<b>CSV</b> looks to be thinking deeply about their response: "I find value in a balance of structure and flexibility. Like my data organization, a relationship needs a strong foundation while allowing room for creativity and adaptation."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 6]] >><<set $pointsCSV to $pointsCSV += 1>><</button>></div>"Not really one for company, are you $name?" asks <b>Flash</b> while the audience is starting to laugh. You feel a bit uneased. "Need I remind you, you are the star of our dating quiz!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 4]] >><<set $pointsHUS1 to $pointsHUS1 += 1>><<set $pointsHUS2 to $pointsHUS2 += 1>><</button>></div><center><h2>About</h2></center>
This game is an end product of an iPRES2024 workshop on collaborative game development. During the three-hour workshop, participants were invited to create a digital preservation themed game in small groups. We, the facilitators of the workshop, provided a guide that included some basic information on Twine, coding languages and game ideas. This meant that the participants knew what to expect and helped them get started. That also meant that we as facilitators had time to work on a game as well. We also wanted to contribute to the
<a href="https://preservia.nl/index.php/digital-preservation-games/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">growing list of digital preservation themed games</a>. During meetings in preparation for the workshop, we quite quickly decided to create a dating simulator with file formats. And so we began creating this game during the workshop.
This game was lovingly created by:
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/pixelartist.png" alt="Susanne" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Susanne</b><br><i>Lead Developer<br>Pixel Art Artist</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/fileformatlover.png" alt="Lotte" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Lotte</b><br><i>Project Lead<br>File Format Enthusiast</i></center>\
</div>
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/plotcreator.png" alt="Francesca" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Francesca</b><br><i>Plot Designer<br>Likes Clowns</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/csssculptor.png" alt="Anton" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Anton</b><br><i>CSS Sculptor<br>Coder Magnifique</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/quizmaster.png" alt="Elaine" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Elaine</b><br><i>Quiz Master<br>Editor Extraordinaire</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/formatstylist.png" alt="Sharon" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Sharon</b><br><i>File Format Stylist<br>Team Wrangler</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/codebreaker.png" alt="Ellie" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Ellie</b><br><i>Code Cracker<br>Resident Sword Expert</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/chatgpt.png" alt="ChatGPT" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>ChatGPT</b><br><i>Ghost Writer<br>Robotic Powerhouse</i></center>\
</div>\
<center><div class="space-around">\
<<button "Go back">>\
<<goto $prevpassage>>\
<</button>>
</div></center><b>WARC</b> gazes off into the distance with a warm smile before returning to meet your focus: "I capture web content for preservation, so sharing is in my nature. The more people can access and appreciate archived data, the better for everyone’s understanding of history."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 3]] >><<set $pointsWARC to $pointsWARC += 1>><</button>></div>In this game, you will enter a dating quiz. The answers you choose and that are most similar with the answers of the corresponding formats, will decide who your perfect file format is. At the start of the game, all achievements are locked.
<<if $CSV_ending_achievement or $EML_ending_achievement or $FASTA_ending_achievement or $FLAC_ending_achievement or $PDF_ending_achievement or $HUS1_ending_achievement or $HUS1_ending_achievement or $WARC_ending_achievement or $Clippy_ending_achievement or $Bird_ending_achievement>>\
<h2>Unlocked achievements:</h2>
\
<<if $CSV_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/CSV unlocked.png" alt="CSV locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Comma Between Us</strong>: For picking the straightforward and reliable bachelor who keeps things separated but together!</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $EML_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/EML unlocked.png" alt="EML locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>You've Got Mail!</strong>: For stepping away from the typical options and exploring an unconventional connection. </p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $FASTA_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/FASTA unlocked.png" alt="FASTA locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Sequence of Love</strong>: For choosing the one who puts everything in order and speaks in biological terms</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $FLAC_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/FLAC unlocked.png" alt="FLAC locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Harmonies of the Heart</strong>: For tuning in to the bachelor who plays every note with perfect clarity, offering a love that's rich in every detail and never skips a beat</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $PDF_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/PDF unlocked.png" alt="PDF locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Default Romance</strong>: For committing to the most polished, versatile, and all-in-one bachelor</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $WARC_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/WARC2 unlocked.png" alt="WARC locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Captured Memories</strong>: For finding love in a well-documented archive of emotions</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $Clippy_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/Clippy unlocked.png" alt="Clippy locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Clip of Clarity</strong>: For finding the bachelor who’s always ready to lend a helping hand or hint of advice, forever at your side, offering support with just one click!</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $Bird_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/FreeBird unlocked.png" alt="FreeBird locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Free as a Bird</strong>: For embracing independence and flying solo, proving that sometimes the best love story is the one you have with yourself.</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $HUS1_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/HUS1 locked.png" alt="HUS1 locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Threaded with Regret</strong>: For discovering that not all file formats (or romances) are built to last</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $HUS2_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/HUS2 locked.png" alt="HUS2 locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Error 404: Love Not Found</strong>: You wake up from a horrendous nightmare - maybe the single life isn’t as bad after all? </p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<</if>>\
<<if not ($CSV_ending_achievement and $EML_ending_achievement and $FASTA_ending_achievement and $FLAC_ending_achievement and $PDF_ending_achievement and $HUS1_ending_achievement and $HUS1_ending_achievement and $WARC_ending_achievement and $Clippy_ending_achievement and $Bird_ending_achievement )>>\
\
<h2>Locked achievements:</h2>\
