#earlygaming

[adafruit]

🎄💾🗓️ Day 3: Retrocomputing Advent Calendar presents the Commodore VIC-20! 🎄💾🗓️

The VIC-20 ⌨️📺🕹️, released in 1980 by Commodore, was the first computer to sell over a million units. It had a 6502 CPU running at 1 MHz, 5 KB of RAM (expandable), and displayed up to 22 characters per line on a color-capable screen. An affordable and friendly computer, the VIC-20 was great at games and basic programming and was supported by a library of software and peripherals. It connected to TVs for display and included Commodore's BASIC interpreter for programming. Its success allowed other computers like the Commodore 64 to make its mark.

And since this is a #firstcomputer celebration here's a fantastic story from Jeff -

My first home computer was the Commodore VIC-20. I must have been in second grade (1986/1987). My Dad was working somewhere away from home, but one weekend Mom drove us two kids to spend the night at the motel that was his home base.

He had bought this computer, the VIC-20, and hooked it up to the hotel TV. I remember entering the program pictured below (probably Mom typed it in, actually) and being blown away by the birds flapping their wings across the screen.

The other distinct memory I have is the next morning my folks woke me up and asked whether I was hungry. No, I very much wanted to play with the VIC-20, so I made up the most obvious word that came to mind: "No, I'm Vic-y". I think they were very puzzled. We probably went and had breakfast regardless of whether we wanted to see the birds flying again.

Check out the wikipedia page for some great history, photos (pictured here), and more -

And the COMMODORE vic-20 commercial commercial compilation, featuring William Shatner.

Have first computer memories? Post’em up in the comments, or post yours on socialz’ and tag them #firstcomputer #retrocomputing - See you back here tomorrow!

[thegreatyin]

wiping tears from my eyes,, you're just as beautiful as the day i lost you,,,

[kaiasky]

The social deduction game mechanic where you have some number of cards and one of them reveals that you're a traitor but you need to lie through your teeth and say "yeah, i don't care, flip my cards, I have nothing to hide, go right ahead" is so fucking good especially when it's like a 1-2 hour game and you Really Really Care about winning. closest you'll ever get to playing russian roulette irl. god board games are good.

[ntrlily]

I'm sure that "x unit is bad and nobody should use them" fire emblem elitism exists to some degree because that's my take on nino ayyy but I swear every time I see someone complaining about it the original take was a mild "X unit is not very good or advisable for efficient play but it's Fire Emblem, you can make almost anyone work if you want."

[gascon-en-exil]

I should really focus on building Perceval now that his boyfriend is in the game.

[maythray]

pokies mon :)

[sugarwyns]

ohhh the dlc outfits are sososo cute!! :'))

[swan2swan]

When I find the guys who had that Parasaurolophus scene cut from the film...

[ascendantfantasies]

You were sweet and innocent and not really ready for the outside world. All the elders said so. You needed more training. You weren't ready for the journey with a mentor. You certainly weren't ready to be allowed outside the cloister's walls without a guardian.

You weren't ready.

The mindflayers changed that. They didn't care what you were ready for. You were snatched and infected and ultimately dumped out in the chaos of the wrecked ship on a far-flung corner of Faerun.

You knew all the prayers but that wasn't what the real world required. You broke your oath defending a woman who had saved your life. You fought against filthy goblins and hideous spiders. You spoke with devils and befriended Sharrans and warlocks. Your elders would disown you.

You let an undead monster drink your blood.

You let that same undead monster lead you into the woods to a secluded grove and carefully peel all your clothing off.

He smiled and made promises and he caught you up with an arm around your back and held you there like you weighed nothing. You'd never seen a naked man and now here you were with one smiling up at you. He held you close and your whole body lit up at the touch.

He smiled, teeth showing.

You were ignorant. Painfully ignorant. You didn't even understand what you didn't know. He smiled with teeth and you tilted your head back for him in offering.

Your own gods had already forsaken you. Your oath was broken. You could return home to be chastised and punished and try and make amends. You could have spent the night praying. You should have spent the night praying. If you were truly good, truly devote, you would have prayed.

