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That was the amazing thing about being a kid in the late 70's and early 80's. Cheap computers existed that had the tools to allow you to pass programs to other

That was the amazing thing about being a kid in the late 70's and early 80's. Cheap computers existed that had the tools to allow you to pass programs to others like a mix tape. Now with iDevices, you need permission from a corporation to pass programs to others. I would guess this might be problematic with protest games.

aero-glide2 5y ago
just use an android? Super easy to install.apk
tdrgabi 5y ago
You can make a small website. Even airdrop some html file with js included if you want it interactive and don't want to host it.
navanchauhan 5y ago
Wouldn’t you say it is easier now? Just create a web based adventure game (you can export HTML/CSS with Twine for text based adventure games), encode the URL as a QR code and simply swap those with people?
- protomyth 5y ago
  Easier to get an maintain a website versus handing someone a cassette with a program on it? No, I think the program was easier.
- agumonkey 5y ago
  Fair point. It seems that the web doesn't forbid you to do your own stuff on the side, it's just that the mainstream has become a commercial enterprise with its (large) share of constraint. Probably nothing new under the sun.
- Nextgrid 5y ago
  You'd still need to host it, which involves money, a way to pay for it (credit card), which includes proving/disclosing your identity (which would be dangerous if you're speaking out against an authoritarian government), sometimes you legally have to be over 18 or 21 to enter into contracts (so if the service provider finds out you're underage they can shut down your account even if you otherwise pay the bill), and hosting anything controversial or that goes against the mainstream is unlikely to stay up for long if it gets popular.
  - pvg 5y ago
    Every desktop browser comes with a development environment far more capable than any 8-bitter BASIC. You can paste your code in an email or an IM and send it to whomever you like. Teens interested in swapping 'subversive' code today would have a vastly easier time than they did in 80s Czechoslovakia.
    - Nextgrid 5y ago
      How many people are capable of that though? Tech literacy (in terms of using a general-purpose computer and not a walled-garden) seems to be decreasing and the industry trend is to isolate users from it even more. If nothing gets done it's probably a matter of time before general-purpose browsers end up only allowing "signed" web pages by default (this is already happening with extension API being deprecated, making things like powerful ad-blocking impossible on certain browsers).
      - pvg 5y ago
        How many people are capable of that though? Anyone who cares to? It's not like 'tech literacy' was higher then and the point the original comment was making was that somehow, the kids today have it harder than 80s Czech teens. I don't think it stands up to scrutiny - it's not true factually now and to salvage the argument you have to come up with hypotheticals like 'only signed web pages allowed' and broadly complain about 'walled gardens' (you couldn't write your own game for your NES back then, either) Even 'fantasy' versions of 80s-style environments exist, one of them was used to develop an actual hit game. Aspiring tinkerers have never had more choice.
      - pmarreck 5y ago
        > How many people are capable of that though? Anyone with Google? It's not... rocket science
  - pmarreck 5y ago
    There are plenty of sites that will host a static site for free, and static sites can host client-side JS games or more.
spacebear 5y ago
It’s so tragic. We all have these supercomputers in our pocket and we’re not allowed to really use them. Imagine what kids would make if they could code apps on device and Airdrop them to their friends.
kmeisthax 5y ago
Might be? It already is: Apple has gone on record to oppose political statements in videogames. The clickbait pullquote for this is, "If you want to criticize a religion, write a book".

aero-glide2 5y ago

just use an android? Super easy to install.apk

tdrgabi 5y ago

You can make a small website. Even airdrop some html file with js included if you want it interactive and don't want to host it.

navanchauhan 5y ago

Wouldn’t you say it is easier now? Just create a web based adventure game (you can export HTML/CSS with Twine for text based adventure games), encode the URL as a QR code and simply swap those with people?

protomyth 5y ago
Easier to get an maintain a website versus handing someone a cassette with a program on it? No, I think the program was easier.
agumonkey 5y ago
Fair point. It seems that the web doesn't forbid you to do your own stuff on the side, it's just that the mainstream has become a commercial enterprise with its (large) share of constraint. Probably nothing new under the sun.
Nextgrid 5y ago
You'd still need to host it, which involves money, a way to pay for it (credit card), which includes proving/disclosing your identity (which would be dangerous if you're speaking out against an authoritarian government), sometimes you legally have to be over 18 or 21 to enter into contracts (so if the service provider finds out you're underage they can shut down your account even if you otherwise pay the bill), and hosting anything controversial or that goes against the mainstream is unlikely to stay up for long if it gets popular.
- pvg 5y ago
  Every desktop browser comes with a development environment far more capable than any 8-bitter BASIC. You can paste your code in an email or an IM and send it to whomever you like. Teens interested in swapping 'subversive' code today would have a vastly easier time than they did in 80s Czechoslovakia.
  - Nextgrid 5y ago
    How many people are capable of that though? Tech literacy (in terms of using a general-purpose computer and not a walled-garden) seems to be decreasing and the industry trend is to isolate users from it even more. If nothing gets done it's probably a matter of time before general-purpose browsers end up only allowing "signed" web pages by default (this is already happening with extension API being deprecated, making things like powerful ad-blocking impossible on certain browsers).
    - pvg 5y ago
      How many people are capable of that though? Anyone who cares to? It's not like 'tech literacy' was higher then and the point the original comment was making was that somehow, the kids today have it harder than 80s Czech teens. I don't think it stands up to scrutiny - it's not true factually now and to salvage the argument you have to come up with hypotheticals like 'only signed web pages allowed' and broadly complain about 'walled gardens' (you couldn't write your own game for your NES back then, either) Even 'fantasy' versions of 80s-style environments exist, one of them was used to develop an actual hit game. Aspiring tinkerers have never had more choice.
    - pmarreck 5y ago
      > How many people are capable of that though? Anyone with Google? It's not... rocket science
- pmarreck 5y ago
  There are plenty of sites that will host a static site for free, and static sites can host client-side JS games or more.

spacebear 5y ago

It’s so tragic. We all have these supercomputers in our pocket and we’re not allowed to really use them. Imagine what kids would make if they could code apps on device and Airdrop them to their friends.

kmeisthax 5y ago

Might be? It already is: Apple has gone on record to oppose political statements in videogames. The clickbait pullquote for this is, "If you want to criticize a religion, write a book".