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Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
What do you get when you mix difficult puzzles with intricate storytelling? A pair of defeated gamers, that's what. Kay and Carrington throw in the towel and admit they were bested by Hadean Lands. Then they replay Emily Short's recently remastered Bee, and tackle Jason Shiga's twisted tale of tentacles and truth. Bonus: Kay may or may not have sent Carrington some malware.
It's a half episode where Dan talks to Carrington Vanston about movie sequels and not science.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
The guys from Grue tackle another pair of modern Interactive Fiction games, or at least try to. First up is Everybody Dies, by Jim Munroe, in which ... well, everybody dies. Until they don't. And maybe there are ghosts. Next is Bee, by Emily Short, about going to a spelling bee. Except the only version of the game available doesn't include the spelling bee. Infocom games were never this complicated.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
Kay and Carrington get a double dose of IF when they play and discuss Twine games for the first time. First up is Their Angelical Understanding, by Porpentine, which comes with both music and warnings. Next is 16 Ways to Kill a Vampire at McDonalds, by Abigail Corfman, a game about french fries and undeath.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
It's time for pointin' and clicking' and piratin', oh my, as Kay and Carrington play one of LucasFilm's famously funny forays into adventure gaming. Will they become terrors of the high seas, or be stuffed into Davy Jones' locker? All we know for sure is, there will be grog.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
The Grue Crew delves into a world of noisy elephants and silent Rs, as they discuss Graham Nelson's game The Meteor, The Stone And A Long Glass Of Sherbet. Just when they think they're out, Zork pulls them back in.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
Kay and Carrington leave behind the world of Infocom and venture into the future! (By which we mean the 1990s.) In this episode they tackle the two winners of the First Annual IF Competition: A Change in the Weather by Andrew Plotkin, and Uncle Zebulon's Will by Magnus Olsson.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
It's another game with a colon in the title, as Kay and Carrington tackle the ninth game in the increasingly inaccurately named Zork Trilogy. This one wraps up the entire Zork series, and (maybe) (kinda) explains everything. It all started long ago west of a white house, but how will it end? And what comes next?
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
Kay and Carrington take a midnight train going anywhere into a land of magic, but too few resources to play it any way they want it (that's the way they need it). Will the Grue Crew and this game go their separate ways, or will they embrace this capital-J Journey with open arms?
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
Kay and Carrington set sail on the virtual high seas to give a talk at this year's JoCo Cruise, an annual oceangoing event for technophiles, tabletop gamers, and creative-minded people. In other words, a bunch of nerds. The perfect venue to discuss all things Infocom.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
Can Kay and Carrington defeat the usurper king and restore peace to a fabled land? And more importantly, can they do it while turning into badgers and turtles and eels, oh my. Some claim there is more to being a knight than just eating ham and jam and Spam a lot. Surely you joust.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
You'll need swords, seamanship, political guile, but most of all inline hints to tackle Infocom's ill-conceived first foray into graphical adventures. Kay and Carrington find their patience tested in a game where, ironically, the most frequently used command is 'wait'.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
You'll need swords, seamanship, political guile, but most of all inline hints to tackle Infocom's ill-conceived first foray into graphical adventures. Kay and Carrington find their patience tested in a game where, ironically, the most frequently used command is 'wait'.
