Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x games" | ||||
Floyd | There are loads of games that look familiar but uncompelling. Looking Floyd | through them, you find only one standout: LlamaFight 2000, a true Floyd | classic. Floyd | Floyd | > | Binder says, "LLAMAFIGHT" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "play LlamaFight 2000" | ||||
Floyd | You are not sure you have the means to do so. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "play llamafight" | ||||
Floyd | You are not sure you have the means to do so. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Weird." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x LlamaFight 2000" | ||||
Floyd | You remember LlamaFight 2000 as being totally awesome, and by totally Floyd | awesome, you mean totally sweet. One or two players can participate in Floyd | hard-hitting, bare-hoofed combat. In Europe the game was released Floyd | under the name "Yie Ar Kung Llama." Floyd | Floyd | This righteous coin-op doesn't seem to use the nPediment payment Floyd | system, as it has a lit coin slot that simply says "1". Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "We need coins." | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "Bank #0?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "So it seems." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "yeah" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "byy coins" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy coins" | ||||
Floyd | This is one of the few places in nTopia where you can't buy anything. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison goes back to Squeamhurst.. | ||||
| Ellison has disconnected. | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | 0th Bank Floyd | It's just a cheesy bank lobby, with indoor-outdoor carpet. A teller Floyd | waits behind a counter. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy coins" | ||||
Floyd | This is one of the few places in nTopia where you can't buy anything. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ask teller for coins" | ||||
Floyd | The teller either doesn't hear you or pretends not to hear you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask teller about coins" | ||||
Floyd | The teller either doesn't hear you or pretends not to hear you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask teller about bank" | ||||
Floyd | The teller either doesn't hear you or pretends not to hear you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "talk to teller" | ||||
Floyd | Since you know less about small talk than about Smalltalk -- and that Floyd | isn't saying much -- it would be best to specify what you want to Floyd | discuss. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "He has a banana in his ear." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x teller" | ||||
Floyd | Dressed like a bank teller, standing behind a counter in a bank -- she Floyd | almost certainly is a bank teller. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask teller for money" | ||||
Floyd | The teller produces some sort of tethered handheld device and begins Floyd | tapping on it. Floyd | Floyd | "Yes, I see you've started the process of establishing an account with Floyd | us. While your account has not yet been approved, as a courtesy to new Floyd | residents of nTopia, and to remind you about how enjoyable personal Floyd | financial transactions can be, we can convert one dollar from your Floyd | nRich account into a physical representation of value." Floyd | Floyd | The device produces a coin, which the teller hands to you. She then Floyd | puts the device away and tells you to have a nice day. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I gota a coin!" | |||
| jenrexrode says, "yay" | ||||
| EmacsUser exclaims (at DavidW), "Good work!" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x coin" | ||||
Floyd | It's one of those new dollar coins with an armadillo on one side and Floyd | half the head of Thomas Edison on the other. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | A bicyclist hurtles by, speaking Spanish on a hands-free phone. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Arcadia Ego Floyd | There's a din of digitized sound. What's visible of the walls is Floyd | covered with multicolored squares, presumably in an attempt to make Floyd | the atmosphere even more festive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "play LlamaFight 2000" | ||||
Floyd | The coin does seen like an obvious thing to put into the coin slot, Floyd | but it's too thick to fit in there. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Do dollar coins exist? They're bills, right?" | |||
| jenrexrode says, "get change" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "They do exist, but they are rare." | ||||
| DavidW says, "argh. We need change." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "In the US, I assume you mean." | ||||
| DavidW says, "We have dollar coins in Canada. We phased out dollar bills." | ||||
| DavidW says, "We have two dollar coins, too." | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "automat?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Sure." | ||||
| DavidW says, "The States, however, continues to resist the introduction of a mass produced dollar coin." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Heh. It also resists the introduction of bills with different colours." | ||||
| DavidW says, "They don't like changing too much too often." | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "I guess the only advantage is that I clink less than when I'm using Euros." | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fourth Floyd | The local elementary school sits beside a gated playground to the Floyd | northeast. Plywood closes off the site on the southeast corner, hiding Floyd | whatever is being built there. The Pine and Elm, an apartment building Floyd | you checked out and found just about identical to the Wild Palms, is Floyd | southwest. On the northwest corner is an upscale variety store, Floyd | MarMart. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast Floyd | corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is Floyd | southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I don't know. In three days NY is amassed such a large amount of one cent coins that I clinked more than ever." | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fifth Floyd | Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a Floyd | windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia Floyd | sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "is -> I" | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Otto's Automat Floyd | Someone, perhaps shellf, really got into Dark City. There couldn't be Floyd | any other excuse for this combination vending machine and cafeteria, Floyd | even though it may strain to look modern and appetizing. Pixelated Floyd | smiley faces in an urgent red decorate everything, even the edges of Floyd | the food-dispensing wall. Floyd | Floyd | The opportunity to avoid social contact during food selection is Floyd | appealing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "x wall" | ||||
Floyd | The food-grid features various sorts of ready-made edibles. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "x grid" | ||||
Floyd | The food-grid features various sorts of ready-made edibles. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Ah. I tend to avoid transactions involving cents except electronically. But there you touch on another part of the currency system that could be phased out." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "i don't see a change machine..." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Is there a laundromat?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "if so, we could wash our pile of clothes..." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "In the Netherlands we do have 1 and 2 cent coins, but 99% of all shops have a policy that they round all toals up or down to the nearest 5 cents." | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "push wall" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "So in practice you never use them." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x edibles" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The food. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy food" | ||||
Floyd | Food does seem like a good idea. You select something palatable from Floyd | the food-dispensing wall and begin to consume it, face flickering with Floyd | mammalian happiness. Floyd | Floyd | You conclude your culinary experience. Floyd | Floyd | Here we go again. Your pager goes off in its usual buzzing, vibrating Floyd | fit. Floyd | Floyd | The pager buzzes and jars you, its motor driven to disrupt and demand Floyd | attention. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says (to DavidW), "I'm not seeing anything." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Eating food triggered a new page." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "yay pager" | ||||
| Binder says, "I think I see the pattern; trying to have a normal life triggers pages." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't see a laundromat either. Oh well." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to VictorGijsbers), "That would work too." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "press pager's button" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Gus needs his password reset now. Immediately. At the current time. Floyd | Sorry it's so early. Also, be nice to him when you walk over and Floyd | deliver his new password, since this weekend has been rough on Floyd | everyone. He's in F2 and I'm now having your nPediment privileges set Floyd | so you can walk right in there and find him. Thanks for rebooting the Floyd | machines, by the way. Floyd | Floyd | It is, of course, Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | This is an automatic report about how you got owned, champ. That's Floyd | right, one of your machines is puking out denial of service packets Floyd | and needs to be offlined immediately. Better get it off your network Floyd | before somebody other than a robot tells you about it. The victim is Floyd | Nora. Floyd | Floyd | It sounds like the perky cousin of that stupid stapler. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Disk failure. Disk hesitant, corrupted, ready for immolation. Replace Floyd | the disk. Must be replaced prior to demo. Almost there. Almost at Floyd | demo. We will make it. Replace the disk. Follow the procedure and Floyd | incinerate the old disk once it has been replaced. The disk of the Floyd | main server in F9. Access to F9 is currently being provided you. Go. Floyd | Floyd | Obviously, the message is from Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "We might want to get a replacement disk in the nWare store on the way." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "cool" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Shall we go?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "And we get to incinerate something!" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf9" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode exclaims, "yeah!" | |||
| EmacsUser exclaims, "Go!" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fifth Floyd | Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a Floyd | windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia Floyd | sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fourth Floyd | The styling retail space on the northeast corner, nTune, is almost Floyd | bare. To the southeast is the nTopia All-Faiths Chapel Complex. Floyd | Unmistakable typography announces The Gap to the southwest, while the Floyd | remaining corner features the smaller but less restrained posters of Floyd | Comics Command. Floyd | Floyd | A woman on an oversized skateboard zooms past, pulling a Jack Russell Floyd | terrier on a normal-sized skateboard. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Third Floyd | A multi-level grocery store dominates the northeast corner, occupying Floyd | the whole side of the block from here to Second. A windowless Floyd | building, this one with a logo like a fork of lightning, is southeast. Floyd | A shrouded establishment called "Gelatinous Cube" is southwest. On the Floyd | final corner is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | nWare Store Floyd | The products are incidentally on hand here. Usually nGeniuses are Floyd | about to discuss tips and tricks that further enhance the virtues of Floyd | nWare hardware and software, preaching to the clergy. Today, perhaps Floyd | because of the impending demo, the place seems barren. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy disk" | ||||
Floyd | You don't have any means to effect a corporate disk drive purchase, Floyd | and you certainly have no need to enhance your capacious nLap 500 with Floyd | an additional drive. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Or maybe not." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "take disk" | ||||
Floyd | This seems a likely place to find an nWare hard disk drive, but you Floyd | don't notice any. If you wanted to buy one, though, you could try to Floyd | -- somebody might be able to help you. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "buy disk" | ||||
Floyd | You don't have any means to effect a corporate disk drive purchase, Floyd | and you certainly have no need to enhance your capacious nLap 500 with Floyd | an additional drive. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Huh." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Maybe we need to go to the server first? but this does seem like a bit og a bug/implementation failure." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Yeah, it might be that there's an order to follow." | ||||
| Limax arrives, full of fun and funk. | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | Three people covered with flour and ink run down the street in tears, Floyd | disappearing. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "People with flour and ink?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Beats tar and feathers." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "I don't think that I get that reference." | ||||
| Limax asks, "How much have I missed?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Where were we when you went?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "I think Limax is just joining." | ||||
| Limax says, "I just got here" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Right. Quite a lot, we've been playing for 2 hours." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "But we can recap." | ||||
| Limax says, "Perfect timing then" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "full score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 8 of the 10 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | You have accomplished these important job-related tasks: Floyd | Floyd | - Rebooting Nora. Floyd | - Rebooting Ester. Floyd | - Rebooting Sophie. Floyd | - Rebooting Wendy. Floyd | - Rebooting Cindy. Floyd | - Compiling and installing the crucial update. Floyd | - Resetting and delivering Gus's password. Floyd | - Offlining the rooted server. Floyd | Floyd | These labors remain: Floyd | Floyd | - Replacing the defective disk. Floyd | - Destroying the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | > | Limax says, "I always like getting here just for the ending" | |||
| Limax says, "I do that in movies too" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Ah, but we might not be close to an ending either." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I'm not sure we're near the end yet..." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Anyway, we have been doing system administrator duties in nTopia. But we have alo found a helmet that allows us to see through holograms." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Right now, we have to replace a hard disk." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Oh, and there's a map; [LINK]" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yes, pretty essential, that map." | ||||
| Lionheart can see a dream in your dance. Lionheart can see tomorrow in your dance. We can call it, "our hope"! | VictorGijsbers says, "Let's go to the server." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. A flat screen blinks on the east wall. You can't tell where the Floyd | server room might be. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x screen" | ||||
Floyd | You read a curious message there: "All 'sensitives' on the Book Team Floyd | should have been evacuated by now! If any are left consult the Floyd | appropriate contact regarding evacuation ASAP IKYN!" Floyd | Floyd | A superannuated manager rushes in, fiddling with some sort of Floyd | extremely advanced laser pointer. He casts an embarrassed glance at Floyd | the flat panel and manipulates the laser pointer; the screen blinks Floyd | off. With some other twist or twiddle of the device, the east wall Floyd | slides open, and the flat panel moves with it, out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | "Come. In here." Floyd | Floyd | He ushers you east. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | F9 ServerRoom Floyd | You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms Floyd | start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server. Floyd | Floyd | The gentleman of great senectitude dashes off at an amazing pace, Floyd | disappearing. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Something here is not right." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x server" | ||||
Floyd | The remarkable thing here is the hard disk drive that is jutting out Floyd | of a slot in the machine. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x drive" | ||||
Floyd | Fixed to the side of the charred hard disk is a purchase order for a Floyd | replacement disk and a curt notice: DESTROY UPON FAILURE. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "take order" | ||||
Floyd | That seems to be a part of the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "So there is an order." | |||
| Idd says (to Floyd), "take disk" | ||||
Floyd | You withdraw the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers exclaims, "You know, what about _not_ destroying the disk? I think we need to start to rebel against our corporate overlords. Let's get at the data!" | |||
| DavidW says, "So we take the disk to the store, I guess, to get the replacement." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to David), "Yes, I guess so." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "You think there's a way to read the disk instead?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "This situation does look like an 'evacuation' of 'sensitives.'" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I don't know. It's just that being who I am, I suspect every game of trying to lure me into mindless compliance." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "put disk in nlap" | ||||
Floyd | That can't contain things. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison arrives, ready to play with the toys. | ||||
| jenrexrode save first, then try stuff, as usual | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf10" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Hmm. I suspect that we are railroaded though." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yeah, might well be." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "we can show drive to people now" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I'm fine with incinerating the disk." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Unless we know more about what's what, I suppose." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Go to the store?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Aye." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "yeah" | ||||
| DavidW says, "yeah" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "f go out" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "go out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 ServerRoom Floyd | You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms Floyd | start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | nWare Store Floyd | The products are incidentally on hand here. Usually nGeniuses are Floyd | about to discuss tips and tricks that further enhance the virtues of Floyd | nWare hardware and software, preaching to the clergy. Today, perhaps Floyd | because of the impending demo, the place seems barren. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy disk" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "buy the merchandise." ) Floyd | Floyd | By brandishing the busted disk drive, you manage to flag down a Floyd | salesperson. The guy assisting you expertly produces a new and Floyd | identically-shaped drive, stamping the old one with something red and Floyd | indelible as he hands the new one to you and tells you what kind of Floyd | day to have. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yay" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | A man with the demeanor of a middle manager skips by in a long gray Floyd | cape, peeling a banana at both ends. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 ServerRoom Floyd | You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms Floyd | start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "put disk in server" | ||||
Floyd | ... Are you referring to the new disk or the defective disk? Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "new" | ||||
Floyd | As you insert the new hard disk drive, the slot seals itself closed, Floyd | and the server looks the way that usual, fully functional server Floyd | looks. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "full score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 9 of the 10 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | You have accomplished these important job-related tasks: Floyd | Floyd | - Rebooting Nora. Floyd | - Rebooting Ester. Floyd | - Rebooting Sophie. Floyd | - Rebooting Wendy. Floyd | - Rebooting Cindy. Floyd | - Compiling and installing the crucial update. Floyd | - Resetting and delivering Gus's password. Floyd | - Offlining the rooted server. Floyd | - Replacing the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | These labors remain: Floyd | Floyd | - Destroying the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "better do it, then" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "If someone else takes over while I get another white beer..." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | The sudden clamor and rush of a crowd sends you helplessly to the Floyd | ground. With a grinding pull, a battalion in green aprons hurls itself Floyd | over you and into the structure on the southwest corner. Perhaps you Floyd | glimpse a pair of stunned figures in black T-shirts inside, shivering Floyd | behind a counter. Your vision seems to be obscured for a moment by a Floyd | milky steam. Floyd | Floyd | You stand, finally, unsure about what you seem to have witnessed, Floyd | unsure about whether or not to hope it was real. Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | Floyd | > | Limax says, "We must be in Seattle" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "sw?" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Was that structure sw of Campus South or sw of Main & Fourth?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "I don't know." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Starbucks Floyd | Hey, it's Starbucks. Just like in You've Got Mail. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "?" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "What color is the Starbucks uniform?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "That shouldn't be a Starbucks, should it?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Oh huh. No." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "It _used_ to be Independent Grounds." | ||||
| Limax says, "Black tops, green aprons" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "But it has been invaded by Starbucks..." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Wow." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "hm" | ||||
| Limax says, "'Just like in 'You've Got Mail'?'" | ||||
| DavidW says, "A movie ref, I assume." | ||||
| Limax asks, "Tom Hanks film?" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "So is Starbucks taking over the city?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Starbucks Floyd | Hey, it's Starbucks. Just like in You've Got Mail. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Starbucks Floyd | Hey, it's Starbucks. Just like in You've Got Mail. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Yikes." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Oh, I could have saved time by reading more carefully." | |||
| jenrexrode exclaims, "incinerate!" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Do we want to stop at Wheel-Man?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yes." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Wheel-Man Floyd | The scooters, Segways, bikes, sport utility tricycles, and suchlike Floyd | are all lined up here in supposedly appealing configurations. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "buy unicycle" | ||||
Floyd | You are gripped by paralysis, unable to decide where to begin or end Floyd | your shopping spree. After you breathe for a moment, the panic Floyd | subsides. Perhaps you'll be able to go and shop after the stress of Floyd | the demo has passed. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I want a Segway." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Aw." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | The scheme of the city, and your previous wanderings, suggest to you Floyd | that the incinerator isn't likely to be plopped down here in the Floyd | middle of town. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast Floyd | corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is Floyd | southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Back Floyd | Two uncannily clean but industrial-looking buildings sit on either Floyd | side of Eel to the north. Back Street runs right along the railing Floyd | that bounds the city to the south. Floyd | Floyd | You have come to the edge of the plateau on which nTopia is built. Far Floyd | below, past the railing, is the desert plain, stretching from reddish Floyd | white to white, scraggled here and there with gray. The sky is lapis Floyd | lazuli. Some highway stretches far off from east to west, as if it Floyd | were an imperfect reflection of a line on a map. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Incinerator Floyd | There's some corrugated steel-with-cinderblock-accents thing going on Floyd | here. The floor ends to the west, where smoke and wailing rise from a Floyd | pit. And it looks like we also have a double-cup panel lifter. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Smoke and wailing?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "look in pit" | ||||
Floyd | The pit from which smoke and wailing arises is empty. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "maybe it's a reference to Hades in Zork" | |||
| Ellison says, "I think it said something like that" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Ah, okau." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "What's a double-cup panel lifter?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x lifter" | ||||
Floyd | Ah yes. The double-cup panel lifter. An ungainly little widget. There Floyd | it is. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "use lifter" | ||||
Floyd | The double-cup panel lifter can only be used to open and close floor Floyd | panels. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "That description is so not helpful." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "take lifter" | ||||
Floyd | You conduct the acquisition. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Where was that raised floor?" | |||
| jenrexrode says, "desert and straigh highways sound more like Lubbock, Tx than Seattle..." | ||||
| DavidW says, "F9." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I think." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "All server rooms, in fact." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "And in every other server room, right?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Possibly." | ||||
| Idd asks, "put disk in pit?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Idd), "Sure." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "throw disk in pit" | ||||
Floyd | You gingerly fling the defective disk into the pit, where it almost Floyd | certainly goes the way of the gold standard. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf11" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "full score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 10 of the 10 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | You have accomplished these important job-related tasks: Floyd | Floyd | - Rebooting Nora. Floyd | - Rebooting Ester. Floyd | - Rebooting Sophie. Floyd | - Rebooting Wendy. Floyd | - Rebooting Cindy. Floyd | - Compiling and installing the crucial update. Floyd | - Resetting and delivering Gus's password. Floyd | - Offlining the rooted server. Floyd | - Replacing the defective disk. Floyd | - Destroying the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "oh a floor panel suction cup thingey" | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "What is a floor panel?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "a square of a raised floor" | ||||
| Limax asks, "All tasks comlete, and the game didn't end?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "We get new tasks continually." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "must eat again" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "O yes, a raised floor." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Haha." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "When stuck, eat." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Better do it before McDonalds and Burger King have invaded all restaurants." | ||||
| Limax says, "Heh" | ||||