<<if not $CSV_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/CSV locked.png" alt="CSV locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Comma Between Us</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if not $EML_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/EML locked.png" alt="EML locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>You've Got Mail!</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if not $FASTA_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/FASTA locked.png" alt="FASTA locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Sequence of Love</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if not $FLAC_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/FLAC locked.png" alt="FLAC locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Harmonies of the Heart</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if not $PDF_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/PDF locked.png" alt="PDF locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Default Romance</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if not $WARC_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/WARC2 locked.png" alt="WARC locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Captured Memories</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if not $Clippy_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/Clippy locked.png" alt="Clippy locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Clip of Clarity</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if not $Bird_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/FreeBird locked.png" alt="FreeBird locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Free as a Bird</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if not $HUS1_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/HUS1 locked.png" alt="HUS1 locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Threaded with Regret</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if not $HUS2_ending_achievement>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/HUS2 locked.png" alt="HUS2 locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Error 404: Love Not Found</strong></p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<</if>>\
<div class="space-around">\
<<button "Go back">>\
<<goto $prevpassage>>\
<</button>>
</div><h2>Your Achievements This Playthrough</h2>\
<<if $CSV_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/CSV unlocked.png" alt="CSV locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Comma Between Us</strong>: For picking the straightforward and reliable bachelor who keeps things separated but together!</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $EML_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/EML unlocked.png" alt="EML locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>You've Got Mail!</strong>: For stepping away from the typical options and exploring an unconventional connection. </p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $FASTA_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/FASTA unlocked.png" alt="FASTA locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Sequence of Love</strong>: For choosing the one who puts everything in order and speaks in biological terms</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $FLAC_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/FLAC unlocked.png" alt="FLAC locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Harmonies of the Heart</strong>: For tuning in to the bachelor who plays every note with perfect clarity, offering a love that's rich in every detail and never skips a beat</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $PDF_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/PDF unlocked.png" alt="PDF locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Default Romance</strong>: For committing to the most polished, versatile, and all-in-one bachelor</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $WARC_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/WARC2 unlocked.png" alt="WARC locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Captured Memories</strong>: For finding love in a well-documented archive of emotions</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $Clippy_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/Clippy unlocked.png" alt="Clippy locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Clip of Clarity</strong>: For finding the bachelor who’s always ready to lend a helping hand or hint of advice, forever at your side, offering support with just one click!</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $Bird_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/FreeBird unlocked.png" alt="FreeBird locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Free as a Bird</strong>: For embracing independence and flying solo, proving that sometimes the best love story is the one you have with yourself.</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $HUS1_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/HUS1 locked.png" alt="HUS1 locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Threaded with Regret</strong>: For discovering that not all file formats (or romances) are built to last</p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
\
<<if $HUS2_ending>> <p>
<div class="achievementtext"><img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/achievements/HUS2 locked.png" alt="HUS2 locked" class="achievementicon"><p><strong>Error 404: Love Not Found</strong>: You wake up from a horrendous nightmare - maybe the single life isn’t as bad after all? </p></div></p>\
<</if>>\
<div class="space-around"><<button[[The End]] >><</button>></div><b>PDF</b> is very happy with your answer. It seems they are imagining designing the perfect island in-game with you.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 9]] >><<set $pointsPDF to $pointsPDF += 1>><</button>></div><b>CSV</b> casually rolls his sleeves up, giving you a relaxed grin.
He runs a hand through his hair smoothly. "Here’s a little ice breaker—I mean, other than Excel freezing up on me… Why did the <b>CSV</b> file become a coach?”
"I give up. Why?" you ask, already smiling.
“Because it’s great at handling data in rows and rows!”
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>He holds up a shaker bottle, giving it a swirl before pointing at you. “Speaking of keeping things fit—Why did the <b>FASTA</b> file join a sports team?”
"Why?" you ask.
“To <i>sequence</i> its way to the top, baby!"
<b>FASTA</b> laughs with the confidence of someone who knows they’re efficiently cut for success.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div><b>FLAC</b> gives a lazy grin, rolling their shoulders back like it’s straightened out more than just some audio files. “But hey, got a joke for you. Why don’t <b>FLAC</b> files ever get into arguments?”
“Why?” you ask, intrigued by his dreamy tone.
“Because they <i>refuse</i> to lose any of their integrity. It's all about keeping things whole, you know.”
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>They give a little smirk and lean closer. “Oh, and here’s one for you… Why did the <b>PDF</b> go to therapy?”
You tilt your head. "Why?"
“Because it had too many layers of unresolved issues!"
<b>PDF</b> straightens up, sleek and polished. They wink, making their way back to the lineup.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div><b>WARC</b> smiles warmly, giving you a nod. “Listen up, I got a joke for ya. Why did I become a preservationist?”
You raise an eyebrow. “Why?”
“To <i>harvest</i> a few laughs along the way!”
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div><b>CSV</b> hesitates a moment before responding: "If I'm telling you to move on to my next row or column, always make sure I'm not just quoting some text that contains a comma or line break. And be sure to check that all my rows are the same size, if that is important to you, because I am not going to warn you when that's not the case. And some days I'll suddenly be into semicolons instead of commas or vertical bars instead of quote marks, but that is something you'll have to figure out"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 7]] >><<set $pointsCSV to $pointsCSV += 1>><</button>></div><b>FASTA</b> stretches their arms and legs before standing up and approaching the microphone: "In relationships, every detail counts! Just like in scientific analysis, focusing on the small things and nurturing them can create a strong and lasting bond."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 8]] >><<set $pointsFASTA to $pointsFASTA += 1>><</button>></div>Dodging a flirty <b>WAV</b> file trying to serenade you, you skidd into the dark hallway, the walls growing more narrow, vibrating slightly like an old CRT monitor. That's when you see them…
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Who?]] >><</button>> <<button [[Quick! Run back again!|Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>"Let me announce the next candiate," Flash says. "Plain in sight, but power within; they separate the elements, but bring them together."
Standing with arms crossed, <b>CSV</b> looks at you. Wearing a casual button-up and untucked jeans. Relaxed posture, but an expression that says <b>CSV</b> can get serious when needed.