You didn't.

You tilted your head back in offering to an undead monster that hungered for blood.

He took it. He sank his teeth in as he rolled you to the ground and pinned you with strong hands and cool skin and a moan that was almost a growl. A monstrous thing at your throat.

His hands moved. He was confident and lapped at your throat as he spread your thighs and his fingers slid into you. You gasped and squirmed but there was nowhere to go. His fingers were cool and slick as they worked against you.

The first sensation brought fear. A touch where you weren't expecting it. Too intimate. Too much. The fear dissolved quickly into pleasure and warmth.

The bite started as pain and settled into a deep drawing warmth.

The fingers were much the same.

They pressed deep and you struggled against it until the pleasure started to build. He was still licking blood off your throat with long slow strokes of his tongue. Soft. Thorough. His mouth and his fingers working on the same rhythm as all your defenses fell.

The evil of the undead was a lesson you had been taught. It fell to his flashes of vulnerability and humour.

The evil of having your blood stolen fell to the easy warmth and comfort of drifting as his mouth moved against your throat.

You had been taught that your body was a temple but they'd never actually explained that you weren't supposed to let people slide their fingers deep into you and rub slow steady circles against very sensitive places.

He pulled back as you were squirming and arching and breathing so hard that you couldn't think straight. He retreated and looked down at you as you lay spread out beneath him. You were flushed and half delirious with blood loss. You twisted your hips and he grabbed hold of you and pushed you back into the grass.

You were outdoors. You looked up towards the moon.

"Look at me," he said immediately, his thumb on your chin, drawing you back. His lips were stained red with blood and you looked up at him. The heavens forgotten. The gods forgotten. There was nothing but the fingers on your face and your blood on his tongue as he licked his lips.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"You."

He was all you wanted in that moment. You were too ignorant. Too sheltered. You didn't know what you were asking for but you asked for it anyways. You put your pleading into the tone of your voice and the look in your eyes and even the needy little clench of your fingers on his hips.

"Good," he whispered into your ear and then he did something with his fingers that made the warm building weight in your stomach erupt into a wash of pleasure. You arched and he pinned you down. All that paladin strength rendered useless by two fingers and a bit of pressure. He was smiling against your neck and whispering happy little bits of encouragement as the pleasure crested and you cried out into his shoulder.

"Are you done?" he asks with just the tiniest edge of condescension.

"I'm fine," you mutter.

"That's good," he tells you and then he's rolled over onto his back and pulled you with him. He is casual and confident. An expert. He puts you exactly where he wants you. You feel him - hard and ready - prodding at the entrance to your body.

You are not fine. You are not ready. You are shaky and inexperienced and in so far over your head. Hands on your hips. Your body hot and trembling in the aftermath of that rush of pleasure. There is nothing you want more in that moment than to make him happy.

He puts you into position easily. The hand on your hip is unavoidable. Inevitable. You don't even think to question it as he guides you into position and then pulls you into him.

The tip of his cock grazes your entrance and you smile. The next brush of contact is more insistent. He has one hand on your hip so you're held close as he prods against you. He finds the right place and laughs, low and happy.

"You want this, don't you?" he says.

His hand on your hip keeps you close but doesn't actually force you down. Steady but not aggressive. You squirm a little and he moans. HIs cock rubs against your entrance. Wet and slick. The promise of that trembling rush of pleasure is there in every bit of contact between your bodies so you lean in. You push your hips down against him.

"That's good. There you go, darling," he murmured as his hand tightened a bit on your hip.

Gravity and his hand and the hot need building in your stomach work in perfect concert. You slide down. The initial stretch and then a sharp spike of pain. He doesn't let up and you're too disoriented to do anything but let it happen and you feel like you're being forced open.

He shushes you, his voice gentler, his hand gentler, he sits up to pull you into a hug. You bury your face against his neck as you try to find an angle that you can take his cock. His hand is on your hip. Guiding. He coaxes you into a very slow rhythm. Your body sliding up and down his cock.

