Seven straight days of torrential rain has forced your hand. Surprisingly, you're the only person here. (click-replace: "here.")[in the laundrette.] (click-replace: "laundrette.")[laundrette, a dire badly-lit room located between two other failing local businesses of an indescript nature.]
Three front-loaded washing machines run along the west wall, opposite the entrance and two large dryers occupy the northern end. The south wall hosts a wonky wire magazine rack(click-append: "rack")[ on which there is just one |magazine>[magazine]](click-append: ?magazine)[, a three-year-old copy of Fly Fishing Magazine].
{(if: $LaundryFirst is 1)[[[Read the magazine->Magazine]] | [[Take a walk around the block->Take a Walk]] | [[Wait->Wait]] (if: $doneWait is 1)[| [[Open the washing machines->Open Machines]]]]
}(else:)[You toss the last of the towels into the machine, drop some coins into the slot and start the machine.
Now you have an hour to kill.(click-replace:"Now you have an hour to kill.")[(set: $LaundryFirst to 1)[[Read the magazine->Magazine]] | [[Take a walk around the block->Take a Walk]] | [[Wait->Wait]] (if: $doneWait is 1)[| [[Open the washing machines->Open Machines]]]]
]
You take the ancient, sunbleached magazine and turn each damp page one by one. None of it interests you. You have been fishing once and hated it(click-append: "hated it")[. The only thing more boring than trying to lure a trout is standing here reading about it].
(if: $gotPaper is true)[]
(else:)[Something slips out of the magazine and falls to the floor.
Pick it up(click-replace: "Pick it up")[(set: $gotPaper to true)You got the piece of paper.]]
[[Replace the magazine->Laundry]]
You slide open the door and step outside into the rain(click-append: "rain")[, which has only worsened since you got here]. Immediately, you realise you have no idea where you would even go in this weather and that this is a terrible idea and that you really should [[come back in again->Laundry]].
You'd think there would be somewhere to sit in a place whose main purpose is literally to watch your laundry go round and round. You lean against the little table but you feel it crumbling beneath your ass and decide to stay standing.
You are already bored of waiting.
(set: $doneWait to 1)
[[Done->Laundry]]
You are carrying:
(if: $gotPaper is true)[A piece of paper(click-append: "A piece of paper")[ - On it is scribbled a note(click-append: "note")[
"USE YOUR EARS"]]]
(if: $gotObject is true)[An object(click-append: "An object")[ - You bring it closer to the light.(click-append: "light")[ It's a bone.(set: $gotObject to false)(set: $gotBone to true)(goto: "Inventory")]]]
(if: $gotBone is true)[A bone(click-append: "A bone")[ - This isn't really part of the game. Just a placeholder or something else.]]
(if: $gotMap is true)[A map(click-append: "A map")[ - The place names are all in some foreign language and you don't recognise area.]]
(link-goto: "Done", $currentRoom)
This is where the death scenes end up.
The boredom is unbearable. You decide to waste time by checking inside the other washing machines(click-append: "machines")[.
The first washing machine(click-append: "The first washing machine")[ is empty. You put your head inside and say "Hello?" briefly enjoying the echo.
The middle washing machine(click-append: "The middle washing machine")[ doesn't open straight away. But you see something inside(click-append: "something inside")[. A child's sock. You pull the door again, harder, and it comes open.
Take the sock(click-append: "Take the sock")[. You briefly consider pocketing the child's sock but realise how messed up that would actually be. You leave it where you found it.
The third washing machine(click-append: "The third washing machine")[ has an "out of order" sign on it. You open it anyway, put your head inside and say "Hello?" This time there is no echo(click-append: "no echo")[.
You realise the back of the drum is missing. And behind the machine is an opening that leads into a space behind the machine.
[[Next->What will you do?]]]]]]]]]
What will you do?
[[Climb in]] | [[Put your hand in]] | [[Close the door]]
Easy decision. You lean head-first into the washing machine and clamber inside. You wriggle through, wormlike, and [[emerge...]]
You cautiously push your right arm through the washing machine and into the space behind it. A strong draught suggests this is more than just a crawlspace. There is definitely something back here.
You lean head-first into the washing machine and clamber inside. You wriggle through, wormlike, and [[emerge...]]
