Countdown

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<h1>Hello? Is anybody there? [[Yes]]</h1>

<h1 style="text-align:center">Fear of Twine Presents:</h1> <h2 style="text-align:center">Countdown</h2> <h1 style="text-align:center">A Dachshund ♥ Techno Game</h1> <p style="text-align:center">[[Start]] | [[Credits]]</p> <p style="text-align:center">#Altgames #Time #Clocks #Countdown #UTC #TheFuture #Messages #Mystery #LongDistance #Twine #TMinus #OneThousandYearsFromNow #????? #FoT #TimeCapsule #D<3T #Greenwich #HappyNewYears #TakesAWhileToLoad #CouldBeUpToFiveSecondsOff #PleaseForgiveTheFlashing #IHopeThereAreStillPeopleAroundToReadThis #SeeYaIn3016</p>

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<p><u>Game and writing by:</u> <a href="https://twitter.com/DachshundTechno">Soda51</a> <u>Clock by: </u> <a href="http://www.tickcounter.com/widget/countdown/33040155600000/america-indianapolis/yowdhms/FFFFFF3B5998000000FF0000/650/C0C0C01/">Tick Counter</a> [[Return|Title]]</p>

<h2>Wow!</h2> <p>That's amazing! I had no idea anyone would ever answer. Oh, right; I should explain. I am Soda51 and one thousand years ago I created this game in order to communicate with someone in the far-off future. I honestly thought this message would get lost, or worse there would be no one left to receive it. But then you came along and now we are here talking to one another. Well, not actually... Unless the field of medicine has made huge advances sometime in the early 21st century I am most assuredly dead. But that's okay. Because we can still communicate through this Twine game. You do know what Twine is, right? [[Yes|twineyes]] | [[No|twineno]] </p>

<p>That's great! They must be on Twine 872.4.2 by now. I bet you don't even need to type or anything, just plug it into your brain and *POOF* all done; no typos, spelling errors, or nothing. Total creative bliss. I would crank these things out non-stop. Even in my sleep. Well, if I did ever sleep. I hope you have made some great stuff using Twine. Wish I could play it. It would be weird, every story you wrote would seem like science fiction to me, even if they were just stories about your day-to-day life. Or maybe you just make weird shit like I do? Wait, it just occurred to me that you might only know of Twine from History and have never actually used it yourself. That would kind of suck. You are missing out. Anyway, I am dying to know this: Where do you live? [[On Earth]] [[In space]] [[On another planet/moon]] </p>

<p>Yeah, I kinda figured it needed to be explained. See, in my time we have this thing called the <i>Internet</i>. Well, actually it is the <i>World Wide Web</i> but everyone calls it the Internet or <i>Net</i> for short. The Net is a series of computers that are all connected to one another and they can send information back and forth. I know that sounds primitive, but trust me, it's pretty freaking cool. Now, in the year 2016 we do not yet have access to cybernetic gear. So in order to understand our computers we have to use these things called <i>Web Browsers</i>. You may be using one right now! (Where are you in a museum?) Computers speak a different language than most humans speak. So the Browser can interpret computer code and translate it into something a human can understand. But the problem is computers have a hard time understanding human language. Now in the dark ages of computing a special class of humans known as <i>Programers</i> were needed to speak to the computers. They were often obstinate and conceited individuals that held non-programers in contempt. The only way to become a programer was to spend years and tens-of-thousands of dollars in difficult and tedious study. (Can you believe we had to spend money to get an education? You must think we were Neanderthals.) Well, Twine changed all that. It is a tool that allows anyone to write programs that can be sent out to other people all around the world through the Net. You don't even need to be smart to use it. And the best part is it is completely free! I guess you didn't need to know all that. Just read along and click on the blue words that best fit your answer, okay? Well, enough about that. Let me ask you a few questions if you don't mind. Now, I have got to know: where do you live? [[On Earth]] [[In space]] [[On another planet/moon]]</p>

<p>Cool, I've lived on Earth my whole life (probably), it is quite nice here. I know they say the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but the grass here on Earth will always be the greenest. Sure, we have wars and disease, poverty and depression, and some people who are out right assholes, but it's still home, right? And it's a lot better than it was a thousand years ago. I certainly hope the Earth is better in your time. [[It is]] [[Could be better]] [[It's basically a post-apocalyptic dystopia]]</p>