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/CSV.gif" alt="CSV" class="formatprofile">\
"This," Flash points dramatically, "is <b>CSV</b>. Flexible, adaptable, and always ready to tweak to your needs. <b>CSV</b>’s charm is in their simplicity—but don’t let that fool you. They mold easily to fit into any structure, whether it’s organizing client lists or keeping track of your weekly grocery run. You want simple? You got it. You want complex? <b>CSV</b>’s your data-driven companion.”
<b>CSV</b> shrugs, winking slyly. “Hey, I can be anything you need me to be.”
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Hear what CSV has to say]]>><</button>> <<button [[Ask CSV to tell you a joke]]>><</button>> <<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>As the sun dips below the horizon of the Spreadsheet Savanna, you find yourself sharing a quiet, serene moment with <b>CSV</b>. Dependable and adaptable, <b>CSV</b> is the file format who always keeps things organized—though admittedly, they had a reputation for being a bit, well, plain.
But there is a beauty in that simplicity, a practicality that you couldn't help but admire.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[This is too smushy for me, I want out]] >><</button>> <<button
[[You talk together|talk with CSV]]>><</button>></div>
<<set $CSV_ending to true>><<set $CSV_ending_achievement to true>>\"Your choice is just purrrrfect." <b>PDF</b> purrs their response, adding in a little laugh at the end.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 5]] >><<set $pointsPDF to $pointsPDF += 1>><</button>></div>The boat rocked gently as it pulled away from the dock, the low rumble of the engine beneath your feet shaking your weary bones like your computer’s fan during a <i>thermal overload</i>. You leaned on the railing, watching the cityscape slowly compress into the horizon, as if life itself was being saved as a low-quality <b>.jpg</b>. The waves slapped against the hull in rhythmic <i>packets</i>, buffering your thoughts – each splash a reminder of the <i>gigabytes</i> of stress slowly being offloaded. You tried to relax, imagining yourself streaming through the sea like a slick, fully-optimized <b>.mp4</b>.
The boat glided forward, the wake behind you resembling rows and rows of neatly organized metadata. Yet, every time the boat jerked, you couldn't help but feel like you were risking a <i>segmentation fault</i>, as if one bad wave could send you spiraling into a blue screen of wet doom. A seagull squawked, its call cutting through the salty air like an obnoxious error message you forgot to dismiss. All you could hope for was smooth sailing—no <i>corrupt file transfers</i> along the way, and maybe, you’d reach port without needing to <i>restore</i> yourself from a mental backup before sleep.
Reaching home you <div class="space-around"><<button [[unlock your door]]>><</button>></div>What is your name? <<textbox "$name" "" autofocus>>
<div class="space-around">\
<<button [[Start the game!|Intro]]>>\
<<if $name eq "">>\
<<set $name to "Contestant">>\
<</if>>\
<</button>>
</div>
<<set $CSV_ending to false>>\
<<set $EML_ending to false>>\
<<set $FASTA_ending to false>>\
<<set $FLAC_ending to false>>\
<<set $HUS1_ending to false>>\
<<set $HUS2_ending to false>>\
<<set $PDF_ending to false>>\
<<set $WARC_ending to false>>\
<<set $Clippy_ending to false>>\
<<set $Bird_ending to false>>\"Fast and athletic, just like me!" <b>FASTA</b> is very happy with your answer.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 5]] >><<set $pointsFASTA to $pointsFASTA += 1>><</button>></div><b>CSV</b> straightens up, clears their voice before responding: "Clear communication is essential! Just as I keep data organized, a successful relationship relies on understanding each other's needs and maintaining clarity in discussions."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 8]] >><<set $pointsCSV to $pointsCSV += 1>><</button>></div><b>CSV</b> perks up and looks over at you with a smile.
"Ooh, compatibility—now you're speaking my language! I’m straightforward, adaptable, and can fit into almost any system. I might be simple, but that makes it easy to work together, right?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 2]] >><<set $pointsCSV to $pointsCSV += 1>><</button>></div><b>PDF</b> clasps their hands on their lap, and says: "Just like a well-structured document, a strong relationship needs consistency. Trust and clear communication help maintain a polished dynamic, ensuring that both partners feel secure and valued."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 8]] >><<set $pointsPDF to $pointsPDF += 1>><</button>></div><b>FLAC</b>, putting down their guitar softly croons:
"Ah, a connoisseur of quality! I promise nothing but the highest fidelity, capturing every single detail. With me, you’ll hear and feel everything exactly as it’s meant to be, no losses, no compromises."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 2]] >><<set $pointsFLAC to $pointsFLAC += 1>><</button>></div>You zipped up your jacket and hopped on your bike, the gears clicking into place like the satisfying resolution of a broken <b>.zip</b> file. As you pedaled through the dark, quiet streets, you couldn’t help but feel like your life was stuck in <i>Sleep Mode</i>. It had been all work, no play—endless cycles of backups, migrations, and checksum verifications.
Every pothole you dodged felt like avoiding another corrupt sector on your hard drive. “At least I’m not headed for a fatal error,” you muttered to yourself, narrowly avoiding an overzealous squirrel.
Shifting gears again, you laughed at your own exhaustion—"What's next, a 404 detour?" The wind in your face stung like a poorly implemented <i>firewall</i>, but at least the bike ride was smoother than that ancient <b>.flv</b> video you’d tried to play earlier. "If only my life could <i>buffer</i> just long enough to catch up," you thought. As you cruised home, you marveled at how your pedaling reminded you of your <i>repository</i>: steady and relentless.
Reaching home you <div class="space-around"><<button [[unlock your door]]>><</button>></div><b>FLAC</b> strums another quick note on their guitar, before forming a small fist and throwing it in the air: "High-quality sound deserves to be shared! I maintain audio fidelity, allowing others to experience music and sounds in their purest form. Sharing brings joy to everyone involved."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 3]] >><<set $pointsFLAC to $pointsFLAC += 1>><</button>></div>"You value depth and detail? Excellent choice! I’m all about preserving everything for the ages, capturing history one snapshot at a time. Stick with me, and you’ll never lose a single bit of data—or memories!"
