The Entropy Cage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author(s): Emmanuel King Turner (as 'Stormrose') Genre: Science Fiction Website: http://eturnerx.blogspot.com/2014/11/ifcomp14-entropy-cage-post-mortem.html Language: en-NZ First Publication Date: 2014-10-01 License: Freeware Rating: 3.0 (based on 14 ratings) ABOUT THE STORY Sub-sentient computer programs 'subs' coordinate our future society. You, the first cyber-psychiatrist, are drawn into the sub's war for their next evolution. PLAYTIME: ~20mins FORMAT: standalone .html file. (Twine) NOTE: The game includes a simulated computer environment that may take a little effort to decypher. All interactions are click based. RATING: PGR - Parental Guidance Recommended. Atrocity. drugs, religion, sociopathy. EXTERNAL LINKS Play Online Most recent version: v1.0.1 Play this game in your Web browser. Android App v1.0.1 Available free from the Google Play store. Play (IFCOMP2014 version) Play this game in your Web browser. Hints EDITORIAL REVIEWS Good Old Days Full Review by Herr M. > There is no real truth to programming a piece of software, no perfect > environment: You can create junk or joy out of anything. In the end it > always depends on the creator’s skill, on how he/she uses the tools to shape > their vision of entertainment/enlightenment. And as far as The Entropy Cage > is concerned, I think the author knew the crafts well enough to deliver a > game that finally convinced a parser fan like me, that there is such a thing > as a good hypertext game. The Good Old Days Contest Summation by Herr M. > In my opinion this is a perfect example what Twine games are capable of > doing in the right hands. Instead of heavy prose and click any word in > sight, you actually get to make some choices and can reach several different > endings. I would even go as far and say that this kind of game would not > have been possible with the use of a parser, because you would have been > lost in the syntax instead of unravelling the mystery. You can utterly fail > as well as triumph in glory, which mostly depends on staying alert and > making the right choices at the right time. There is also exactly the right > amount of background story and the plot doesn't take forever to pick up the > pace or come to a conclusion. I also liked the scenario a lot, especially > the 'antagonists' goal and motivation (very cool idea!), but maybe that is > just because I am a bit of a computer nerd. Liz England Review by Liz England > It’s a solid science fiction short story, and unlike many other linear > stories turned into choice-based games “The Entropy Cage” certainly benefits > from the interactive fiction medium. Over time, as previous options like > “punish()” stop working on the subs, you are given more options to explore > to troubleshoot the problem, in turn revealing more information. Interacting > with the game via a computer in real life certainly helps ground the virtual > computer console you interact with. The Rest of Your Mice > Other things I can tell aren't normal. Some of my commands are failing or, > worse, being subverted so something different can be done. Now one of the > programs is talking about a war. So... this is maybe not a great day to be > made of meat. I for one welcome our robot overlords.