You briefly consider climbing in but a chill runs down your spine and you quickly shut the door.
However...Curiosity gets the better of you and you find yourself opening the door again. You lean head-first into the washing machine and clamber inside. You wriggle through, wormlike, and [[emerge...]]
...into a dark room.
Ancient dust hangs in the stale air and you instinctively pull your t-shirt over your mouth and nose to avoid breathing it in.
What do you do?
[[Return to laundrette]] | [[Look for a lightswitch]] | [[Listen]](if: $doneListen is true)[| [[Reach above your head->Reach up]]]
You clamber back into the washing machine drum, towards the relative comfort of the laundrette. Pushing against the glass door you find that has been pushed shut and is locked from the outside.
Trying not to panic, you search for a latch, some mechanism for opening the door.
As the panic builds you find yourself banging on the glass harder and harder.
You shout for help, but no one is there. The light inside the laundry room flickers, which sends a bolt of horror up your spine. You fall backwards and [[re-emerge...|emerge...]]
Feeling your way around the walls, you find nothing. No light switch. Not even a door. In fact the room seems completely empty.
(if: $gotObject is true)[]
(else:)[
The dim light coming from the laundry room betrays a small object in the corner of the room.
Take object(click-replace: "Take object")[(set: $gotObject to true)You stuff the object into your pocket].]
[[Done->emerge...]]
(if: $gotBone is true)[(set: $listen to it +1)](if: $listen > 2)[A definite buzzing. You move quietly around the room, ears pricked, and manage to locate the buzzing. Above your head. (set: $doneListen to true)](elseif: $listen is 2)[You listen again, more intently this time. A buzzing? You can't tell.](elseif: $listen is 1)[You stop and listen to the silence. The sound of your own heartbeat fills your ears. But you feel like there is something else.](else:)[You stop and listen to the silence. The sound of your own heartbeat fills your ears.]
[[Done->emerge...]]
{
(print: "<script>$('html').removeClass(\)</script>")
(if: (passage:)'s tags's length > 0)[
(print: "<script>$('html').addClass('" + (passage:)'s tags.join(' ') + "'\)</script>")
]
==>
(if: (passage:)'s name is "Inventory")[]
(elseif: (passage:)'s name is "Credits")[]
(elseif: (passage:)'s name is "Main Page")[]
(else:)[(set: $currentRoom to (passage:)'s name) (link-goto: "Inventory") | {(link:"Save")[(if:(save-game:"Slot A"))[Game saved!](else: )[Sorry, I couldn't save your game.]]} | Score: $score / 100
<hr class="style13">
]
}
You reach up in the direction of the buzzing and feel a piece of looped rope. The image of a noose fills you with dread.
You tug the rope, gently at first,(click-append: "gently at first,")[ and then again a little more forcefully.(click-append: "forcefully.")[ You have done something. A scraping, creaking sound fills the room and instinctively you get out of the way just as [something]<st| crashes to the floor.
(click: ?st)[ [[A ladder]] ]]]
GAME! Test version 0.1
This version for testing purposes only.
If you have come across this game but are not an invited tester, this version is not intended for you.
Follow me on Twitter @StuartForbes for updates.
(click: "@StuartForbes")[(goto-url: "https://twitter.com/StuartForbes")]
The background images currently used are placeholder only and will not be used in the final game. No copyright infringement is intended
[[New Game...->Laundry]] {(if: (saved-games:) contains "Slot A")[| (link: "Continue")[(load-game:"Slot A")]]} | [[Credits->Credits]]
You can just make out the shape of the ladder by the light from the laundry room. You place one foot carefully on the bottom rung and gently hop on it to test its strength.
Satisfied that the ladder can bear your weight you slowly ascend the ladder. Poking your head into the space above, you see a room, almost as dark as the one below, but for two rectangles of orange light against the western wall.
You lift yourself into the room and [[look around->Upstairs Room]].
There is nothing on the walls and nothing on the floor. Above you hangs an old ceiling fan.(click-append: "fan.")[ You pull the string,(click-append: "string,")[ but nothing happens.]]
On closer inspection,(click-append: "inspection,")[ the two rectangles of light are actually the entrances to two dimly-lit corridors.