| jenrexrode scales | EmacsUser asks, "Shall we inspect some floors first though?" | |||
| jenrexrode asks, "scales?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Sure, go and do it." | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Back Floyd | Two uncannily clean but industrial-looking buildings sit on either Floyd | side of Eel to the north. Back Street runs right along the railing Floyd | that bounds the city to the south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Back Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Back Floyd | Back Street runs east behind City Hall here at the south end of Floyd | nTopia. Eel is to the west. A warehouse is on the northwest corner. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | A cute little fire truck careers down the street, letting loose an Floyd | occasional bottle rocket. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Mailboxes Ultra Floyd | While most of the retail spaces are minimal or postmodern, this Floyd | package pickup and dropoff point has more of the sense of a Hoboken Floyd | everything 99 cents store. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "oops" | |||
| EmacsUser exclaims, "No, wait!" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open mailbox" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "99 cents." | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "There's no mailbox?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "And if the arcade is a penny arcade..." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers suddenly understand what Penny Arcade means. | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Oh, but I am not reading carefully." | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Sorry." | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Scales Floyd | It's all orange inside, too, with rounded booths of different sizes Floyd | cut into the walls. The place is a sort of large-scale bento box, Floyd | outfitted so that it will be safe during hunting season. Floyd | Floyd | Here we go again. Your pager goes off in its usual buzzing, vibrating Floyd | fit. Floyd | Floyd | The pager buzzes and jars you, its motor driven to disrupt and demand Floyd | attention. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yay" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf12" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "press pager's button" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Gus needs his password reset now. Immediately. At the current time. Floyd | Sorry it's so early. Also, be nice to him when you walk over and Floyd | deliver his new password, since this weekend has been rough on Floyd | everyone. He's in F2 and I'm now having your nPediment privileges set Floyd | so you can walk right in there and find him. Thanks for rebooting the Floyd | machines, by the way. Floyd | Floyd | It is, of course, Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | This is an automatic report about how you got owned, champ. That's Floyd | right, one of your machines is puking out denial of service packets Floyd | and needs to be offlined immediately. Better get it off your network Floyd | before somebody other than a robot tells you about it. The victim is Floyd | Nora. Floyd | Floyd | It sounds like the perky cousin of that stupid stapler. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Disk failure. Disk hesitant, corrupted, ready for immolation. Replace Floyd | the disk. Must be replaced prior to demo. Almost there. Almost at Floyd | demo. We will make it. Replace the disk. Follow the procedure and Floyd | incinerate the old disk once it has been replaced. The disk of the Floyd | main server in F9. Access to F9 is currently being provided you. Go. Floyd | Floyd | Obviously, the message is from Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Gratitude. Appreciation. Systems working within adequate tolerances. Floyd | Mental hygiene triage of team evidently complete. Programmers and Floyd | artists working harmoniously together. Sky rent like sackcloth. Please Floyd | remain on call. Productivity obtains. A time of peace is near. Floyd | Floyd | Your loving boss. It seems the guy reacts well to stress, once it gets Floyd | past a certain level. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "gotta erase soon" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "hold pager's button" | ||||
Floyd | The pager emits a low beep after you hold the button down for about a Floyd | second and a half. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers exclaims, "We didn't get a new job? He just thanked us? How unrealistic!" | |||
| jenrexrode says, "heh" | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "buy food" | ||||
Floyd | Your hacker frame can sustain itself for at least half a day on a Floyd | single meal; you certainly aren't ready to have another one just yet. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "aw" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "se?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Sure/" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Server Room Floyd | There are just the usual racks here. The rest of the room is bare, Floyd | with the usual drop ceilings and the usual raised floor providing a Floyd | contrast to the unusual wooden walls outside. And it looks like we Floyd | also have Sophie. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open floor" | ||||
Floyd | Using the double-cup panel lifter somewhat more strenuously than you Floyd | really should have to, you wiggle part of the floor open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "search floor" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x floor" | ||||
Floyd | There's the floor. Right down there. Wide open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "enter floor" | ||||
Floyd | There's no way you're going to be able to get into the raised floor Floyd | wearing the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Oh." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "cool" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "doff SimulacCam" | ||||
Floyd | You take off the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | There's a curious amount of space under the floor to the north. You Floyd | scoot into it. Floyd | Floyd | Darkness Floyd | The darkness here may be the only profound thing in nTopia. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Heh." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "grue" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to jenrexrode), "Took the words out of my mouth." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "up" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | There's more than one exit. Specify a direction to take one of them. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "exits" | ||||
Floyd | There aren't any obvious exits from this place. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode asks, "laptop as flashlight?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You open the nLap 500, which wakes the moment it begins to unfold. Floyd | Floyd | Passage Floyd | Sometimes a horrifying conspiracy lives beneath the surface of Floyd | reality. Sometimes, just a cramped crawlspace like this one, lacking Floyd | even the dust that most such spaces have. And it looks like we also Floyd | have an overhead ventilation grill. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I recently encountered a grue in an Adam Thornton game. The result was unspeakable." | |||
| VictorGijsbers exclaims, "Smart!" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x grill" | ||||
Floyd | It seems to be fastened with some screws or bolts, whatever the Floyd | difference is, that are of surreal or alien design. No mass-market Floyd | device is going to open this. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf13" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Plan?" | |||
| DavidW says, "Use coin as screwdriver!" | ||||
| Ellison says, "a surreal toolbox is probably filled with melted clocks and crap" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open grill with coin" | ||||
Floyd | That isn't going to do the trick. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open grill with credit card" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says (to DavidW), "Still clever." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "O, that's another puzzle." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "unscrew coin with coin" | ||||
Floyd | That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying a double-cup panel lifter, a dollar coin, the Floyd | SimulacCam, an nStick, your nLap 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode asks, "nstick?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "lift grill" | ||||
Floyd | That is not manipulable in that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Like a USB drive." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "wear simulaccam" | ||||
Floyd | You can't get the SimulacCam on in this tiny space. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yeah, but will it turn a screw" | |||
| DavidW says, "Perhaps there's more tools in other under-server rooms." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Worth trying." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Oh, sorry." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open grill with nstick" | ||||
Floyd | That isn't going to do the trick. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Okay; let's check the other rooms." | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "open grill with key" | ||||
Floyd | That isn't going to do the trick. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "D&D It just means 'form, doesn't it?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Sorry, wrong channel." | ||||
| EmacsUser thinks, 'Also, why am I using semicolon so much today?' | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Er, semicolons" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "u" | ||||
Floyd | There's no way to climb up into the closed overhead ventilation grill. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "exits" | ||||
Floyd | From here, it looks like it's possible to go south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You make your way south and crawl out. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Server Room Floyd | There are just the usual racks here. The rest of the room is bare, Floyd | with the usual drop ceilings and the usual raised floor providing a Floyd | contrast to the unusual wooden walls outside. And it looks like we Floyd | also have Sophie. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "find alien screwdriver" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "To campus maybe?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "pull up more floor" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "yeah" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & Fifth Floyd | The eastern corners are occupied by the two nicest residential options Floyd | in town, The Maple Copse and Yew Village. City Hall has a face turned Floyd | this way to the southwest. On the northwest corner are the colors and Floyd | leafy tufts of the city gardens. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Octopus... Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & Fourth Floyd | The nWare Media Campus is north; Octopus turns into the campus's main Floyd | path on the north side of Fourth Street. To the southwest are the Floyd | city's gardens, complementing the green of the campus with other Floyd | herbifarous colors. A store called "Beverage Rack" is to the Floyd | southeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Octopus... Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 ServerRoom Floyd | You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms Floyd | start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open floor" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "open the surroundings." ) Floyd | Floyd | That's not something you can open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F7 Server Room Floyd | The raised floor is charcoal in color -- it's the sort seen in all Floyd | nWare buildings that house really official business. The racks all Floyd | around are also especially businesslike. And it looks like we also Floyd | have Cindy. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open floor" | ||||
Floyd | Using the double-cup panel lifter somewhat more strenuously than you Floyd | really should have to, you wiggle part of the floor open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "enter floor" | ||||
Floyd | You muddle around under the raised floor a bit, encountering only Floyd | conduits and claustrophobia, not really even needing a lamp for the Floyd | full experience. Then you get back out of there. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "This one is less useful." | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "close nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You close the nLap 500. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says (to jenrexrode), "Thanks." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | Two modified Segways, driven by school children, scream past each Floyd | other at top speed, missing by inches. Then they career off. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Foyer Floyd | This particularly uninviting room may have been included simply to Floyd | reassure those without proper clearance that they are in the wrong Floyd | place. To the north is the building's main floor. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Main Floor Floyd | This is a large, open, and curiously empty workspace. There are racks Floyd | all around the place. And it looks like we also have the F2 server. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "we don't have out helmet on, FWIW" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You once again don the strange helmet. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open floor" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "open the surroundings." ) Floyd | Floyd | That's not something you can open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Foyer Floyd | This particularly uninviting room may have been included simply to Floyd | reassure those without proper clearance that they are in the wrong Floyd | place. To the north is the building's main floor. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | You're not cleared to enter the building over there. Although you work Floyd | for nWare, the subdivisions of the Media division are pretty much Floyd | walled off from each other. Floyd | Floyd | A sizable crowd of people wearing tye-dyed bedsheets babbles loudly, Floyd | running past and away from you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F7 Server Room Floyd | The raised floor is charcoal in color -- it's the sort seen in all Floyd | nWare buildings that house really official business. The racks all Floyd | around are also especially businesslike. And it looks like we also Floyd | have Cindy. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "enter floor" | ||||
Floyd | There's no way you're going to be able to get into the raised floor Floyd | wearing the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & First Floyd | A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest Floyd | corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on Floyd | the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a Floyd | little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Floyd | Campus. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A gray and black designer herd hurries past you, almost at a trot, Floyd | brandishing picapoles. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Server Room Floyd | Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make Floyd | this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it Floyd | looks like we also have Nora. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open floor" | ||||
Floyd | Using the double-cup panel lifter somewhat more strenuously than you Floyd | really should have to, you wiggle part of the floor open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "enter floor" | ||||
Floyd | There's no way you're going to be able to get into the raised floor Floyd | wearing the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "doff SimulacCam" | ||||
Floyd | You take off the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "enter floyd" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "enter floor" | ||||
Floyd | You muddle around under the raised floor a bit, encountering only Floyd | conduits and claustrophobia, not really even needing a lamp for the Floyd | full experience. Then you get back out of there. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Darn autocomplete." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | Something that looks like a parade float slides down the street. You Floyd | notice some tonsured and robed man dancing on it. Then it turns away Floyd | and continues on, out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & First Floyd | The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire Floyd | station is across from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is Floyd | the tall, cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What Floyd | dominates the intersection, though, is the swooping MuseRoom, to the Floyd | northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | The Medical Center Plaza is not open right now. Looks like it opens at Floyd | nine. Floyd | Floyd | A young couple runs past solemnly, wearing only Nikes and diapers. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "Are we still wearing the helmet or no?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "No. Should we wear it?" | |||
| jenrexrode says, "since when is it not 9 yet? or 9pm/" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't know. I suspect we should be unless we can't." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You once again don the strange helmet. Floyd | Floyd | Someone in sixteenth century Japanese armor goes by on a horse, red Floyd | banner flapping. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "hm" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "I think that one was a timing issue." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | ( You can also use commands such as WAIT 10 MINUTES and WAIT UNTIL 10 Floyd | AM. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode exclaims, "oh!" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | You head into the building and over to the server room. Floyd | Floyd | RelOfCoTn Server Room Floyd | There are racks and racks, with the usual drop ceiling and raised Floyd | floor one finds in the upscale server room. And it looks like we also Floyd | have Wendy. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open floor" | ||||
Floyd | Using the double-cup panel lifter somewhat more strenuously than you Floyd | really should have to, you wiggle part of the floor open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "doff SimulacCam" | ||||
Floyd | You take off the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | You muddle around under the raised floor a bit, encountering only Floyd | conduits and claustrophobia, not really even needing a lamp for the Floyd | full experience. Then you get back out of there. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "wear SimulacCam" | ||||
Floyd | You once again don the strange helmet. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Only the first floor we tried did something?" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Yeah, I suspect that it places the interesting passage wherever we try first." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Was that the one where we heard a weird conversation through the air duct?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "That's certainly possible." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "There's still the underground one, if we think we should try it." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "sure" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's do it." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Sorry, I was looking for the conversation." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Second Floyd | Main runs along the west edge of the nWare Media Campus. To the Floyd | northwest is a Starbucks. The glass cube of the nWare Store sits on a Floyd | park-like plot to the southwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | A bald man runs screaming past you, pants on fire, pursued by a man Floyd | without pants whose hair is on fire. They disappear around a corner. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus North Floyd | The path to the west looks as nice as all the other campus walkways, Floyd | but this is clearly an alley at the edge of town. Floyd | Floyd | You've barely noticed it, thanks to the way the streetlights have Floyd | gradually filled in for the departing sun, but night has fallen. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus South Floyd | The eastern edge of the city looks like a long, empty parking lot. The Floyd | path onto campus to the west is typically impressive, though. There's Floyd | a subtle brown door to the east here, set right in the dirt of the Floyd | East Berm. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | East Berm Server Room Floyd | Much like other server rooms in this world of ours: racks, raised Floyd | floor, drop ceiling. It seems to have been made a bit more spacious Floyd | than it needs to be. And it looks like we also have Ester. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open floor" | ||||
Floyd | Using the double-cup panel lifter somewhat more strenuously than you Floyd | really should have to, you wiggle part of the floor open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "enter floor" | ||||
Floyd | There's no way you're going to be able to get into the raised floor Floyd | wearing the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | There's a loud and sudden microphone-tapping sound, followed by the Floyd | shriek of feedback. Floyd | Floyd | ATTENTION, this is not an emergency. But there will be a demonstration Floyd | of a project involving new technologies in just a few minutes. It may Floyd | possibly result in some unusual irregularities. Don't be alarmed. Floyd | Thank you. Floyd | Floyd | The civil alert system crackles back into silence. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf14" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "doff helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You take off the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | You muddle around under the raised floor a bit, encountering only Floyd | conduits and claustrophobia, not really even needing a lamp for the Floyd | full experience. Then you get back out of there. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You once again don the strange helmet. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | A warning shriek sounds, almost inside your head -- it's the helmet. Floyd | "OVERLOAD," a stupidly calm voice says. The SimulacCam splits right Floyd | down the middle, along the line of your nose, and falls, shattering on Floyd | the ground. Floyd | Floyd | A coming screams across the ceiling. Floyd | Floyd | All that you can see flickers into reverse video; even worse is the Floyd | reverse audio, pure sound everywhere except for the globs of silence Floyd | shrieked from innumerable mouths, your own one of these. The tongue Floyd | cannot say what tastes and smells visit you. Your skin is crawling all Floyd | over the ants. The round is world. Floyd | Floyd | Sixteen years later you arise from catatonia to play a single game of Floyd | ping pong against a silentious Native American. It is a moment that Floyd | Oliver Sacks would have written touchingly about. But the moment does Floyd | not last. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 10 of the 10 Floyd | tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | Limax says, "Whoops" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Best Pynchon reference ever." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "(A screaming comes across the sky.)" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "What if we do not wear the helmet?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | East Berm Server Room Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | Limax says, "Heh 'The round is world'" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "drop helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You perform the relinquishment. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | A coming screams across the ceiling. Floyd | Floyd | All that you can see flickers into reverse video; even worse is the Floyd | reverse audio, pure sound everywhere except for the globs of silence Floyd | shrieked from innumerable mouths, your own one of these. The tongue Floyd | cannot say what tastes and smells visit you. Your skin is crawling all Floyd | over the ants. The round is world. Floyd | Floyd | Sixteen years later you arise from catatonia to play a single game of Floyd | ping pong against a silentious Native American. It is a moment that Floyd | Oliver Sacks would have written touchingly about. But the moment does Floyd | not last. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 10 of the 10 Floyd | tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Doesn't help..." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hm." | ||||
| Limax says, "Looks like we need to keep the helmet on" | ||||
| Limax says, "Maybe" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Does the helmet have any controls?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "So we failed to avert whatever we were supposed to avert." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | East Berm Server Room Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x helmet" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The SimulacCam. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | A coming screams across the ceiling. Floyd | Floyd | All that you can see flickers into reverse video; even worse is the Floyd | reverse audio, pure sound everywhere except for the globs of silence Floyd | shrieked from innumerable mouths, your own one of these. The tongue Floyd | cannot say what tastes and smells visit you. Your skin is crawling all Floyd | over the ants. The round is world. Floyd | Floyd | Sixteen years later you arise from catatonia to play a single game of Floyd | ping pong against a silentious Native American. It is a moment that Floyd | Oliver Sacks would have written touchingly about. But the moment does Floyd | not last. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 10 of the 10 Floyd | tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | EmacsUser says (to DavidW), "I think not." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I suspect we may be in an unwinnable situation right now." | ||||
| DavidW says, "hmph." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "maybe we should buy a plane ticket" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "So we know how to deal with all of the work tasks. And we have the nstick and maybe the charred drive as uninvestigated leads." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Also, the independent grounds." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "A bit dissatisfying. Were we given any direction for what to seek, or were we floundering amongst a cityful of locations hoping to trip over a plot token?" | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Or Independent Grounds, a coffee shop?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Hmm." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "IFWiki: 'Cruelty to be determined'. I think I know what to put there. :D" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "hm. Does the game (or helmet) respond to 'xyzzy'? Or 'odysseus'?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | East Berm Server Room Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | East Berm Server Room Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | East Berm Server Room Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "xyzzy" | ||||
Floyd | You suddenly utter a great word of power known to you from your youth. Floyd | Nothing happens. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "odysseus" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "yeah, the Odysseus thing was another interesting Zork reference" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "plugh" | ||||
Floyd | You suddenly utter a great word of power known to you from your youth. Floyd | Nothing happens. Floyd | Floyd | > | Limax says, "Heh" | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Wait, what happens when we wait right now?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "z.z.z.z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | A warning shriek sounds, almost inside your head -- it's the helmet. Floyd | "OVERLOAD," a stupidly calm voice says. The SimulacCam splits right Floyd | down the middle, along the line of your nose, and falls, shattering on Floyd | the ground. Floyd | Floyd | A coming screams across the ceiling. Floyd | Floyd | All that you can see flickers into reverse video; even worse is the Floyd | reverse audio, pure sound everywhere except for the globs of silence Floyd | shrieked from innumerable mouths, your own one of these. The tongue Floyd | cannot say what tastes and smells visit you. Your skin is crawling all Floyd | over the ants. The round is world. Floyd | Floyd | Sixteen years later you arise from catatonia to play a single game of Floyd | ping pong against a silentious Native American. It is a moment that Floyd | Oliver Sacks would have written touchingly about. But the moment does Floyd | not last. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 10 of the 10 Floyd | tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | Limax says, "Not often does plugh get coded" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yep, it's a timed event." | ||||
| Ellison asks, "I've been holding my tongue since I didn't want nm to read this transcript and see that I hadn't played this game yet, but given this games similarity to AMFV, are there any tasks we can continue to do (like the lull period in AMFV)?" | ||||