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Jack Nutting, Carrington Vanston... and (eventually) Michael Mulhern Topic: Second computers What was your second computer? How did lessons learned with your first affect your choice of second? Topic/Feedback links: Cool-Retro-Term C64 mini monitor 3D printed Building a 3270 terminal controller Intel MDS development system (Centre for Computing History) Joe's Intel MDS-800 development system Retro Computing News: Retrocomputing Spray Paints OpenFlops USB floppy drive emulator (GoTek alternative) 8086 Microcode Disassembled Ken Shirriff’s 8086 transistor photograph Vintage Computer-related commercial: IBM 3279 color terminal Retro Computing Gift Idea: M.U.L.E. The Board Game Auction Picks: Carrington: Ultimate 80s desk accessories: 1985 Hallmark computer desk plaque plus tie Computer pencil holder with ‘dirty’ jokes 1980s computer programmer tchotchke 1980s business card holder by same tchotchke maker See also: Adele’s II in Encino, CA (Los Angeles Daily News) Michael: Wifi car backup camera Paul: Brimstone and the terribleness of the world Apple Aristotle menu software Novation CAT Mac 128K bag Alternative Mac 128K bag Mac Portable bag Evolution of Apple iconography Quinn: //c Carrying bags Example 1 missing inside cover Example 2 missing strap Feedback/Discussion: @rcrpodcast on Twitter Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Throwback Network Throwback Network on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X - link Show audio files hosted by CyberEars Listen/Download:
Kay and Carrington take a victory lap after finishing all of the Infocom text-only adventures. Turn on verbose mode and light the brass lantern, it's time to take a look back at what they liked best, and least, from these classic games.
Kay and Carrington take a victory lap after finishing all of the Infocom text-only adventures. Turn on verbose mode and light the brass lantern, it's time to take a look back at what they liked best, and least, from these classic games.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
A bone chilling blizzard at the window, a reanimated hand on your shoulder, and worst of all a term paper deadline. All the ingredients for a deliciously dreadful day at Boston's creepiest college, where Kay and Carrington delve deep into the tunnels and tombs of The Lurking Horror.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
A bone chilling blizzard at the window, a reanimated hand on your shoulder, and worst of all a term paper deadline. All the ingredients for a deliciously dreadful day at Boston's creepiest college, where Kay and Carrington delve deep into the tunnels and tombs of The Lurking Horror.
In Wishbringer, a search for a lost cat leads Kay and Carrington into a dark fantasy land where their greatest concern isn't the witches, the eldritch tendrils, or even the grue. It's delivering the mail. Be careful what you wish for.
In Wishbringer, a search for a lost cat leads Kay and Carrington into a dark fantasy land where their greatest concern isn't the witches, the eldritch tendrils, or even the grue. It's delivering the mail. Be careful what you wish for.
What do you get when you combine a plucky little robot, an abandoned space station, and Cousin Oliver? To find out, complete form JZ-59-G then listen in as Kay and Carrington discuss Stationfall, Infocom's comedy horror space adventure mystery.
What do you get when you combine a plucky little robot, an abandoned space station, and Cousin Oliver? To find out, complete form JZ-59-G then listen in as Kay and Carrington discuss Stationfall, Infocom's comedy horror space adventure mystery.
Carrington Vanston interview Greg and Dan about the podcast and how it came to be.
The Gruesome Twosome take another vacation from Infocom to play a vintage text adventure written by none other than Kay himself back in the 1980s. From creative spellings to Playboy magazines, it's old school meets high school in Scavange! (Quack! Hiss!)
The Gruesome Twosome take another vacation from Infocom to play a vintage text adventure written by none other than Kay himself back in the 1980s. From creative spellings to Playboy magazines, it's old school meets high school in Scavange! (Quack! Hiss!)
Kay and Carrington foray into the future to face the mishaps and misspellings of Planetfall, Infocom's rib-tickling romp about a boy and his bot. Star Patrol: it's not just a job, it's an adventure game.
Kay and Carrington foray into the future to face the mishaps and misspellings of Planetfall, Infocom's rib-tickling romp about a boy and his bot. Star Patrol: it's not just a job, it's an adventure game.
