Jason Dyer
@jdyer.bsky.social
Game designer making mathematics and science interactive. I also do the All the Adventures project where I play and write about every adventure game ever made in chronological order.
http://bluerenga.blog
http://bluerenga.blog
Pinned
Jason Dyer
@jdyer.bsky.social
· May 14
All The Adventures Up to 1982 in Review
It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to do one of these; my 1981 in review was posted December 20, 2021. The chart with plot types like Rescue, Escape, etc. just isn’t that helpful…
bluerenga.blog
All the Adventures aims to give the history about and play every adventure game ever made in chronological order. The 1982 sequence has just concluded, and I've written a post looking back and collecting some notable games.
#history #adventuregame
bluerenga.blog/2025/05/14/a...
#history #adventuregame
bluerenga.blog/2025/05/14/a...
the conclusion to Madhouse, the utterly obscure fan-game total-modification of Frank Corr's engine for Asylum
including the most satisfying puzzle in the game, and more ruminations on trolling
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/17/m...
including the most satisfying puzzle in the game, and more ruminations on trolling
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/17/m...
Madhouse: You Could Be Happy Here
I’ve finished the game, and you should make sure you’ve read my previous posts on Madhouse before this one. Last time I was stuck on a botanist and a germanium that was withered so they…
bluerenga.blog
November 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
the conclusion to Madhouse, the utterly obscure fan-game total-modification of Frank Corr's engine for Asylum
including the most satisfying puzzle in the game, and more ruminations on trolling
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/17/m...
including the most satisfying puzzle in the game, and more ruminations on trolling
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/17/m...
in which I continue the Deathmaze 5000 fangame titled Madhouse, and the trolling hits harder than ever (and I examine circumstances where a player-fan would add a design element that the main author never would)
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/15/m...
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/15/m...
Madhouse: Trolls
(Continued from my previous posts on Madhouse.) I’m likely not far from the end, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy to get there. Last time I left off on the very simple problem …
bluerenga.blog
November 15, 2025 at 7:10 PM
in which I continue the Deathmaze 5000 fangame titled Madhouse, and the trolling hits harder than ever (and I examine circumstances where a player-fan would add a design element that the main author never would)
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/15/m...
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/15/m...
this is one of the best accounts on Bluesky
If you are into the history of technology and/or games, take a look
If you are into the history of technology and/or games, take a look
Spotlight Golf contained very state-of-the-art technology for its time, which enabled it to create a unique gameplay experience.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
November 14, 2025 at 11:19 PM
this is one of the best accounts on Bluesky
If you are into the history of technology and/or games, take a look
If you are into the history of technology and/or games, take a look
Madhouse, the game that seemingly shouldn't exist, continues
I discuss major clues as to the actual source of the game
as well as find out what's more unfair than Deathmaze 5000
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/14/m...
I discuss major clues as to the actual source of the game
as well as find out what's more unfair than Deathmaze 5000
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/14/m...
Madhouse: Little Red Nothing Looking Very Sad
Never have I felt more apprehension than reading this sentence There are no hints or clues anywhere because there is no documentation that this game ever even existed. about a game related to Death…
bluerenga.blog
November 14, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Madhouse, the game that seemingly shouldn't exist, continues
I discuss major clues as to the actual source of the game
as well as find out what's more unfair than Deathmaze 5000
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/14/m...
I discuss major clues as to the actual source of the game
as well as find out what's more unfair than Deathmaze 5000
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/14/m...
picking two I have visible from where I'm sitting
November 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
picking two I have visible from where I'm sitting
Med Systems published a catalog of four "adventure blobber" games from 1980 to 1982, made outside the regular arc of adventure game history.
Recently, I found a fifth game. It is not in any catalog or advertisement. It is a ghost from time that shouldn't exist.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/12/m...
Recently, I found a fifth game. It is not in any catalog or advertisement. It is a ghost from time that shouldn't exist.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/12/m...
Madhouse (1981?)