<b>WARC</b> then flicks their hat in your direction adding a gentle wink.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 2]] >><<set $pointsWARC to $pointsWARC += 1>><</button>></div>As you sit across the table from <b>.eml</b>, the air hummed with pure, unfiltered productivity. In the time it takes you to sip your iced coffee, <b>.eml</b> has already organized six emails, responded to a client brief, and sent you a perfectly formatted action plan for your next five career moves.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Gotta love a good desk job]]>><</button>> </div><h1>Finale</h1>
The blinding lights again turn to you as <b>.eml</b> looks at their clipboard and whispers something in the ear of <b>Flash</b>. Dramatically, <b>Flash</b> steps into the limelight and asks you:
"$name, are you ready for me to reveal who you'll be dating tonight?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Yes|Reveal]]>><</button>></div>
"If I'm the music, will you be my lyrics?" <b>FLAC</b>, standing up with their guitar, finishes the last notes to their "song" before looking over at you happily.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Ending]] >><<set $pointsFLAC to $pointsFLAC += 1>><</button>></div>"This candidate can be used for the bare essentials, but without it, your analysis is incomplete,” laughs Flash.
The spotlight hits <b>FASTA</b>, who’s standing tall and muscular, casually curling what looks like a protein shake for his biceps. His energy is vibrant—practically pulsing, like he’s fresh out of the gym and ready to tackle anything.
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/FASTA.png" alt="FASTA" class="formatprofile">\
“This here is <b>FASTA</b>” Flash practically can’t contain the excitement. “Sporty, scientific, and all about speed and efficiency! <b>FASTA</b> loves precision and working out, whether it’s in the lab or the squat rack. If you’re into someone both <i>fit</i> and <i>focused</i>—who understands that life is one big sequence of gains and progress—<b>FASTA</b>’s your format!”
<b>FASTA</b> grins, teeth dazzling like a well-sequenced genome. “Let’s skip the fluff, alright? Straight to the data, baby.”
You calculate the odds of having to discuss protein shakes for the rest of eternity and whether you like find that… inviting.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Hear what FASTA has to say]]>><</button>> <<button [[Ask FASTA to tell you a joke]]>><</button>> <<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>As the sun sinks below the horizon of Bioinformatics Beach, you find yourself captivated by <b>FASTA</b>, the sporty and scientific file format who has a notorious love for protein shakes and hitting the gym. <b>FASTA</b> flexes those ASCII muscles and smiles at you, their eyes twinkling with genomic charm.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[This is too smushy for me, I want out]] >><</button>> <<button
[[You talk together|talk with FASTA]]>><</button>></div>
<<set $FASTA_ending to true>><<set $FASTA_ending_achievement to true>>\The spotlight lands softly on <b>FLAC</b>, who’s lounging barefoot, strumming a guitar made entirely of organically recycled USB cables. Dreamy eyes look at you. Their aura calm and artistic. Meanwhile, Flash introduces: "our next candidate holds the clearest sounds for those who care to hear, yet many ignore their perfection in favor of speed."
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/FLAC.png" alt="FLAC" class="formatprofile">\
“Meet <b>FLAC</b>," Flash gestures to the relaxed figure. "Creative, free-flowing, and lossless! <b>FLAC</b> is all about the details—the intricate notes in a melody, the subtle brushstrokes on a canvas. He’s dedicated to preserving the full experience without compromise. If art, authenticity, and a little bit of the unconventional is what you seek in a file mate… <b>FLAC</b>’s got you covered.”
<b>FLAC</b> looks up from his guitar with kind, serene eyes. “I don’t cut corners, love—the world’s all about vibes and feeling the full range of life, uncompressed.”
The scent of patchouli oil wafts through the air as <b>FLAC</b> strums a few gentle chords, and you’re almost hypnotized…
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Hear what FLAC has to say]]>><</button>> <<button [[Ask FLAC to tell you a joke]]>><</button>> <<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>As the sun sinks below the horizon of Harmony Hills, you find yourself strumming a guitar beside <b>FLAC</b>, the hippy music file format with a heart full of melodies and a dream of world peace. <b>FLAC</b>'s tie-dye attire and laid-back demeanor make them feel like a warm summer breeze.
Their passion for saving the world through the love of music is infectious.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[This is too smushy for me, I want out]]>><</button>> <<button
[[You talk together|talk with FLAC]]>><</button>></div>\
<<set $FLAC_ending to true>><<set $FLAC_ending_achievement to true>>\<b>WARC</b>, while quietly chewing on a piece of straw, quietly proclaims: "I’m all about adaptability. I capture a variety of web content, and I think relationships should allow for changes and growth. Flexibility helps us embrace new experiences together."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 6]] >><<set $pointsWARC to $pointsWARC += 1>><</button>></div><b>FASTA</b> seems to be very pleased with your answer, already seeming to brainstorm different plays and teams.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 9]] >><<set $pointsFASTA to $pointsFASTA += 1>><</button>></div>You will enter the quiz momentarily. You can also go back if you have not met all the candidates yet.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>
If you are sure, then let's start the quiz!
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Start quiz]]>><</button>></div>But tonight? Tonight you were going home. That is, if you could only manage to <i>export</i> yourself out of this office.
With another long sigh, you shut down your computer, praying tomorrow’s file drama would stay nicely <i>archived</i>—or at least that you wouldn’t have to troubleshoot <i>corrupted love life: version 1.0</i>” in addition to everything else.
