A “Tiny Zork™” might be a good first step on the way to optical computer Doom™.

I once created a Zork clone on a 4096 byte Tandy TRS-80 Pocket Computer, with a one line text display (and graphics using 64 3x2 pixel “bitmap” characters).

My Zork had a small map, a simple parser and some of the starting objects and puzzles from the original. It is incredible how many efficiencies you can find when you have no alternative and think you are building something really great at the time

And if you think that’s something, now imagine playing pong against it across a 3 x 48 pixel screen (1x24 characters, of 3x2 pixels each). Every volley a straight shot, or lots of rebounds, as the ball made its way across the “table”.

So yes I was an early game developer and I am so prepared for 4-bit optical so my special skills can be appreciated once more!