| Ellison says, "game's" | ||||
| Limax asks (of Ellison), "What will nm do to you?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I suppose we're hampered by not seeing the time of day." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "oh, so it's not this room that's killing us" | ||||
| Ellison asks, "I take it typing 'time' doesn't do anything?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Let me fire up the z5 locally, to see what's on the status bar." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Ellison), "I tried it." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Location and time." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I'm wondering if there's more hints on the conspiracy in locations we never visited." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Lesson: always implement a command that shows the status bar in the main game window." | ||||
| EmacsUser nods. | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Should we do a systematic sweep?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I have a tendency to put essential information in the status bar." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yeah, we might, but we probabyl should get back to a save before we completed the last task." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Right, but that's the glk layer." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "ILAC." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Okay, playing this game for three hours has been pretty exhaustive. If someone else wants to do a thorough search, I'd be happy to watch it, but I don't think I'm going to contribute a lot." | ||||
| Limax asks, "Do you think it's triggered by the completion of the last task?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I suspect so. We got a page saying that everything was going fine now." | ||||
| Fang arrives, full of fun and funk. | VictorGijsbers says, "So, is anyone still up to the challenge? We could also call it quits for now, and perhaps try again next week. It's fine with me if you play on, of course. :)" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Sorry, distracted by discussion on #floyd." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "My vote is to pick up from here next week." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
Floyd | ( One of the answers above is needed. ) Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402" | ||||
Floyd | ( One of the answers above is needed. ) Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | ( One of the answers above is needed. ) Floyd | > | Idd asks, "restore?" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "Yeah. Should we keep all of our saves?" | ||||
| Ellison says, "I'd rather pick back up tomorrow if possible. I don't want us to get into the habit of stretching games out among several weeks unless it's a huge game we already knew we'd have to do that for going in" | ||||
| Jacqueline waves and makes an isquiesque departure for home. | VictorGijsbers says, "I'll probably be able to be here tomorrow." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "That too is fine by me. I'll just be a little late." | ||||
| DavidW says, "yeah, trying again tomorrow sounds good." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Okay, let's do that then." | ||||
| Limax says, "I probably wont' be, but that's okay" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf1" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Limax has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | ||||
| Idd goes home. | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-1" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf2" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-1" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf1" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-1" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers Okay, see you tomorrow. | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf2" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-2" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf3" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-3" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers goes home. | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf4" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-4" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf5" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-5" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf6" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-6" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison arrives, full of fun and funk. | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf7" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-7" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf8" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-8" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf9" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-9" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf10" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-10" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf11" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-11" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf12" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-12" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf13" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-13" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf14" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf20110402-14" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "quit" | ||||
Floyd | ... Are you sure you want to quit? | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "y" | ||||
Floyd | | ||||
| Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" | EmacsUser says (to Jacqueline), "Sorry for all that noise on the transcript." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
| Floyd says (to EmacsUser), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." | ||||
| DavidW has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | ||||
| EmacsUser disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. | ||||
| Ellison has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | ||||
| Johnny does like justice, but that's taking it a bit far. | ||||
| Fang disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. | ||||
| jenrexrode has had her fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | Ellison says, "dang it, ran into the time limit on the first day of Book & Volume. didn't know it was so harsh." | |||
| jenrexrode asks, "do you think all moves count, or jusst from some point?" | ||||
| Ellison says, "I dunno. it's possible that the game was angry that I ate before being done with all of my tasks or I just took too long, I guess." | ||||
| inky says, "ha ha" | ||||
| inky says, "my vague recollection is I ran into the time limit the first time or two and then it wasn't an issue later" | ||||
| Ellison says, "the city is surprisingly big for a game that's like OH GOOD THING THE CITY IS SO SMALL HA HA" | ||||
| Ellison says, "dang, B&V breaks Trizbort's automapping feature" | ||||
| Ellison asks, "how did people find that crawlspace before?" | ||||
| Gerynar arrives, full of funk, but no fun. | ||||
| maga disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. | Gerynar asks, "is the game still on, or did y'all finish it?" | |||
| jenrexrode says, "we found a suction cup." | ||||
| Gerynar says "bloop" and shrinks down into a little dot, then winks out...just like those old-fashioned B&w televisions. | ||||
| Gerynar has disconnected. | jenrexrode says, "no finish, restart tomorrow" | |||
| Ellison says, "oh yeah, the thing in the incinerator. I didn't pick that up." | ||||
| Gerynar arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. | ||||
| Gerynar has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | genericgeekgirl asks, "Completely starting over, or just continuing?" | |||
| jenrexrode says, "continuing from some point where we're not running out of time, I guess. we got stuck with one move left before dying." | ||||
| Ellison says, "ok, I'm caught up now... and also with no idea what to do" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "heh" | ||||
| Ellison asks, "did you guys catch the scene where the person in black talks to you and says how she is going to get away?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "i don't think so" | ||||
| Ellison says, "it happened for me during the sand storm and I didn't remember you guys seeing it" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "we were at the airport during the sandstorm" | ||||
| Ellison says, "yeah, I was just some random place" | ||||
| Ellison says, "I figure you have to be in either a public place or possibly wearing the helmet" | ||||
| Gerynar arrives, full of fun and funk. | ||||
| Gerynar has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | Ellison says, "awesome. I am making progress." | |||
| Ellison says, "ok, pretty sure I got the optimal ending... of course, this always happens *after* I had already textdumped the game intending to cheat." | ||||
| Jacqueline asks, "Okay, so the game shall resume tomorrow?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "That's the plan, yes." | ||||
| Jacqueline says, "Honestly, unless someone needs Perry, I'm just going to leave him logging - have the whole thing on one transcript." | ||||
| DavidW says, "We did get to an ending, but not a good one. :)" | ||||
| Jacqueline nods. | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "I think ellison finished on his own" | ||||
| DavidW says, "The game has a timer, so simple UNDOs won't help us." | ||||
| DavidW says (to jenrexrode), "I might do a little exploring on my own as well, if I find the time." | ||||
| Ellison says, "yeah, I went playing on my own (not in the Toyshop), but I'd be happy to give gentle hints to anyone who wants them. I'm currently reading the textdump to see what kind of things I missed." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Are we starting at 2pm? That's, like, soon." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers arrives, full of funk, but no fun. | ||||
| DavidW arrives, full of fun, but no funk. | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hi." | ||||
| DavidW says, "hi" | ||||
| DavidW says, "You're the first one here." | DavidW says, "Jacqueline left Perry on overnight so there'd be one lo-o-o-ong transcript." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "We'll see who turns up. If it turns out noone could make it, we'll reschedule. (I'm not 100% sure I can be here for a long time.)" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Heh. :)" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Ellison was playing on his own last night; he's willing to offer hints if we want them." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "All right. Did he finish the game?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I'm not sure." | DavidW asks (of Ellison), "Did you say you finished Book and Volume last night?" | |||
| genericgeekgirl arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. | ||||
| DavidW says, "hi genericgeekgirl" | ||||
| genericgeekgirl says, "Hey" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hey." | DavidW says, "I have no idea who all is showing up. I suppose we should at least wait a few minutes." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yeah, sure." | VictorGijsbers says, "We'll need the map again: [LINK]" | |||
| DavidW says, "... watermelon cantaloupe rutabaga marshmellow ..." | ||||
| DavidW says, "ah thanks" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Do we have a plan? I suppose we should explore the city more thoroughly, unless someone has a better idea." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I was wondering what our plan of attack would be. And, yeah, I'd opt for combing the city for inventory and suspicious scenery." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Great. We could do the always-open locations at the start of the game, and then check the others as the time progresses; or wait until its late enough to try them all." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Did we ever show the nStick to someone in the nWare store? That might have been smart." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't remember seeing any NPCs in the nWare store." | ||||
| Ellison says, "I did finish B&V last night, yeah" | ||||
| Ellison arrives, full of funk, but no fun. | VictorGijsbers asks, "Did we miss a lot?" | |||
| Ellison says, "you missed some red herring stuff and other extras, but no, for the most part, you just need to do one thing" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I'm hoping it's 'visit the comic book store'." | ||||
| DavidW says, "But it's probably 'visit Starbucks (any)'." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Is this one thing we need to do in a location we didn't explore?" | ||||
| Ellison says, "there is something you can do in the comic book store. it's not important, though." | ||||
| Ellison says, "no, it's a location you've been in." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Hm, ok. Well, does anyone know how to fire this thing up?" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "load bookvol" | ||||
Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message] | ||||
| DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | an [auto mata] release Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | >I Introduction to interactive fiction Floyd | >A Author's note and acknowledgments Floyd | >L License information Floyd | Floyd | >R Restore a previous session Floyd | >B Begin a new session | VictorGijsbers asks, "Do we start anew or load a save?" | |||
| DavidW says, "We have 14 save points, but I don't know which would be best." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I'd like to at least have the helmet." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Shall we try save point 10?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "r" | VictorGijsbers says, "Not too close to the dissolution." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf20110402_10" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | A session could not be restored using that file name. Floyd | Floyd | Press any key to return to the previous list of options. | ||||
| DavidW pushes the green 'space' button. | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | an [auto mata] release Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | >I Introduction to interactive fiction Floyd | >A Author's note and acknowledgments Floyd | >L License information Floyd | Floyd | >R Restore a previous session Floyd | >B Begin a new session | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "r" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf10" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 ServerRoom Floyd | You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms Floyd | start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "look" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 ServerRoom Floyd | You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms Floyd | start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying the defective disk, a dollar coin, the SimulacCam Floyd | (being worn), an nStick, your nLap 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "full score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 8 of the 10 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | You have accomplished these important job-related tasks: Floyd | Floyd | - Rebooting Nora. Floyd | - Rebooting Ester. Floyd | - Rebooting Sophie. Floyd | - Rebooting Wendy. Floyd | - Rebooting Cindy. Floyd | - Compiling and installing the crucial update. Floyd | - Resetting and delivering Gus's password. Floyd | - Offlining the rooted server. Floyd | Floyd | These labors remain: Floyd | Floyd | - Replacing the defective disk. Floyd | - Destroying the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Right, we took out the defective disk." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's go and explore without replacing it." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Victor), "feel free to drive." | ||||
| Ellison says, "csb" | ||||
| Ellison goes back to Squeamhurst.. | ||||
| Ellison has disconnected. | VictorGijsbers asks, "Wanna go somehwere specific?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I'm curious if we missed something in City Hall. I'd like to see the comic book store. And a Starbucks." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Ok. I'd like to show the stick in the nWare store. Let's do those four things first." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | A man plods down the street and away from you, carrying an elderly man Floyd | on his back and a Cabbage Patch doll in his arms. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | nWare Store Floyd | The products are incidentally on hand here. Usually nGeniuses are Floyd | about to discuss tips and tricks that further enhance the virtues of Floyd | nWare hardware and software, preaching to the clergy. Today, perhaps Floyd | because of the impending demo, the place seems barren. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "show nstick" | ||||
Floyd | You look ridiculous waving the nStick. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x nstick" | ||||
Floyd | It's an nStick, a proprietary memory storage device. You haven't seen Floyd | this particular sort before, and it's not going to fit into any of the Floyd | usual computer suspects -- your nLap or the servers you manage. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Hm. Buying a disk is easy, but I'm not sure what we could buy to get this thing working." | |||
| Ellison arrives, ready to play with the toys. | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Third Floyd | A multi-level grocery store dominates the northeast corner, occupying Floyd | the whole side of the block from here to Second. A windowless Floyd | building, this one with a logo like a fork of lightning, is southeast. Floyd | A shrouded establishment called "Gelatinous Cube" is southwest. On the Floyd | final corner is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fourth Floyd | The styling retail space on the northeast corner, nTune, is almost Floyd | bare. To the southeast is the nTopia All-Faiths Chapel Complex. Floyd | Unmistakable typography announces The Gap to the southwest, while the Floyd | remaining corner features the smaller but less restrained posters of Floyd | Comics Command. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Comics Command Floyd | Airy, clean, but otherwise rather like those indigenous comics stores Floyd | that appear in American basements here and there, those cozy bunkers. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I think there's probably some device that the nStick will plug into that we'll find at the conspiracy HQ, or something like that." | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "buy watchmen" | ||||
Floyd | You check all over for Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's Watchmena graphic Floyd | novel you happen to really like, in which a sinister conspiracy is at Floyd | work in an alternate but recognizable reality -- but there doesn't Floyd | seem to be a copy anywhere around here. Too bad. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Could be. Here's your comic store. :)" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x comics" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says (to Ellison), "heh. cute." | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Heh, is not buying Watchmen all we can do?" | ||||
| Ellison says, "yeah, seeing that was kind of a head-slapping moment" | ||||
| Ellison says, "yeah" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Do you need knowledge of Watchmen to solve the game?" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "buy superman" | ||||
Floyd | You are gripped by paralysis, unable to decide where to begin or end Floyd | your shopping spree. After you breathe for a moment, the panic Floyd | subsides. Perhaps you'll be able to go and shop after the stress of Floyd | the demo has passed. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "weird, because Superman is in the front window, I think" | |||
| DavidW says, "There was a Watchmen ref elsewhere in the game." | ||||
| Ellison says, "(you can examine stores from out on the street)" | ||||
| Ellison says, "yeah, when you go into the drug shop" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Shall we go?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "sure. Not sure where to, though." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's try the city hall." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fourth Floyd | The styling retail space on the northeast corner, nTune, is almost Floyd | bare. To the southeast is the nTopia All-Faiths Chapel Complex. Floyd | Unmistakable typography announces The Gap to the southwest, while the Floyd | remaining corner features the smaller but less restrained posters of Floyd | Comics Command. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e.e.s" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Fourth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fourth Floyd | The local elementary school sits beside a gated playground to the Floyd | northeast. Plywood closes off the site on the southeast corner, hiding Floyd | whatever is being built there. The Pine and Elm is southwest. On the Floyd | northwest corner is an upscale variety store, MarMart. Floyd | You head east on Fourth Street... Floyd | Floyd | The sudden clamor and rush of a crowd sends you helplessly to the Floyd | ground. With a grinding pull, a battalion in green aprons hurls itself Floyd | over you and into the structure on the southwest corner. Perhaps you Floyd | glimpse a pair of stunned figures in black T-shirts inside, shivering Floyd | behind a counter. Your vision seems to be obscured for a moment by a Floyd | milky steam. Floyd | Floyd | You stand, finally, unsure about what you seem to have witnessed, Floyd | unsure about whether or not to hope it was real. Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | Floyd | A sizable crowd of people wearing tye-dyed bedsheets babbles loudly, Floyd | running past and away from you. Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x diorama" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The diorama. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | You notice that it has a brass button on it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "press brass button" | ||||
Floyd | That seems like it might do something. But it doesn't. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x benjamin franklin" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The diorama. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | You notice that it has a brass button on it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x walls" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I remember that the tube from which the stick came closed itself." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x shellf" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The diorama. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | You notice that it has a brass button on it. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Looks like it's just the diorama here." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take all" | ||||
Floyd | There are none. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode arrives, full of fun, but no funk. | DavidW says, "And yes, the tube closed up." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x tube" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Server Room Floyd | There are just the usual racks here. The rest of the room is bare, Floyd | with the usual drop ceilings and the usual raised floor providing a Floyd | contrast to the unusual wooden walls outside. And it looks like we Floyd | also have Sophie. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "pull sophie" | ||||
Floyd | That is not manipulable in that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "Did we visit the Gardens at all?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Did we try to open the ceilings, yesterday?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "oh, no. Just floors." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Nope, we visited neither gardens, nor park, not empty lot." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Uh..." | ||||
| DavidW says, "We missed the ceilings, I think." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "So we had this thing that explicitly said that it could be used to open both floors and ceilings..." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "And every server room has a lowered ceiling..." | ||||
| DavidW says, "argh. The opener is at the incinerator." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "And yet we didn't think of opening the ceilings? :)" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers exclaims, "Let's go!" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I wasn't paying attention!" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I miss plenty when we're in CF." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Back Floyd | Back Street runs east behind City Hall here at the south end of Floyd | nTopia. Eel is to the west. A warehouse is on the northwest corner. Floyd | Floyd | You have come to the edge of the plateau on which nTopia is built. Far Floyd | below, past the railing, is the desert plain, stretching from reddish Floyd | white to white, scraggled here and there with gray. The sky is lapis Floyd | lazuli. Some highway stretches far off from east to west, as if it Floyd | were an imperfect reflection of a line on a map. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Back Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Back Floyd | Two uncannily clean but industrial-looking buildings sit on either Floyd | side of Eel to the north. Back Street runs right along the railing Floyd | that bounds the city to the south. Floyd | Floyd | A very important-looking person wearing a green visor speeds by on a Floyd | golden Sinclair C5. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Incinerator Floyd | There's some corrugated steel-with-cinderblock-accents thing going on Floyd | here. The floor ends to the west, where smoke and wailing rise from a Floyd | pit. And it looks like we also have a double-cup panel lifter. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take lifter" | ||||
Floyd | You conduct the acquisition. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Back Floyd | Two uncannily clean but industrial-looking buildings sit on either Floyd | side of Eel to the north. Back Street runs right along the railing Floyd | that bounds the city to the south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "x lifter" | ||||
Floyd | Ah yes. The double-cup panel lifter. An ungainly little widget. There Floyd | it is. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Ok, try the other server rooms first, and then head over to the weird one?" | |||
| DavidW says, "Sure." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I have no preference." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Back Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Back Floyd | Back Street runs east behind City Hall here at the south end of Floyd | nTopia. Eel is to the west. A warehouse is on the northwest corner. Floyd | Floyd | A gang of perhaps twenty people on souped-up Segways powers past and Floyd | disappears. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Server Room Floyd | There are just the usual racks here. The rest of the room is bare, Floyd | with the usual drop ceilings and the usual raised floor providing a Floyd | contrast to the unusual wooden walls outside. And it looks like we Floyd | also have Sophie. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "lift ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | The ceiling is not close enough for you to palpate or deal with in Floyd | that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "lift floor" | ||||
Floyd | Using the double-cup panel lifter somewhat more strenuously than you Floyd | really should have to, you wiggle part of the floor open. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Hm." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on sophie" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can stand on. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Maybe the ceilings can't be opened after all." | |||
| jenrexrode asks, "did we restart?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "lower ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | The ceiling is not close enough for you to palpate or deal with in Floyd | that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Nope, we loaded a save pretty near to the end." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "We have taken out but not replaced the defective disk." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "ok" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "climb sophie" | ||||
Floyd | You must have dozed off during the part of Spiderman that explained Floyd | how to do that. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "There might be one ceiling within reach, or maybe there's a stool we can use." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | There's the ceiling. Right up there. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "open ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | The ceiling is not close enough for you to palpate or deal with in Floyd | that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Want to do a round of the server rooms?" | |||
| DavidW says, "sure." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "climb rack" | ||||
