Phil Riley
@rileypb.com
Computer Science guy. I like coding, text adventures, cats, and coding.
I wrote Galaxy Jones and Bureau of Strange Happenings.
I wrote Galaxy Jones and Bureau of Strange Happenings.
IFComp has started, and my game, Phobos: A Galaxy Jones Story is part of it! Check out all the games at IFComp.org!
September 1, 2025 at 6:47 PM
IFComp has started, and my game, Phobos: A Galaxy Jones Story is part of it! Check out all the games at IFComp.org!
Spotted in Harrisonburg, VA: two unmarked black pickups pulling someone over. Couldn't get a good look at the driver of any of the three vehicles. A minute or so later, a black helicopter flew overhead. What's going on here?
August 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Spotted in Harrisonburg, VA: two unmarked black pickups pulling someone over. Couldn't get a good look at the driver of any of the three vehicles. A minute or so later, a black helicopter flew overhead. What's going on here?
I found the most obscure bug in the world. The version of Leather Goddesses of Phobos packaged in the Infocom Sampler refers to Tiffany as "him". I'll be mailing them a bug report as soon as I find an envelope and a stamp.
August 8, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I found the most obscure bug in the world. The version of Leather Goddesses of Phobos packaged in the Infocom Sampler refers to Tiffany as "him". I'll be mailing them a bug report as soon as I find an envelope and a stamp.
If you see this, quote this post with a title screen that’s iconic to you.
August 7, 2025 at 3:53 AM
If you see this, quote this post with a title screen that’s iconic to you.
This is a few days late, but I've posted my entry for ifcomp.org: Phobos: A Galaxy Jones Story. Can't wait for September 1!
The Interactive Fiction Competition
ifcomp.org
August 5, 2025 at 4:59 PM
This is a few days late, but I've posted my entry for ifcomp.org: Phobos: A Galaxy Jones Story. Can't wait for September 1!
Finished The Lurking Horror with just one tiny tiny hint. Best Infocom maze ever. Just a good game all-around.
Sooo close I can feel it. Definitely an endgame feel now. I don't usually finish Infocom games without hints (read: never), so I'm excited I'm this close now.
And then I ran smack into those dreaded words (why, Infocom, why?):
August 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Finished The Lurking Horror with just one tiny tiny hint. Best Infocom maze ever. Just a good game all-around.
Sooo close I can feel it. Definitely an endgame feel now. I don't usually finish Infocom games without hints (read: never), so I'm excited I'm this close now.
And then I ran smack into those dreaded words (why, Infocom, why?):
August 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Sooo close I can feel it. Definitely an endgame feel now. I don't usually finish Infocom games without hints (read: never), so I'm excited I'm this close now.
And then I ran smack into those dreaded words (why, Infocom, why?):
August 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
And then I ran smack into those dreaded words (why, Infocom, why?):
Postponing Bureaucracy in favor of The Lurking Horror for now. A good way into it, and it’s pretty fun, if somewhat easy.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
August 2, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Postponing Bureaucracy in favor of The Lurking Horror for now. A good way into it, and it’s pretty fun, if somewhat easy.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
On to Bureaucracy. Just a little ways into it, and frankly it's kind of boring. There's only one joke, and it's kind of tired. But I *will get through it*.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
July 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
On to Bureaucracy. Just a little ways into it, and frankly it's kind of boring. There's only one joke, and it's kind of tired. But I *will get through it*.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
I got bored and went to the Invisiclues. Two of the puzzles were reasonable, one was IMHO not. The ending is kind of silly. All in all, it was *fine*, but there's something distinctly unsatisfying about a treasure hunt where the treasures aren't useful for anything.
In distressing news, I'm at 7/10 treasures in Hollywood Hijinx with no idea what to do next. Time is running out! Doesn't everyone love a good timer?
Played through as much Moonmist as I could stand. The game is really poorly structured, and it's unclear even what the objective is. Which is too bad, because the setting and background are so promising.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
July 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I got bored and went to the Invisiclues. Two of the puzzles were reasonable, one was IMHO not. The ending is kind of silly. All in all, it was *fine*, but there's something distinctly unsatisfying about a treasure hunt where the treasures aren't useful for anything.
In distressing news, I'm at 7/10 treasures in Hollywood Hijinx with no idea what to do next. Time is running out! Doesn't everyone love a good timer?
