this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2024
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A more relaxing way to play text-based games? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 9 months ago by GrappleHat@lemmy.ml to c/retrogaming@lemmy.world
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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?

  • 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.

  • 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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[–] xyzzy@lemm.ee 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

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"!

[–] GrappleHat@lemmy.ml 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Whoa! That'd be sweet! If you go for it please post updates with pictures!!??

[–] xyzzy@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago

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.