We have — or at least had — the early timeline of Med Systems well-understood. They were founded by William Denman out of North Carolina, and they were the ones responsible for Reality …
bluerenga.blog
November 12, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Med Systems published a catalog of four "adventure blobber" games from 1980 to 1982, made outside the regular arc of adventure game history.
Recently, I found a fifth game. It is not in any catalog or advertisement. It is a ghost from time that shouldn't exist.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/12/m...
Recently, I found a fifth game. It is not in any catalog or advertisement. It is a ghost from time that shouldn't exist.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/12/m...
in which I reach the end of the first adventure game in the Norwegian language, which has one of the more satisfying game endings I've experienced in a while
buried under bad RNG decisions, but you don't have to worry about those when you're just reading about it!
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/11/r...
buried under bad RNG decisions, but you don't have to worry about those when you're just reading about it!
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/11/r...
Ringen: Under the Low Morning Sun
I’ve finished the game; my previous posts are needed for context. You can read my complete Ringen series including the 2019 content here, and my series starting from the DOS port here. Nearly…
bluerenga.blog
November 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
in which I reach the end of the first adventure game in the Norwegian language, which has one of the more satisfying game endings I've experienced in a while
buried under bad RNG decisions, but you don't have to worry about those when you're just reading about it!
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/11/r...
buried under bad RNG decisions, but you don't have to worry about those when you're just reading about it!
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/11/r...
in which the Norwegian game Ringen continues
including outwitting the witch via source code
a meeting with Legolas
Gollum's encounter with the precious
and a confrontation at the Bridge of Khazad-dum
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/10/r...
including outwitting the witch via source code
a meeting with Legolas
Gollum's encounter with the precious
and a confrontation at the Bridge of Khazad-dum
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/10/r...
Ringen: He Must Be a Wizard
(Continued from my previous posts.) Some progress, although I confess to looking at the source code for one puzzle; I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever based on what I found. Just to clear up a…
bluerenga.blog
November 10, 2025 at 6:42 PM
in which the Norwegian game Ringen continues
including outwitting the witch via source code
a meeting with Legolas
Gollum's encounter with the precious
and a confrontation at the Bridge of Khazad-dum
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/10/r...
including outwitting the witch via source code
a meeting with Legolas
Gollum's encounter with the precious
and a confrontation at the Bridge of Khazad-dum
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/10/r...
Ringen (the first adventure written in Norwegian) continues with a long post where I explore Moria, meet some elves, evade a dragon, fail to correctly solve a riddle, and gather treasures to fund Frodo's upcoming vacation.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/07/r...
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/07/r...
Ringen: And in the Darkness Bind Them
(Continued from my last post, or if you want to read my entire series on this game including when I played it on a MUD, the link here will work.) I’ve done some major exploration of Moria, wh…
bluerenga.blog
November 8, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Ringen (the first adventure written in Norwegian) continues with a long post where I explore Moria, meet some elves, evade a dragon, fail to correctly solve a riddle, and gather treasures to fund Frodo's upcoming vacation.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/07/r...
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/07/r...
Recently, on the Norwegian videogame site spillhistorie.no, two new discoveries were posted, games that were previously lost. I've written about one already; the other discovery was of a very early Tolkien game, and the first original adventure we have in Norwegian.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/05/r...
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/05/r...
Ringen: Return of the
Æons ago, in the pre-pandemic year of 2019, I wrote about the Norwegian game Ringen, based on Lord of the Rings. I only knew about it from a vague reference in a list of Tolkien games which gave th…
bluerenga.blog
November 6, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Recently, on the Norwegian videogame site spillhistorie.no, two new discoveries were posted, games that were previously lost. I've written about one already; the other discovery was of a very early Tolkien game, and the first original adventure we have in Norwegian.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/05/r...
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/05/r...
All the Adventures continues with Comp 1983 and a contrast with the previous game: despite both games being set on islands, rather than staging "scenes" Search for the Ruby Chalice clearly is trying to simulate an "environment" instead
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/03/s...
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/03/s...
