Lots of old files
Sorry guys, I only found out yesterday morning that Ludum Dare is back.
I’m really excited, but I’m afraid I won’t have enough time to make a proper game.
Wait, what?
The theme this time is "Old Tech"?
Well, it looks like I might just be able to come up with something that fits that theme.
What the heck—what is this archive, and why are there so many folders?
Where am I supposed to put the game?
Can someone help me out?
I’m really excited, but I’m afraid I won’t have enough time to make a proper game.
Wait, what?
The theme this time is "Old Tech"?
Well, it looks like I might just be able to come up with something that fits that theme.
What the heck—what is this archive, and why are there so many folders?
Where am I supposed to put the game?
Can someone help me out?
Comments4
KediKat20 Oct 2026, 20:38
Extremely innovative and nonstandard, just as @gamescodedogs echoes in their review! Definitely a sleeper!
DrgCandle20 Oct 2026, 21:09
@gamescodedogs @kedikat Guys, I’m truly thrilled to see comments like these from you.
I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s hard for me to contain my excitement.
I have to mention that, in creating this game, I used a "language" that is perhaps extremely niche—which is precisely why I ended up with so many different folders.
While some of the files are certainly important, there’s something even more significant: the structure itself.
I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s hard for me to contain my excitement.
I have to mention that, in creating this game, I used a "language" that is perhaps extremely niche—which is precisely why I ended up with so many different folders.
While some of the files are certainly important, there’s something even more significant: the structure itself.
JustinMullin21 Oct 2026, 19:41
Checking in here because I've put several hours into this one, and I need to move on to rate some other games too.
This entry is wonderful. I love a good intriguing mystery, and this is truly unique. I was hooked from the initial download, at least once I got past the point of convincing myself this wasn't a ZIP bomb or nefarious virus that I was extracting. ;)
The writing is really nice, and the story is extremely touching. I shed more than a few tears as I read through it.
I'm going to put the rest in spoiler text so I can talk about where I got:
!> - I've found all the parts of the Python script, and successfully used it to decode ciphertext.txt with the key 'ELENOR' and read testament.txt. Quite an elaborate way to write a computer program!
!> - I believe I have all the diaries, project logs, and other plaintext story bits out of the tree, including letter_final.txt
!> - I found the cat(?) image and followed the pointer there to a folder, but I haven't been able to get any other information out of the image.
!> - I found corruption_log.txt, but have not been able to find a use for the arrows puzzle there.
!> - I've found another folder reference to testament.txt in project_log_112.txt by overlaying the & locations from the tool script fragments, which was a bit disappointing. Overlaying the # locations produces "ERSNAME", which is neither meaningful to me (yet?), nor does it decrypt to anything useful that I can see.
I've banged my head against the dead ends enough times that I'm going to take a break, but I'd really like to get to the end of this one, assuming I'm not already there. There are enough clues I don't understand that I suspect I have more to go, so hopefully I find the time to return and figure it all out.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful entry. =)
This entry is wonderful. I love a good intriguing mystery, and this is truly unique. I was hooked from the initial download, at least once I got past the point of convincing myself this wasn't a ZIP bomb or nefarious virus that I was extracting. ;)
The writing is really nice, and the story is extremely touching. I shed more than a few tears as I read through it.
I'm going to put the rest in spoiler text so I can talk about where I got:
!> - I've found all the parts of the Python script, and successfully used it to decode ciphertext.txt with the key 'ELENOR' and read testament.txt. Quite an elaborate way to write a computer program!
!> - I believe I have all the diaries, project logs, and other plaintext story bits out of the tree, including letter_final.txt
!> - I found the cat(?) image and followed the pointer there to a folder, but I haven't been able to get any other information out of the image.
!> - I found corruption_log.txt, but have not been able to find a use for the arrows puzzle there.
!> - I've found another folder reference to testament.txt in project_log_112.txt by overlaying the & locations from the tool script fragments, which was a bit disappointing. Overlaying the # locations produces "ERSNAME", which is neither meaningful to me (yet?), nor does it decrypt to anything useful that I can see.
I've banged my head against the dead ends enough times that I'm going to take a break, but I'd really like to get to the end of this one, assuming I'm not already there. There are enough clues I don't understand that I suspect I have more to go, so hopefully I find the time to return and figure it all out.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful entry. =)
I spent ages extracting the archives, then digging through the folders. Whenever I found clues, I felt like a character in Ready Player One, searching a digital hiding place and connecting the pieces. It’s a great feeling, especially because you’re doing it on your own familiar computer, not in a dedicated game interface.
I was very tempted to let Claude search through everything and tell me what it found, but I didn’t.
Thank you so much for the experience. It was incredibly cool, and I’m genuinely impressed.