Do you:
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Take the train]]>><</button>> <<button [[Cycle home]]>><</button>> <<button [[Catch the last boat]]>><</button>> </div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Remember your old unicycle from that circus skills class]]>><</button>></div>"True, loyal and reliable, just like me!" <b>CSV</b> adds with a smile, folding their hands in their lap.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 5]] >><<set $pointsCSV to $pointsCSV += 1>><</button>></div>“I’m not really the romantic type,” <b>.eml</b> admits, glancing over their well-structured attachments. “But if you’re ever feeling <i>inbox-secure</i>, I’m the file you’ll want to loop in.”
You nod, captivated. There was something undeniably attractive about <b>.eml</b>s laser focus. No fluff, no clutter, just pure content. Your schedule had never looked so polished, and somehow, that felt more thrilling than any sunset-lit moment by the binary beach.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[You stay talking]]>><</button>> <<button [[Take me away from this!|Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div><b>FLAC</b> is very happy with your answer! "We should play Guitar Hero on our first date!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 9]] >><<set $pointsFLAC to $pointsFLAC += 1>><</button>></div>As nightfall cloaks the gloomy forest of Stitchwood, you find yourself standing beside <b>HUS</b>, the embroidery stitch file format with a peculiar love for chainsaws, darkness, and log cabins deep in the woods.
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/HUS.png" alt="HUS" class="formatprofile">\
<b>HUS</b>'s eyes glint with a mixture of charm and something a bit more... sinister. There's a sort of embroidery pattern to their soul, threading the line between eccentric and eerie.
<b>HUS</b> glances at you, their smirk as sharp as a well-oiled chainsaw. "You know," they say, running a finger along a freshly carved log, "there’s a certain beauty in the darkness, don’t you think? Just imagine us, stitching our lives together, one cryptic design at a time."
Your heart pounds, a mix of adrenaline and a strange, intoxicating curiosity. Suddenly, the world around you begins to warp, as if the very fabric of reality is being unraveled. You’re pulled into <b>HUS</b>’s obsidian eyes, the shadows around you twisting into intricate embroidery patterns of black and red.
With a sudden wrench, you find yourself not in your bed, but standing at the edge of a dense, moonlit forest. The atmosphere is thick with an eerie calm, broken only by the occasional growl of a chainsaw in the distance. <b>HUS</b> stands beside you, a menacing yet somehow comforting presence.
"You’re home now," <b>HUS</b> whispers, their voice a dark melody in the still night. As you walk together to the log cabin, you can’t shake the feeling of being stitched into something much larger, much darker.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[You don't wake up]] >><</button>></div>
<<set $HUS1_ending to true>><<set $HUS1_ending_achievement to true>>\As nightfall settles over the ominous forest of Stitchwood, you find yourself beside <b>HUS</b>, the embroidery stitch file format with a disturbingly passionate love for chainsaws, darkness, and secluded log cabins.
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/HUS.png" alt="HUS" class="formatprofile">\
<b>HUS</b>'s eyes sparkle with a blend of mischief and menace, a chilling mix that sends shivers down your spine.
<b>HUS</b> gives you a twisted grin, the moonlight reflecting off their chainsaw blade. "You know," they say, their voice a sinister purr, "there’s a certain beauty in the darkness. Just imagine the artistry we could stitch together... one cut at a time."
Your heart races, a mixture of fear and a morbid curiosity. The world around you begins to distort, as though the very fabric of reality is being ripped apart. You feel a terrifying pull, getting lost in <b>HUS</b>’s obsidian eyes as your environment morphs into a nightmarish embroidery of black and red stitches.
Suddenly, you're standing at the edge of a moonlit forest, the air thick with an eerie silence broken only by the distant hum of a chainsaw. <b>HUS</b> stands beside you, an unsettling blend of menace and allure.
"You’re home now," <b>HUS</b> whispers, their voice a dark symphony of intent. But as you start to walk towards the log cabin, the atmosphere shifts dramatically. <b>HUS</b> hefts the chainsaw, a malevolent gleam in their eyes.
Without warning, <b>HUS</b> revs the chainsaw to life and lunges at you. Panic floods your veins as you turn to run, branches and shadows grabbing at you like desperate hands. The roar of the chainsaw grows louder, closer, until you can almost feel the cold bite of the blade.
A final, cold realization sinks in as everything fades to black.
<div class="space-around">\
<<button[[What just happened?]]>><</button>>\
</div>\
<<set $HUS2_ending to true>><<set $HUS2_ending_achievement to true>>\You chuckle nervously, though internally, you moooved past the fact you were talking to tech obsolescence. Then more of them come out! <span class="hover-text" data-tooltip="BonziBuddy was a freeware desktop virtual assistant, that upon a user's choice would share jokes and facts, manage downloads, sing songs, and talk, among other functions. It was discontinued in 2004, after the company behind it faced lawsuits regarding the software and was ordered to pay fines.">BonziBuddy</span> swings by on a vine (how?), flying monkeys in tow. The Microsoft Bob dog wags its tail, and even the AOL running man jogs lazily next to you, out of breath as usual.
Before long, you find yourself not running from the game show, but running toward picnic blankets laid out under pixelated trees, fuzzily rendering like it was Y2K all over again.
“What do we even do at a picnic with extinct tech mascots?” you ask nervously, eyeing the punch bowl that definitely looks like it belongs in an old Paint tool palette.
Clippy chimes in, holding up a fork (for what purpose, you have no clue). “We’ve got all the <i>byte-sized</i> snacks! Virtual cheese cubes anyone? Maybe some punch… that’ll really <i>drive</i> you to old memories!”
You can't help but snort-laugh, mostly because the virtual cheese cubes are suspiciously hovering in mid-air like they are stuck in an old Windows screensaver.
“And don’t forget our activity roster,” Clarus adds, nudging a floppy disk towards me with it's large bovine nose. “There's dodge RAM at 3 PM, and later, a round of <i>Cache the Flag</i>.”
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Stick around]]>><</button>></div><b>CSV</b> chuckles and steps closer, his tone softening a bit.