Played through as much Moonmist as I could stand. The game is really poorly structured, and it's unclear even what the objective is. Which is too bad, because the setting and background are so promising.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
July 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
In distressing news, I'm at 7/10 treasures in Hollywood Hijinx with no idea what to do next. Time is running out! Doesn't everyone love a good timer?
Played through as much Moonmist as I could stand. The game is really poorly structured, and it's unclear even what the objective is. Which is too bad, because the setting and background are so promising.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
May 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Played through as much Moonmist as I could stand. The game is really poorly structured, and it's unclear even what the objective is. Which is too bad, because the setting and background are so promising.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
Just completed Leather Goddesses of Phobos. I gotta say, I’m not as enamored of the absurdist games like LGOP and HHGG as some people are. Still a good game.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
May 12, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Just completed Leather Goddesses of Phobos. I gotta say, I’m not as enamored of the absurdist games like LGOP and HHGG as some people are. Still a good game.
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
ifdb.org/viewgame?id=...
April 4, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Working with the Inform codebase can be frustrating, as it sometimes seems to purposely flout existing convention. Or maybe Graham Nelson doesn’t know/care?
#inform7 #interactivefiction
#inform7 #interactivefiction
April 3, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Working with the Inform codebase can be frustrating, as it sometimes seems to purposely flout existing convention. Or maybe Graham Nelson doesn’t know/care?
#inform7 #interactivefiction
#inform7 #interactivefiction
Yay! Also I made the source code for Bureau of Strange Happenings public on GitHub: github.com/rileypb/BOSH
April 1, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Yay! Also I made the source code for Bureau of Strange Happenings public on GitHub: github.com/rileypb/BOSH
I've put a pause on the Infocom for the moment, as I polish up my entry to the NarraScope Showcase (narrascope.org), and also work on my *secret project*.
Narrascope 2025 | Celebrating Narrative Games
NarraScope 2025 at Drexel University is an event that supports interactive narrative, adventure games, and interactive fiction by bringing together writers, developers, and players.
narrascope.org
March 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I've put a pause on the Infocom for the moment, as I polish up my entry to the NarraScope Showcase (narrascope.org), and also work on my *secret project*.
It occurs to me that all three of my published games feature a screwdriver. I pledge to you: no more screwdrivers!
March 20, 2025 at 12:57 AM
It occurs to me that all three of my published games feature a screwdriver. I pledge to you: no more screwdrivers!
Finished Trinity. So good in so many ways, but it suffers from what so many Infocom games suffer from -- the need to perform certain actions in a certain order that can't readily be inferred beforehand.
Sort of playing both Ballyhoo and Trinity right now. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity...
But both of those have taken a backseat to writing “Galaxy Jones Reborn”. It’s going to be so much better than the original.
But both of those have taken a backseat to writing “Galaxy Jones Reborn”. It’s going to be so much better than the original.
March 19, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Finished Trinity. So good in so many ways, but it suffers from what so many Infocom games suffer from -- the need to perform certain actions in a certain order that can't readily be inferred beforehand.
March 17, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Reposted by Phil Riley
Yes, Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the lands of a second darkness. He is seeking it, seeking it—all his thought is bent on it
We could fight Sauron, keep the Ring from him, destroy it
Or—hear me out—we give the Ring to Sauron and watch his approval rating tank. Much easier. Less walking
We could fight Sauron, keep the Ring from him, destroy it
Or—hear me out—we give the Ring to Sauron and watch his approval rating tank. Much easier. Less walking
March 15, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Yes, Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the lands of a second darkness. He is seeking it, seeking it—all his thought is bent on it
We could fight Sauron, keep the Ring from him, destroy it
Or—hear me out—we give the Ring to Sauron and watch his approval rating tank. Much easier. Less walking
We could fight Sauron, keep the Ring from him, destroy it
Or—hear me out—we give the Ring to Sauron and watch his approval rating tank. Much easier. Less walking
Amy Schumer would do a better job as Senator from NY.
March 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Amy Schumer would do a better job as Senator from NY.
Reposted by Phil Riley
Everybody has a plan until a cat falls asleep in their lap
March 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Everybody has a plan until a cat falls asleep in their lap
I have so many questions about atmospheric pressure and infinite bags of holding.
March 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I have so many questions about atmospheric pressure and infinite bags of holding.