Search for the Ruby Chalice (1983)
Last time I wrote about Polynesian Adventure, an entry into the Falsoft contest for Tandy CoCo adventure games. It was written by an older couple, whereas today’s selection was written by a 1…
bluerenga.blog
November 4, 2025 at 1:04 AM
All the Adventures continues with Comp 1983 and a contrast with the previous game: despite both games being set on islands, rather than staging "scenes" Search for the Ruby Chalice clearly is trying to simulate an "environment" instead
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/03/s...
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/03/s...
Reposted by Jason Dyer
Reading @jdyer.bsky.social's recent blog posts playing interactive fiction text adventure game Fairytale (1982). And my mind is blown at the start, learning that this game is based on Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree series of books. Which I adored when I was very young. bluerenga.blog/tag/fairytal...
November 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reading @jdyer.bsky.social's recent blog posts playing interactive fiction text adventure game Fairytale (1982). And my mind is blown at the start, learning that this game is based on Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree series of books. Which I adored when I was very young. bluerenga.blog/tag/fairytal...
based on some information on the comments I can say it is confirmed this does in fact use a real indigenous language
it is the earliest use I know of in computer games
it is the earliest use I know of in computer games
in which I complete Polynesian Adventure, which is meant to be almost a "virtual tourist" game perhaps 15 years too early
and also maybe the first text in a computer game from an indigenous language, although I have been unable to verify
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/02/p...
and also maybe the first text in a computer game from an indigenous language, although I have been unable to verify
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/02/p...
Polynesian Adventure: Virtual Vacation
(Continued from my last post.) I’ve finished the game. Given it was a 7k-byte type-in, it seemed inevitable, and it turns out there are almost no puzzles, but I had trouble anyway due to a pa…
bluerenga.blog
November 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
based on some information on the comments I can say it is confirmed this does in fact use a real indigenous language
it is the earliest use I know of in computer games
it is the earliest use I know of in computer games
in which I complete Polynesian Adventure, which is meant to be almost a "virtual tourist" game perhaps 15 years too early
and also maybe the first text in a computer game from an indigenous language, although I have been unable to verify
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/02/p...
and also maybe the first text in a computer game from an indigenous language, although I have been unable to verify
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/02/p...
Polynesian Adventure: Virtual Vacation
(Continued from my last post.) I’ve finished the game. Given it was a 7k-byte type-in, it seemed inevitable, and it turns out there are almost no puzzles, but I had trouble anyway due to a pa…
bluerenga.blog
November 3, 2025 at 4:07 AM
in which I complete Polynesian Adventure, which is meant to be almost a "virtual tourist" game perhaps 15 years too early
and also maybe the first text in a computer game from an indigenous language, although I have been unable to verify
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/02/p...
and also maybe the first text in a computer game from an indigenous language, although I have been unable to verify
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/02/p...
IFComp 2025, around since 1995, is (likely) the longest-running videogame creation contest.
Text adventures contests go back to near the beginning: what about Comp 1983?
I start into the games of the Falsoft contest, and the conditions which led to their creation.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/01/p...
Text adventures contests go back to near the beginning: what about Comp 1983?
I start into the games of the Falsoft contest, and the conditions which led to their creation.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/01/p...
Polynesian Adventure (1983)
This continues the story, more or less, from Rainbow Adventure (1982). I knew I had this particular set of games looming, and since the results of IFComp 2025 were announced a few weeks ago it seem…
bluerenga.blog
November 1, 2025 at 7:34 PM
IFComp 2025, around since 1995, is (likely) the longest-running videogame creation contest.
Text adventures contests go back to near the beginning: what about Comp 1983?
I start into the games of the Falsoft contest, and the conditions which led to their creation.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/01/p...
Text adventures contests go back to near the beginning: what about Comp 1983?
I start into the games of the Falsoft contest, and the conditions which led to their creation.
bluerenga.blog/2025/11/01/p...