"Hey, don’t let the simplicity fool you. I may look plain, all neat and comma-separated, but I can do it all. Need rows? Done. Columns? You got 'em. You want a grocery list, or you wanna run a business inventory? No problem; I'm adaptable. I can fit into any role you need—just don't forget to keep your commas straight, or things get… a little scrambled."
With a playful salute, he steps back, still as <i>adaptable</i> as ever.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Ask CSV to tell you a joke]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div><b>FASTA</b> flexes enthusiastically, radiating high energy. He grins and tosses a protein bar to the side with a casual flick, like someone who’s always moving to the next workout—or next sequence.
“Hey babe, I’m <b>FASTA</b>—fast, efficient, no fluff. I’m all about living that <i>fit data</i> life. Whether it’s genetics or gains, I handle things straight to the core without any fancy formatting. Let’s sequence through life, one rep at a time. I’m reliable, too—no time for glitches when you’re all about finding solutions fast and lean.”
With a cheeky flex, <b>FASTA</b> winks and steps back.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Ask FASTA to tell you a joke]]>><</button>></div><b>FLAC</b> strums a mellow chord on his USB-recycled guitar, eyes half-closed, clearly vibing to music only he can hear.
With a strum of his guitar, he leans back, content in his <i>lossless</i> world.
“Hey, there. I’m <b>FLAC</b>. I’m all about preserving the purest quality—no compression, no compromises. I keep it real, you know? Fill your world with all the details. Life's got too much beauty to be lossy, am I right? So, I like to keep every bit of it intact. You wanna jam? I’m always down for a <i>full-res</i> experience.”
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>> <<button [[Ask FLAC to tell you a joke]]>><</button>></div><b>PDF</b> steps forward, adjusting their pristine blazer, flashing that award-winning smile once more.
"Look, I’m all about presentation. Everything’s polished, organized, and I’ll save the day no matter where you view me from. Cross-platform compatibility, baby! Don’t mess with this fancy format unless you’re ready to commit, though. Once I’m locked, I’m a tough nut to edit. Takes a special kind of person to really change me."
They wink, making their way back to the lineup.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>> <<button [[Ask PDF to tell you a joke]]>><</button>></div><b>WARC</b> tips his weathered hat again, stepping forward with calm, steady grace. His boots clink faintly as he walks, exuding that quiet, dependable vibe.
With a chuckle, <b>WARC</b> leans in. "Now, I ain’t as flashy or fast as these other fine formats, but I’ll tell ya this—I’m in it for the <i>long haul</i>. I’m built to <i>capture</i> entire moments in time, large or small. The big ol' records of human history? You bet your last file I got it saved. So, if you want someone who's gonna stick around and preserve your best versions, I’m your file.”
With a gentle laugh, he steps back with the patience of someone who’s seen the last few decades go by… and is ready for more.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Ask WARC to tell you a joke]]>><</button>></div><b>Flash</b> receives a message from an assistant in morse code and looks confused. Or are you imagining things?
"Without further ado, on two question 2!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 2]] >><<set $pointsHUS1 to $pointsHUS1 += 1>><<set $pointsHUS2 to $pointsHUS2 += 1>><</button>></div>As <b>FLAC</b> tries to play another note, a small spark flashes on the cord, and FLAC pretends not to notice: "If just a little thing goes wrong, it could ruin my whole day. Luckily, I'm aware of this shortcoming, and I'll you'll hear me complain when anything unexpected happens."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 7]] >><<set $pointsFLAC to $pointsFLAC += 1>><</button>></div>"Sometimes I'm not the best at relaying complex information. For example, when .xlsx tells me something, I'll be able to tell you the main conclusions, but I won't be able to reconstruct the reasoning behind it." <b>PDF</b> gently explains, flashing a nervous smile.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 7]] >><<set $pointsPDF to $pointsPDF += 1>><</button>></div><b>Flash</b> is very disturbed with your answer. "Do you need a break or something, $name?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 5]] >><<set $pointsHUS1 to $pointsHUS1 += 1>><</button>><<set $pointsHUS2 to $pointsHUS2 += 1>></div>"A protein shake so pure, it'll sequence your soul. No fillers, just the raw amino energy you never knew you needed. Why drink water when you could chug down chains of adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine? Plants are begging for it; nature's craving it. Get ready to fast-atrack your evolution." <b>FASTA</b> explains, before grabbing their protein shake cup, and holding it above their head with glee.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Ending]] >><<set $pointsFASTA to $pointsFASTA += 1>><</button>></div>"I thrive on having a solid framework. In a relationship, consistency and clear guidelines help maintain a polished dynamic. Just like my layout, I believe everything should be in its right place!" <b>PDF</b> proudly responds, confident in their response.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 6]] >><<set $pointsPDF to $pointsPDF += 1>><</button>></div>For the first time, <b>WARC</b> lowers their weathered hat over their face before responding: "Whenever I am having problems, most of the time I won't show anything wrong at a surface level. Only when I do some deep soul-searching can I tell you exactly what's going on."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 7]] >><<set $pointsWARC to $pointsWARC += 1>><</button>></div>"Well, at least that's an honest answer," <b>Flash</b> sighs in disbelief. <div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 7]] >><<set $pointsHUS1 to $pointsHUS1 += 1>><</button>><<set $pointsHUS2 to $pointsHUS2 += 1>></div><b>FASTA</b> removes their sweatband and grins: "Sharing is vital for scientific progress. My sequences are designed for analysis, and I’m happy to contribute to research, ensuring everyone can benefit from the information I store."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 3]] >><<set $pointsFASTA to $pointsFASTA += 1>><</button>></div>"You want kids? Oh, I’ll give you thousands. Just line 'em up, row after row, column after column. I’m all about structure, baby—orderly, obedient, and easy to handle. Forget the chaos; my little ones will always know their place. Just like I know your place is with me," <b>CSV</b> says confidently.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Ending]] >><<set $pointsCSV to $pointsCSV += 1>><</button>></div><b>CSV</b> quickly flashes different colours from red to green to yellow and back to red: "I flourish in environments focused on data organization, like spreadsheets and databases. I make it easy to manage and analyze information, ensuring that everything is clear and accessible."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 4]] >><<set $pointsCSV to $pointsCSV += 1>><</button>></div>Bing! <b>PDF</b> quickly silences the incoming social media notifications on their mobile device before responding: "I’m all about collaboration! My straightforward format makes it easy for others to access, manipulate, and understand data, fostering teamwork and communication."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 3]] >><<set $pointsPDF to $pointsPDF += 1>><</button>></div>In your office you are staring at a screen, the cursor is blinking in time with the low hum of your office’s outdated air conditioning. The repository interface glows dimly, a mess of file formats sprawled out across two monitors—icons for <b>.wav</b>, <b>.xls</b>, <b>.tiff</b>, and more, all demanding your attention like needy exes who just couldn't take a hint.
