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{{lowercase|title=robotfindskitten}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''robotfindskitten''}}
{{Infobox software
{{Infobox software
|name=robotfindskitten
|name=''robotfindskitten''
|logo=
|logo=
|screenshot=robotfindskitten.png
|screenshot=robotfindskitten.png
Line 10: Line 10:
|developer=
|developer=
|released=1997
|released=1997
|latest release version=
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}|df=yes}}
|latest release date=
|latest preview version=
|latest preview version=
|latest preview date=
|latest preview date=
|programming language=[[Assembly language]], [[C/C++]], [[Adobe Flash|Flash]], [[Gambas]], [[Inform]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[JavaScript]], [[PHP]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[Scratch (programming language)|Scratch]]
|programming language=[[Assembly language]], [[C/C++]], [[Adobe Flash|Flash]], [[Gambas]], [[Inform]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[JavaScript]], [[PHP]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[Scratch (programming language)|Scratch]]
|operating system=
|operating system=
|platform=[[Amiga]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Apple II]], [[Atari 2600]], [[Atari 7800]], [[Atmel AVR]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS|DOS]], [[Dreamcast]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[Lego Mindstorms NXT]], [[Classic (Mac OS X)|Mac Classic]], [[Maemo]], [[Nintendo DS]], [[Palm OS]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[POSIX]], [[QNX]], [[Rockbox]], [[Spectrum]], [[TI-83 Plus]], [[TI 99/4A]], [[Z-machine]], [[Arduboy]]
|platform=[[Amiga]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Apple II]], [[Arduboy]], [[Atari 2600]], [[Atari 7800]], [[Atmel AVR]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Dreamcast]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[Lego Mindstorms NXT]], [[Classic (Mac OS X)|Mac Classic]], [[Maemo]], [[Nintendo DS]], [[Palm OS]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[POSIX]], [[QNX]], [[Rockbox]], [[TI-83 Plus]], [[TI-99/4A]], [[Z-machine]], [[ZX Spectrum]]
|size=
|size=
|language=English
|language=English
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}}
}}
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Video games}}
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Video games}}
⚫
'''robotfindskitten''' is a "[[Zen]] simulation", originally written by [[Leonard Richardson (video game developer)|Leonard Richardson]] for [[MS-DOS]]. It is a [[free software|free]] video game with an [[ASCII]] interface in which the user (playing the eponymous [[robot]] and represented by a [[number sign]] "{{mono|#}}") must find kitten (represented by a random character) on a field of other random characters. Walking up to items allows robot to identify them as either kitten, or any of a variety of "Non-kitten Items" (NKIs) with whimsical, strange or simply random text descriptions. It is not possible to lose (though there is a [https://web.archive.org/web/20120301000000*/http://www.finnie.org/software/rfk-megahyperdeath-1.0.patch patch] that adds a 1 in 10 probability of the NKI killing robot). [[Simon Carless]] has characterized robotfindskitten as "less a game and more a way of life ... It's fun to wander around until you find a kitten, at which point you feel happy and can start again".<ref>{{Cite book|title = Gaming Hacks|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zrqz84QUuSEC|publisher = "O'Reilly Media, Inc."|date = 2004-01-01|isbn = 9780596007140|language = en|first = Simon|last = Carless}}</ref>


'''''robotfindskitten''''' ('''''rfk''''') is a "[[Zen]] simulation", originally written by Leonard Richardson for [[MS-DOS]].
⚫
The original robotfindskitten program was the sole entrant to a contest in 1997 at the now-defunct webzine ''[[Nerth Pork]]'' — the object: create a depiction of "robotfindskitten". (The "robotfindskitten" concept was originally created by [[Jacob Berendes]], but the only submission he received depicted kittens meeting an untimely end at the hands of malevolent robots.)


==Game==
⚫
When the author rewrote the program for [[Linux]] in 1999, it gained popularity and now has its own website and [[mailing list]]s. Since then, it has been ported to and/or implemented on over 30 [[computing platform|platform]]s, including [[POSIX]], the [[Dreamcast]], [[Palm OS]], [[TI 99/4A]], the [[Z-machine]], the Sony [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], and many more.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://robotfindskitten.org/aw.cgi?main=software.rfk |title=The Many Ports |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= |website=robotfindskitten.org |publisher= |access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> Graphical versions, such as an [[OpenGL]] version with {{mono|#}} emblazoned on an otherwise featureless cube, also exist. Remakes of it are also used as programming tutorials, such as for [[Gambas]].
⚫
It is a [[free software|free]] video game with an [[ASCII]] interface in which the user (playing the eponymous [[robot]] and represented by a [[number sign]] "{{mono|#}}") must find kitten (represented by a random character) on a field of other random characters. Walking up to items allows robot to identify them as either kitten, or any of a variety of "Non-kitten Items" (NKIs) with whimsical, strange or simply random text descriptions. It is not possible to lose (though there is a [https://web.archive.org/web/20120301000000*/http://www.finnie.org/software/rfk-megahyperdeath-1.0.patch patch] that adds a 1 in 10 probability of the NKI killing robot). [[Simon Carless]] has characterized ''robotfindskitten'' as "less a game and more a way of life ... It's fun to wander around until you find a kitten, at which point you feel happy and can start again".<ref>{{Cite book|title = Gaming Hacks|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zrqz84QUuSEC|publisher = "O'Reilly Media, Inc."|date = 2004-01-01|isbn = 9780596007140|language = en|first = Simon|last = Carless}}</ref>

⚫
The original ''robotfindskitten'' program was the sole entrant to a contest in 1997 at the now-defunct webzine ''[[Nerth Pork]]'' — the object: create a depiction of "robotfindskitten". (The ''robotfindskitten'' concept was originally created by [[Jacob Berendes]], but the only submission he received depicted kittens meeting an untimely end at the hands of malevolent robots.)