Floyd | You must have dozed off during the part of Spiderman that explained Floyd | how to do that. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Okay, let's do W, N, E, campus." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | A cute little fire truck careers down the street, letting loose an Floyd | occasional bottle rocket. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast Floyd | corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is Floyd | southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fifth Floyd | Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a Floyd | windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia Floyd | sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fourth Floyd | The styling retail space on the northeast corner, nTune, is almost Floyd | bare. To the southeast is the nTopia All-Faiths Chapel Complex. Floyd | Unmistakable typography announces The Gap to the southwest, while the Floyd | remaining corner features the smaller but less restrained posters of Floyd | Comics Command. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Third Floyd | A multi-level grocery store dominates the northeast corner, occupying Floyd | the whole side of the block from here to Second. A windowless Floyd | building, this one with a logo like a fork of lightning, is southeast. Floyd | A shrouded establishment called "Gelatinous Cube" is southwest. On the Floyd | final corner is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A miniature ambulance pulls up. A bystander is quickly hoisted inside Floyd | by two people clad in padded suits, and the ambulance drives off. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | You head into the building and over to the server room. Floyd | Floyd | RelOfCoTn Server Room Floyd | There are racks and racks, with the usual drop ceiling and raised Floyd | floor one finds in the upscale server room. And it looks like we also Floyd | have Wendy. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | The ceiling is not close enough for you to palpate or deal with in Floyd | that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "lower ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | The ceiling is not close enough for you to palpate or deal with in Floyd | that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "touch ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | The ceiling is not close enough for you to palpate or deal with in Floyd | that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Nothing special here." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A young couple runs past solemnly, wearing only Nikes and diapers. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & First Floyd | The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire Floyd | station is across from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is Floyd | the tall, cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What Floyd | dominates the intersection, though, is the swooping MuseRoom, to the Floyd | northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Server Room Floyd | Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make Floyd | this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it Floyd | looks like we also have Nora. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | The ceiling is not close enough for you to palpate or deal with in Floyd | that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "climb racks" | ||||
Floyd | You must have dozed off during the part of Spiderman that explained Floyd | how to do that. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "stand on racks" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can stand on. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "stand on nora" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can stand on. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "move racks" | ||||
Floyd | That is not manipulable in that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x racks" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Airport Server Room Floyd | Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make Floyd | this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it Floyd | looks like we also have Nora. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take nora and throw it at the ceiling with a mighty cry of rage" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "No luck here, it seems." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e.e.e.s.s.s" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Front Floyd | Even Main Street has nothing but a pair of warehouses on this end, Floyd | where it meets Front Street. The airport wall is north. Floyd | You head east on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & Front Floyd | Front Street continues its run alongside the airport. There is a Floyd | warehouse on the southwest corner. The mall is under construction to Floyd | the southeast. Floyd | You head east on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin & Front Floyd | The city goes no further north or east. There's just Front Lodge to Floyd | the southwest. Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin & First Floyd | First Lodge is on the northwest corner. The nWare Media Campus is Floyd | southwest of here, but there's no way onto campus from this Floyd | intersection. Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus North Floyd | The path to the west looks as nice as all the other campus walkways, Floyd | but this is clearly an alley at the edge of town. Floyd | You head south on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus South Floyd | The eastern edge of the city looks like a long, empty parking lot. The Floyd | path onto campus to the west is typically impressive, though. There's Floyd | a subtle brown door to the east here, set right in the dirt of the Floyd | East Berm. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | East Berm Server Room Floyd | Much like other server rooms in this world of ours: racks, raised Floyd | floor, drop ceiling. It seems to have been made a bit more spacious Floyd | than it needs to be. And it looks like we also have Ester. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "This one is more spacious than it needs to be." | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "I wonder if that is significant?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | There's the ceiling. Right up there. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "lower ceiling" | ||||
Floyd | The ceiling is not close enough for you to palpate or deal with in Floyd | that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "no idea" | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "climb rack" | ||||
Floyd | You must have dozed off during the part of Spiderman that explained Floyd | how to do that. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x panel" | ||||
Floyd | There's the floor. Right down there. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "raise floor" | ||||
Floyd | Using the double-cup panel lifter somewhat more strenuously than you Floyd | really should have to, you wiggle part of the floor open. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Maybe we should have been doubel cheking the floors." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | There's no way you're going to be able to get into the raised floor Floyd | wearing the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take off helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You take off the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | You muddle around under the raised floor a bit, encountering only Floyd | conduits and claustrophobia, not really even needing a lamp for the Floyd | full experience. Then you get back out of there. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Nothing here." | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "There are three servers on the campus, right?" | ||||
| Ellison asks, "I am leaving soon! any last questions?" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Victor), "I only remember two." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Uh... is it likely we'll find the solution? :)" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I was multitasking yesterday; I was counting on Fang being here again today for continuity." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "There's F7, F2 (with the cave beneath), and F9 (with the raisable floor)." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's try them." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus South Floyd | The eastern edge of the city looks like a long, empty parking lot. The Floyd | path onto campus to the west is typically impressive, though. There's Floyd | a subtle brown door to the east here, set right in the dirt of the Floyd | East Berm. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "I'll save you some time. you already have figured out everything you need to know about floors and ceilings and all that. what you guys need next is out in the city, not any of the server areas." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin Behind Campus North Floyd | The path to the west looks as nice as all the other campus walkways, Floyd | but this is clearly an alley at the edge of town. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers exclaims (at Ellison), "Okay, thanks!" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "This would have been frustrating if it didn't lead anywhere." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "let's explore new places then" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "There was mention of a visitor area near the airport. Brochure in there, maybe?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's check it out." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "You drive?" | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "ask woman for brochure?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "If that doesn't help, we can always try to walk out at all of the border locations." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I don't think we even tried to go north at the airport." | ||||
| DavidW says, "sorry, you caught me off guard" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Back in a moment, feel free to explore." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Urchin... Floyd | Floyd | Urchin & First Floyd | First Lodge is on the northwest corner. The nWare Media Campus is Floyd | southwest of here, but there's no way onto campus from this Floyd | intersection. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & First Floyd | The main north-south path of the nWare Media Campus meets Octopus on Floyd | the south side. Roy's, a favorite hacker hangout and supplier of Floyd | takeout, is on the northwest corner. The mall is under construction to Floyd | the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Octopus... Floyd | Floyd | Octopus & Front Floyd | Front Street continues its run alongside the airport. There is a Floyd | warehouse on the southwest corner. The mall is under construction to Floyd | the southeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | The warehouse isn't open to the public, or to you. Floyd | Floyd | A woman hurries by, loudly reciting art criticism by John Ashbery and Floyd | occasionally making some sort of nonhuman primate sound. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Front Floyd | Even Main Street has nothing but a pair of warehouses on this end, Floyd | where it meets Front Street. The airport wall is north. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | The visitor center is not open right now. Looks like it opens at ten. Floyd | Floyd | A man plods down the street and away from you, carrying an elderly man Floyd | on his back and a Cabbage Patch doll in his arms. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Starbucks Floyd | Hey, it's Starbucks. Just like in You've Got Mail. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "buy coffee" | ||||
Floyd | You purchase your caffeine solution and gratefully slurp it down. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You once again don the strange helmet. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Starbucks Floyd | Hey, it's Starbucks. Just like in You've Got Mail. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x airport" | ||||
Floyd | Upon further inspection, the only things that stand out are the tall, Floyd | rectangular nature of the arch, and the fact that it is topped with Floyd | red flashing lights. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x arch" | ||||
Floyd | Upon further inspection, the only things that stand out are the tall, Floyd | rectangular nature of the arch, and the fact that it is topped with Floyd | red flashing lights. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x lights" | ||||
Floyd | Upon further inspection, the only things that stand out are the tall, Floyd | rectangular nature of the arch, and the fact that it is topped with Floyd | red flashing lights. Floyd | Floyd | Two modified Segways, driven by school children, scream past each Floyd | other at top speed, missing by inches. Then they career off. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Wish I could tell what time it is." | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Can we get in the airport?" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Of course. Why?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "And then pass the security?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't think so." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Your intimate friends at airport security recognize you, find that you Floyd | still lack a boarding pass, and look at you with concern. You do not Floyd | get to go in. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I think we tried that." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Oh, I missed that." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x kiosk" | ||||
Floyd | Nice kiosk. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "The visitor center was closed; open at 10." | |||
| Ellison says, "ok, gotta go. back later!" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "O, really? But surely, it is 10 already?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't know!" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "This was the last stage of our game." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison goes back to Squeamhurst.. | ||||
| Ellison has disconnected. | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | You think you catch a glimpse of someone down the street leaping out a Floyd | window and deploying a parachute, but a second glance finds nothing Floyd | out of the ordinary going on. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | The Gap is not open right now. Looks like it opens at ten. Floyd | Floyd | You've barely noticed it, thanks to the way the streetlights have Floyd | gradually filled in for the departing sun, but night has fallen. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I was going to check the library next." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hm, weird. Sure, check it out." | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "night?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Maybe it is now too late?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to jenrexrode), "Yes, maybe." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "so instead of too early, we're too late" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & First Floyd | The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire Floyd | station is across from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is Floyd | the tall, cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What Floyd | dominates the intersection, though, is the swooping MuseRoom, to the Floyd | northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x museroom" | ||||
Floyd | Cultural hub of nTopia, this peripheral building holds both the city's Floyd | museum and the only library. Like the Medical and Professional Center Floyd | across from it, it is radially symmetric. While lacking colored Floyd | stripes, it does have the shape of an alien chesspiece and a facade Floyd | entirely made of rose-colored glass. Someone very famous designed it Floyd | and cackled gleefully when it was completed. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | The MuseRoom is not open right now. Looks like it opens at nine. Floyd | Floyd | One guy on Rollerblades and one in a racing wheelchair whisper past, Floyd | both with hockey sticks. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "Frustrating." | |||
| DavidW says, "I bet blind players have to deal with this all the time." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x medical" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Shall we try to check the borders of the city?" | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | The Medical Center Plaza is not open right now. Looks like it opens at Floyd | nine. Floyd | Floyd | There's a loud and sudden microphone-tapping sound, followed by the Floyd | shriek of feedback. Floyd | Floyd | ATTENTION, this is not an emergency. But there will be a demonstration Floyd | of a project involving new technologies in just a few minutes. It may Floyd | possibly result in some unusual irregularities. Don't be alarmed. Floyd | Thank you. Floyd | Floyd | The civil alert system crackles back into silence. Floyd | Floyd | A bald man runs screaming past you, pants on fire, pursued by a man Floyd | without pants whose hair is on fire. They disappear around a corner. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "uh oh" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Ah, reloading time soon." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "We didn't do anything too useful." | ||||
| DavidW says, "We might want to restore from an earlier point." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Fine with me, though I suspect that if there is way out of the city, it will be there at any time. (I'm not sure, of course.)" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "ellison said out in the city, not outside of the city" | ||||
| DavidW says, "My guess is that the helmet can save us if it's modified somehow." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Oh, uh, really?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "i think the way out is to buy a plane ticket." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "but can't do that until boss is happy" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't think we're trying to leave the city." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "only after mission accomplished" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "O yes, out in the city. I read that wrong." | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "So it's out om the in the city, and in a location that we have already visited, according to Ellison." | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Third Floyd | A multi-level grocery store dominates the northeast corner, occupying Floyd | the whole side of the block from here to Second. A windowless Floyd | building, this one with a logo like a fork of lightning, is southeast. Floyd | A shrouded establishment called "Gelatinous Cube" is southwest. On the Floyd | final corner is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | A warning shriek sounds, almost inside your head -- it's the helmet. Floyd | "OVERLOAD," a stupidly calm voice says. The SimulacCam splits right Floyd | down the middle, along the line of your nose, and falls, shattering on Floyd | the ground. Floyd | Floyd | A coming screams across the sky. Floyd | Floyd | All that you can see flickers into reverse video; even worse is the Floyd | reverse audio, pure sound everywhere except for the globs of silence Floyd | shrieked from innumerable mouths, your own one of these. The tongue Floyd | cannot say what tastes and smells visit you. Your skin is crawling all Floyd | over the ants. The round is world. Floyd | Floyd | Sixteen years later you arise from catatonia to play a single game of Floyd | ping pong against a silentious Native American. It is a moment that Floyd | Oliver Sacks would have written touchingly about. But the moment does Floyd | not last. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 8 of the 10 Floyd | tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Modifying the simulaccam sounds like a reasonable idea." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's start by restoring." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Like, if it had more memory or tin foil. Something." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Which save point?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Yep. Shall we check out save 8?" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "cf8" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Airport Server Room Floyd | Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make Floyd | this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it Floyd | looks like we also have Nora. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying the SimulacCam (being worn), an nStick, your nLap Floyd | 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | Hey, this looks like the airport! You can get on a plane here and go Floyd | somewhere else! After you purchase a ticket, after you get your Floyd | manager's approval for vacation time, and so forth! Floyd | Floyd | The window winks away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "close nLap" | ||||
Floyd | You close the nLap 500. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "full score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 8 of the 8 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | You have accomplished these important job-related tasks: Floyd | Floyd | - Rebooting Nora. Floyd | - Rebooting Ester. Floyd | - Rebooting Sophie. Floyd | - Rebooting Wendy. Floyd | - Rebooting Cindy. Floyd | - Compiling and installing the crucial update. Floyd | - Resetting and delivering Gus's password. Floyd | - Offlining the rooted server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | There seems to be no trace of whatever sand was blowing all around, Floyd | unless some of the buildings now have a slightly glossier finish. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | VNRC Floyd | Words cut out of dark wood cover most of the walls, although a central Floyd | space has a triptych of enormous video panels. A woman who exceeds the Floyd | conventional standards of beauty is standing around cheerfully. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Good. It's after the sand storm, and the shops are still open." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x helmet" | ||||
Floyd | Some of the most difficult things to look at are those that are Floyd | currently enclosing your head. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Heh." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take off helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You take off the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x helmet" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The SimulacCam. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "This isn't exactly helpful." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x panels" | ||||
Floyd | The video panels display cheerful promotional views of nTopia. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask woman about nTopia" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Lovely place we live in," she replies. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ask woman about helmet" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she says. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask woman about help" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "I wish I could help, but if I could, I'd probably have a messy job Floyd | like yours and would regret it," she says. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask woman about pamphlet" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she replies. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask woman about brochure" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she says. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ask woman about demo" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she tells you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask woman about starbucks" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she tells you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask woman about conspiracy" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she replies. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask woman about panels" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she replies. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Not very promising." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask woman about visitors" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just Floyd | stand here and smile," she replies. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "yeah, she's useless, I guess." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Shall we check out the hospital again?" | |||
| DavidW says, "Try MuseRoom now." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Ok." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Front Floyd | Front Street is wide here, at the edge of nTopia. The airport is Floyd | north, while two indistinguishable warehouses flank Abalone Street to Floyd | the south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & First Floyd | The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire Floyd | station is across from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is Floyd | the tall, cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What Floyd | dominates the intersection, though, is the swooping MuseRoom, to the Floyd | northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | MuseRoom Floyd | The swelling space of the MuseRoom is flooded with light from above Floyd | and ringed with hypermodern paintings. A stairway curls along the far Floyd | wall, leading up to the library on the second floor. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x paintings" | ||||
Floyd | They are pixorealist paintings that look like beautiful backgrounds Floyd | you could use on your desktop. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "up" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Library Floyd | A large, circular room forms the library, radiating with shelves and Floyd | lit by sunlights. The floor seems to be a grating, allowing light to Floyd | filter to the gallery below. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x shelves" | ||||
Floyd | Unsurprisingly, the shelves have books on them. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x floor" | ||||
Floyd | There's the floor. Right down there. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x books" | ||||
Floyd | You pick a book off the shelf and read for a bit. Floyd | Floyd | ... The head and in frontal attack on an English writer that the Floyd | character of this point is therefore another method for the letters Floyd | ... Floyd | Floyd | Then you replace it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "search books" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x books" | ||||
Floyd | You pick a book off the shelf and read for a bit. Floyd | Floyd | ... The quench and in aye attack on some obtain writer that the sign Floyd | of this point is therefore another bite for the restore ... Floyd | Floyd | Then you replace it. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Sounds like one of Nick's prose generation projects." | |||
| DavidW says, "Not unentirely unexpected." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x sunlights" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I was hoping for a stool to stand on." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yes, but apparently we don't need to do anything with a ceiling." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Also, libraries are supposedly filled with info." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Did we pass out and go to the hospital already, at this stage?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "yes, but go revisit." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Mind if I check out some other places?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | MuseRoom Floyd | The swelling space of the MuseRoom is flooded with light from above Floyd | and ringed with hypermodern paintings. A stairway curls along the far Floyd | wall, leading up to the library on the second floor. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & First Floyd | The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire Floyd | station is across from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is Floyd | the tall, cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What Floyd | dominates the intersection, though, is the swooping MuseRoom, to the Floyd | northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "yeah, drive, please." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Torres Quevedo Memorial Hospital Floyd | Like a new and never-used aquarium, the lobby. Featuring a kiosk. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x kiosk" | ||||
Floyd | Nice kiosk. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Doesn't look promising." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "shout" | ||||
