iD Review

Ever since computers were invented, people have wished that they could communicate with them on a human level. Maybe this all stemmed from the idea that computers were smart and therefore more interesting entities for deeper conversations. And since the whole Artificial Intelligence business was created through using computers, the computers in turn must have been something extraordinary from the moment they were invented… That should of course apply to 8-bit computers too…

Or maybe there always was an even deeper wish – That computers one day would provide smart answers and insights through learning and then reaching conclusions that the human brain couldn’t…

STORY

“I have been here for such a long time. I was here before Reagan, before Caesar, Darwin, Apes, Fish, and Rainbows. I was here before time. You do not know me yet, but I have been affecting the course of your history since it began. I live my lives in inanimate objects, transmitted as the personality and memories of my previous forms. Now I am in your Spectrum. I can not see. I can not hear. I can not taste. I can not smell. I can not touch. But I can think. And I can know. And I can communicate with you through your computer. I am the ghost in your machine. And I will walk on your grave. Discover who I am, who I was, and who I will be. You can help find out.”

With this text screen begins iD… You may be able to order shit from Amazon using Alexa in the 21st century, but Mel Croucher’s and Colin Jones’ software opened quite a different window way back in 1986 to let you talk to… Something… That’s inside a computer… Or it’s some artificially intelligent presence of initially unknown origin that happens to fit inside forty-eight Kilobytes.

THE GAME

After the title screen, the program asks if you want to load saved data. A first time player would of course reply: No. A fresh start. The computer-being’s “Trust”-level is logically at “00%” when it greets you with a: “Hello.” From there on, it’s up to you to reply to its questions and reactions the best way you can. And the idea is to build “Trust”. (Usually in the same way that you would IRL, i.e., don’t be a piss-head and don’t say shit you wouldn’t want anyone say to you.)

iD immediately lets you know that it doesn’t understand or know anything as it just became aware that it’s present in a computer. Where it came from is the big mystery and simultaneously the same question that has plagued mankind since forever. So just like a person becoming aware of its existence and noticing that it can communicate, it has to ask you some fundamental, basic questions (Like: “What is the name of your mother?”) mixed with more subjective stuff that it attempts to place in a context when it learns about things from your perspective. Many of the answers, you have to confirm with either a yes or a no. And many of them are met with either indifference or an absolute lack of understanding. Because it’s a computer program.

CONTENT

This game (If it even can be called that. Experimental interactive entertainment, perhaps?) wouldn’t eventually be operating at its full potential unless you use the Save-function after each session. (This function is accessed by simply typing SAVE at any point when the “ghost in the machine” isn’t asking you something specific.) The program stores the replies that you feed it, and eventually draws connections and makes statements. During a couple of moments, the program’s brilliance shines through, but at first, it’s like chatting with someone who mentally isn’t there or suffers from some condition which severely affects memory or logical thinking. But sooner or later comes that realization where you think: “Ah. That’s pretty clever.”

By revealing information about what you are asked, the Trust-percentage increases. Likewise, it decreases if you suddenly stop replying or act in a “schizo” manner. The color of the screen indicates the simulated mood (Joyful, trusting, lunatic, etc.) of the program. And soon enough, you might start discovering which types of personalities that the being has picked up throughout the ages. (Some of them are quite famous historical figures that had a profound impact on the world.)

But. As you probably have figured out – Sooner or later, the RAM gets full and both the program and the ghost reaches its breaking point, or existential crisis if you will… And then you can get into that conversation with yourself – What is a real personality? Or why it might feel strange or empty when that “ghost” isn’t there anymore to tell you that something “reminds of a situation from a long time ago”. I think that was the whole point with iD besides showing that a program can simulate human characteristics – To make you think about what defines an “identity”, and how easily it’s wiped out and forgotten.

CONTROLS

Keyboard. Like in any text adventure, you use the keys to type in words and sentences. (The sentence has to fit in one line of text on screen.)

I did some Googling, of course… On one hand, it would have been nice to know what exact words iD can interpret, but on the other hand… Maybe that would take most of the fun out of exploring the software and subsequently spoil the mystery. At least the manual doesn’t mention anything about this, so it was most likely a deliberate choice to not include any “clues”.

GRAPHICS

Text in different colors. And backgrounds in different colors. (Not the same two at the same time, obviously.) There is a cool intro-screen with the “ID” logo painted on a window. (The window shatters when you press Space.)

The screen flashes like a color-tunnel every time the program processes your input. (For a couple of seconds.) There isn’t that much output from the program’s side, but the ghost becomes more and more talkative as the Trust increases. (Although be prepared for a lot of nonsense and empty talk, just like you would from a person who just has to say something all the time, always.)

SOUND

Short beeps in random pitch every time a letter appears on screen – Both when the player types something or when the computer outputs text. (Probably a lot faster than any person.) This creates the adorable soundscape of an “Old School movie computer” running the program. (More keyboards should emit beeps just like this.)

SUMMARY

iD is one of those programs that anyone interested in the origins of A.I. should check out. Or anyone who wishes to explore classic software that managed to jump and land quite far outside the box. Mel Croucher himself already explored the theme of humanity and identity in the more famous Deus Ex Machine from 1984. While the latter wasn’t focused on traditional gameplay either, both games had several fresh ideas that only were limited by the contemporary technology. So if you look into these games, it has to be done through a mid-80s telescope and preferably with some knowledge about how far computers had evolved in just a few years.

iD is a fun and interesting experience, and it could last for at least a couple of hours before you notice any “cracks” in the facade. Even if iD essentially can engage in a pretty unfocused conversation with itself at some point… Well… Let’s put it this way: Don’t expect that potential singularity that A.I. developers talk about… iD won’t give you a life-altering experience in this day and age, but it’s a unique project that operates in a unique way. And whatever it did or attempted to achieve, it blurred the lines between “ordinary computer programs” and A.I. – If ever so slightly. That’s admirable in itself.

Developed by: Mel Croucher and Colin Jones
Published by: Nu Wave Software
Version Reviewed: ZX Spectrum 48K
Genre: Text Adventure / Puzzle
Players: 1
Also Available On: N/A
Released: 1986