<p>Living in space must be weird, all tight and claustrophobic on the inside, and yet, a wide expanse of nothing right out your window. You must feel trapped and lonely all the time. I don't think I could live in space. Although I would love to visit. I wonder if you live on a space station like Deep Space Nine or on a space ship like the Enterprise? Wait, do you even know what <i>Star Trek</i> even is? I guess I should explain. <i>Star Trek</i> is a TV science fiction program about a space ship called the Enterprise that travels the galaxy on a mission of exploration. They are staffed like a military operation, but they mostly consist of scientists and researchers. Every week they encounter "new life and new civilizations" all on their quest to "boldly go where no one has gone before." It's all pretty cool in a geeky sort of way. But the best part about <i>Star Trek</i> is that it paints the future as this ideal, utopian paradise. Technology combined with indomitable human spirit has lead to a universe where there is no more poverty, inequality, or racism. Sure conflicts still occur from time to time, but nothing that can't be solved in an hour. Does that sound like your society? [[Pretty much|It is]] [[Not quite|Could be better]] [[Not at all|It's basically a post-apocalyptic dystopia]]</p>

<p>Amazing! Although, I bet you think that living on another world is pretty mundane, huh? I suppose familiarity does breed contempt, even beyond the pull of Earth's gravitational orbit. Still, I hope you realize just how lucky you are. Lot's of brave astronauts have died just to get you where you are. Is your planet/moon at least better than Earth? I hope you didn't have to leave because the Earth is now a shithole? [[No Earth is perfect|It is]] [[The Earth is fine|Could be better]] [[Shithole|It's basically a post-apocalyptic dystopia]] </p>

<p>That's great! I would like to take credit for that accomplishment but I know I had nothing to do with making the world a better place. Still, I at least tried to leave it better than I found it. So maybe in some small way I contributed, if even just a little. It does make me feel better knowing that everything worked out for the best. I'm usually pretty pessimistic about most things but with the coming of the new year I have been feeling strangely hopeful. I guess that is why I decided to make this game, to hope for a better future for all of us. Even if I never live to see it. I am sure that this optimistic feeling won't last long. Speaking of good feelings, you do have dogs in the future, right? [[Yes|dogsyes]] [[No|dogsno]] </p>

<p>That's pretty much what I expected. There is always going to be times that are better than others. I know that the lows can be pretty bad, and I often wonder if there is a point to all the pain and suffering. But things usually get better, if only temporarily. I'm defiantly at a better place right now than I was a few years ago. And while I wonder how long that will remain true, I guess I can't complain too much. I know I'm not making any sense and my advise is poor. At least tell me you have a dog? [[Yes|dogsyes]] [[No|dogsno]] </p>

<p>Sorry about that. I can't help but feel partially responsible. Maybe if I got involved in politics, or gave to charity, or even just recycled more, your Earth wouldn't be so crappy. Well, maybe it's not our fault though. It could have been a natural disaster or maybe even an alien invasion. Wait, I just thought of something. Maybe you are an alien. I certainly did not mean to offend you by assuming you were human. And I doubt you had anything to do with the Earth becoming a dump anyhow. No, I am sure you would be one of the nice aliens. Or extra-terrestrials, or visitors, or whatever you prefer to be called. Again, I did not mean to offend you. Let's just change the subject, shall we? Um... Do you have dogs in the future? [[Yes|dogsyes]] [[No|dogsno]] </p>

<p>Dogs are great, aren't they? You might have guessed I like dogs from the name of the label that I use for my games <i>Dachshund ♥ Techno</i>. And while I do have two amazingly cute dogs they are not Dachshunds. Nope, the name Dachshund ♥ Techno comes from a completely different source: the fact that elongated dogs love listening to repetitive electronic music. This is just a universal truth. Like gravity or peanut-butter. Well, whatever dogs you have, I am sure they are the greatest dogs in the universe. Why not give them a hug right now for me? Hugging my dogs always makes me feel better, no matter the crappy day I had. I bet it would make you feel better too. Know what else usually makes me feel better? Video Games. Please tell me you still have them in the future. [[We do]] [[We don't]] [[Video games?]]</p>