Floyd | You allow yourself a moment to get in touch with your inner screaming Floyd | maniac. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Park Floyd | The greenery is effusive. The uneven terrain here was no doubt shaped Floyd | by the landscapers, but the trees, hills, and open areas are pretty Floyd | pleasing, however artificial they are. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers exclaims, "The park!" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x trees" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Park Floyd | The greenery is effusive. The uneven terrain here was no doubt shaped Floyd | by the landscapers, but the trees, hills, and open areas are pretty Floyd | pleasing, however artificial they are. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Not that there is anything here, mind, but still," | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Want to try something? Otherwise, I'll go somewhere else." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "hm. We could try going home, see if we received mail?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "We can check that on our PC, can't we?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I mean posted mail. Non-electronic." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Okay, there is a mailbox?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's check it out." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Third Floyd | A multi-level grocery store dominates the northeast corner, occupying Floyd | the whole side of the block from here to Second. A windowless Floyd | building, this one with a logo like a fork of lightning, is southeast. Floyd | A shrouded establishment called "Gelatinous Cube" is southwest. On the Floyd | final corner is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fourth Floyd | The styling retail space on the northeast corner, nTune, is almost Floyd | bare. To the southeast is the nTopia All-Faiths Chapel Complex. Floyd | Unmistakable typography announces The Gap to the southwest, while the Floyd | remaining corner features the smaller but less restrained posters of Floyd | Comics Command. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fifth Floyd | Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a Floyd | windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia Floyd | sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "The doorman might have a message for us. I dunno, I'm guessing." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Your Apartment Building's Lobby Floyd | Clean, if not homey. The cube by the doorway is unattended. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Unattended. How welcoming." | |||
| DavidW asks, "He's not there?" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cube" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The empty Plexiglas cube. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Nope, he leaves pretty early." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter cube" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can enter. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in cube" | ||||
Floyd | The empty Plexiglas cube is empty. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "up" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Hallway Floyd | The palate-cleansing corridor that leads to your apartment. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "in" | DavidW asks, "Maybe we've been robbed?" | |||
Floyd | The old-style lock opens to you with already-practiced ease, and you Floyd | walk in. You switch the light on. Floyd | Floyd | Home Floyd | It's your residential canister. Your lime-green couch is against the Floyd | longest wall. And it looks like we also have a heap of clothes. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "hm. nope." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "All seems to be normal." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "But perhaps there is mail at the Mailboxes." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | You switch the light off as you leave. The door swings shut after you. Floyd | Floyd | Hallway Floyd | The palate-cleansing corridor that leads to your apartment. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Your Apartment Building's Lobby Floyd | Clean, if not homey. The cube by the doorway is unattended. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Fifth Floyd | Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a Floyd | windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia Floyd | sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast Floyd | corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is Floyd | southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store. Floyd | Floyd | A woman wearing some small display on her glasses pushes herself past Floyd | on a Razor scooter, dictating Python into a headset. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Mailboxes Ultra Floyd | While most of the retail spaces are minimal or postmodern, this Floyd | package pickup and dropoff point has more of the sense of a Hoboken Floyd | everything 99 cents store. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "get mail" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x package" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Nothing." | |||
| DavidW asks, "oh, weren't we going to try to buy something at 99 cents with the coin from the bank and then use the penny at the arcade?" | ||||
| maga arrives, ready to play with the toys. | VictorGijsbers says, "Yeah, but you can't buy anything at 99 cents here." | |||
| maga disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. | DavidW says, "oh" | |||
| DavidW asks, "Nothing's actually on sale there?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Don't think so, and the 99 cent store is only a metaphor." | ||||
| DavidW says, "oh" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Oh well, let's continue to look around." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | Here we go again. Your pager goes off in its usual buzzing, vibrating Floyd | fit. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Pager." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "press button" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Gus needs his password reset now. Immediately. At the current time. Floyd | Sorry it's so early. Also, be nice to him when you walk over and Floyd | deliver his new password, since this weekend has been rough on Floyd | everyone. He's in F2 and I'm now having your nPediment privileges set Floyd | so you can walk right in there and find him. Thanks for rebooting the Floyd | machines, by the way. Floyd | Floyd | It is, of course, Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | This is an automatic report about how you got owned, champ. That's Floyd | right, one of your machines is puking out denial of service packets Floyd | and needs to be offlined immediately. Better get it off your network Floyd | before somebody other than a robot tells you about it. The victim is Floyd | Nora. Floyd | Floyd | It sounds like the perky cousin of that stupid stapler. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Disk failure. Disk hesitant, corrupted, ready for immolation. Replace Floyd | the disk. Must be replaced prior to demo. Almost there. Almost at Floyd | demo. We will make it. Replace the disk. Follow the procedure and Floyd | incinerate the old disk once it has been replaced. The disk of the Floyd | main server in F9. Access to F9 is currently being provided you. Go. Floyd | Floyd | Obviously, the message is from Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A woman on an oversized skateboard zooms past, pulling a Jack Russell Floyd | terrier on a normal-sized skateboard. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Hello end game." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Main... Floyd | Floyd | The sudden clamor and rush of a crowd sends you helplessly to the Floyd | ground. With a grinding pull, a battalion in green aprons hurls itself Floyd | over you and into the structure on the southwest corner. Perhaps you Floyd | glimpse a pair of stunned figures in black T-shirts inside, shivering Floyd | behind a counter. Your vision seems to be obscured for a moment by a Floyd | milky steam. Floyd | Floyd | You stand, finally, unsure about what you seem to have witnessed, Floyd | unsure about whether or not to hope it was real. Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | nWare Store Floyd | The products are incidentally on hand here. Usually nGeniuses are Floyd | about to discuss tips and tricks that further enhance the virtues of Floyd | nWare hardware and software, preaching to the clergy. Today, perhaps Floyd | because of the impending demo, the place seems barren. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You are gripped by paralysis, unable to decide where to begin or end Floyd | your shopping spree. After you breathe for a moment, the panic Floyd | subsides. Perhaps you'll be able to go and shop after the stress of Floyd | the demo has passed. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Can't buy a better helmet here." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x helmet" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The SimulacCam. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "search helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "put nStick in helmet" | ||||
Floyd | That can't contain things. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "attach nStick to helmet" | ||||
Floyd | That's exactly the kind of useless physical activity you don't engage Floyd | in. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "My willpower is diminishing. (I.e., I'm almost ready to download the spoilerful map.)" | |||
| DavidW says, "yeah, mindless exploration like this is difficult in a group setting." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Shame Ellison left." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "What's in Wheelman?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "They sell nikes and stuff." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Okay, we need to get something in the arcade." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I think." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "So we need to solve the coin problem." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "That Llama game or whatever it was?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Where I said 'nikes', I meant 'bikes'." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Can we use our coin from the bank at the automat?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Nope, the automat uses the crad." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "card" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's check out the arcade again." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "look" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | nWare Store Floyd | The products are incidentally on hand here. Usually nGeniuses are Floyd | about to discuss tips and tricks that further enhance the virtues of Floyd | nWare hardware and software, preaching to the clergy. Today, perhaps Floyd | because of the impending demo, the place seems barren. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | Something that looks like a parade float slides down the street. You Floyd | notice some tonsured and robed man dancing on it. Then it turns away Floyd | and continues on, out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Arcadia Ego Floyd | Hey, this is just like in War Games, pretty much, except for the loads Floyd | of games where you can control 3D figures that kick each other's ass, Floyd | and the games where you dance or play a drum or fire shotguns, and the Floyd | section of retro games. That section is just like in War Games, Floyd | actually, except now it's all retro. Floyd | Floyd | There's a din of digitized sound. What's visible of the walls is Floyd | covered with multicolored squares, presumably in an attempt to make Floyd | the atmosphere even more festive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x game" | ||||
Floyd | There are loads of games that look familiar but uncompelling. Looking Floyd | through them, you find only one standout: LlamaFight 2000, a true Floyd | classic. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x llamafight" | ||||
Floyd | You remember LlamaFight 2000 as being totally awesome, and by totally Floyd | awesome, you mean totally sweet. One or two players can participate in Floyd | hard-hitting, bare-hoofed combat. In Europe the game was released Floyd | under the name "Yie Ar Kung Llama." Floyd | Floyd | This righteous coin-op doesn't seem to use the nPediment payment Floyd | system, as it has a lit coin slot that simply says "1". Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "coin slot" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x coin slot" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The coin slot. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "put coin in slot" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying the SimulacCam, an nStick, your nLap 500, your pager, Floyd | and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "buy coin" | ||||
Floyd | This is one of the few places in nTopia where you can't buy anything. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Wait, we didn't get the coin yet." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | 0th Bank Floyd | It's just a cheesy bank lobby, with indoor-outdoor carpet. A teller Floyd | waits behind a counter. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "The coin from the bank doesn't fit in the LlamaFight, though." | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "teller for coin" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ask teller for coin" | ||||
Floyd | The teller produces some sort of tethered handheld device and begins Floyd | tapping on it. Floyd | Floyd | "Yes, I see you've started the process of establishing an account with Floyd | us. While your account has not yet been approved, as a courtesy to new Floyd | residents of nTopia, and to remind you about how enjoyable personal Floyd | financial transactions can be, we can convert one dollar from your Floyd | nRich account into a physical representation of value." Floyd | Floyd | The device produces a coin, which the teller hands to you. She then Floyd | puts the device away and tells you to have a nice day. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask teller for quarters" | ||||
Floyd | The teller either doesn't hear you or pretends not to hear you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask teller for change" | ||||
Floyd | The teller either doesn't hear you or pretends not to hear you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask teller for coin" | ||||
Floyd | The teller produces some sort of tethered handheld device and begins Floyd | tapping on it. Floyd | "We cannot dispense old-style funds to you at this point until you Floyd | have an approved account," she replies. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying a dollar coin, the SimulacCam, an nStick, your nLap Floyd | 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "exchange coin" | ||||
Floyd | You can manage to change your clothes, and not much else -- try a Floyd | different way of stating that if you want to do something else. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "There is one other thing on the spoiler map that we haven't done yet." | |||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Mind if I say which location it is?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I really have no idea. I have such a disconnected sense of the game." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yeah. Let's head over to the post office." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "It also says 'coin'." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Maybe they have a better coin, or we can exchange ours." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "oh, coin machine there, maybe?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Maybe?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A gang of perhaps twenty people on souped-up Segways powers past and Floyd | disappears. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & First Floyd | A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest Floyd | corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on Floyd | the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a Floyd | little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Floyd | Campus. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Post Office Floyd | For a marble-coated civic bunker, it's a rather homey place. The one Floyd | service window on a wall of mailboxes is shuttered with dull brass. An Floyd | APM is installed opposite the window. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "APM." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x apm" | ||||
Floyd | Nice kiosk. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "use apm" | ||||
Floyd | You touch the screen to get started, and a progression of several Floyd | dozen windows pop up over each each other, as if you've just won a Floyd | game of nSolitare. The one that freezes on top for a moment says "nSys Floyd | for Kiosk Error Number n + 7. Rebooting." Floyd | Floyd | The machine blinks and returns to its original state. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "What's an APM?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Automated teller machine." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hole in the wall." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "I don't know what you'd call them?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "ATM, I know. APM, I've never heard of." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "O wait." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "AOM." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "APM." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Hm." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Automated postmaster machine? :)" | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "automated postal machine?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "yeah" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x mailboxes" | ||||
Floyd | Looking at the wall reminds you that you're supposed to get assigned a Floyd | mailbox sometime soon. After that's done and mail forwarding begins, Floyd | you can continue receiving those hand-written, ink-spattered poetry Floyd | submissions that various prisoners in a facility in North Dakota have Floyd | been sending you for no apparent reason. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "It's possible the APM is dependent on the servers working." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "or postage" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "But most servers are working..." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "search mailboxes" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "search apm" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "fix apm" | ||||
Floyd | That's exactly the kind of useless physical activity you don't engage Floyd | in. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open mailboxes" | ||||
Floyd | You can't get into any of the mailboxes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open apm" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "hit apm" | ||||
Floyd | If you only knew how to attack a problem like this one. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open window" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x apm" | ||||
Floyd | Nice kiosk. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "look in apm" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I would never have guessed to use a 'kiosk'." | |||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "knock on shutters" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I thought it was like at the airport or our building." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "there's one at the medical center, too" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "hit apm" | ||||
Floyd | If you only knew how to attack a problem like this one. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "kick apm" | ||||
Floyd | If you only knew how to attack a problem like this one. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "reboot apm" | ||||
Floyd | Gee, how could you do that? Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn off apm" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can turn off and on. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open apm" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind apm" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull apm" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "enter apm" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can enter. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "put coin in apm" | ||||
Floyd | That can't contain things. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "use apm" | ||||
Floyd | You touch the screen to get started, and a progression of several Floyd | dozen windows pop up over each each other, as if you've just won a Floyd | game of nSolitare. The one that freezes on top for a moment says "nSys Floyd | for Kiosk Error Number n + 7. Rebooting." Floyd | Floyd | The machine blinks and returns to its original state. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "On the other hand, Ellison claimed we could solve the game without going to a new location, and this is a new location." | |||
| DavidW says, "I don't know that it is new." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "I don't think we went here? Or did we?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't remember." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Well, let's try whether we might not be able to get a token for our arcade game in the arcade? I don't see how we're going to do anything here." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't take my usual methodical notes during CF, so I lose track of everything." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I can imagine." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Mind if I walk out?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "feel free." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne.w.s.s.nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & First Floyd | A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest Floyd | corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on Floyd | the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a Floyd | little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Floyd | Campus. Floyd | You head west on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | A cute little fire truck careers down the street, letting loose an Floyd | occasional bottle rocket. Floyd | Floyd | Arcadia Ego Floyd | There's a din of digitized sound. What's visible of the walls is Floyd | covered with multicolored squares, presumably in an attempt to make Floyd | the atmosphere even more festive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy token" | ||||
Floyd | This is one of the few places in nTopia where you can't buy anything. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "But you can't 'buy' anything at the arcade." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "get token" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "put coin in machine" | ||||
Floyd | The coin does seen like an obvious thing to put into the coin slot, Floyd | but it's too thick to fit in there. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "shave coin" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying a dollar coin, the SimulacCam, an nStick, your nLap Floyd | 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I think we need quarters." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "yeah" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Wait, did we try 'put coin in APM'?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I think so, but ... no notes." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "i think so" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Okay." | ||||
| jenrexrode | That can't contain things. | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yes, we did." | ||||
| DavidW | That can't contain things. | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Heh. :)" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "hint" | ||||
Floyd | ( Ways to leave the current location are shown in the upper left, when Floyd | there are such ways, and can also be revealed by typing EXITS. SCORE Floyd | shows the current score and FULL SCORE adds a breakdown of which tasks Floyd | have been done and which remain. Book and Volume is a fairly typical Floyd | piece of interactive fiction as far as the interface and possible Floyd | commands to the player character are concerned. Those unfamiliar with Floyd | interactive fiction should read the introduction that is available Floyd | from the starting menu. It can be accessed from the prompt by typing Floyd | INTRO. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "well, there's gotta be a vending machine or change machine somewhere." | |||
| jenrexrode says, "automat just used out cash chip" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "ouR" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "what gives us our task list?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "full score" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "full score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 8 of the 10 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | You have accomplished these important job-related tasks: Floyd | Floyd | - Rebooting Nora. Floyd | - Rebooting Ester. Floyd | - Rebooting Sophie. Floyd | - Rebooting Wendy. Floyd | - Rebooting Cindy. Floyd | - Compiling and installing the crucial update. Floyd | - Resetting and delivering Gus's password. Floyd | - Offlining the rooted server. Floyd | Floyd | These labors remain: Floyd | Floyd | - Replacing the defective disk. Floyd | - Destroying the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "So maybe replacing the disk will fix the APM?" | |||
| jenrexrode says, "good idea" | ||||
| DavidW says, "(which is what I meant earlier, re doing our tasks/servers)" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Ok, let's try it." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "afk for a minute or two" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. A flat screen blinks on the east wall. You can't tell where the Floyd | server room might be. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x screen" | ||||
Floyd | You read a curious message there: "All 'sensitives' on the Book Team Floyd | should have been evacuated by now! If any are left consult the Floyd | appropriate contact regarding evacuation ASAP IKYN!" Floyd | Floyd | A superannuated manager rushes in, fiddling with some sort of Floyd | extremely advanced laser pointer. He casts an embarrassed glance at Floyd | the flat panel and manipulates the laser pointer; the screen blinks Floyd | off. With some other twist or twiddle of the device, the east wall Floyd | slides open, and the flat panel moves with it, out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | "Come. In here." Floyd | Floyd | He ushers you east. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | F9 ServerRoom Floyd | You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms Floyd | start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server. Floyd | Floyd | The gentleman of great senectitude dashes off at an amazing pace, Floyd | disappearing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take disk" | ||||
Floyd | You withdraw the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | nWare Store Floyd | The products are incidentally on hand here. Usually nGeniuses are Floyd | about to discuss tips and tricks that further enhance the virtues of Floyd | nWare hardware and software, preaching to the clergy. Today, perhaps Floyd | because of the impending demo, the place seems barren. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy disk" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "buy the merchandise." ) Floyd | Floyd | By brandishing the busted disk drive, you manage to flag down a Floyd | salesperson. The guy assisting you expertly produces a new and Floyd | identically-shaped drive, stamping the old one with something red and Floyd | indelible as he hands the new one to you and tells you what kind of Floyd | day to have. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | A man with the demeanor of a middle manager skips by in a long gray Floyd | cape, peeling a banana at both ends. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 ServerRoom Floyd | You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms Floyd | start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "put disk in server" | ||||
Floyd | ... Are you referring to the new disk or the defective disk? Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "new" | ||||
Floyd | As you insert the new hard disk drive, the slot seals itself closed, Floyd | and the server looks the way that usual, fully functional server Floyd | looks. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & First Floyd | A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest Floyd | corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on Floyd | the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a Floyd | little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Floyd | Campus. Floyd | Floyd | A bald man runs screaming past you, pants on fire, pursued by a man Floyd | without pants whose hair is on fire. They disappear around a corner. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Post Office Floyd | For a marble-coated civic bunker, it's a rather homey place. The one Floyd | service window on a wall of mailboxes is shuttered with dull brass. An Floyd | APM is installed opposite the window. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x apm" | ||||
Floyd | Nice kiosk. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "use apm" | ||||
Floyd | You touch the screen to get started, and a progression of several Floyd | dozen windows pop up over each each other, as if you've just won a Floyd | game of nSolitare. The one that freezes on top for a moment says "nSys Floyd | for Kiosk Error Number n + 7. Rebooting." Floyd | Floyd | The machine blinks and returns to its original state. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Nope." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Your nLap 500 is portable, but not very usable, when closed. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open computer" | ||||
Floyd | You open the nLap 500, which wakes the moment it begins to unfold. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | Hey, this looks like the post office! In the old days, people used to Floyd | go here to send mail and stuff! Floyd | Floyd | The window winks away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | You download and watch another hilarious reality-based video snippet Floyd | of mobile robots guarding a warehouse. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "press apm button" | ||||