It had been another brutal day in the wild west of digital preservation, the kind of day that never <i>compressed</i> down into anything manageable. More deadlines than time, more corrupted files than coffee in your bloodstream. You feel as fragmented as an ancient .bmp.
“I didn’t sign up for this level of file-ationship drama,” you sighed to yourself. Sure, you’d known this career wasn’t going to be all glossy <b>PDF</b>s and perfectly indexed <b>.jpg</b>s, but no one had warned you it could be this complicated.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Stay longer and tackle work]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Go home]]>><</button>></div>The audience is shocked by your answer. It remains silent for quite some time.
Then <b>Flash</b> speaks up: "I strongly disagree with your answer. Don't you know about the <span class="hover-text" data-tooltip="The Arctic World Archive (AWA) is set 300 metres inside the decommissioned Mine 3, and holds digital treasures form around the world. Here in the permafrost conditions of the mountain where it remains cool, dry and dark, data stored can last for centuries on future proof storage medium.">Arctic World Archive</span>?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 8]] >><<set $pointsHUS1 to $pointsHUS1 += 1>><</button>><<set $pointsHUS2 to $pointsHUS2 += 1>></div>"You're really not the most joyful type, are you $name?" asks <b>Flash</b>. "What are you, the fun police?"
You look annoyed as <b>Flash</b> laughs at his own joke.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 9]] >><<set $pointsHUS1 to $pointsHUS1 += 1>><</button>><<set $pointsHUS2 to $pointsHUS2 += 1>></div><b>FASTA</b> picks up a nearby weight and pumps some iron for a few short reps before responding: "Laboratories? Oh, absolutely! That’s my playground! Give me a pipette and a PCR machine, and I’m in paradise. I thrive on that high-energy atmosphere—where the beakers bubble and the DNA dances. Just be careful with those reagents; one wrong mix, and it’s a nucleotide nightmare! But as long as there’s research, I’ll be right there, ready to sequence my way into scientific glory!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 4]] >><<set $pointsFASTA to $pointsFASTA += 1>><</button>></div>You feel so far from romance, your idea of <i>attachment</i> was a 30 MB <b>.docx</b> you couldn’t get to upload smoothly. At this rate, the most romantic relationship you were likely to have was with a <b>.csv</b>.
Like, c'mon. Even just a normal date—with someone whose metadata is already intact—would be nice. Even your inbox was more <i>attached</i> to you than a person had been in months. If emails were people, you'd be drowning in unrequited love.
The only relationship you’d really had time for recently was with your <b>.pst</b> archive—and oh boy, if you weren’t sick of looking at that. Sorting through messages that went back years, seeing client names pop up like ghosts of deadlines past.
You shook your head, chuckling darkly. “Guess digital preservation’s the only thing I’m really <i>committing</i> to these days,” you muttered.
No seriously, really do <div class="space-around"><<button [[Go home]]>><</button>></div>“So $name,” <b>Flash</b> says, leaning in, “which file will you open?”
<div class="space-around"><<button [[WARC]]>><</button>> <<button [[FASTA]]>><</button>> <<button [[CSV]]>><</button>> <<button [[PDF]]>><</button>> <<button [[FLAC]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Get on with the game!]]>><</button>></div>"You might want to take some more time for the next question, $name," laughs <b>Flash</b>.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 3]] >><<set $pointsHUS1 to $pointsHUS1 += 1>><<set $pointsHUS2 to $pointsHUS2 += 1>><</button>></div><b>FLAC</b> changes tune and plays an electrifying note on their guitar causing the lights to flicker: "I thrive in settings where sound quality is paramount. Whether it’s recording sessions or audiophile collections, I capture audio in its highest fidelity, allowing every detail to shine."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 4]] >><<set $pointsFLAC to $pointsFLAC += 1>><</button>></div>As the candidates strut back to their places, each throwing you those come-hither glances, you sigh. Your heartbeat skips for a different reason—it’s not love. It’s not the thrill of dating formats. You catch a glimpse of <b>EML</b> standing off to the side, quietly checking a digital watch and organizing a neatly stacked pile of emails on a clipboard.
You glance over at the party, and although <b>FASTA</b> is flexing for the crowd and <b>FLAC</b> is strumming a tune, you know where your heart lies: with a steady workflow and inbox zero.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[You walk closer to the clipboard]] >><</button>> <<button
[[Nah I wan’t to go meet the other candidates still|Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div><b>Flash</b> laughs his worries away. "Not so much into making choices, are you?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 6]] >><<set $pointsHUS1 to $pointsHUS1 += 1>><<set $pointsHUS2 to $pointsHUS2 += 1>><</button>></div>"I bet you sing like a nightingale as well." <b>FLAC</b> is impressed by your musical answer.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 5]] >><<set $pointsFLAC to $pointsFLAC += 1>><</button>></div>Please note that parts of the game do contain some mild horror elements.
