FAQ
(Fascinatingly Adventurous Questions)
How do I play your illustrated text adventures?
Our games are fully web-based, with no special install required. Simply find one of our games you'd like to play. On that game's page, hit the 'Play Now' button which will launch the game on the ChatGPT website. You can click on the provided prompts or type 'Start the game' to begin. The game will proceed as a chat conversation, with the game generating images, describing the current game state, and presenting you with different actions to choose from at each point. You can choose from the numbered actions or type your own custom action, if you prefer.
When I try to play, why does it say I need a ChatGPT account?
Our games are built using a feature called Custom GPTs - think of them as an AI chatbot that's been trained to assist with a specific task. In our case, that task is to entertain you with an illustrated text adventure of a certain adventure type and art style. OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, require you to have a free account to interact with Custom GPTs. However, account holders don't just gain access to our games - they gain access to all Custom GPTs, including ones that take themselves a lot more seriously than we do.
Is there a cost to play your games?
No. All of our games are 100% free to play. There are no in-game purchases, microtransactions, or other subscriptions. And, as of May 29, 2024, OpenAI no longer requires you to have a paid ChatGPT account to play our games. So go create a free ChatGPT account and give one of our games a try.
Why does it say I've reached a usage cap and need to try again later?
The latest versions of ChatGPT are in very high demand. As OpenAI works to scale up their infrastructure, they have been placing limits on how often you can interact with the AI. If you wish, you can upgrade your ChatGPT account to expand those limits. Don't worry, your game progress has been saved and you'll be able to resume your adventure at the specified time. Hopefully OpenAI will be able to lift these usage caps in the future.
Can I play your games on platforms other than ChatGPT?
At present, no. That said, the AI industry is rapidly evolving and we're open to exploring other AI platforms that offer similar or greater capabilities.
Are your games available in languages other than English?
While I develop the games in English, they're actually playable in a wide range of different languages. At the beginning of the game, simply type "Let's play the game in Spanish" or whatever other language you'd like to play in. You can also type your request directly in the desired language ("Juguemos el juego en español"). From that point onward, the game should proceed in your chosen language. If it ever reverts back to English, you can type in a reminder. This is not only helpful for players for whom English is not their first language but it's also a fun way for English speakers to practice their reading and comprehension skills in other languages.
My game stopped generating images. How do I get them back?
There are 3 different reasons why your game may stop generating images:
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1) Sometimes the AI gets excited about the story and simply forgets to generate an image. In these cases, you can simply remind the AI with a gentle "don't forget the image."
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2) Sometimes it tries to create an image but fails, showing an error message. For example, OpenAI may be having issues with their servers. In this case, you can either wait for the issue to resolve itself or continue playing for a bit without images.
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3) Something about the image prompt accidentally triggered OpenAI's content policy, causing the image request to fail. The game host will apologize and move on. Future images will probably be fine.
Why isn't my game responding in the same way it used to?
I'm constantly enhancing the games behind the scenes. As well, OpenAI is making changes to ChatGPT, it's underlying AI models, and the technical infrastructure that drives the platform. As well, the AI itself is learning from your behavior, the behavior of other players, and the behavior of people using ChatGPT for other purposes. In short, welcome to the new era, where change is the only constant. Savor every moment.
Will the game be different if I play through again?
Yes, every playthrough is 100% unique and dynamically generated as you play, resulting in a truly open-ended adventure. While you'll see some familiar themes and recurring trends, and while I've designed each game to follow a certain underlying gameplay structure, you'll be the first and only person to experience each paragraph, each piece of art, each set of choices, and each final outcome in your adventure. So savor every moment and know that you can share your experiences with your friends, with zero fear of spoilers
Do the games ever end or do they just go on forever?
All of our games are designed to have an ending that wraps up the storyline and even assigns a final score based on your performance throughout the game. If you feel like your game has reached a natural conclusion but you haven't received an official ending, go ahead and ask the AI to end the game.
Is there a way to save my progress in a game and continue later?
Yes. ChatGPT automatically saves your game conversation at each step. You can return to it at any time, including on other devices. You can also revisit earlier decisions you made in the game and take your game down different paths.
Do you have any advice on how to play these games?
Yes. Don't get eaten by a grue...
What inspired you to create these games?
I spent 15 years writing branching roleplaying games in the video game industry and I know all the tricks: conversations that give the illusion of choice but always force the player back to the same outcome, branching plotlines that ultimately boil down to good vs evil / renegade vs paragon, multiple different origin stories that give you a half hour of more personalized gameplay, an assortment of different game endings based on 5 key choices you made throughout the game.
With Adventure Inked, I'm setting aside all of that sleight-of-hand and finally delivering what I always wanted: unique adventures, true choices, and personalized storylines, all while echoing the early text and graphical adventure games of my youth.
Do you do create these games for a living? How can I support this work?
No. I spent the first 15 years of my career in the video game industry but these games are just a fascinating side project for me. The biggest way you can support me is by enjoying my games, sharing them with others, and telling people about your experience. If you'd like, you can buy me a coffee - the link provides some other ways you can support me as well.
How can I provide feedback or suggestions for game improvements?
I'd love that. Each game has a comments area where you can share your adventure with others. As every playthrough is unique, there's no fear of spoilers. You can also head over to the Feedback page and let me know what you think.
How frequently do you release new games or updates?
As I find time and inspiration. This is a hobby, for me, not a full-time job. That said, I like to tinker. If it ain't broke, I may just fix it anyway.
Are your games suitable for all ages?
Due to the unpredictable nature of large language models, such as the AI that drives ChatGPT, it's impossible to guarantee that images and gameplay will always be age-appropriate. However, both OpenAI and Adventure Inked do have systems in place to make that less likely. If you're comfortable with your child using ChatGPT, then you can be comfortable with them playing our games.
Ironically, our testing has shown that our Biblically-themed Revelations art style is the most likely to result in gratuitous nudity. In that case, we decided to leave it as is because, if it's good enough for the Sistine Chapel, it's good enough for us.
Do your games infringe on copyright?
When designing my games, I'm intentional about not directly referencing other game designs, fictional worlds, or artists (with the exception of settings, like the Cthulhu mythos, that have entered the public domain). That said, players may choose to reference copyrighted materials in their personal playthroughs of the games. As well, copyrighted materials are part of ChatGPT's underlying knowledge base.
For these reasons, copyrighted materials can creep into the games, particularly in cases where the intellectual property has a generic name. For example, our Alien Invasion adventure type will sometimes feature invaders that reflect the iconic look of the Xenomorph from the Alien franchise.
I heard that AI is going to take our jobs, destroy the environment, and enslave humanity. Why would you ever do something so frivolous?
Sorry. You know that big red button that says 'Do Not Press'? I just couldn't help myself...