"You are in a dark room. To the north you see a wooden door, to the east a barred window..." How many hours have we spent in front of greenish screens, friends? Gen X, typing text commands to explore virtual worlds? An E Ink console reinvents this magic for a new generation, fusing e-paper technology with the timeless allure of text adventures. A device that reminds us that, sometimes, words can be more powerful than any graphic.
Return to the golden age of text adventures
I still remember when, in the early 80s, the Commodore 64 dominated our desks. It was the era when video games didn't need spectacular graphics to be engaging. Text adventures were real gateways to fantasy worlds, where our imagination did all the heavy lifting.
The controls were simple but powerful: “go north,” “take the torch,” “talk to the wizard.” Each input opened up new narrative possibilities, creating a deeply immersive gaming experience despite (or perhaps because of) its simplicity. The lack of elaborate graphical elements forced us to mentally visualize every scene. It was a blast. Those games taught my generation that true magic lies not in processing power or screen resolution, but in the ability to stimulate the imagination. A concept that Daniel Puchau, the creator of the E Ink console, understood perfectly and wants to bring it back to life.
E Ink and retrogaming: a perfect marriage
The choice to use a 7,5-inch E Ink display It's no coincidence. The e-paper technology, with its monochrome rendering and lack of backlighting, perfectly recreates the atmosphere of the phosphorescent monitors of the 80s. But there's more: the low energy consumption allows you to play for hours without worrying about the battery. The resolution of 800 x 480 pixels may seem modest by today's standards, but it is more than enough for what it needs to do: display the text of text adventures clearly and legible. The 32-bit dual-core processor, supported by 4 MB of flash memory and 8 MB of PSRAM, recalls the specifications of computers of the time, while being infinitely more efficient.
Developers of GreenBoyGames they've thought of everything: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, SD reader for digital "cartridges". It's like having a Commodore 64 from the future, redesigned for the modern era but faithful to the original spirit. The hardware is completed by an integrated mono speaker, a 3,5 mm audio jack with 2-channel stereo output and a 5.000 mAh battery rechargeable via USB-C. Modern specifications for a retro experience, a perfect balance between past and present.
A platform open to creativity
The real strength of this E Ink console lies in its open source nature. The Software Development Kit will allow anyone to create new text adventures, just like in the 80s when enthusiasts exchanged games on cassette or floppy disk.
Our You Create Software Development Kit is designed to empower creators of all kinds—writers, artists, game designers, and anyone with a passion for storytelling—to bring their “Gamebook” to life.
No advanced programming skills are required: the goal is to democratize content creation, allowing writers, artists and game designers to focus on narration. It is a return to the past that looks to the future, where the community of players also becomes a community of creators.
The presence of an analog joystick and a potentiometer for settings adds a touch of physicality to the experience, while the idea of an optional keyboard module for conversational gaming shows attention to detail and the needs of purists.
Text Adventures, The Future Tastes Vintage
E Ink console to hit crowdfunding platform Crowd Supply next month, and it will be interesting to see the launch price. But I can already say that it represents a fascinating experiment: not just a nostalgic homage to the golden age of text adventures, but an attempt to reinvent that format for a contemporary audience.
I like to think that this console can introduce a new generation to the magic of text games, proving that you don't need 4K graphics and special effects to create immersive experiences. Sometimes, words are all you need to live an unforgettable adventure: you "gggiovani" who kill yourselves with texting, what do you think?
