I'm not doing Advent this year.
Everything became a bit of a disaster.
-=-=-
What I Didn't Do
The original plan was Greenie's Typing Tutorium, and things seemed to be going well enough, until they suddenly didn't, and the entire endeavour was abandoned at the last minute.
So, instead, I thought I'd "A.I. Up" some ideas.
I came up with an interesting concept for the AI's to work with.
1. Imagine a list of the top two games from every era of videogame history, from retro 8-bit home computers, to arcade machines, to modern VR gaming, and everything in-between.
It made a nice enough list.
2. Imagine you've NEVER played a videogame in your life, but that you had to write a game on a ZX Spectrum, based only on each of those titles. What might those games play like?
I got another nice big list, with plenty of details, if I'm honest. Each game had a little gameplay description, and all seemed well enough.
3. Give these new games a title based only on the descriptions you've provided.
Again, a lovely list was returned.
This is about 2 weeks ago, and I thought "Yeah, I could do that..", and I did indeed start doing that..
I jumped on board, made game number one, then game number two, then kinda half-assed game number three, then noticed a pattern and read ahead.
... Which .. if I'm honest, I probably should've done before.
Once you got down to the nitty gritty of the concepts, pretty much everything ended up being the same bloomin' game.
Duck Hunt : Hunt for eggs in a Maze
Tomb Raider : Hunt for treasures in a Maze
Beat Saber : Search for neon swords inside a dark Maze
..
Oh dear..
...
So I gave up with that concept, too.
Ugh. The amount of time I've wasted on Advent over the past couple of months is incredible!!
Instead, then, I'm just going to throw random crap out there, and see if anything's worthwhile.
Every day I'll try my best to give you something interesting, be it a game or a tool or a tweak to a tool or... whatever it be.
I'm sorry that Advent's been a bit of a bust, this year.
I hope I can amuse you over the coming weeks.
Orebit Frenzy : (Initial game title. Manic Miner)
Deep inside the mines, a manic orb of ore searches for gems before exiting the mine on the right.
The player controls a tiny "orebit," a chunk of ore spinning out of control in a collapsing mine. The screen is filled with obstacles (ASCII boulders) falling from the top. Players must navigate through narrow gaps to collect glowing energy cores while avoiding getting squashed.
Lyrics by ChatGPT based on the game's description > Reveal 🔎
[verse]
Deep in the dark, where the echoes roar,
Spins a frantic little chunk of ore.
Through the rubble, through the cracks,
Dodge the boulders, don’t look back!
[pre-chorus]
Energy glows, lighting the way,
Grab the gems, don’t go astray!
The mine’s collapsing, hear the sound,
The walls are closing all around!
[chorus]
Go, Orebit, go!
Through the depths below.
Collect the cores, escape the mine,
Spin to survive, you’re running out of time!
[verse]
ASCII boulders tumble down,
Shadows creep, and rocks abound.
Gaps are narrow, the stakes are high,
Spin like crazy, or you’ll say goodbye!
[pre-chorus]
Energy glows, lighting the way,
Grab the gems, don’t go astray!
The mine’s collapsing, hear the sound,
The walls are closing all around!
[chorus]
Go, Orebit, go!
Through the depths below.
Collect the cores, escape the mine,
Spin to survive, you’re running out of time!
[bridge]
Tick, tick, the clock is tight,
Every move could end the fight.
Orebit’s fate is in your hand,
Can you escape this crumbling land?
[final chorus]
Go, Orebit, go!
Through the depths below.
Collect the cores, escape the mine,
Spin to survive, you’re running out of time!
[outro]
Lights grow dim, the exit’s near,
The ore’s still spinning, full of fear.
A leap of faith, a final dive,
Orebit’s free, the game’s alive!
"Derek standing in a dark underground mineshaft. A glowing orb of colourful gems lights up the mine. Derek holds a sign that reads "I'm not doing Advent", cinematic lighting, movie poster art" by Replicate/Flux
[Dave's Kitchen. Dave is staring mournfully at his Coke fridge, which has a hastily-made paper number "1" stuck to it]
Dave: It's just not the same, is it?
Green: I mean, it does the job. It's still a big door with a number one.
Dave: It's not a proper advent calendar, though. I've just been too busy with the house move and all.
Green: It'll do, Dave. As long as you keep up with replacing the sticker every day.
[Dave traces the outline of the paper number with his finger]
Dave: Did you know, a standard case of Coke cans contains exactly 24 cans.
Green: Yeah, but you go through about twelve cans a day normally.
Dave: And a couple of bottles. I'm not really sure how best to organise all of this.
Green: It's still the same coke. Perhaps you could spice it up with a few of the alternative flavours.
Dave: [stares at Green]
Green: Or not. Don't do that. That's cool.
[Dave opens the fridge door ceremoniously]
Dave: Now... moment of truth...
Green: It's just opening a fridge, Dave. You open it every day.
Dave: No! It's opening door number one! Like those posh advent calendars, but better!
Green: Because it's Cola?
Dave: Because it's Cola!
[Dave toots a ceremonial toot]
Green: Amazing.
[Dave reaches in and pulls out a can with exaggerated reverence]
Dave: See? Perfect! Twenty-three more days of this!
Green: You really think you can stick to one a day?
Dave: Nope. But I always refill it. It'll be fine. Just a shame I haven't automated the refuelling setup, yet.
Green: There'll be time for that. Maybe on day 24 you can open it and the whole automation stuff will be presented to you in a fantastical and amusing manner?
Dave: Are you giving me more jobs to do? I've got enough on my plate, trying to organise my new desk setup.
[Dave cracks open the can]
Dave: Listen to that festive fizz!
Green: It sounds exactly like normal fizz.
Dave: No, this is December the First fizz. Much more... tinsel-y.
Green: You're going to make this a thing, aren't you?
Dave: Already planning tomorrow's door opening ceremony. Might need some fairy lights...
[End credits]
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Blog - Not Doing Advent : 01 - Orebit Frenzy - AGameAWeek