⚫
When the author rewrote the program for [[Linux]] in 1999, it gained popularity and now has its own website and [[mailing list]]s. Since then, it has been ported to and/or implemented on over 30 [[computing platform|platform]]s, including [[POSIX]], the [[Dreamcast]], [[Palm OS]], [[TI-99/4A]], the [[Z-machine]], the Sony [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], and many more.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://robotfindskitten.org/aw.cgi?main=software.rfk |title=The Many Ports |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= |website=robotfindskitten.org |publisher= |access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> Graphical versions, such as an [[OpenGL]] version with {{mono|#}} emblazoned on an otherwise featureless cube, also exist. Remakes of it are also used as programming tutorials, such as for [[Gambas]].


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://robotfindskitten.org/|title=robotfindskitten... helping robots find kittens since 1997|publisher=robotfindskitten.org|accessdate=2014-06-09}}
*{{cite web|url=http://robotfindskitten.org/|title=''robotfindskitten''... helping robots find kittens since 1997|publisher=robotfindskitten.org|accessdate=2014-06-09}}
*[http://netninja.com/files/robotfindskitten/ robotfindskitten in a Java applet]
*[http://netninja.com/files/robotfindskitten/ ''robotfindskitten'' in a Java applet]
*[http://robotfindskitten.org/aw.cgi?main=thought.rfk Fictional Back-story to the game, detailing robot's creation]
*[http://robotfindskitten.org/aw.cgi?main=thought.rfk Fictional Back-story to the game, detailing robot's creation]
*[http://www.crummy.com/software/robotfindskitten/ "The Ultimate robotfindskitten Fan Site"] on the original author's web site
*[http://www.crummy.com/software/robotfindskitten/ "The Ultimate ''robotfindskitten'' Fan Site"] on the original author's web site


[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:1997 video games]]
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[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Dreamcast games]]
[[Category:Dreamcast homebrew games]]
[[Category:Game Boy Advance games]]
[[Category:Game Boy Advance games]]
[[Category:Free and open-source Android software]]
[[Category:Free and open-source Android software]]
Line 57: Line 61:
[[Category:Video games with textual graphics]]
[[Category:Video games with textual graphics]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]


{{MSDOS-game-stub}}
{{Free-software-stub}}

Latest revision as of 20:53, 23 August 2024

robotfindskitten
Original author(s)Leonard Richardson
Initial release1997
Stable release
2.8284271.702[1] Edit this on Wikidata / 1 March 2020; 4 years ago (1 March 2020)
Repository
Written inAssembly language, C/C++, Flash, Gambas, Inform, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python, Scratch
PlatformAmiga, Android, Apple II, Arduboy, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atmel AVR, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance, Lego Mindstorms NXT, Mac Classic, Maemo, Nintendo DS, Palm OS, PlayStation Portable, POSIX, QNX, Rockbox, TI-83 Plus, TI-99/4A, Z-machine, ZX Spectrum
Available inEnglish
TypeGame
LicenseGPL v2 or later
Websitehttp://robotfindskitten.org/

robotfindskitten (rfk) is a "Zen simulation", originally written by Leonard Richardson for MS-DOS.

Game

[edit]

It is a free video game with an ASCII interface in which the user (playing the eponymous robot and represented by a number sign "#") must find kitten (represented by a random character) on a field of other random characters. Walking up to items allows robot to identify them as either kitten, or any of a variety of "Non-kitten Items" (NKIs) with whimsical, strange or simply random text descriptions. It is not possible to lose (though there is a patch that adds a 1 in 10 probability of the NKI killing robot). Simon Carless has characterized robotfindskitten as "less a game and more a way of life ... It's fun to wander around until you find a kitten, at which point you feel happy and can start again".[2]

The original robotfindskitten program was the sole entrant to a contest in 1997 at the now-defunct webzine Nerth Pork — the object: create a depiction of "robotfindskitten". (The robotfindskitten concept was originally created by Jacob Berendes, but the only submission he received depicted kittens meeting an untimely end at the hands of malevolent robots.)

When the author rewrote the program for Linux in 1999, it gained popularity and now has its own website and mailing lists. Since then, it has been ported to and/or implemented on over 30 platforms, including POSIX, the Dreamcast, Palm OS, TI-99/4A, the Z-machine, the Sony PSP, Android, and many more.[3] Graphical versions, such as an OpenGL version with # emblazoned on an otherwise featureless cube, also exist. Remakes of it are also used as programming tutorials, such as for Gambas.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "robotfindskitten - Browse /robotfindskitten-POSIX/ship_it_anyway at SourceForge.net".
  2. ^ Carless, Simon (2004-01-01). Gaming Hacks. "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". ISBN 9780596007140.
  3. ^ "The Many Ports". robotfindskitten.org. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
[edit]
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