In this time of global turmoil, the CBA Podcast once again proves to be your one-stop source of distraction and meh-grade information. We start off by a quick list of how to keep busy in a sort of useful way, followed by a short talk about a 230 Vac test-jig and designing for test-jig repairability. Already mentioned in a previous episode, I finally got around to building a digital driver box consisting of push/pull FET and open-drain drivers for a low-voltage digital input-signal. And that's not the only thing that got finished: I also got around to make mechanics and software for a spiky icicle LED ball decoration thing, which worked out quite well. A fuzzy talk about getting to know your electronics equipment more intimately concludes this episode. If you are looking for useful things to do there, perhaps this is worth a shot. Relevant links: the ongoing RetroChallenge 2020/04 lasts until May, and is now hosted by Mark Sherman please leave 5G towers alone, and instead read Wikipedia's article on wireless device radiation and health some podcasts I listen(ed) to, in random order: Eaten By A Grue (Carrington Vanston & Kevin Savetz), about Infocom text adventures (even if you never play(ed) those, like myself) DoubleTake (Carrington Vanston & Shari Creamer), where 2 people review 1 mystery movie each Henry & Heidi Podcast (Henry Rollins & Heidi May), true stories from the past. Most have to do with music/punkrock, but probably accessible if you're not 100% into that. SledgeCast (Gerry something and Iain something), talking about "Sledge Hammer!" TV-episodes, one each episode. I binge-listened to these while driving to Hannover and back. The Amp Hour (Dave Jones & Chris Gammell), about electronic engineering. Occasionally have interviews that go off on a tangent, which I like. Rationally Speaking (Julia Galef), about the borderlands between reason and nonsense (unquote). For some reason I can't listen to this while driving, but while walking on a treadmill everything's fine. Go figure. Damn Interesting Podcasts (Alan Bellows), true stories, told in fitting atmosphere. Creepy. Weird. Retro Computing Roundtable (Paul Hagstrom, Earl Evans, Carrington Vanston, Michael Mulhern, etc etc) about retrocomputing Welcome to Night Vale (Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor and others), imaginary weird reports about an imaginary desert town. Recommended to me, I like it, haven't heard more than the first few episodes, and as with Rationally Speaking, I can't seem to listen to this while driving. :-) Joe Rogan Experience (Joe Rogan and guests). Sit down for an hour or two to get to hear about people you might not even have considered otherwise. Or skip to the next episode, of course. You Don't Know Flack (Rob O'Hara), telling stories about his own life. This guy can really tell a story, very funny and entertaining, even if you're not really into the subject at hand. Multiple Sadness (Rob O'Hara), about B-movies that are so bad they're good. Very funny and entertaining. video of my LED icicle spike ball decoration on YT video of Pintek DP-25 differential probe weirdness on YT Some pics of the things mentioned in this episode: 230 Vac test-jig, using DIN-rail components and a big block of MDF wood digital driver/amplifier box, innards LED icicle ball, innards. The small PCB is an AVR micro and 2 16-channel constant current LED-drivers. painted with acrylic paint and spraypaint. Should probably just have 3D-printed this in the first place... LED icicle ball, full brightness, sitting on desk  Â
What does it mean when Kay and Carrington discuss a game full of Christmas Tree Monsters and Cruel Puppets for over two hours, never once using the word "wacky" but often using the word "walkthrough"? It means it's time to load up on long-lasting snacks, and brace yourself for Beyond Zork.
What does it mean when Kay and Carrington discuss a game full of Christmas Tree Monsters and Cruel Puppets for over two hours, never once using the word "wacky" but often using the word "walkthrough"? It means it's time to load up on long-lasting snacks, and brace yourself for Beyond Zork.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
It's turtles all the way down as Kevin and Carrington discuss Infocom's A Mind Forever Voyaging: a computer simulation about a dystopian future in which a computer simulation finds out it is a computer simulation simulating dystopian futures.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
It's turtles all the way down as Kevin and Carrington discuss Infocom's A Mind Forever Voyaging: a computer simulation about a dystopian future in which a computer simulation finds out it is a computer simulation simulating dystopian futures.
Will the third sleuthing game from Infocom be the caper that finally steals Kevin's heart? Or will Carrington continue to be the only one who likes bungling through Infocom's burglary games? Find out as the lads tackle Infocom's Suspect.
Will the third sleuthing game from Infocom be the caper that finally steals Kevin's heart? Or will Carrington continue to be the only one who likes bungling through Infocom's burglary games? Find out as the lads tackle Infocom's Suspect.
Kevin and Carrington return to discuss the expert-rated final game in the Enchanter trilogy. Are you happy the lads are back, or is that just an eft in your tarn?