Reposted by Jason Dyer
Ectocomp '25 games are all live no – including KINOPHOBIA, my parser game/database thriller hybrid. Research an alternate history of cinema to figure out the fates of lost souls.
Inspired equally by Return of the Obra Dinn, IMMORTALITY, and Letterboxd.
brunodias.itch.io/kinophobia
Inspired equally by Return of the Obra Dinn, IMMORTALITY, and Letterboxd.
brunodias.itch.io/kinophobia
Kinophobia by Bruno Dias
Explore a haunted movie studio. Learn the fates of its tormented souls. End a curse inscribed in blood and celluloid.
brunodias.itch.io
October 31, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Ectocomp '25 games are all live no – including KINOPHOBIA, my parser game/database thriller hybrid. Research an alternate history of cinema to figure out the fates of lost souls.
Inspired equally by Return of the Obra Dinn, IMMORTALITY, and Letterboxd.
brunodias.itch.io/kinophobia
Inspired equally by Return of the Obra Dinn, IMMORTALITY, and Letterboxd.
brunodias.itch.io/kinophobia
1982 was very early for Japanese adventure games, with only a small number of releases. Takara Building Adventure thus is one of the earliest adventure games in Japanese, but it was not generally available...
...until today.
Includes some unexpected history!
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/29/t...
...until today.
Includes some unexpected history!
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/29/t...
Takara Building Adventure Part 1 (1982)
The last time I wrote about a Japanese game was with The Palms, where I mentioned skipping over two games from 1982 because there were no copies available. This was one of them. Brief history recap…
bluerenga.blog
October 30, 2025 at 1:59 AM
1982 was very early for Japanese adventure games, with only a small number of releases. Takara Building Adventure thus is one of the earliest adventure games in Japanese, but it was not generally available...
...until today.
Includes some unexpected history!
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/29/t...
...until today.
Includes some unexpected history!
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/29/t...
Reposted by Jason Dyer
Presenting our newest archival collection:
The Andrew Nelson papers, from the writer of the 1996 mystery game Titanic: Adventure Out of Time 🚢
Read more:
The Andrew Nelson papers, from the writer of the 1996 mystery game Titanic: Adventure Out of Time 🚢
Read more:
Our first narrative collection: the Andrew Nelson papers | Video Game History Foundation
A new archival collection from the writer of the mystery game Titanic: Adventure Out of Time.
gamehistory.org
October 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Presenting our newest archival collection:
The Andrew Nelson papers, from the writer of the 1996 mystery game Titanic: Adventure Out of Time 🚢
Read more:
The Andrew Nelson papers, from the writer of the 1996 mystery game Titanic: Adventure Out of Time 🚢
Read more:
the ending of Fairytale, where iconic items swap and meddle in the wrong places
and the game reinforces it is Not for Kids, or at least Not for Kids Playing Alone
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/28/f...
and the game reinforces it is Not for Kids, or at least Not for Kids Playing Alone
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/28/f...
Fairytale: Bane of Giants
(Continued from my previous posts.) I’ve finished the game. This was far more elaborate than I expected and it might verge into a “good” game if some of the dodgier design choices…
bluerenga.blog
October 28, 2025 at 7:48 PM
the ending of Fairytale, where iconic items swap and meddle in the wrong places
and the game reinforces it is Not for Kids, or at least Not for Kids Playing Alone
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/28/f...
and the game reinforces it is Not for Kids, or at least Not for Kids Playing Alone
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/28/f...
Fairytale continues, with child-appropriate content like cold-blooded murder and a puzzle so outrageous even the authors of Ferret would think it went too far.
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/27/f...
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/27/f...
Fairytale: Over the Moon
(Continued from my previous post.) “Toffee!” said every one in surprise, “What do you want toffee for?” “To eat, of course,” said Moon-Face. “I just though…
bluerenga.blog
October 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Fairytale continues, with child-appropriate content like cold-blooded murder and a puzzle so outrageous even the authors of Ferret would think it went too far.
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/27/f...
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/27/f...