<p>No!? No, like you don't have a dog? or No, like there are no dogs? Either would be terrible, obviously. But, I don't think I would even want to live in a world without dogs. Hell, I can't even imagine one. Must be *<i>ruff</i>*. (Sorry, I shouldn't joke about such a serious matter.) Anyway, if you don't have dogs than I hope you have something similar. Maybe, some kinda extra-terrestrial terrier or robotic boxer. I always thought that if there were no dogs than people would invent them. Or maybe, you have a cat. Cat's are cool. At least tell me you have video games in the future. [[We do]] [[We don't]] [[Video games?]]</p>

<p>I bet the video games of the future must be amazing. Maybe you have crazy holodeck-like technology where you just enter a virtual space and it's just like being there. You could walk around and admire far off cities and see fantastic things. Travel to different times and interact with famous historical personalities. Or maybe, you can tap directly into other peoples brains and share a consciousness. Play would consist of anything you could imagine. You wouldn't even need to code or create anything. Just think it and you are in it. Then see what other people have come up with. Talk to people without actually needing to talk. Or maybe you just play Pokémon. Either way, I hope whatever passes for video games allow anybody to easily create and share them. And if Twine does not exist, I hope something like it does. Creativity is what makes us special and the ability to share our creations is what culture and history are built on. It would totally suck if the only people that could pass on their legacy were the rich, smart, or connected elite. Well, Maybe video games are not that important. But they are important to me. I feel that I have wasted enough of your time. I'm sure you have important things to do. But before you go, there is one more thing I would like to say to you. [[What's that?]]</p>

<p>Talk about a bummer. Well, I am sure you still play some type of games, right? Card games? Board games? Sports? Don't tell me that you only have violent future sports like <i>The Running Man</i> or <i>The Hunger Games</i>? That would totally suck. It's bad enough that people are willing to kill each other over greed or malice, but killing for fun? That would be barbaric. Yes, I know that people "kill" each other in violent video games, but that is not even close to the same thing. Nobody actually gets hurt in video games, it is all pretend. Well maybe, NPCs could get hurt if their AI was advanced enough and they were programed to feel pain. But, what kind of mad man would design such a thing? And who would play such a game? I hope people treat Artificial Intelligence with as much kindness and respect as they do other humans. Maybe even more, all things considered. I feel that I have wasted enough of your time. I'm sure you have lots of important things to do. But before you go, there is one more thing I would like to say to you. [[What's that?]]</p>

<p>"Video games?" You know, you sound just like Solid Snake, the hero of <i>Metal Gear Solid</i>. He is always repeating everything someone says back to him in the form of a question. [[Metal Gear?]]</p>

<h3> THANK YOU FOR PLAYING.</h3> <p>No, seriously. Thank you. When I made this game one thousand years ago, I had no idea that anyone would ever get to play it. But every time I make a game I think that if just one person plays it, then it was all worth it. Because that one person matters. Because you matter. Again, Thank you. I wish I had some sage advise to give you. But I don't. Still trying to work things out for myself. Must be disappointing to wait all this time and leave empty handed. Not even a treasure map or the secret Coca-Cola formula. Anyway, take care out there and if you are feeling up to it, why not make your own time capsule. I am sure someone in the 41st century would love to hear from you. Maybe, you could even ask them if they have a dog. I am sure they would like that. Well, it was nice talking to you. Whoever you are. -Soda P.S. If you have access to a time machine, why not drop on by and say hello. Return to <a href="http://dachshundhearttechno.neocities.org/" title="I'm sure this link will just lead to a 404 page or something, but I still hope my games are available somewhere out there in the vast reaches of the cosmos. I mean, you somehow found this one, right?">Dachshund ♥ Techno</a></p>

<p>It's a series of stealth-based action games, or to quote the game's tag line: "tactical espionage action." [[Tactical espionage action?]]</p>

<p>That means you have a variety of ways to solve problems and move though the levels. You can take the action approach and go in guns blazing, all 80s movie hero like. (That's 1980 BTW.) Or you can take a stealth approach and sneak around guards, maybe using the series trademark cardboard box. [[Cardboard box?]]</p>

<p>It's a box made out of cardboard. Duh. [[Cardboard?]]

<p>Thick paper that has been glued together for stability. [[Paper?]]</p>

<p>Thin sheets of plant material, often used in the field of writing. [[Writing?]]</p>

<p>Don't you think this joke has gone on for too long? [[Joke?]]

<p>You know what, forget it. I'm just going to end this game right now. [[End the game?|What's that?]]</p>