List of games with 'forced input'

Recommendations by dutchmule

This is a list of games which use a specific text effect, which I call "forced input" here (don't know if it has a better name): it's when the game shows you a command prompt, but regardless of what the player types, the command that appears on the screen is the same.

I'm really fond of this effect, and would like to see how often it has been used and to what effect. The list is sorted chronologically. If you know of more games using this, please let me know!

CAUTION: contains mild spoilers!

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David Welbourn, September 14, 2018 - Reply
The .z7 game Custard has a bizarre variant of forced input that only happens when the player tries to type XYZZY. The game actively rebels against that command. After it notices the "XY", it randomly interprets your keystrokes as 0 to 3 instances of your keystrokes, so sometimes what you type doesn't show up, or you get several unwanted characters that you now have to try to delete.

dutchmule, September 15, 2018 - Reply
Wow, what?! The game detects it in real time and tries to thwart you? That is very unique! Thanks for mentioning it - I'm not sure whether I should include it or not, since it's not quite the same, but wow, this is a very interesting effect!

MathBrush, September 27, 2015 - Reply
Just played Pytho's mask, and it forces your character to DRINK.

dutchmule, September 29, 2015 - Reply
You're right! Thanks a lot! (And thanks for thinking of me when you saw it! :)

Eriorg, July 30, 2015 - Reply
According to its IFWiki page, almost the entire game Being Steve uses this text effect (and the IFWiki page calls this "forced keystroke"). I didn't really play it (only the very beginning) and doubt it's worth including in a recommended list, but you're apparently searching for any examples, not just great ones...

dutchmule, July 30, 2015 - Reply
Oh, great find! Thanks very much!

I guess "forced input" is a good name if someone else called it "force keystroke".

And yeah, I wanted to have a list with comments, but a poll didn't seem like a great format for it... although it could have worked, I guess. So it's not really 'recommended' in the sense 'great', but 'check those out if that's interesting to you' :)

Eriorg, August 1, 2015 - Reply
I've found another one! In 50 Shades of Jilting, type "I".

dutchmule, August 2, 2015 - Reply
Oh, good one! Adding it right away. Thanks!!

Eriorg, August 2, 2015 - Reply
You're welcome! (But in your comments about the game, you forgot to put something between the parentheses.)

dutchmule, August 2, 2015 - Reply
Huh guess spoiler tags don't work in Recommended Lists. Thanks for letting me know!

Eriorg, July 31, 2015 - Reply
And I think your game Life On Mars? also used this text effect, didn't it? But maybe you don't want to list your own games?

dutchmule, August 2, 2015 - Reply
Actually, I don't think it does, but it does something close: you see someone else typing in a command-line in front of your eyes, but no action is required from the player. (But you still see a command-line, and maybe a player would start typing only to then discover that it's a text effect.) So, it's close but not exactly that, so I'm reluctant to add it... Do you think I should?

Eriorg, August 2, 2015 - Reply
Oh. I didn't remember exactly. Well, maybe you shouldn't add it then...

Andrew Schultz, July 30, 2015 - Reply
Taco Fiction uses the fake command prompt at the start.

dutchmule, July 30, 2015 - Reply
Nice, thanks! (Inside the taco place? Am I missing another instance?)

Andrew Schultz, July 30, 2015 - Reply
That sounds right. I've forgotten the specifics. I should go play it again. And its sequel!

I believe Endless Nameless also does this at the start witth the modem connect (?)

I'm worried this could be defined a bit too broadly--for instance, in Threediopolis, I have Ed Dunn ask you for your name but then cut you off and give you orders. Basically as a silly way to establish what a busy man he is. It's not a command prompt, but it does pretend to want more input.

But I don't think this is precisely what you're looking for, as I think a lot of people have used this simplistically.

dutchmule, July 30, 2015 - Reply
You're right about Endless Nameless, added! Thanks!

Yeah, I think I want to restrict the list to "the game makes different things appear in the command line as you type". Although the other effect is fun too, but it probably hasn't been used in too many different ways. (Another one I can think of, off the top of my head, is the legendary response to "look in pants" in 'Pick Up The Phone Booth And Aisle'.)

Andrew Schultz, July 30, 2015 - Reply
No problem...maybe you mean "fake parser prompt?" I have to admit, I'm struggling with the best term, myself.

blue/green, July 29, 2015 - Reply
Monkey and Bear is another one.

dutchmule, July 30, 2015 - Reply
Indeed! Added - thanks!

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