[[Left corridor]] | [[Right corridor]] ]
The left hand entrance looks the less menacing of the two. You step through it into a narrow walkway, lit only by an orange glow emanating from the room behind a frosted glass door which stands in front of you.
The buzzing sound is closer now. Whatever it is, it's mechanical, not electrical.
The walls are bare, unpainted plasterboard. This place was put together in a hurry, and wasn't intended to impress anybody.
[[Go back->Upstairs Room]] | [[Approach the door->Glass Door]]
You step into the right-hand entrance and feel a warmth from a number of [candles]<candles| lined up on the wall at the end of the corridor.
(click: ?candles)[Three rows of 9 candles.
On the top row, one of the candles is extinguished.
On the middle row, just under half of the candles are lit.
On the bottom row, only one candle is lit.]
[[Go back->Upstairs Room]]
(text-style: "underline")[Music]
//"Drafty Places"// by Eric Matyas
www.soundimage.org
(text-style: "underline")[Sound Effects]
soundbible.com
//"Fuzzy Beep"//
http://soundbible.com/mp3/Fuzzy Beep-SoundBible.com-1580329899.mp3
//"Censor Beep"//
http://soundbible.com/mp3/Censor Beep-SoundBible.com-1927126940.mp3
[[Done->Main Page]]
{
(if: $Beep is 0)[(set: $Beep to 1)]
(else:)[
<audio src="http://soundbible.com/mp3/Fuzzy Beep-SoundBible.com-1580329899.mp3" autoplay></audio>
]
==><==
<span id="PassID">
|butt1>[$butt1] |butt2>[$butt2] |butt3>[$butt3]
(click: ?butt1)[(if: $butt1 is 9)[(set: $butt1 to 0)(replace: ?butt1)[$butt1]](else:)[(set: $butt1 to it + 1)(replace: ?butt1)[$butt1]](goto: "Password")]
(click: ?butt2)[(if: $butt2 is 9)[(set: $butt2 to 0)(replace: ?butt2)[$butt2]](else:)[(set: $butt2 to it + 1)(replace: ?butt2)[$butt2]](goto: "Password")]
(click: ?butt3)[(if: $butt3 is 9)[(set: $butt3 to 0)(replace: ?butt3)[$butt3]](else:)[(set: $butt3 to it + 1)(replace: ?butt3)[$butt3]](goto: "Password")]
</span>
}
{
==><==
[[Go back->Glass Door]]
(if: $butt1 is 8 and $butt2 is 4 and $butt3 is 1)[(replace: "Go back")[Done<audio src="http://soundbible.com/mp3/Bleep-SoundBible.com-1927126940.mp3" autoplay></audio>](set: $doorUnlocked to 1)]
(else:)[(set: $doorUnlocked to 0)]
}
(if: $Beep is 1)[(set: $Beep to 0)]You step towards the door.
You inspect the frosted glass but can't make out anything behind it except the gentle glow of several lamps.
The buzzing sound is definitely coming from somewhere behind this door.
There is a small electronic panel next to the door with three numbered buttons.
[[Go Back->Upstairs Room]] | Open the door(click: "Open the door")[(if: $doorUnlocked is 0)[(replace: "Open the door")[Locked]](elseif: $doorUnlocked is 1)[(replace: "Open the door")[ [[Unlocked->Open the door]] ]]] | [[Look at the panel->Password]]
You push the door and step into a room(click-replace: "a room")[an office].
A [desk]<desk| in the centre of the room provides focus for an otherwise unremarkable scene. A [filing cabinet]<cabinet| rests against the south-west corner. You see no other entrances and the walls are bare except for four [lanterns]<lanterns|.
{(click: ?desk)[You inspect the desk. The desk is nothing remarkable. A cheap, flat-pack affair, hastly assembled. There is a section for three drawers but they have since been removed (or maybe they were never inserted).
Scattered atop the desk are a number of papers. You see a [map]<map|.
]
(click: ?lanterns)[You inspect the lanterns. They appear electrical but there doesn't seem to be a power source. Yet it certainly isn't fire either. You wonder what could be creating this effect.
]
[[Go back->Glass Door]] (click: ?map)[ | [[Take the map->Take the map]]]}
{(set: $gotMap to true)}"Who are you?"
This is the end of the current build.
Any and all feedback will be gratefully received.