Floyd | One of the things you liked about this job is the relative absence of Floyd | heavy lifting. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "look" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Post Office Floyd | For a marble-coated civic bunker, it's a rather homey place. The one Floyd | service window on a wall of mailboxes is shuttered with dull brass. An Floyd | APM is installed opposite the window. Floyd | Floyd | Your stomach speaks to you in twangs of pain. Although you don't know Floyd | Morse code, the jist of the message is that it would be a good idea to Floyd | get something to eat soon. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x brass" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "x window" | ||||
Floyd | Such service windows have been used in the past to assist postal Floyd | customers. This one is probably only opened for historical Floyd | reenactments. You had best visit the APM if you'd like to interface Floyd | with the postal system. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "haha" | |||
| DavidW says, "hmph" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "better eat" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Does wearing the helmet make a difference in what the APM displays?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You once again don the strange helmet. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "use apm" | ||||
Floyd | You touch the screen to get started, and a progression of several Floyd | dozen windows pop up over each each other, as if you've just won a Floyd | game of nSolitare. The one that freezes on top for a moment says "nSys Floyd | for Kiosk Error Number n + 7. Rebooting." Floyd | Floyd | The machine blinks and returns to its original state. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Maybe it works before the sand storm? I hope not." | |||
| DavidW says, "I've yet to get a clear sense of what the helmet changes for us." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Only thing I have seen os that we don't see illusions of famous people anymore." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Is" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "What's in the Police Station?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I just started a local copy of the game, and the Post office does work in the morning." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "But you just get a 1 dollar coin." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "oh, it's an alternate source of the coin?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yep, I think so." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I guess you can get it either from the bank _or_ the APM." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Which suggests it's needed somewhere." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "One other thing that is explicitly mentioned on the spoilery map is the mouse in the restaurant." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "The big mouse." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "We didn't do anything useful with that, did we?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "hm. I don't remember doing anything with the mouse or even what it was. That went by quickly." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Let's check it out." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & First Floyd | A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest Floyd | corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on Floyd | the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a Floyd | little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Floyd | Campus. Floyd | Floyd | The scheme of the city, and your previous wanderings, suggest to you Floyd | that the incinerator isn't likely to be plopped down here in the Floyd | middle of town. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & First Floyd | The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire Floyd | station is across from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is Floyd | the tall, cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What Floyd | dominates the intersection, though, is the swooping MuseRoom, to the Floyd | northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | A miniature ambulance whisks by at a frightening speed, doing a donut Floyd | before it peals out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Proud Pie Floyd | So, it's a pizza place. With a huge fake mouse in one corner. And it Floyd | smells pretty nice. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x mouse" | ||||
Floyd | This thing has all the worst aspects of a CP30 who knows too much and Floyd | a taxidermist's mistake, making it difficult for you to fix your gaze Floyd | upon it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "search mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy mouse" | ||||
Floyd | Edibles are available for purchase here, but not much else. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "take mouse" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take mouse" | ||||
Floyd | That's not detachable. Floyd | Floyd | > Floyd | That's not detachable. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "push mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "hit mouse" | ||||
Floyd | If you only knew how to attack a problem like this one. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "open mouse" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "pull mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "hug mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You tenderly cuddle the mouse. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "touch mouse" | ||||
Floyd | Tangible, and pretty ordinary-feeling. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Heh." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "kiss mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You plant a smackeroo on the mouse. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "push mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "eat mouse" | ||||
Floyd | The mouse is not really palatable. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ride mouse" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "lick mouse" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "climb mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You must have dozed off during the part of Spiderman that explained Floyd | how to do that. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "use mouse" | ||||
Floyd | The mouse hasn't been dumbed down enough to be used in only one way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open laptop" | ||||
Floyd | That's already open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | You delete a half-dozen emails offering porcine organs for Floyd | xenotransplantation. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I'm pretty much out of ideas." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ask mouse about mouse" | ||||
Floyd | That can only be done to a higher organism. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "give coin to mouse" | ||||
Floyd | That can only be done to a higher organism. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "tickle mouse" | ||||
Floyd | That verb doesn't seem to be part of your API, metaphorically Floyd | speaking. That is, that verb won't be understood. Try something else, Floyd | or phrase that command differently. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "turn mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "squeeze mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You achieve nothing by this. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "shake mouse" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "kick mouse" | ||||
Floyd | If you only knew how to attack a problem like this one. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "kill mouse" | ||||
Floyd | If you only knew how to attack a problem like this one. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "buy pizza" | ||||
Floyd | Food does seem like a good idea. You order some and prepare to focus Floyd | completely on the meal, like Martha Stewart on her salad... Floyd | Floyd | You conclude your culinary experience. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I think I'll call it quits for now." | |||
| DavidW asks, "So, it's just a giant stuffed mouse?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Yes?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "yeah, okay. We don't seem to be getting anywhere." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "'So we downloaded a map and a walkthrough.', says an IFDB review. But I cannot find a walkthrough." | ||||
| DavidW says, "oh, it's probably on nick's site somewhere." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I don't see it." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Coyote and Crown Floyd | You'd think the sun never set on Azatlan from the interior of this Floyd | sort of English-style pub that serves lots of food made of blue Floyd | cornmeal. Behind the bar, the place is festooned with Union Jack Floyd | bandanas, and there are tequila bottles and British and Irish beer Floyd | taps. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bandanas" | ||||
Floyd | Ah, yes. The bad decor. There it is. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "buy tequila" | ||||
Floyd | You never drink on the job, which is too bad, because you could be Floyd | paged at any time of day. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bar" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Coyote and Crown Floyd | You'd think the sun never set on Azatlan from the interior of this Floyd | sort of English-style pub that serves lots of food made of blue Floyd | cornmeal. Behind the bar, the place is festooned with Union Jack Floyd | bandanas, and there are tequila bottles and British and Irish beer Floyd | taps. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | Three people covered with flour and ink run down the street in tears, Floyd | disappearing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fourth Floyd | The local elementary school sits beside a gated playground to the Floyd | northeast. Plywood closes off the site on the southeast corner, hiding Floyd | whatever is being built there. The Pine and Elm, an apartment building Floyd | you checked out and found just about identical to the Wild Palms, is Floyd | southwest. On the northwest corner is an upscale variety store, Floyd | MarMart. Floyd | Floyd | A sizable crowd of people wearing tye-dyed bedsheets babbles loudly, Floyd | running past and away from you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser arrives, ready to play with the toys. | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Police Station Floyd | A dark gray interior has never been so reassuring. There's a long Floyd | black desk in the center of the room, centered on a long metal Floyd | sculpture that is behind it. And it looks like we also have a desk. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" | ||||
Floyd | It's a sort of workplace monolith. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sculpture" | ||||
Floyd | The brushed aluminum contraption hangs, or perhaps is fixed, flat on Floyd | the wall, suggesting an integrated circuit but also, somehow, the door Floyd | of a jail cell. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "open it" | ||||
Floyd | It doesn't open. It's art. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "take it" | ||||
Floyd | That's not detachable. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "search desk" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers exclaims, "I'm off. See you later!" | |||
| DavidW says, "okay" | ||||
| DavidW says, "thanks for coming" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fourth Floyd | The local elementary school sits beside a gated playground to the Floyd | northeast. Plywood closes off the site on the southeast corner, hiding Floyd | whatever is being built there. The Pine and Elm, an apartment building Floyd | you checked out and found just about identical to the Wild Palms, is Floyd | southwest. On the northwest corner is an upscale variety store, Floyd | MarMart. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | MarMart is not open right now. Looks like it opens at ten. Floyd | Floyd | A sizable crowd of people wearing tye-dyed bedsheets babbles loudly, Floyd | running past and away from you. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "It's been a pleasure. :) Though yesterday was more pleasurable, with a greater success/effort ratio..." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | The door, not recognizing you as a resident or previously cleared Floyd | guest, politely turns you away. Floyd | Floyd | Someone in sixteenth century Japanese armor goes by on a horse, red Floyd | banner flapping. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast Floyd | corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is Floyd | southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store. Floyd | Floyd | You've barely noticed it, thanks to the way the streetlights have Floyd | gradually filled in for the departing sun, but night has fallen. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | The shoe store is not open right now. Looks like it opens at ten. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | The door, not recognizing you as a resident or previously cleared Floyd | guest, politely turns you away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Public Char Floyd | The dining room strikes an admirable balance between elegance and Floyd | comfort, making this a delicious and elegant escape from the hustle Floyd | and bustle of nTopia. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers goes home. | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast Floyd | corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is Floyd | southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store. Floyd | Floyd | There's a loud and sudden microphone-tapping sound, followed by the Floyd | shriek of feedback. Floyd | Floyd | ATTENTION, this is not an emergency. But there will be a demonstration Floyd | of a project involving new technologies in just a few minutes. It may Floyd | possibly result in some unusual irregularities. Don't be alarmed. Floyd | Thank you. Floyd | Floyd | The civil alert system crackles back into silence. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Scales Floyd | It's all orange inside, too, with rounded booths of different sizes Floyd | cut into the walls. The place is a sort of large-scale bento box, Floyd | outfitted so that it will be safe during hunting season. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | A warning shriek sounds, almost inside your head -- it's the helmet. Floyd | "OVERLOAD," a stupidly calm voice says. The SimulacCam splits right Floyd | down the middle, along the line of your nose, and falls, shattering on Floyd | the ground. Floyd | Floyd | A coming screams across the ceiling. Floyd | Floyd | All that you can see flickers into reverse video; even worse is the Floyd | reverse audio, pure sound everywhere except for the globs of silence Floyd | shrieked from innumerable mouths, your own one of these. The tongue Floyd | cannot say what tastes and smells visit you. Your skin is crawling all Floyd | over the ants. The round is world. Floyd | Floyd | Sixteen years later you arise from catatonia to play a single game of Floyd | ping pong against a silentious Native American. It is a moment that Floyd | Oliver Sacks would have written touchingly about. But the moment does Floyd | not last. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 9 of the 10 Floyd | tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "quit" | ||||
Floyd | | ||||
| Floyd asks, "That game over already? It was just getting good. Wanna play another?" | DavidW says, "I'm done for now. Guess I'll try it on my own later." | |||
| DavidW has had his fill of playing for now, and goes back to the Lounge. | ||||
| genericgeekgirl disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. | EmacsUser says, "Hmm. I see that I have poor timing." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "(having just caught up)" | ||||
| DavidW says, "You didn't miss much. Victor and I futzed around but found nothing new or helpful." | ||||
| Tale asks, "I thought CF happens on Saturdays?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "It does. This was a continuation of yesterday's session." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Hmm. I probably won't play on my own, since I'm sure that I would just lengthen the transcript without getting anywhere." | ||||
| EmacsUser disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again. | DavidW says, "I may play on my own later, if only so I can see the damn time of day on the status line." | |||
| VictorGijsbers arrives, full of fun, but no funk. | VictorGijsbers asks, "Did you manage to finish the game?" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "No; by the time I caught up, everyone has left." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Victor), "I didn't continue." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "There I go with the semicolons again." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I have other things to do if everyone leaves." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Right. I found a post on rec.games which claims we can change our dollar in the arcade itself." | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Oh?" | ||||
| EmacsUser arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
| Floyd says (to EmacsUser), "Floyd doesn't know that trick." | DavidW says, "I saw nothing to help us do that. And I did try." | |||
| DavidW arrives, full of funk, but no fun. | VictorGijsbers says, "I know, but Richard Bos wrote: 'The means for that is available in the arcade itself. Examine everything.'" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "Do we have a save after the coin and near the arcade?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "If true, then excuse me if I say 'fuck'." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Maybe save 10 will do for this?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Because I didn't see a change machine or operator or ANYTHING to let us exchange our coin for quarters." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to DavidW), "I will excuse you." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "load bookvol" | ||||
Floyd | Welcome to the Cheap Glk Implementation, library version 0.9.0. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | [pausing to show unread error message] | ||||
| EmacsUser pushes the green 'space' button. | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | an [auto mata] release Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | >I Introduction to interactive fiction Floyd | >A Author's note and acknowledgments Floyd | >L License information Floyd | Floyd | >R Restore a previous session Floyd | >B Begin a new session | DavidW says, "Honestly, changing the coin was the first damn thing I thought of." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "restore cf10" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf10" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 ServerRoom Floyd | You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms Floyd | start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F9 Floor Floyd | The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge Floyd | room. There's an opening to the east. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the Floyd | enigmatic F9. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Third Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Arcadia Ego Floyd | There's a din of digitized sound. What's visible of the walls is Floyd | covered with multicolored squares, presumably in an attempt to make Floyd | the atmosphere even more festive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying the defective disk, a dollar coin, the SimulacCam Floyd | (being worn), an nStick, your nLap 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x games" | ||||
Floyd | There are loads of games that look familiar but uncompelling. Looking Floyd | through them, you find only one standout: LlamaFight 2000, a true Floyd | classic. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x walls" | ||||
Floyd | Actually the squares covering the walls aren't all squares. You now Floyd | see that one of them is a rectangle. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x rectangle" | ||||
Floyd | This panel really looks a lot like the rest of the wall, but close Floyd | inspection allows you to make out a faint trace of the word "TOKENS," Floyd | apparently painted on using some pigment that isn't quite in the Floyd | visible spectrum. Floyd | Floyd | In the center of the token panel you notice a small, dark maw. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "OMG." | |||
| DavidW says, "Goddammit" | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "What?" | ||||
| EmacsUser exclaims, "!" | ||||
| DavidW says, "That's really shitty." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "This is rather unfair, in a game that never implements its scenery." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "put coin in maw" | ||||
Floyd | The coin vanishes into the maw. Below it, a tray pops open and a token Floyd | flips out into the air. In a feat of tremendous physical prowess, you Floyd | manage to catch it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "put token in slot" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | You drop the token into the slot and hear the satisfying giggle of the Floyd | machine registering a credit. Eagerly, you press the player one button Floyd | and watch the introductory sequence. Floyd | Floyd | Just as the first fight is about to begin, some twelve-year-old kid Floyd | with a bowl haircut slips into place beside you, deposits a token, and Floyd | presses the player two button. Floyd | Floyd | "ENTERING SMACKDOWN MODE," the machine says. Floyd | Floyd | "My mouth says hello," says the boy. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "save?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf15" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "I guess" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "How did this llama game work again?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "No idea, we couldn't play before." | ||||
| DavidW says, "How should we know." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "play game" | ||||
Floyd | You're playing it, oh yeah. Floyd | Floyd | You select Llamo, your favorite avatar. The kid chooses the sissiest, Floyd | lamest llama fighter there is, Floofta. The fight begins. Floyd | Floyd | The kid's hands slap against the controllers with remarkable Floyd | dexterity, and Floofta begins wailing on Llamo. Floyd | Floyd | "Perhaps you are wondering what the purpose of all this is," the kid Floyd | says calmly. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Right, but it was described to us." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "It seems to be a beat-em-up." | ||||
| DavidW says, "It appears to be exposition via the kid." | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Are we wearing the helmet?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to DavidW), "Yeah." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Just 'play game' while the kid talks." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "play game" | ||||
Floyd | You're playing it, oh yeah. Floyd | Floyd | You're just barely able to crouch and block as Floofta powers into a Floyd | helicopter kick. Floyd | Floyd | "Governments are pesky," the kid says. "Sure, corporations are Floyd | ascendant, but governments still have some power, and nWare would love Floyd | to be able to command that power." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "play game" | ||||
Floyd | You're playing it, oh yeah. Floyd | Floyd | Floofta executes a swift axe hoof, which you barely parry, using the Floyd | Calf Worshipping Goddess technique. Floyd | Floyd | "As you may remember from history, overthrowing regimes is a messy Floyd | business," the kid says. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "(BTW, I found a blog post where Jonathan Blow criticised Book and Volume's design, years before he made Braid. :))" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "play game" | ||||
Floyd | You're playing it, oh yeah. Floyd | Floyd | You manage to land a feeble punch. Then, Floofta grapples you and Floyd | throws you painfully to the ground. Floyd | Floyd | "But if you could simulate political leaders, simulate appreciative Floyd | crowds," the kid muses, "have your doppelgangers move among the Floyd | people, sowing confusion..." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x kid" | ||||
Floyd | The kid stands impassively facing his side of the arcade cabinet, face Floyd | lit by the psychedelic glow of the machine. Floyd | Floyd | Floofta hurls an enormous hairball which flattens and stupefies you. Floyd | Floyd | "You get the idea," the kid says. "That's what everyone is working on Floyd | here. That's what you're working on, although you almost certainly Floyd | don't know it." Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "So now some random kid is telling us what the city is all about?" | |||
| DavidW says, "yup" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "oh, progress in my absence" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "play game" | ||||
Floyd | You're playing it, oh yeah. Floyd | Floyd | You rally. It's like Ali in round eight against Foreman. You're Floyd | landing all sorts of kicks and punches on Floofta. Floyd | Floyd | "Rallies, meetings, the State of the Union address -- it will all be Floyd | simulated," the kid, still oddly calm, tells you. "And nWare will run Floyd | it all." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "play game" | ||||
Floyd | You're playing it, oh yeah. Floyd | Floyd | Floofta spins around and answers with a series of punishing blows that Floyd | prove decisive. Floyd | Floyd | "FINISH HIM!" the game proclaims, as poor Llamo wobbles there Floyd | non-interactively. Floyd | Floyd | "I'm not telling you that you should do anything differently, that you Floyd | should try to look around and stop what's going on," they kid says. Floyd | "No, no. But just so you know what you've gotten yourself into." Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says (to jenrexrode), "I found a spoiler that told us we could change the coin in the arcade. There was a 'hidden' coin vending machine." | |||
| jenrexrode exclaims, "bah!" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Why would it be hidden? WHY?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "You had to examine the wall tiles." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "ah" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "And one of them turned out to be a vending machine." | ||||
| DavidW says, "Come to our arcade but DON'T PLAY ANYTHING BECAUSE WE HIDE THE TOKEN MACHINE." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "heh" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "And only accept coins even though the whole city runs on credit cards." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "play game" | ||||
Floyd | You're playing it, oh yeah. Floyd | Floyd | Rather than delivering the coup de grace, the kid slaps a token down Floyd | on the machine and runs off, disappearing. Floyd | Floyd | "GAME OVER," the machine says. Even the winner doesn't get to continue Floyd | after a game in smackdown mode. Just like in real life. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x token" | ||||
Floyd | Actually, how could you have mistaken this for a token, even though Floyd | that's the only thing that a normal person would slap down on a video Floyd | game cabinet? It's not a token at all. It's some sort of high Floyd | proprietary Allen wrench. Floyd | Floyd | You can't even describe the strange polygon through which this Allen Floyd | wrench has been extruded, and which it is designed to fit into. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "take allen" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "take token" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "This game makes no sense at all." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "take wrench" | ||||
Floyd | You conduct the acquisition. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf16" | jenrexrode exclaims, "yay, the tool!" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "The kid has now given us the wrench we need to open the tunnel." | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "So, to the tunnel?" | |||
