E2 Hypnospace Outlaw

Pixel Vision

The podcast gets a name. Ben and Tao run through the ups and downs of moderating a 90s era cyber space in the sci-fi web simulator, Hypnospace Outlaw. Topics include the early internet, nostalgia, when puzzles become too puzzling, minigames, microtransactions and pseudo-currencies, music genres, and the limits of satire. Spoilers from half way through, clearly delimited.

Content Warning: PEGI 12. Bad language. Hacking, piracy and heavy censorship.

Clarifications:

• 
  The original soundtrack is mostly by Jay Tholen. It’s available on Spotify.
  
  


• 
  The Witness is a game by Jonathan Blow (of Braid) and Thekla, Inc.
  
  


• 
  BWL allegedly means ‘bursting with laughter’
  
  

Audio extracts:

• 
  Papers, Please
  
  


• 
  Halt and Catch Fire
  
  


• 
  Satellite Anthem by Barnaby’s Chair (aka Dan Warren)
  
  

Get full access to Pixel Vision at www.pixelvision.net/subscribe