It's incremental. Slow as hell. He's confident and smiling as he look up at you with bloody teeth and his hand on your hip. He pulls you a little deeper. Rocks your hips against him. Lets you slide back a bit before pulling you down again. Slow and steady until he's buried inside you.

"That, was your virginity, wasn't it?"

"Don't," you say.

"I can smell the blood, darling," he says.

"You're all mine, aren't you?"

You're full and breathing hard around it. The stretch makes it hard to think. The hands roaming your body make it hard to think. He has long fingers and very careful hands. Cool and confident and sliding up your hip. Fingers tight at your waist. Those eyes. Watching. His eyes are always watching you.

"Aren't you?" he askes again.

"Yes. I am all yours," you say.

"Good," he murmurs. "Let's make sure you enjoy it."

He holds you down for a moment and it is far too much. The stretch of his cock inside you makes you whine. He presses a thumb against your clit and rubs quickly and harshly. You clench and cry out and he laughs as he rolls you onto your back.

"Two," he whispers into your ear as your body shivers and aches.

"Two?" you echo.

"Two orgasms."

"Oh."

"How many do you think we can wring out of you? Sweet little virgin girl. Five? Ten?"

"Ten?" you ask incredulous.

"Oh, that's a challenge," he says as he pulls you back in to kiss as he starts to thrust into you. You gasp and whine and he kisses you through it. You grab hold of him, arms around his neck and face buried against his skin as you tremble.

He pulls you in tighter and your body gives way as he slides in deeper. You let out something dangerously close to a scream as he finally bottoms out in you and your body is pressed into his. You squirm which just makes you feel more full and rubs your clit against his stomach.

"Perfect," he tells you.

You are panting but he's over you now and you're spread open for him. He pushes your knee up and slides in a little deeper. You didn't know that deeper was possible.

"Good girl. You're doing so well."

He pushes you to another orgasm and you are left shuddering under him. You grab hold of him and press your face against his neck as he sets a steady rhythm of his hips pressing into you. The line between pain and pleasure is very blurry.

"Astarion?"

"You're perfect. Keep going.," he says.

So you do. You keep going as long as it takes to satisfy him.

[violant-apologia]

[felikatze]

ngl i know it's like bad women writing and catfighting but amy's needless hatred of rouge in some games has lead to some. some lines of all time for sure.

"Well, fine. But when she gets her nasty Rouge-germs all over you, don’t come crying to me!"

girl.

[thegreatyin]

How did you manage to handle not one, but FOUR separate accounts in fl? I recently made the account for my HD little guy but having to do the tutorial again just seems miserable

there's... weirdly several answers to that question, actually??

a HUGE part of it is due to the way FL is structured. the 10-minute action timer is a core part of the game on a fundamental level, and the fact that i can very easily run out of stuff to do on one character and thus have an excuse to quickly and easily swap to another is just... convenient? satisfying? i'm not entirely sure how to explain it. the fact that i can make progress even while i am fundamentally simultaneously Not Making Progress is like pure dopamine for my freak insane awful little brain. there's just something really pleasing about spending all of my actions pursuing The Goal Of The Day™ on one account before casually swapping to another and doing the same without feeling like i'm wasting time or acting to the first account's explicit detriment. the downtime helps! the recharge time helps! the structure really really works!!

i'm technically only actively playing three, maybe two accounts minimum. the only reason the fourth (the one that'll be my future BaL playthrough) currently exists at all is so i can get his earlygame completely out of the way now and not have to waste time running through it all later, when what i actually want to do is play the ambition i've made myself wait a full year to play. and also getting free goodies as seasonal stuff happens,, something something surprise tools to help us later. the only two accounts i'd say i'm really "actively playing" at the moment are caeru and lark- and of the two, lark takes the most priority, since his ambition is the one i'm currently pursuing in earnest. for a couple months now- despite being My Main FL Character- the scoundrel has actually been pretty inactive on a gameplay front outside of the occasional progression in TLC and discordance content. purely by virtue of having Very little left to do outside of Very long-term grinds and vanities. they're in their "now what?" "now you can start playing the game" era. they've graduated to previous protagonist background cameo in a sequel anime series. they're like the yin FLPC equivalent of red at the top of mount silver. they're Literally just vibing rn. i only keep posting about them regardless because i'm insane and i will never ever ever ever ever let that bat go. but yeah, big TLDR, outside of doing the bare minimum to keep making waves/notability up every week, i'm not actually spending that much time on accounts i'm not currently actively interested in playing. and that accounts for way more gaming spoons than you might think.