| DavidW asks, "So that unlocks the ... I've forgotten where that is. Under City Hall?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Yeah, I think so." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "We don't have the panel lifter yet, I think. Yes, City Hall." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying an Allen wrench, the defective disk, the SimulacCam Floyd | (being worn), an nStick, your nLap 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "me think so too" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Nope, get the panel lifter first." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Third Floyd | To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's Floyd | park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on Floyd | the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the Floyd | establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fourth Floyd | The local elementary school sits beside a gated playground to the Floyd | northeast. Plywood closes off the site on the southeast corner, hiding Floyd | whatever is being built there. The Pine and Elm is southwest. On the Floyd | northwest corner is an upscale variety store, MarMart. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast Floyd | corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is Floyd | southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store. Floyd | Floyd | A miniature ambulance whisks by at a frightening speed, doing a donut Floyd | before it peals out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Back Floyd | Two uncannily clean but industrial-looking buildings sit on either Floyd | side of Eel to the north. Back Street runs right along the railing Floyd | that bounds the city to the south. Floyd | Floyd | You have come to the edge of the plateau on which nTopia is built. Far Floyd | below, past the railing, is the desert plain, stretching from reddish Floyd | white to white, scraggled here and there with gray. The sky is lapis Floyd | lazuli. Some highway stretches far off from east to west, as if it Floyd | were an imperfect reflection of a line on a map. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Where are we task-wise on this save?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "full score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 8 of the 10 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | You have accomplished these important job-related tasks: Floyd | Floyd | - Rebooting Nora. Floyd | - Rebooting Ester. Floyd | - Rebooting Sophie. Floyd | - Rebooting Wendy. Floyd | - Rebooting Cindy. Floyd | - Compiling and installing the crucial update. Floyd | - Resetting and delivering Gus's password. Floyd | - Offlining the rooted server. Floyd | Floyd | These labors remain: Floyd | Floyd | - Replacing the defective disk. Floyd | - Destroying the defective disk. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "We've already taken out the defective disk, but not yet gotten the new one." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Ah, so we can get the panel lifter without much trouble." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yep." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I have to start up the map again." | ||||
| Ellison arrives, ready to play with the toys. | EmacsUser asks, "nw, no?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Incinerator Floyd | There's some corrugated steel-with-cinderblock-accents thing going on Floyd | here. The floor ends to the west, where smoke and wailing rise from a Floyd | pit. And it looks like we also have a double-cup panel lifter. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take lifter" | ||||
Floyd | You conduct the acquisition. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison asks, "how has it been going? what have you figured out?" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Back Floyd | Two uncannily clean but industrial-looking buildings sit on either Floyd | side of Eel to the north. Back Street runs right along the railing Floyd | that bounds the city to the south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | While there is a great view over there, the sheer drop of a hundred Floyd | feet or so makes it impossible to go in that direction, except Floyd | fatally. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Eel... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Fifth Floyd | To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast Floyd | corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is Floyd | southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Fifth Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | A sizable crowd of people wearing tye-dyed bedsheets babbles loudly, Floyd | running past and away from you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Server Room Floyd | There are just the usual racks here. The rest of the room is bare, Floyd | with the usual drop ceilings and the usual raised floor providing a Floyd | contrast to the unusual wooden walls outside. And it looks like we Floyd | also have Sophie. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "lift floor" | ||||
Floyd | Using the double-cup panel lifter somewhat more strenuously than you Floyd | really should have to, you wiggle part of the floor open. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take off helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You take off the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "we have the allen wrench we needed in the crawlspace" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "d" | ||||
Floyd | There's a curious amount of space under the floor to the north. You Floyd | scoot into it. Floyd | Floyd | Darkness Floyd | The darkness here may be the only profound thing in nTopia. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open computer" | ||||
Floyd | You open the nLap 500, which wakes the moment it begins to unfold. Floyd | Floyd | Passage Floyd | Sometimes a horrifying conspiracy lives beneath the surface of Floyd | reality. Sometimes, just a cramped crawlspace like this one, lacking Floyd | even the dust that most such spaces have. And it looks like we also Floyd | have an overhead ventilation grill. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "ah, good" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x grill" | ||||
Floyd | It seems to be fastened with some screws or bolts, whatever the Floyd | difference is, that are of surreal or alien design. No mass-market Floyd | device is going to open this. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "open grill with wrench" | ||||
Floyd | You wield the highly proprietary Allen wrench for a while, alternating Floyd | between hope and frustration, and finally manage to open the grill. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yay" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "enter grill" | ||||
Floyd | You break into the office above like a tech support commando. Time to Floyd | fix those wiretaps so the boss can figure out what the Democrats have Floyd | been up to! Or, time to steal back that list of Resistance members' Floyd | names! Or, time to enter yet another uninteresting commercial, retail, Floyd | or institutional space! Floyd | Floyd | Office Floyd | This would be an impressive and luxurious office, if it had some Floyd | furniture and stuff in it. It doesn't look like the place is occupied Floyd | -- except, occasionally, by trespassers. There's an exit underneath Floyd | you and a door through which a bit of light filters in. Disturbing the Floyd | minimalist appearance of the room is a garish fake bookcase. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x bookcase" | ||||
Floyd | Upon closer inspection, the fake bookcase is definitely fake, as if it Floyd | were designed to reassure people that the occupant of this office Floyd | doesn't spend his or her time reading. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "mmm fake bookcase" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf17" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison asks, "I take it, on one of the playthroughs, you saw the conversation during the sandstorm? did you guys find the use for the stick?" | |||
| DavidW says, "Not yet." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Nope." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "And I didn't see a conversation, I think?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "No, we've not seen that conversation." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I don't remember the conversation." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I can't take notes during CF." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "i think our save is post sandstorm" | ||||
| Ellison says, "I think if you are in a public place (like a restaurant) during the sandstorm, something happens" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "pull bookcase" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x books" | ||||
Floyd | There aren't any books here -- the bookcase is all one piece, and the Floyd | things that look like books in it are not really books. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yeah, and we were in the airport server room" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "push bookcase" | ||||
Floyd | You can't. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "search bookcase" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "look behind it" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "(your game is still winnable; all of this other stuff is just extra)" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x desk" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Office Floyd | This would be an impressive and luxurious office, if it had some Floyd | furniture and stuff in it. It doesn't look like the place is occupied Floyd | -- except, occasionally, by trespassers. There's an exit underneath Floyd | you and a door through which a bit of light filters in. Disturbing the Floyd | minimalist appearance of the room is a garish fake bookcase. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "open door" | ||||
Floyd | The door won't open. This must be some kind of fire code violation. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x door" | ||||
Floyd | The frosted glass door seems to have "ROYAM" painted on it, although Floyd | the "R" is backwards. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "look behind bookcase" | ||||
Floyd | You find nothing of interest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take bookcase" | ||||
Floyd | That's not detachable. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "hm." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You once again don the strange helmet. Floyd | Floyd | Something seems to have changed. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Ah." | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x bookcase" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Aha." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "l" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Office Floyd | This would be an impressive and luxurious office, if it had some Floyd | furniture and stuff in it. It doesn't look like the place is occupied Floyd | -- except, occasionally, by trespassers. There's an exit underneath Floyd | you and a door through which a bit of light filters in. Where the Floyd | bookcase used to be is a person-sized cylinder, open on the front. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x cylinder" | ||||
Floyd | The sight awakens one of your few pleasant childhood memories: Sitting Floyd | in comfort in the forward-facing car seat on the passenger side, you Floyd | went to the drive-through bank and received a delicious blue candy, Floyd | which arrived in a pneumatic tube that looked like a smaller version Floyd | of this cylinder. Floyd | Floyd | Anyway. If this is where the Controller is supposed to reside in Floyd | suspended animation, directing the city, then the genie is out of the Floyd | bottle -- the lunatics are running the asylum -- there is no man Floyd | behind the curtain. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "yay" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "Uh, Controller?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "I think I'm missing another reference." | ||||
| Ellison says, "Suspended reference" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Suspended ref?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take cylinder" | ||||
Floyd | That's not detachable. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "enter cylinder" | jenrexrode asks, "get in it?" | |||
Floyd | You enter the cylinder. A voice is cued: "Escape canister will be Floyd | ready for departure at approximately NINETEEN FORTY FIVE." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "wait" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "gee, and we dont know when that is" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "close canister" | ||||
Floyd | That's not something you can close. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Um, do we > wait until 19:$5?" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "Er, 19:45?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "wait until 19:45" | ||||
Floyd | That number wasn't understandable. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "wait an hour" | ||||
Floyd | That number wasn't understandable. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers asks, "Shall I just try a long string of z's?" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "wait 15" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "wait until nineteen forty five" | ||||
Floyd | That number wasn't understandable. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "nah" | |||
| Ellison says, ">wait until 7:45 pm should work" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, ";yeah" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "wait until 7:45 pm" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | I need to sleep now to preserve your valuable data and the integrity Floyd | of your application state! Please recharge me soon! Floyd | Floyd | The window, and in fact the whole screen, winks to black. Floyd | Floyd | This is actually really bad, because you now realize that you lost the Floyd | transformer for the nLap at some point on Friday. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "oops, forgot to close it." | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "wait until 7:45 pm" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The room is suddenly sealed off from you -- the cylinder has closed. Floyd | You feel the cylinder, and yourself, make a thumpy squiggle. Floyd | Floyd | You seem to be moving. Floyd | Floyd | -- you've been jarred from your idle waiting. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "look" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Cylinder Floyd | So much depends upon a featureless cylinder, filled with you, moving Floyd | through some indeterminate location. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "sing" | ||||
Floyd | A few verses from the Yoyodyne Songbook well outward from your being Floyd | and into the air, which surprises even you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "jump" | ||||
Floyd | You jump a good half inch, which is all there's room for. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "close nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You close the nLap 500. Floyd | Floyd | The cylinder shudders as if coming to a halt. It does something a bit Floyd | less graceful than sliding open and a bit more graceful than blowing Floyd | open. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "Heh." | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "pray" | ||||
Floyd | Seems like as good a time as any to embrace the supernatural. You Floyd | mutter a quick petition to Azathoth. Floyd | Floyd | The floor-part of this cylinder tips, urging you to exit. So you trip Floyd | out of the canister. Floyd | Floyd | Once you've extricated yourself, the cylinder, bereft of payload, Floyd | seals itself again. It wooshes away, perhaps so as to be ready for Floyd | another very important passenger. Floyd | Floyd | The Desert Floyd | You learned in college geography that the desert is actually teeming Floyd | with life. Except that isn't true of this place, which is simply a Floyd | plain of white, barren sand. The desert is exceedingly empty. It seems Floyd | that in the whole expanse there is nothing but one rock. Floyd | Floyd | On the rock is one man. Floyd | Floyd | Maybe he brought the rock himself. Floyd | Floyd | "Hi," says the man. He gestures to your head. "Do you mind? That's a Floyd | bit threatening." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "take off helmet" | ||||
Floyd | You take off the SimulacCam. Floyd | Floyd | "I suppose you're the only one who made it out this way," the man Floyd | says. He shrugs. "Maybe the others will cope." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "SAVE" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "cf18" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to store: ( Ok. ) Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Talk to the man?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "ask man about ntopia" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Save the questions," he says. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x man" | ||||
Floyd | He is wearing a Hugo Boss suit, legs crossed, fingers steepled in Floyd | front of him. He looks at you with care. His features and complexion Floyd | suggest that his ancestors lived in this country thousands of years Floyd | ago. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | You feel a tug within you, a subtle but literal reconfiguration of Floyd | your system. Whatever it is that gripped you cannot hold you from Floyd | here, however. Floyd | Floyd | On the high and far plateau nTopia pulses and swarms with realities, a Floyd | time-lapse, space-lapse sculpture, root and rhizome. The city does not Floyd | shape itself into some urban battlefield for the pleasure of unseen Floyd | generals, or into some all-maddening hilarious face to be put on by Floyd | warfighter and advertiser alike. No bread, no circuses, no clockwork Floyd | demagogues can be discerned. If these are to be the true products of Floyd | the nWare Media Division, the demo that transpires does not appear to Floyd | promote them. Floyd | Floyd | Instead, the chessboard of the city sets itself into positions, the Floyd | brick and mortar structures at play with ones more liquid. There are Floyd | sprawling markets and office buildings like Jehovas, but also slums Floyd | and huge estates, parks and wastes, a stadium and churches, water Floyd | treatment plants, jails and prisons, pyramids, military bases, Floyd | factories, all cities the city, one Babel of configurations, as if Floyd | some intellect or algorithm, or both, were looking through them all to Floyd | find the one most perfect. Floyd | Floyd | "Come on," the business-shaman says, "my car's at the Dairy Queen. Floyd | Keep up a decent pace and we'll get there by nine, before they close. Floyd | I'll buy you a Blizzard." Floyd | Floyd | Pisces, Cetus, Aquarius -- above nTopia churning are the Floyd | constellations as you have seen them many times before. One moment of Floyd | hesitation before turning to go, and the sky shudders. With that, the Floyd | final touch is added, the augmentation complete. The dark has been Floyd | pierced through again by some artist, some fellow employee, and you Floyd | see them just as you saw them laid out before: The Cradle, The Way, Floyd | The Burning Book. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On your last day of work in nTopia you accomplished 8 of the 10 tasks Floyd | assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | Ellison says, "I believe that's the same ending you get even if you've done 10 out of 10 tasks" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I suppose so." | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Is that the 'winning' ending?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I guess so." | ||||
| Ellison says, "yeah, that's the winning one" | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | The Desert Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | The Desert Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "x sky" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "(the sky is implemented in a couple places)" | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" | ||||
Floyd | Even with your limited social skills, you recognize that putting the Floyd | SimulacCam back on would not be nice. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "(there's also a losing ending for not taking off the helmet)" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Ah, yes, let's see that." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | The Desert Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "so go swap out the drives and then do same ending..." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | The Desert Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | The Desert Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | The Desert Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | Cylinder Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The floor-part of this cylinder tips, urging you to exit. So you trip Floyd | out of the canister. Floyd | Floyd | Once you've extricated yourself, the cylinder, bereft of payload, Floyd | seals itself again. It wooshes away, perhaps so as to be ready for Floyd | another very important passenger. Floyd | Floyd | The Desert Floyd | You learned in college geography that the desert is actually teeming Floyd | with life. Except that isn't true of this place, which is simply a Floyd | plain of white, barren sand. The desert is exceedingly empty. It seems Floyd | that in the whole expanse there is nothing but one rock. Floyd | Floyd | On the rock is one man. Floyd | Floyd | Maybe he brought the rock himself. Floyd | Floyd | "Hi," says the man. He gestures to your head. "Do you mind? That's a Floyd | bit threatening." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | ( You can also use commands such as WAIT 10 MINUTES and WAIT UNTIL 10 Floyd | AM. ) Floyd | Floyd | Without standing, the man reaches inside his suit coat and immediately Floyd | produces something pistol-like but plastic, with a bright yellow tip. Floyd | Several hours later you awaken in this same spot, alone and quite Floyd | uncertain about your future. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 8 of the 10 Floyd | tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Huh." | |||
| Ellison says (to jenrexrode), "pretty sure it's the same ending. if anything, I'd go further back so you guys can see some of the other stuff you missed." | ||||
| Ellison asks, "which way did you guys get the dollar coin?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "This was a weird game." | ||||
| DavidW says, "The bank" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Bank, but I also did the post office." | ||||
| Ellison says, "something that wasn't clear to me is that all kiosks are touchable, yeah." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "They are?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "To me, a kiosk is just an oversized box where a person can stand inside it." | ||||
| DavidW says, "So touching a kiosk makes as much sense as touching a wall." | ||||
| Ellison says (to DW), "yeah, I guess they mean the 21st century connotation where it's the electronic thing like at airports" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "information kiosks" | ||||
| DavidW says, "Well, if he means that, he should say so." | ||||
| Ellison says, "yeah" | ||||
| DavidW says, "There's no way to guess that inference." | ||||
| Ellison says, "I also ran into some bugs but feel weird about submitting 6 year old bug reports" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "This game could have been a little more friendly for the player." | ||||
| DavidW says (to Victor), "I agree." | ||||
| Ellison says, "also, judging by the textdump, there's a whole lot of special cases for things if you try to do things without your pager (which most players will never see)" | ||||
| jenrexrode asks, "oh, so you drop it somewhere?" | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Why didn't we think of that before?" | ||||
| Ellison says, "yeah, if you drop it... then you can't withdraw money, you can't enter a lot of places, etc." | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "Can you drop it an then lock yourself out?" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Er, and" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "i guess that's the point of the keytt" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "-tt" | Ellison says, "anyhow, things to try: sitting on the furniture in Independent Grounds (the place replaced by a Starbucks later in the game), being in a public place during the sandstorm, and there's more to do in the pizza place on Abelone (something Pie)" | |||
| DavidW says, "We tried to do stuff with the mouse, but found nothing useful." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "We tried to do something with the mouse, but didn't manage to." | ||||
| EmacsUser asks, "The nStick, maybe? Did we try that?" | ||||
| Ellison says, "Proud Pie" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "I should have kept my scrollback from yesterday." | ||||
| DavidW says (to EmacsUser), "There was nothing obvious to try." | ||||
| Ellison says, "if you're holding the right object, it makes it pretty obvious what to try" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | ( One of the answers above is needed. ) Floyd | > | DavidW says, "We couldn't open it, search it, move it, or give it anything." | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Oh." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "Maybe if we had the wrench?" | ||||
| DavidW says (to Ellison), "I doubt it was obvious." | ||||
| DavidW asks, "Why would the wrench make it possible to open a stuffed animal?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I'm just guessing. :)" | ||||
| Ellison says (to DavidW), "the mouse's description mentioned wires coming out of the back, and examining the wires tells you everything" | ||||
| DavidW asks, "For fucks sake. What wires? Victor, did you see wires?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "i think i remeber wires sticking out" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Can't remember them." | ||||
| DavidW says, "I didn't get the sense it was an electronic thing at all." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "like a Chuck E Cheese, if you know what that is, animatronic mouse" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Actually, I thought it had ...s made of wire. Looking up what ... is in English." | ||||
| DavidW says (to jenrexrode), "sorry, no." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "whiskers" | ||||
| Ellison asks, "why don't you guys just restore and look again?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "kid oriented pizza place with animatronic animals performing musical numbers..." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Does anyone know a suitable save? Like I said, I lost my scrollback and the recap doesn't go far enough." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "restore" | VictorGijsbers asks, "Saying restore doesn't seem to work?" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Now say the filename." | ||||
| Ellison says, "it probably wants a save name now" | ||||
| DavidW says, "You have to now tell it the save file." | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "The prompt gets eaten." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers asks, "What would save 8 be?" | ||||
| DavidW says, "cf8" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "cf8" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | Airport Floyd | nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, Floyd | with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem Floyd | to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It Floyd | looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this Floyd | main space. Floyd | Floyd | Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are Floyd | actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Floyd | Airport's server room. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | Hey, this looks like the airport! You can get on a plane here and go Floyd | somewhere else! After you purchase a ticket, after you get your Floyd | manager's approval for vacation time, and so forth! Floyd | Floyd | The window winks away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Front Floyd | It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall Floyd | rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the Floyd | southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks. Floyd | Floyd | There seems to be no trace of whatever sand was blowing all around, Floyd | unless some of the buildings now have a slightly glossier finish. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Front Street... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Front Floyd | Front Street is wide here, at the edge of nTopia. The airport is Floyd | north, while two indistinguishable warehouses flank Abalone Street to Floyd | the south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "close nlap" | ||||
Floyd | You close the nLap 500. Floyd | Floyd | A gang of perhaps twenty people on souped-up Segways powers past and Floyd | disappears. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I'll have to look up the map... again." | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "i" | ||||
Floyd | You are carrying the SimulacCam (being worn), an nStick, your nLap Floyd | 500, your pager, and your key. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & First Floyd | The clothing store Niche Threads is to the northeast, while a fire Floyd | station is across from it on the southeast corner. To the southwest is Floyd | the tall, cylindrical, and multicolored Medical Center Plaza. What Floyd | dominates the intersection, though, is the swooping MuseRoom, to the Floyd | northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Abalone... Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Proud Pie Floyd | So, it's a pizza place. With a huge fake mouse in one corner. And it Floyd | smells pretty nice. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x mouse" | ||||
Floyd | This thing has all the worst aspects of a CP30 who knows too much and Floyd | a taxidermist's mistake, making it difficult for you to fix your gaze Floyd | upon it. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "No mention of WIRES or WHISKERS there." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Nope." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "talk to mouse" | ||||
Floyd | That can only be done to a higher organism. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "I think it might have said something about wires sticking out in the original description." | |||
| Ellison says, "weird. maybe you have to get there early enough in the game." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "And I interpreted those as whiskers." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x wires" | ||||
Floyd | Oddly enough, there's a place in there that looks like it might Floyd | accommodate that memory stick you found. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "That's completely unfair if they're only mentioned once." | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Yes." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "Completely completely unfair." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "put stick in wires" | ||||
