I like text-based games (like from ifdb), but I don’t like sitting at attention in front of my computer like I do all day at work. Any ideas for how to play these effectively without being on a computer?
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I’ve hacked a Kindle Paperwhite & used an on-screen virtual keyboard to play these games. That worked OK, but the virtual keyboard is very imprecise and frustrating.
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I’ve similarly hacked a Kindle 3 (the last model to include a physical keyboard). I hoped the physical keyboard would do the trick. Unfortunately, the key buttons are convex & very stiff - which hurt my fingertips after even short play sessions.
Any other ideas? Or is this a fool’s errand?
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There’s not many good options. It’s a genre that was built specifically for a keyboard, after all. Everything that isn’t a laptop or desktop is gonna be a frustrating downgrade.
Maybe the answer is getting into adjacent genres of games. They aren’t the same, obviously, but there’s a lot of overlap with the adventure game genre, especially, and the visual novel genre is more distant but a lot more accessible away from a pc
Reigns feels like a good adjacent choice.
Maybe I am confused why you can’t play them on a smartphone?
A smartphone’s virtual keyboard would be worse (smaller) than the Kindle’s, wouldn’t it? Maybe I should try it though. I mean, I’m pecking this message on my smartphone’s virtual keyboard so…
Lol. That’s my thought. We use the virtual keyboards a lot already. Like the other poster said there are some drawbacks but I find it much easier than any physical mini keyboard (far less strain).
Smartphone software like messaging or notes is built with imprecision in mind. I don’t know about you, but I use the swype method (moving a finger continuously from key to key and lifting at the end of the word) and when writing a message I still spend like 50% of the time correcting mistakes from the virtual keyboard.
Because these are usually short messages, you’d instead likely be hunting and pecking the virtual keys, but without the tactile feedback of a real keyboard. For games that are all about text, it’s a preference thing.
Plus a phone comes with a ton of distractions that a dedicated device without notifications doesn’t. Sure, you could turn on do not disturb while playing a text game but that feels a little intense. Don’t bother me, it’s Zork time!!
And if you really think about it, your question is basically like asking why anyone would need a Nintendo Switch when mobile games have virtual controls.
I wasn’t trying to be dismissive. You bring up several good points. I asked because what seems to me the most obvious small form factor answer hadn’t been considered at all.
All good, I know you weren’t and didn’t take it that way!
OK, I’m a big text adventure fan too, as well as a programmer and hobbyist electronics tinkerer, and you gave me a great idea.
I want to take this cheap wireless home theater keyboard and see if I can replace the touchscreen with a tiny OLED display and power it all with a simple board running Linux for text adventure games. The biggest challenge might be getting everything to fit properly in the case, but if I can make it work I’d have a portable text “game boy”!
Whoa! That’d be sweet! If you go for it please post updates with pictures!!??
Will do! If I can get it all working (and that’s a big if) I’ll definitely post about it and create a guide. Total project will be like less than $35 so worst-case scenario I’m not out too much, heh.
I don’t know if there are any existing implementations that work well enough yet for it to actually be relaxing, but it might be possible to set up a hands-free IF experience by hooking up speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools to the game.
Maybe this is overly simplistic, but I’m a couch gamer, and text based games on the TV with a wireless keyboard work great. Relax on the couch and otherwise it’s just like you’re physically at the terminal.
I know few people have a PC on the living room TV, but there are ways to stream it over there – e.g. with a Steam Link.
That’s not a bad idea. I keep a Linux machine in the living room attached to the TV with a wireless keyboard, so I’m already set up!
A Steam Deck or similar alternative? Modded Switch?
I’ve used some SSH tools to run Dwarf Fortress remotely from my phone. So I know it’s doable.
https://apps.apple.com/app/id1436902243 mb. can help you play locally.
Man, I miss Legend of the Green Dragon
I’ve had some fun with ‘Hosted Games’ on iOS recently and remember enjoying Lone Wolf as well if that helps
I have a living room PC - a mini pc plugged into my TV that I control with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse or game controller. It’s so comfortable just sitting back into a sofa to game. You could also get a laptop stand/lap tray for the keyboard for more comfortable typing on your lap.
Basically it doesn’t need to be either a desk or a handheld. You can have a halfway of a PC on your TV. I also dock my steam deck and play on my TV, which you could also use for IF if you have one.
Way better than a kindle would be whatever size Onyx Boox tablet that works for you. E-ink has come a,long way.
Smallish, lightweight device with a physical keyboard… Maybe something like the eee PC from 20 years ago? I assume some can be found on the second hand market for cheap. Default OS is Debian, though they were supposed to be able to run Windows XP (not sure I would recommend that with the limited hardware though).
