Wayne Maddison
@waynemaddison.bsky.social
Raw pu-erh in the morning; oolong in the afternoon. Chocolate: dark milk. Would rather be drawing spider genitalia, usually. Looking forward to the next field trip. Thinking about getting a pottery wheel. Father of two amazing adults. Emeritus Prof @ UBC
I would love to meet him in person someday!
November 2, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I would love to meet him in person someday!
Your loophole will be closed in v. 4.03. However, I have no doubts about your ability to find others.
October 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Your loophole will be closed in v. 4.03. However, I have no doubts about your ability to find others.
Of the very early games, I've only played Zork, in which I didn't encounter any exploding runes, but my memory may have been eaten by a grue.
October 30, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Of the very early games, I've only played Zork, in which I didn't encounter any exploding runes, but my memory may have been eaten by a grue.
In this (early?) version of ZoL, there is nothing dangerous, but if we were to add a mysterious monster, it's name would have to a something like "grepha". (At least, I assume that "grue" is from "GReat Underground Empire"...?)
October 30, 2025 at 5:05 AM
In this (early?) version of ZoL, there is nothing dangerous, but if we were to add a mysterious monster, it's name would have to a something like "grepha". (At least, I assume that "grue" is from "GReat Underground Empire"...?)
It’s short for Zork of Life
October 29, 2025 at 8:33 PM
It’s short for Zork of Life
Oh, the fond memories.
October 29, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Oh, the fond memories.
The Hitchhiker's guide text game was similar, but came out a few years after the game that inspired Mesquite's adventure game.
October 29, 2025 at 7:56 PM
The Hitchhiker's guide text game was similar, but came out a few years after the game that inspired Mesquite's adventure game.
Never heard of that! Just goes to show I had a misspent youth.
October 29, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Never heard of that! Just goes to show I had a misspent youth.
The goal of the game should be pretty straightforward. To build your own version with a custom tree, e.g. for a plant systematics or invertebrate zoology course, make a phylogeny as per instructions in Mesquite_Folder/settings/trees/ZoL.
October 28, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The goal of the game should be pretty straightforward. To build your own version with a custom tree, e.g. for a plant systematics or invertebrate zoology course, make a phylogeny as per instructions in Mesquite_Folder/settings/trees/ZoL.
The magic-word way to discover the game was to use the classic incantation "xyzzy". Perhaps you can recognize the old-school adventure game that inspired ZoL.
October 28, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The magic-word way to discover the game was to use the classic incantation "xyzzy". Perhaps you can recognize the old-school adventure game that inspired ZoL.
For those paying attention, Joseph entered the adventure game in a way we hadn't intended.
October 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
For those paying attention, Joseph entered the adventure game in a way we hadn't intended.
Wow! There's been so much water under the bridge since then that neither David nor I remember that!
October 28, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Wow! There's been so much water under the bridge since then that neither David nor I remember that!
oh?! So as not to spill the beans, could you dm me what you entered in the command line?
October 28, 2025 at 3:31 PM
oh?! So as not to spill the beans, could you dm me what you entered in the command line?
Congratulations! If I may ask, did you search the code for interesting keywords, or did you find it by invoking old school magic words at Mesquite's command line?
October 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Congratulations! If I may ask, did you search the code for interesting keywords, or did you find it by invoking old school magic words at Mesquite's command line?
Mesquite now has a built-in adventure game, which you may be able to find if you say the correct magic word. You can also build your own versions of the game.
🤔
🤔
October 25, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Mesquite now has a built-in adventure game, which you may be able to find if you say the correct magic word. You can also build your own versions of the game.
🤔
🤔