Of course I downloaded this and got right into it without having much of an idea how this particular program works. Manual? I don’t need no stinkin’ manual! Until later. When I thought the CD was a lemon. Then I blamed the computer. Then the blame fell squarely on me.
I recognized immediately the Storyspace layout, so that put me one clue closer, however I still saw no story. Sometimes I’d click a button or a link and the whole thing faded away to a lovely ash color blank screen. Honestly thought I was doing things to this poor piece accidentally in my clumsy explorations that would ruin it forever–or worse, render it as useless as a scratched LP. And with the warning on the CD that I could use it only on this PC and no other (we have four), SG decided to check out the manual.
But only for a second; I’ve never been one to take direction well, preferring to walk off the cliff proudly by myself rather than follow the crowd down the trail. So I played a bit more, found text, found story, and found what I think is the purpose; to map your journey as you go, and save it. That’s so you can take a different road next time, or not get lost, or get lost somewhere in a different place and time.
I like it–it intrigues me in the half hour I’ve had to muck about. But I shall play Susie Girl Scout and maybe spend a few minutes with the manual before I head out on the trail again tomorrow.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology