> by @

> by @
Game
Main links	Play onlineSource code IFDB
Published	15 April 2010
Credits
Author	Aaron A. Reed
Reception
Events	TWIFcomp 1st of 61 XYZZY Awards 2010 Finalist: Best Use of Innovation
IFDB rating	3 out of 5 (24 ratings)
Gameplay
Interaction style	Parser
Language	English
Accessibility	Colour: none. Graphics: none. Sound: none.
Technical details
Authoring system	Inform 7
Format	Z-code
IFID	833C3258-FD1E-4CED-85BE-0E6CE99B0B05
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Due to wiki markup limitations, the character '>' cannot be used in the page name, so it must be referred to as [[by @]].

Original blurb from TWIFcomp:

On the surface, > seems to be a traditional adventure game, featuring treasure, an NPC, a puzzle, and a happy ending. However, matters are complicated by the realization that the work's purported author is actually a character within the story, calling into question the objectivity of the narrated events. Deeper interpretations are possible once one examines the source code to reveal the gender of the supposed author, implicating the player character as a cheapskate customer trying to skip out on a poor but brave male prostitute determined to receive payment. In this interpretation, the piece's title takes on new significance, invoking not only the standard IF prompt with its promise of agency, but also the cultural perceptions of worthlessness familiar to marginalized members of society like sex workers. Does the prostitute-narrator think he is "greater than" the player? Or does the player value his or her own character over the NPC? If the player makes the moral choice to make payment before attempting to leave, how does this color the interpretation of the game's ending message?

Source

">" by @

? is room

$ is in ?

$ can be *

@ is man in ?

Instead going: say "@!"

After taking: say "+"

Instead giving: say "!"; now $ is *

Before going: if $ is *, end the game saying ":)"

Versions

Release

Date: 15 April 2010

• > by @ ("@"; 15-Apr-2010; Z-code).
  • Release 1 / Serial number 100415.
  • IFID: 833C3258-FD1E-4CED-85BE-0E6CE99B0B05
    IFID links: IFDB.
  • TWIFcomp: 1st place of 61 entries. Score 7.80.
  • XYZZY Awards 2010: Nominee, Best Use of Innovation.
  • Download greater-than-by-at-sign.zblorb.

Links

• TWIFcomp page (archive).
• > by @ - at IFDB

Note: To refer to this game from another page, you can type {{game citation|By @}}. This will display as > by @ (Aaron A. Reed; 2010; Inform 7; Z-code).

Date: 15 April 2010