Xyzzy: Difference between revisions
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'''xyzzy''' is a magic word from the [[Colossal Cave Adventure]] [[interactive fiction]] which allowed the player to instantly move between two distant locations if it was typed whilst stood in the correct place. If used in the wrong place, the response was simple 'Nothing happened.' | The combination of letters '''xyzzy''' is a magic word from the [[Colossal Cave Adventure]] [[interactive fiction]] which allowed the player to instantly move between two distant locations if it was typed whilst stood in the correct place. If used in the wrong place, the response was simple 'Nothing happened.' | ||
The combination of letters has gone on to become an | The combination of letters has gone on to become an [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] in many pieces of software, especially those with a text interface. The command /xyzzy in [[mIRC]] gives the response "Nothing happens", as it does in many pieces of interactive fiction. Some take this further, giving more witty responses. For example the interactive fiction [[A Paper Moon]] responds<ref>[http://webhome.idirect.com/~dswxyz/sol/xyzzy.html >xyzzy - responses]</ref>: | ||
<pre>Nice try. If you type that 9999 more times, I *might* put you in god mode. | <pre>Nice try. If you type that 9999 more times, I *might* put you in god mode. | ||
Latest revision as of 08:15, 9 May 2010
The combination of letters xyzzy is a magic word from the Colossal Cave Adventure interactive fiction which allowed the player to instantly move between two distant locations if it was typed whilst stood in the correct place. If used in the wrong place, the response was simple 'Nothing happened.'
The combination of letters has gone on to become an Easter egg in many pieces of software, especially those with a text interface. The command /xyzzy in mIRC gives the response "Nothing happens", as it does in many pieces of interactive fiction. Some take this further, giving more witty responses. For example the interactive fiction A Paper Moon responds[1]:
Nice try. If you type that 9999 more times, I *might* put you in god mode. >xyzzy Nice try. If you type that 9998 more times, I *might* put you in god mode. >xyzzy Nice try. If you type that 9997 more times, I *might* put you in god mode. [...Quite a few xyzzyies later...] Nice try. If you type that 2 more times, I *might* put you in god mode. >xyzzy Nice try. If you type that 1 more times, I *might* put you in god mode. >xyzzy Nice try. If you type that 0 more times, I *might* put you in god mode. >xyzzy Nope... apparently I was just kidding.