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    GET LAMP: The Text Adventure Documentary

    Google TechTalks

    5 HN recommenders · recommended in 8 months, 2014–2026

    YouTube

    2:01:18 · 244K views · Mar 10, 2011

    Jason Scott discusses making his documentary GET LAMP at a Google Tech Talk and screens part of the film. It covers the history of text adventures and interactive fiction, with interviews of Infocom developers and others.

    HN recommends it to anyone interested in text adventures, Infocom, MUDs and early computer gaming history.

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    8 comments from Hacker News

    1. @freediverMar 2019· in “Iconoclast: a Gothic/Cyberpunk MUD RPG, Online Since 1996”

      Oh the MUDs! Props to Forest’s edge and TempusMUD. Text is the ultimate medium because it directly connects with our imagination. I remember jumping out of my chair after reading a line of text on my screen. Recommend watching “Get lamp” documentary to fans of MUDs, text adventures and those born after: this video

      RecommendsView on HN
    2. @cpetersoDec 2018· in “Great Adventure-Game Puzzles”

      If you like text adventure games, check out Jason Scott's documentary GET LAMP about the history of text adventure games, including interviews with some Infocom developers: this video [LINK]

      RecommendsView on HN
    3. @anonymousiamJan 2026· in “Adventure 751 (1980)”

      Jason Scott (of textfiles.com) made a great documentary video about the Adeventure game. I picked up a copy at DEFCON about 15 years ago. [LINK] this video

      RecommendsView on HN
    4. @grimgrinDec 2014· in “First Infocom Z-machine implemented in hardware”

      Many Infocom employees are present in the documentary Get Lamp: this video Recommended if text games are of interest to you.

      RecommendsView on HN
    5. @petercooperJun 2022· in “Enjoyed Jason Scott’s BBS documentary”

      He also did a documentary about text adventure games called "GET LAMP" which I enjoyed a lot: this video

      RecommendsView on HN