In 2003 webmaster colleague and Web405 listmom Dennis Wilen announced a project called The Spacebrothers' World Tour, in which dozens of inflatable aliens were shopped off to various locations all across the globe.  Project participants endeavored to utilize these silent visitors in the creation of photographic galleries, detailing the adventures of the Spacebrothers here on planet Earth.

This photo essay was AIP's contribution to the project.

Last night in a flurry of interactive rebellion apparently prompted by the failure of VH-1 to include Marilyn Manson's "Coma White" video on "The List", thousands of gloom rockers organized via Usenet, joining forces with disgruntled "Star Trek" fans in order to barrage Viacom interactive properties with trekkie references, gothic symbolism, and deliberate non-sequiter product placements.

This morning, ignoring the slackers on the panhandle of this revolting cesspool of a city, stepping over the druggie bums while hurrying to digital servitude in order to pay off my future self for my present home entertainment system, I took a sip of my Starbuck's and felt some small, unexpected mass strike my tongue - a bug.

As children we are told by our mothers and grandmothers that love conquers all, and not only that, but it's all we need. 'Okay, makes sense,' we agree, and continue growing. As we do, these precepts serve as a logical basis for our ever-more-subtle ethical education, and lead by extrapolation to all sorts of other important lessons like 'Don't judge other people,' 'Don't hurt other people,' and 'Don't hate other people.'

But along the way we learn that are many different types of love, and that no one really agrees on the classification system.

Between 1985 and 1990, Tod Foley authored seven role-playing game systems and adventure modules for Iron Crown Enterprises of Charlottesville, Virginia. NOTE: Most of these games are out of print, and can be hard to find. Contact your local hobby supply store or see our list of rare roleplaying resources.

14 January 4437: En route to the city of Sanctuary, Blandisford Barter encounters an Elven minstrel on the Bridge at Three Roads Crossing. The RunePlayer introduces himself as Rimsel, and informs Barter that he has been sent by the Council of Deneldor to oversee the halfling's progress. Unfortunately, some evil priest's spell bound him to this bridge several days ago, and he is unable to overcome the magick. Blandisford uses the Codex of Truth to call upon the power of the deity and free his Elven ally, who repays him with a much-needed clue...

[continued]

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A Report on the Production of Ghosts In The Machine

The circle is still chanting softly as the CyberGoddess faces Darwin down. She turns to address the participants: "All those who find the defendant Darwin Krayne innocent as plead, say Aye" (participants respond); "And all who find the defendant guilty of crimes against humanity say Aye" (participants respond).

(The strength of the two responses will be compared to determine Darwin's sentence.)

- from Ghosts in the Machine

Interactive Fiction ("IF") is the currently popular term for any form of nonlinear scripted entertainment, from Role-Playing Games and MUDS to multimedia CD-ROM environmental simulations. A fledgling devotion somewhere between art and science, IF Design relies upon a sort of relativistic thinking which is a fairly recent addition to the artist's toolkit -- an ability to expand one's view of what was once perceived as only a narrow dimension of functionality, and to envision processes in terms of fields and possible relationships, rather than lines and discrete data.

Live Action Role Playing Games in a Theater Setting

AIP's Hypertheater Group specializes in the design and production of Live Interactive Fiction Events commonly known as LARPs (Live Action Role-Plays). These unique theater-games are designed and run by Tod Foley and the AIP staff, along with a growing network of affiliated independent artists and producers.

The AIP system of interactive fiction development is based upon more than fifteen years of research in game design and playtesting for all media. Bringing together a wide variety of specialized talents from the fields of Film and Stage Production, Computer Programming, Screenwriting, Graphic Design, Performance Art and Business Development, AIP has created a new hybrid vehicle for the development of interactive fictional worlds.

(PAIN!) 

Cassandra gritted and bore, relaxed; squeezed without using her body, encircling the pain, putting it at a distance.

 (good) 
 (so far) 
 (shut up)