Floyd | You put the nStick into the panel. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "x mouse" | ||||
Floyd | This thing has all the worst aspects of a CP30 who knows too much and Floyd | a taxidermist's mistake, making it difficult for you to fix your gaze Floyd | upon it. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "turn on mouse" | ||||
Floyd | Presumably there is some way to turn the mouse on and off, yes. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "turn on mouse" | ||||
Floyd | Presumably there is some way to turn the mouse on and off, yes. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "the first time you enter the room, a guy complains about how the mouse was sent here instead of something else and its back panel is open" | |||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x nose" | ||||
Floyd | Parts is parts. You don't usually need to worry about your body very Floyd | much detail, and today does not seem to be an exception in that Floyd | regard. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x mouse's nose" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x panel" | ||||
Floyd | The panel is open and has an nStick stuck in it. It's sparking a bit. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "pull tail" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "close panel" | ||||
Floyd | You close the panel. Floyd | Floyd | "In my spare time, I founded the postal police," the mouse asserts. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| jenrexrode says (to Floyd), "play with mouse" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "oh" | |||
| EmacsUser asks, "Um?" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | "Early to bed and early to rise gets a programmer lots of Floyd | uninterrupted time in the cubicle!" the mouse proclaims. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | ( You can also use commands such as WAIT 10 MINUTES and WAIT UNTIL 10 Floyd | AM. ) Floyd | Floyd | "Help stop software pirates, rapists, arsonists, and child molesters," Floyd | the mouse implores. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Eek." | |||
| Ellison says, "but judging by the textdump, there are several things that don't seem to be properly triggered in this game. there's supposed to be a policeman in the police station that I've never seen." | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "uhm, that's not appropriate, mouse" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The mouse jerks spasmodically. "Join the army, kids!" it exclaims. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | "nTopia is the first city to be built from more than 25% recycled Floyd | post-consumer content," explains the mouse. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The mouse does a horrible and probably unlicensed approximation of the Floyd | Moonwalk. Floyd | Floyd | > | VictorGijsbers says, "This game boggles the mind." | |||
| Ellison says, "so, of course, the mouse is now saying things the diorama was supposed to have said. unfortunately, it doesn't help the player out very much." | ||||
| VictorGijsbers says, "As to purpose, meaning, basic design goals..." | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "open panel" | ||||
Floyd | The shuffling mouse both dodges and blocks, preventing you from Floyd | opening the panel. Floyd | Floyd | "Did you know that the first mouse pointer was actually called a bug?" Floyd | the mouse asks, obviously rhetorically. "And the first mouse was Floyd | called -- a mouse!" Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "There's no particular reason either why a mystery gadget from the City Hall's diorama ought to be inserted into a pizza parlour's stuffed mouse, is there?" | |||
| jenrexrode says, "bot animatronic" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "er both" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | "In nTopia," the mouse says, "you can worship the creator any way you Floyd | like. Or not at all!" Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | "I invented the stored-program computer!" says the mouse, as if it Floyd | expected you to believe that. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | "The business of nWare is business," the mouse says. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "yeah, and that in some parts of the game, the wires are obvious and it tells you the stick would fit in there" | |||
| Ellison asks, "has it finished looping yet? should we go look at something else?" | ||||
| jenrexrode says, "so if you got the stick first, it would work better" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | "In my spare time, I founded the postal police," the mouse asserts. Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "there" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "Yes, it's done." | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Abalone & Second Floyd | Proud Pie is on the northeast corner. The multi-level grocery store to Floyd | the southeast spans the block down Abalone. To the southwest is the Floyd | concrete RelOfCoTn building, a typical nWare structure. An apartment Floyd | building, The Peachtree, is northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Eel & Second Floyd | The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of Floyd | 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Floyd | Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from Floyd | the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where Floyd | the fake hills of nTopia's park roll. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Second Floyd | Main runs along the west edge of the nWare Media Campus. To the Floyd | northwest is a Starbucks. The glass cube of the nWare Store sits on a Floyd | park-like plot to the southwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | The sudden clamor and rush of a crowd sends you helplessly to the Floyd | ground. With a grinding pull, a battalion in green aprons hurls itself Floyd | over you and into the structure on the southwest corner. Perhaps you Floyd | glimpse a pair of stunned figures in black T-shirts inside, shivering Floyd | behind a counter. Your vision seems to be obscured for a moment by a Floyd | milky steam. Floyd | Floyd | You stand, finally, unsure about what you seem to have witnessed, Floyd | unsure about whether or not to hope it was real. Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | Floyd | The sun beats down mercilessly, straining against nTopia's municipal Floyd | climate control system. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW asks, "But why would the stick be in the diorama? What's the story reason?" | |||
| VictorGijsbers says, "I'm off, see you later." | ||||
| Ellison says (to DavidW), "yeah, it's just weird" | ||||
| Ellison says, "later, Victor" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Victor), "Adios." | ||||
| Ellison says, "ok, this game is too far in" | ||||
| VictorGijsbers goes home. | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "restore" | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "cf4" | ||||
Floyd | Enter saved game to load: Floyd | Session restored. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "score" | ||||
Floyd | You have so far completed 5 of the 7 tasks assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "look" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Foyer Floyd | This particularly uninviting room may have been included simply to Floyd | reassure those without proper clearance that they are in the wrong Floyd | place. To the north is the building's main floor. Floyd | Floyd | Gus stands here. His eyes dart around as if tracing deep scratches on Floyd | the walls, perhaps made by an imaginary axe. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | You're not cleared to enter the building over there. Although you work Floyd | for nWare, the subdivisions of the Media division are pretty much Floyd | walled off from each other. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "w" | ||||
Floyd | You head west on Second Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Second Floyd | Main runs along the west edge of the nWare Media Campus. To the Floyd | northwest is a Starbucks. The glass cube of the nWare Store sits on a Floyd | park-like plot to the southwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. A Starbucks is on the southeast corner. There is a Floyd | coffeehouse called "Independent Grounds" to the southwest. Another Floyd | Starbucks is on the northwest corner. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Independent Grounds Floyd | A bunch of overstuffed furniture, shipped in from somewhere other than Floyd | Sweden, sits askew in here. There's a big sculptural object toward one Floyd | corner that must be used for roasting coffee beans or something. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "sit" | ||||
Floyd | You take a comfy seat. Floyd | Floyd | As you sat down you noticed a woman in a smart suit and guy who is Floyd | wearing a trucker cap, apparently ironically. You can't see them now, Floyd | but you catch a snippet of their conversation. Floyd | Floyd | "Apparently there's an escape system for government officials. The Floyd | mayor and so on." Floyd | Floyd | "We don't have any government officials here." Floyd | Floyd | "Right. I bet they all escaped." Floyd | Floyd | Involuntarily, you turn to look at the pair. They are already Floyd | standing, and quickly head outside and out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "Huh." | |||
| Ellison says, "that's a weird one (like, who is going to see that naturally?)" | ||||
| EmacsUser says, "Well, we did think about visiting it after we saw the starbucks stampede. Just not before." | ||||
| Ellison says, "Gus is after the sandstorm, right? I don't remember" | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Righteous. Everything actually compiled and built successfully. You Floyd | install the update. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "use computer" | ||||
Floyd | Deftly you request a photo of Gus for purposes of positive ID, reset Floyd | his account, and store in your short-term memory his Floyd | cryptic-yet-memorable temporary password. Now you just need to share Floyd | this important bit of information with Gus, and you'll have executed Floyd | your responsibilities most gloriously. Floyd | Floyd | And people wonder why you fantasize about being a astronaut. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | That's not going to happen while you remain on the overstuffed Floyd | furnishing. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | You get off the overstuffed furnishing. Floyd | Floyd | Independent Grounds Floyd | A bunch of overstuffed furniture, shipped in from somewhere other than Floyd | Sweden, sits askew in here. There's a big sculptural object toward one Floyd | corner that must be used for roasting coffee beans or something. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. A Starbucks is on the southeast corner. There is a Floyd | coffeehouse called "Independent Grounds" to the southwest. Another Floyd | Starbucks is on the northwest corner. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser says, "I see in recap that we hit sand after cf8." | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus South Floyd | The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're Floyd | cleared to enter, to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "ok, I'll keep going on this one, then" | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Campus North Floyd | The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media Floyd | buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "ne" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | F2 Foyer Floyd | This particularly uninviting room may have been included simply to Floyd | reassure those without proper clearance that they are in the wrong Floyd | place. To the north is the building's main floor. Floyd | Floyd | Gus stands here. He laughs at your puny gesture. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "tell gus about password" | ||||
Floyd | You tell Gus his cryptic-yet-memorable temporary password. Floyd | Floyd | His face lights up with some combination of relief and prophetic Floyd | rapture. He pulls a miniscule PDA from one of the pockets on his Floyd | photographer's vest and taps happily, presumably gaining access. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | Some glitch, neurological or digital, causes Gus to scream "ODYSSEUS" Floyd | and run toward the exit. This involves his running right over you, Floyd | knocking you down. Your head strikes the floor in a painless and Floyd | consciousness-eliminating way. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | "... tests were, again, all just fine," some woman in a doctor costume Floyd | tells you. Or maybe she is a doctor. You're both walking along an Floyd | aqua-colored corridor now. There are pictures of semi-rigid airships Floyd | on the walls. "You shouldn't have any problems except perhaps for a Floyd | bit of short-term memory loss, but if you do have any other trouble, Floyd | come back and tell it to the kiosk. Oh, and you'll want this back." Floyd | She hands you your pager, which, annoyingly, is buzzing and vibrating. Floyd | "Take care!" Floyd | Floyd | You find yourself here in the lobby. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | Torres Quevedo Memorial Hospital Floyd | The shuffling of those in despair, the rapid, professional pace of the Floyd | strained nurses and assistants, the occasional groan -- all of these Floyd | are absent, since this pale green lobby, curiously, holds no one Floyd | besides yourself. It's also completely without furnishings, except for Floyd | a kiosk, placed dead center. Floyd | Floyd | Remembering the menu of health insurance options that you were Floyd | presented, you congratulate yourself on buying the extended warranty Floyd | on yourself. Floyd | Floyd | The pager buzzes and jars you, its motor driven to disrupt and demand Floyd | attention. Floyd | Floyd | A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the Floyd | uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a Floyd | cheery robot voice: Floyd | Floyd | Hey, this looks like the hospital! This is where you can go if you're Floyd | sick! If you're really sick, sometimes emergency medical workers will Floyd | helpfully bring you here! Floyd | Floyd | The window winks away. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "touch kiosk" | ||||
Floyd | As you approach, the kiosk says "If you are here because of an Floyd | emergency, say 'EMERGENCY' or press the corresponding button." Floyd | Floyd | You touch the screen to get started, and a progression of several Floyd | dozen windows pop up over each each other, as if you've just won a Floyd | game of nSolitare. The one that freezes on top for a moment says "nSys Floyd | for Kiosk Error Number n + 7. Rebooting." Floyd | Floyd | The machine blinks and returns to its original state. Floyd | Floyd | The pager vibrates like it's repeatedly tapping you to get your Floyd | attention, and it buzzes gratingly. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "there also is some way to get committed somehow. I haven't found it, though." | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "push button" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | Gus needs his password reset now. Immediately. At the current time. Floyd | Sorry it's so early. Also, be nice to him when you walk over and Floyd | deliver his new password, since this weekend has been rough on Floyd | everyone. He's in F2 and I'm now having your nPediment privileges set Floyd | so you can walk right in there and find him. Thanks for rebooting the Floyd | machines, by the way. Floyd | Floyd | It is, of course, Wilbur. Floyd | Floyd | A beep issues from the pager, then a voice: Floyd | Floyd | This is an automatic report about how you got owned, champ. That's Floyd | right, one of your machines is puking out denial of service packets Floyd | and needs to be offlined immediately. Better get it off your network Floyd | before somebody other than a robot tells you about it. The victim is Floyd | Sophie. Floyd | Floyd | It sounds like the perky cousin of that stupid stapler. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "hold button" | ||||
Floyd | The pager emits a low beep after you hold the button down for about a Floyd | second and a half. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "x text file" | ||||
Floyd | A compulsive glance at the text file that holds your notes reassures Floyd | you about the locations of the five servers: Wendy, at RelOfCoTn, Floyd | Abalone and Second; Nora, in the airport; Ester, in the East Berm; Floyd | Sophie, in City Hall, on the south end of Main; and Cindy, in F7 on Floyd | the main campus. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Eel & First Floyd | The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is Floyd | southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The Floyd | cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, Floyd | to the northwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "e" | ||||
Floyd | You head east on First Street... Floyd | Floyd | Main & First Floyd | A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest Floyd | corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on Floyd | the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a Floyd | little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Floyd | Campus. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Second Floyd | Main runs along the west edge of the nWare Media Campus. To the Floyd | northwest is a Starbucks. The glass cube of the nWare Store sits on a Floyd | park-like plot to the southwest. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | A woman on an oversized skateboard zooms past, pulling a Jack Russell Floyd | terrier on a normal-sized skateboard. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | The sudden clamor and rush of a crowd sends you helplessly to the Floyd | ground. With a grinding pull, a battalion in green aprons hurls itself Floyd | over you and into the structure on the southwest corner. Perhaps you Floyd | glimpse a pair of stunned figures in black T-shirts inside, shivering Floyd | behind a counter. Your vision seems to be obscured for a moment by a Floyd | milky steam. Floyd | Floyd | You stand, finally, unsure about what you seem to have witnessed, Floyd | unsure about whether or not to hope it was real. Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | Floyd | > | EmacsUser asks, "Wait, so the password for Gus was really the last straw to send him to insanity?" | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an | EmacsUser asks, "And we delivered it?" | |||
Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "yeah, who knows. I think it's mainly just a Zork reference." | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "se" | ||||
Floyd | You head through the door and into the server room. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Server Room Floyd | There are just the usual racks here. The rest of the room is bare, Floyd | with the usual drop ceilings and the usual raised floor providing a Floyd | contrast to the unusual wooden walls outside. And it looks like we Floyd | also have Sophie. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "hold button" | ||||
Floyd | ( That is, "hold the server's red button." ) Floyd | Floyd | You hold the server's button in a for a while, and the box whines to a Floyd | halt, falling silent. When you release the button, the server remains Floyd | lifeless. Floyd | Floyd | You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after Floyd | accomplishing a work-related task. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | You head out through the door. Floyd | Floyd | City Hall Floyd | The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most Floyd | remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this Floyd | full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Floyd | Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf. Floyd | Floyd | There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be Floyd | noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You can't go that way. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "nw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "n" | ||||
Floyd | You head north on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "sw" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Supreme Food Court Floyd | The food court is of the same vintage as the other buildings in Floyd | nTopia, and seems not yet drinkable. Product and process have been Floyd | licensed all around the main chamber, where people can sit, mostly Floyd | alone, engaging their oral arguments. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "buy food" | ||||
Floyd | Food does seem like a good idea. You order some and prepare to focus Floyd | completely on the meal, like Martha Stewart on her salad... Floyd | Floyd | A crackling sound comes, somehow, from all around. Floyd | Floyd | This is a test of the nTopia civil alert system. If this were actually Floyd | a -- Floyd | Floyd | The recorded voice breaks off. Floyd | Floyd | ATTENTION. This is actually not a test. This is an alert. Severe dust Floyd | and wind conditions are anticipated. In a calm and orderly fashion, Floyd | please find shelter indoors, or remain indoors if you are there Floyd | already, and refer from going outside until further notice. Refrain. Floyd | Refrain from going outside. Don't be nervous. High risk of death if Floyd | you don't get indoors. Calmly. Get indoors. Immediately. Floyd | Floyd | Then there is quiet. Floyd | Floyd | You conclude your culinary experience. Floyd | Floyd | There's a granular howl from outside. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "wear helmet" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | An intriguing stranger dressed in black suddenly appears next to you Floyd | and begins whispering, without turning to face you. Floyd | Floyd | "Don't look over. They'll see us talking." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | ( You can also use commands such as WAIT 10 MINUTES and WAIT UNTIL 10 Floyd | AM. ) Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | "Now, listen closely. This is important. You're new here, still not Floyd | too damaged. I must tell you the terrible secret of nTopia." Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "this is the sandstorm part, of course" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "g" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | "This whole place was built on military land -- some missile testing Floyd | range or something." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "g" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | "You've probably noticed what's going on. They're driving us insane. Floyd | We're here as mental crash test dummies." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "g" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | "It's part of the business model. Goes along with the painfully Floyd | designed end-user application, the self-molesting hardware that calls Floyd | the mother ship when it manages to break itself." Floyd | Floyd | > | K-Y says, "hmm, I actually remember playing all the way through this" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "g" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | "They're using more advanced annoyances now. Monitoring you at all Floyd | times to maximally bother you. Broadcasting on certain electromagnetic Floyd | frequencies..." Floyd | Floyd | You glance over at your interlocutor and notice, for just a moment, a Floyd | sheet of something shiny and silvery poking out from beneath the Floyd | trendy black cap that she wears. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "x silvery" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x sheet" | ||||
Floyd | Something that you're trying to refer to either hasn't ever been Floyd | mentioned or is not currently in the area. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "x cap" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | "Hey, hey. Stop looking at me. They'll notice." Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | "Systematically, they're figuring out how to drive us crazy. Floyd | Non-lethal warfare. Market domination. All sorts of ways to use this Floyd | to increase shareholder value." Floyd | Floyd | > | jenrexrode asks, "aluminum foil perhaps?" | |||
| EmacsUser says, "I think so." | ||||
| DavidW says, "yeah, that's a good guess." | ||||
| Ellison says (to jenrexrode), "that's what I was thinking just now (orignally, I thought she had her own helmet)" | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | "I'm too far gone to help out on this one. I just gotta get out. Gotta Floyd | escape. I think I have a way, but I can't take anyone with me." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "z" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | "I had to tell you about it before I went, though. Had to track you Floyd | down. You're the last hope." Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "g" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | "Save the planet, kid! The city! Company! Neighborhood! Save your Floyd | profit center! Shut 'em down somehow!" Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "g" | ||||
Floyd | Time goes by. Floyd | Floyd | The harsh whistling sound continues. Floyd | Floyd | The civil alert system huffs on again. Floyd | Floyd | ATTENTION, the adverse weather conditions are over. It is safe to go Floyd | outside now. Have fun. Floyd | Floyd | The announcer clears his throat, even though the announcement is over, Floyd | and the speakers go silent. Floyd | Floyd | The mysterious individual rushes out, and out of sight. Floyd | Floyd | > | Ellison says, "now follow the stranger" | |||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "out" | ||||
Floyd | Floyd | Main & Third Floyd | Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest Floyd | of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass Floyd | cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Floyd | Court," is less impressive. And it looks like we also have an Floyd | enigmatic person in black. Floyd | Floyd | There seems to be no trace of whatever sand was blowing all around, Floyd | unless some of the buildings now have a slightly glossier finish. Floyd | Floyd | The strange person who spoke to you rushes away to the south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fourth Floyd | One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path Floyd | affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners. Floyd | And it looks like we also have an enigmatic person in black. Floyd | Floyd | The strange person who spoke to you rushes away to the south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Fifth Floyd | The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The Floyd | government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an Floyd | entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a Floyd | personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the Floyd | northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra. And it looks like we also have an Floyd | enigmatic person in black. Floyd | Floyd | The strange person who spoke to you rushes away to the south. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "s" | ||||
Floyd | You head south on Main... Floyd | Floyd | Main & Back Floyd | Back Street runs east behind City Hall here at the south end of Floyd | nTopia. Eel is to the west. A warehouse is on the northwest corner. Floyd | Floyd | You have come to the edge of the plateau on which nTopia is built. Far Floyd | below, past the railing, is the desert plain, stretching from reddish Floyd | white to white, scraggled here and there with gray. The sky is lapis Floyd | lazuli. Some highway stretches far off from east to west, as if it Floyd | were an imperfect reflection of a line on a map. And it looks like we Floyd | also have an enigmatic person in black. Floyd | Floyd | The strange person who spoke to you picks up an odd-looking parcel Floyd | from somewhere. It instantly inflates around her and forms a sort of Floyd | giant, clear hamster-ball. Your informant moves a bit and the curious Floyd | conveyance tips over the railing. When you look down after it -- after Floyd | her -- there is nothing there to be seen. Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Floyd), "jump" | ||||
Floyd | You swing yourself over, like the distinguished gymnast you once were Floyd | in your youth, to your parents' pride. Fortunately for your shattered Floyd | corpse, the final destructive arc of your pager leads a search team to Floyd | what used to be you, and, thanks to the marvels of technology, those Floyd | remnants are given a proper burial. Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | *** So it goes *** Floyd | Floyd | Floyd | On the last day of your working life you accomplished 8 of the 8 tasks Floyd | assigned you. Floyd | Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score Floyd | for that game or QUIT? Floyd | > | jenrexrode says, "nice" | |||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "undo" | ||||
Floyd | Main & Back Floyd | ( Very well -- we're pretending that that last command never happened. Floyd | ) Floyd | Floyd | > | ||||
| Ellison says (to Floyd), "x sky" | ||||
Floyd | The sky is a pure dome, like a clear day on The Truman Show. Floyd | Floyd | > | DavidW says, "The inflatable hamster ball is probably a Prisoner ref." | |||
| Ellison says, "huh, I didn't get that one" | ||||
| DavidW says, "I think they were called Rovers in the show." | ||||
| Ellison says, "so yeah, overall, I thought it was an intriguing game and fun to explore. it would be nice if some of those problems were smoothed over, but oh well. interesting nonetheless." | ||||
| Ellison says, "also, yeah, starting a new game, it looks like it only mentions the wires on the mouse's back the first time you look at it. that is too bad." | ||||
| EmacsUser says (to Ellison), "Thanks for the tour." | ||||
| DavidW says, "yes, thanks." | ||||
| Ellison says, "my pleasure! didn't want you guys to walk away without seeing some of that" | ||||
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