BrianKrebsMy first recollection of having a "conversation" on a computer was ~1984. It was a text-based game on the Apple II that I can't remember the name of, but at some point in the game you could end up in a church or temple, and you could ask it anything. Of course, the game was limited in the number of different answers it could give at random, but the answers were all general and sagacious enough that they could be interpreted as some kind of meaningful response (at least to a 12 y/o). Wish I could recall the name of the game. Anyone?
Several people have suggested Zork. I don't think that's it. It was a text-based game, but believe at the point in the game I'm talking about there was a simple black and white cross showing while you were talking to the supreme being or whatever.
Brad Koehn@briankrebs That sounds like maybe one of the early Ultima games.
@bkoehn OMG I think you're right. Ultima is definitely a game we had. I remember bc my older brother was always playing it and hogging the computer. So it's probably the game I also wanted to play when he wasn't on the machine.
alfora@briankrebs @bkoehn The plot of Ultima III even talks about an AI.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_III:_Exodus#Plot
If you want to play without your brother hogging the computer, go ahead. 😉
John Philip Bell@alfora @briankrebs @bkoehn make it stop!!! I hear the game music again... Do, do, do, do do do... Do dah do dad do...
(that and 'Orc flees' flashbacks)
Kevin Granade has moved@alfora @briankrebs @bkoehn talks about? The big evil is an AI. The magic talismans you gather to defeat it are punch cards. (Sorry for spoilers...)
Guitargrin@alfora @briankrebs @bkoehn omg I remember playing this on my atari 800 xl every day after school. So cool to see it again.