i have a virtually lifelong history of playing MMOs, especially and specifically world of warcraft. i was born in the endless grind for useless video game pixel vanities and/or bragging rights. molded by it. you all have merely adapted to doing the same piece of content a pointlessly excessive amount of times for literally no reason besides whimsy and folly. me? i've done my time. i've served my sentence. i've spent weeks doing the original burning crusade netherwing dailies. i've devoted days to running praetorium over and over and over again, back-to-back, nonstop, long before square enix cut it in half and made it NOT take at minimum an hour and a half per run. i've perfected my silverwastes + auric basin goldfarming strategies. i've (almost) crafted dragonwrath tarecgosa's rest. i've killed the sha of anger so many times its dying scream of agony is embedded into the very fabric of my being. ""only"" doing making your name content four times over? that is nothing to me. it means nothing to me. it is so infinitesimal i can do the persuasive seduction quests in my sleep. it's not a matter of handling misery, or having the capacity, or even sighing as i remember the brass embassy raid segment of the watchful questline seriously i don't know why i keep forgetting that exists or what even is my problem with it i just am so consistently mildly inconvenienced by it and its highly specific resource requirements and it is the worst thing ever. maybe i'm just so used to the scoundrel's near-infinite money and troves of disposable items that i've completely forgotten what being poor is like. despite having done that step 3 fucking times now. ahem. anyway. i have transcended the feeble mortal bindings of my resistant-to-grinding flesh and ascended to a higher plane of enlightenment, they may call me insane but they will be the ones left laughing when they see what that "insanity" has wrought, i've usurped them, i've usurped them all-

hacks and coughs and awkwardly clears my throat. i mean. uh. um. Ahem.

the empress' court artistry + tales of the university nerfs helped too.

[spectre-ship]

the Honey-Addled Detective might secretly be my favorite Fallen London character? I love the idea that Sherlock Holmes would immediately get into weird fantasy drugs if presented with them, and it's very fun that since he's gotten older he's sort of your Watson rather than the other way around. anyway the new FL detective stories (or at least the first one, haven't gotten to the others yet) rock. I think that far and away the best material in the game is the stuff that intermingles the arcane and the mundane like this—a Holmes detective-adventure tale with weird horror stuff going on underneath is perfect. I hope they make 1,000 more of these

[redstoneflux]

I HATE elementalcraft, what do you mean you have your own set of energy and machines and pipes but THE ITEMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO AUTOMATE IT ALL ARE NEEDLESSLY TEDIOUS TO MAKE

[lem-argentum]

the environments in dt are so absolutely gorgeous i’m yelling about it. AAAAA!!!!! <333

[polarbearauri]

The Flowers of Fall - Chapter 4

"Having fallen from a collapsing cliff, Helia meets a strange new friend, and must make her way back to the surface."

Chapter 4 of my fic "The Flowers of Fall", entitled "Bienvenida a Paldea" is out! I'm extremely heckin' proud of it, even if it is a bit long (er, that is, about 7,000 words longer than the previous longest chapter, chapter 1 :grimacing:). There's a bunch of character development, multiple character introductions, and even some cheeky worldbuilding on the side. You can read it over on Ao3 now :)

Oh, there's also a little banner thing I made now for Terastallized! Apologies if it's a bit low-quality, I'm graphic design programically-challenged, one might say, and I use Google Drawings because I genuine just haven't ever learned anything else. But I'm pretty happy with it, and I think that's what counts.