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Deep Dive: Get Lamp (2010)

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Get Lamp
Get Lamp is a documentary focused on interactive fiction, particularly text adventures. Filmed by computer historian Jason Scott between February 2006 and February 2008, it features around 80 interviews with developers, designers, and players of interactive fiction. The film includes a nearly 50-minute bonus documentary about Infocom, a major publisher in the genre, and presents raw interview footage hosted at the Internet Archive. The title 'Get Lamp' references a key moment in Will Crowther's Colossal Cave Adventure, the first adventure game from 1975. The film begins with a tour of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the inspiration for the game. The soundtrack features Creative Commons-licensed music from Zoë Blade and Tony Longworth, contributing to the film's unique atmosphere.

Why Watch

  • •Meet pioneers of interactive fiction like Infocom's designers.
  • •See a rare look at the culture of 1980s gaming.
  • •Find out about the history of text adventures.

Did You Know

•The documentary includes around 80 interviews with interactive fiction creators.
•The bonus footage features a 50-minute documentary about Infocom.
•The film was released in July 2010 after filming from 2006 to 2008.
•The name 'Get Lamp' comes from a key action in Colossal Cave Adventure from 1975.

Perfect For

Interactive fiction fansVideo game historiansText adventure enthusiasts