Kevin and Carrington return to discuss the expert-rated final game in the Enchanter trilogy. Are you happy the lads are back, or is that just an eft in your tarn?
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
Jetsetter Kevin Savetz flies to the GitHub lair on Skullcrusher Mountain to interview Steve Meretzky about what it was like to make games in the 80s.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
Jetsetter Kevin Savetz flies to the GitHub lair on Skullcrusher Mountain to interview Steve Meretzky about what it was like to make games in the 80s.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
A butterfly flaps its wings on the other side of the world, and suddenly Kevin and Carrington are discussing an obscure game that isn't on the usual list of Infocom titles. Also it happens to be April 1st, but that probably doesn't mean anything.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
A butterfly flaps its wings on the other side of the world, and suddenly Kevin and Carrington are discussing an obscure game that isn't on the usual list of Infocom titles. Also it happens to be April 1st, but that probably doesn't mean anything.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
Kevin and Carrington throw caution to the wind and spill the beans about Infocom's idiom-riddled game. Does it cut the mustard, or should you give this one the could shoulder? To make a long story short, the devil is in the details.
Eaten By A Grue: Infocom, Text Adventures, and Interactive Fiction
Kevin and Carrington throw caution to the wind and spill the beans about Infocom's idiom-riddled game. Does it cut the mustard, or should you give this one the could shoulder? To make a long story short, the devil is in the details.
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting) and Carrington Vanston (not hosting) Topic: The eBay-er Necessities For finding retrocomputing-related stuff, eBay is the main place to go. How does it work? How can you find things? What should you be careful about? Turns out, there's a lot to say about this. Topic and feedback notes: PCW-8256: Guide for connecting a 3.5" drive" PCW-8256: Replacement disk drive belts" PCW-8256: Disk images Nerdly Pleasures blog PSA: Get your batteries out Retro Computing News: New Hampshire to commemorate BASIC with historial marker Barbara Keremedjiev has re-opened the American Computer & Robotics Museum in Bozeman, MT, created by her late husband, George Keremedjiev Direct3D team office has a wall of GPU history Darkstar: Xerox Star emulator now available Introducing Darkstar ROMchip journal, call for submissions Apple Lisa turns 36 Upcoming Shows: CoCoFEST, Lombard Illinois, May 4-5, 2019 VCF East, InfoAge Science Center, Wall, NJ, May 3-5, 2019 Fujiama 2019, Lengenfeld, Germany, August 26-September 4, 2019 Vintage Computer-related Commercial: Xerox Star Professional Workstation Retro Computing Gift Ideas: BX Foundry BX-110 joystick Auction Picks: Carrington: Macintosh Color Classic with Mystic 040 board upgrade and Apple IIe card Paul: Popular Electronicses EMMA II 6502 trainer See also: Information/manuals for EMMA and EMMA II CBM 4040 Mac2USB Fix Your Own Computer Using Word 97 Encyclopedia of Computer Science, 1976 Xerox 820-II Feedback/Discussion: @rcrpodcast on Twitter Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Throwback Network Throwback Network on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X - link Show audio files hosted by CyberEars Listen/Download:
Is playing The Witness a total gasser, or is it a trip for biscuits? Listen in as those hep cats Kevin and Carrington get on the Ameche to bushwa about Infocom's second gumshoe. If you give this rip-snorter the high hat, you're all wet.
Hosts Mike Maginnis and Carrington Vanston review the arcade classic... Shark Attack / Deep Death
Mike Maginnis and Carrington Vanston review the arcade classic Anteater.
Mike Maginnis and Carrington Vanston discuss the arcade classic Mighty Monkey.
Hosts Mike Maginnis and Carrington Vanston discuss the arcade classic Professor Pac-Man.
Mike Maginnis and Carrington Vanston review the arcade classic Kangaroo. Mike's high score: 86,600 Carrington's high score: 12,600
Hosts Mike Maginnis and Carrington Vanston conquer the arcade classic Krull.