Next up: the first adventure of Keith Campbell (legendary adventure columnist). This was designed for a team adventure-playing contest and is "for children" (based on books by the children's author Enid Blyton) but is much harder than that designation suggests.
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/26/f...
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/26/f...
Fairytale (1982)
Keith Campbell is well-known amongst a certain circle of adventure enthusiasts as from issue 1 of the UK magazine Computer and Video Games (November 1981) he ran an Adventure column. The column ran…
bluerenga.blog
October 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Next up: the first adventure of Keith Campbell (legendary adventure columnist). This was designed for a team adventure-playing contest and is "for children" (based on books by the children's author Enid Blyton) but is much harder than that designation suggests.
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/26/f...
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/26/f...
Reposted by Jason Dyer
It’s exciting when someone publishes long-form on a subject you’ve been researching for years.
Here’s a thread commenting on this article in more detail.
If you do the retro computer, read the article & then come back here.
Apologies and respect in advance to @ernie.tedium.co
🧵👇
Here’s a thread commenting on this article in more detail.
If you do the retro computer, read the article & then come back here.
Apologies and respect in advance to @ernie.tedium.co
🧵👇
RF Shielding History: When The FCC Cracked Down On Computers
The FCC took a hard line on the radio frequency interference that computers created—creating huge headaches for early PC-makers. Why? Blame the CB radio fad.
tedium.co
October 25, 2025 at 6:44 AM
It’s exciting when someone publishes long-form on a subject you’ve been researching for years.
Here’s a thread commenting on this article in more detail.
If you do the retro computer, read the article & then come back here.
Apologies and respect in advance to @ernie.tedium.co
🧵👇
Here’s a thread commenting on this article in more detail.
If you do the retro computer, read the article & then come back here.
Apologies and respect in advance to @ernie.tedium.co
🧵👇
Next on All the Adventures:
For contrast with the gore of the last game, an entirely conflict-free game written for children in 1981, including a mini-map (extraordinarily rare at the time, but developed here with children in mind).
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/24/d...
For contrast with the gore of the last game, an entirely conflict-free game written for children in 1981, including a mini-map (extraordinarily rare at the time, but developed here with children in mind).
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/24/d...
Deliver the Cake (1981)
This is a sequel to a game that I covered 6 years ago, so let’s take things fresh– The People’s Computer Company is an organization important to the history of early computing and…
bluerenga.blog
October 25, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Next on All the Adventures:
For contrast with the gore of the last game, an entirely conflict-free game written for children in 1981, including a mini-map (extraordinarily rare at the time, but developed here with children in mind).
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/24/d...
For contrast with the gore of the last game, an entirely conflict-free game written for children in 1981, including a mini-map (extraordinarily rare at the time, but developed here with children in mind).
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/24/d...
Reposted by Jason Dyer
Our microgrants program is back for a third year! This year again, IFTF is looking to disburse $3,000 to cool projects related to interactive fiction that could benefit from a little bit of cash. More details on our blog post!
2026 IFTF Microgrant Applications Now Open!
You can now apply to our third grant cycle!
blog.iftechfoundation.org
October 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Our microgrants program is back for a third year! This year again, IFTF is looking to disburse $3,000 to cool projects related to interactive fiction that could benefit from a little bit of cash. More details on our blog post!
All the Adventures reaches the conclusion of Crypt of Medea, with a wild ending
also, some theorizing about Britto's continuing connection with Sir-Tech
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/23/c...
also, some theorizing about Britto's continuing connection with Sir-Tech
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/23/c...
Crypt of Medea: False Grave of the Worthy
I’ve finished the game, and the ending is truly unusual. My previous posts are needed for context. Last time I had reached but was stuck at a ravine (see screenshot above). I had available a …
bluerenga.blog
October 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
All the Adventures reaches the conclusion of Crypt of Medea, with a wild ending
also, some theorizing about Britto's continuing connection with Sir-Tech
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/23/c...
also, some theorizing about Britto's continuing connection with Sir-Tech
bluerenga.blog/2025/10/23/c...