Interactive fiction is a thriving genre, but its commercial heyday is long gone. Here's Leigh Alexander on how Kickstarter could usher in text adventures' long-overdue renaissance: "There's more than just nostalgia contributing to a potential revival for interactive stories. A broader gaming audience means appetites for game forms we might have once called "casual" in another time — and furthermore, the popularity of tablets and e-readers means there's a real appetite for game forms that take advantage of a culture now habituated to reading on luminous screens in ways prior generations were widely not. [Gamasutra]
Interactive fiction revival?
Watch an A.I. tear through 237 levels of NES Tetris, exposing its bugs and glitches before finally killing the game
Software engineer Greg Cannon built an artificial intelligence that plays NES Tetris. In the video above, the AI, named StackedRabbit, tears through 237 levels, scoring 102 million points and revealing the wild color palettes, bugs, and glitches, before finally hitting the kill screen. (via Waxy) READ THE REST
Vending machines in games
The Video Game Soda Machine Project archives examples of vending machines and similar devices found in games. "The Video Game Soda Machine Project is my attempt to catalog screenshots of every soda vending machine that has ever appeared in a video game," writes Jess Morrissette, a Professor of Political Science and an amateur game developer.… READ THE REST
Fake game cheating app trolls cheats and posts their comical comeuppances online
Annoyed with all the cheating going on in Counterstrike, ScriptKid made a fake cheating app. It looks like the real thing, but if you download it and run it, it won't help you win. It will punish you for the amusement of others. When a real cheater tries to use it, it backfires on them.… READ THE REST
Recover like a pro athlete with 20% off these massage guns this Black Friday
Whether you're an avid athlete, a weekend warrior, or a casual exerciser, you owe it to yourself to recover properly. The best way to do so these days is with a massage gun. It doesn't get much better than an at-home percussive massage that you're in control of because you know your body best and… READ THE REST
Make your holiday cooking easier this season with this automatic stirrer for 20% off
If you're an at-home cook who is gearing up for all of the holiday cooking this season, you know the work that goes into making the dishes your family and friends love best. You also know there are some kitchen tasks that take forever to complete, and just aren't fun to do. The 3rd Generation… READ THE REST
This new age can opener is 20% off during this Black Friday sale
The holiday season is upon us, which means we'll all be surrounded by friends and family cracking open ice-cold beverages to celebrate. This usually means the glassware will be brought out and washed over and over, or a thousand red cups will be floating around your home long after the party is over. However, now… READ THE REST
