Inter-Hackerspace showing of GET LAMP: The Text Adventure Documentary, Sep. 11th

Join i3Detroit for an evening of computer history, interactive storytelling, and more! On September 11th, in conjunction with other hackerspaces, we will be screening GET LAMP: The Text Adventure Documentary. After the show, we’ll have a video chat with filmmaker Jason Scott, and a brief workshop on how you can get started creating your own interactive fiction game. (Reserve your seat now!)

Long before 3D-accelerated video cards, or even graphics of any sort, there was text. Letters on a screen, a blinking cursor, and you. Imagine the mother of all “choose your own adventure” books — the text adventure game (neologized as “interactive fiction“) takes place as much in your imagination as in the computer.

With thirty-plus years of history, the stories about the games are sometimes as interesting as the games themselves. Independent documentarian Jason Scott (also of Textfiles.com and BBS: The Documentary) has interviewed dozens of people behind this fascinating scene, distilled their stories into an engaging film with its own interactive section, and released the whole package under a Creative Commons (“copyleft”) license.

Come visit i3Detroit (or your own local hackerspace, if you’re not in Michigan) to explore the past, present, and future of interactive storytelling. Bring a laptop, and we’ll get you started writing your very own game.  Seating is limited, so reserve your spot!