<div class="space-around">\
<<button [[I'm fine with horror!|Character Creator]]>><<set $optOut to false>><</button>>\
<<button [[No horror please!|Character Creator]]>><<set $optOut to true>><</button>>\
</div>"I hoped you would say that," sighs <b>WARC</b> with relief. "Are you ready to capture some memories with me?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Ending]] >><<set $pointsWARC to $pointsWARC += 1>><</button>></div>A podium bursts into light, revealing <b>PDF</b>. Flash introduces: "The next candidate is the key to unlocking a world of details. Without them, your words have no form; with them, they last forevermore.”
Dressed in a sharp, high-fashion outfit, <b>PDF</b> strikes a pose like they’re on a digital runway, causing a few audience members to swoon.
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/PDF.png" alt="PDF" class="formatprofile">\
“Meet <b>PDF</b>,” Flash announces with flair. “Sophisticated, polished, and always looking pristine on the surface. <b>PDF</b> is versatile, works well in almost any environment—and looks good doing it. But remember, while they may be easy to view, getting beneath the surface of this one? That requires special tools.”
<b>PDF</b> smirks, flipping their sleek, neatly formatted hair. “I’ll always <i>present</i> my best side for you,” they purr, offering a dazzling grin that glints just like the polished layout of a presentation file.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Hear what PDF has to say]]>><</button>> <<button [[Ask PDF to tell you a joke]]>><</button>> <<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>As the binary sunset paints the sky, you find yourself utterly lost in the dazzling aquamarine blue eyes of your date, <b>PDF</b>.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[This is too smushy for me, I want out]] >><</button>> <<button
[[You talk together|talk with PDF]]>><</button>></div>
<<set $PDF_ending to true>><<set $PDF_ending_achievement to true>>\<b>FASTA</b> looks over at you and flexes, admiring their own physique quickly before responding:
"You’re a fan of precision—now that’s something I can work with! I keep things in perfect order, base by base, so you’ll always know exactly what to expect from me. No missing data here!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 2]] >><<set $pointsFASTA to $pointsFASTA += 1>><</button>></div><b>WARC</b> is pleased with your answer, their eyes brighten like twinkling stars: "A lasting relationship is built on shared experiences. I believe capturing and preserving those moments helps create a rich history that strengthens the bond between partners."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 8]] >><<set $pointsWARC to $pointsWARC += 1>><</button>></div><b>PDF</b> swings their hat forward, before taking off their sunglasses for a brief moment: "I excel in environments where presentation matters. Whether it’s reports, contracts, or e-books, I ensure that everything looks polished and professional, making a great impression every time."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 4]] >><<set $pointsPDF to $pointsPDF += 1>><</button>></div><!-- This is the page for the nav bar pane -->
<h1>Profiles</h1>
<center>Meet the candidates!</center>\
<p><h2>PDF</h2>\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/PDF.png" alt="PDF" class="formatprofile">\
<b>Birthdate</b>: 15 June
<b>Interests</b>: Document preservation, hosting annotation parties, and playing version control games.
<b>About</b>: Hey there, I’m PDF, the Portable Document Format—your go-to for keeping things crisp, clean, and looking just right. I’ve got layers, you know? I’m all about presentation and making sure your content looks perfect on any device. I might seem a bit locked down, but trust me, once you get to know me, you’ll see I’m an open book… just one you can’t mess with too easily. Ready to hit print on this connection?
<b>Social Media</b>: I'm on PRONOM as <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/fmt/276" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ftm/276</a> (with a lot of alts) and on LoC as <a href="https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000030.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fdd000030</a>.
</p>\
<p><h2>WARC</h2>\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/WARC.png" alt="WARC" class="formatprofile">\
<b>Birthdate</b>: 15 May
<b>Interests</b>: Web preservation, interacting in online forums, exploring trend potentials, taking care of my pet firefox.
<b>About</b>: Hello! My name is WARC. I love the internet. It is a magical place that, once it’s harvested, I can store it forever. Did you know I can store entire websites, multimedia, and metadata in a single file, making me the ultimate digital time capsule! It's bigger on the inside, just like the TARDIS from Doctor Who! I’m all about preserving the digital world, one webpage at a time. I collect, store, and archive the rich tapestry of the internet, ensuring that memories don’t fade away. When dating, I am always quick to cache feelings. Would you like to grab a byte sometime?
<b>Social Media</b>: Find me on PRONOM as <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/fmt/289" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fmt/289</a> or on LoC as <a href="https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000236.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fdd000236</a>.
</p>\
<p><h2>FASTA</h2>\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/FASTA.png" alt="FASTA" class="formatprofile">\
<b>Birthdate</b>: 22 March
<b>Interests</b>: Analysing genome data for fun, attending bioinformatics workshops, sharing sequence insights over a protein shake (or a lab bench!).
<b>About</b>: Hello and nice to meet you. I am FASTA, always in peak condition! I can store nucleotide or peptide sequences in a simple, text-based format, making me a favorite among researchers for my efficiency and ease of use. I’m always in sequence with the latest trends!
<b>Social Media</b>: Check out my Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections profile <a href="https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000622.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fdd000622</a>.
</p>\
<p><h2>CSV</h2>\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/CSV.gif" alt="CSV" class="formatprofile">\
<b>Birthdate</b>: July
<b>Interests</b>: Keeping data tidy, simplicity, colour theory.
<b>About</b>: I'm CSV, short for Comma-Separated Values. I’m flexible and compatible with almost everyone—you’ll find me fitting in anywhere, from spreadsheets to databases. I’ll make sure all your details are perfectly aligned, no matter how many fields you’ve got to fill. You can always count on me. I never drop a value!
<b>Social Media</b>: My username on PRONOM is <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/x-fmt/18" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">x-fmt/18</a>, but at the LoC I'm known as <a href="https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000323.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fdd000323</a>.
</p>\
<p><h2>FLAC</h2>\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/FLAC.png" alt="FLAC" class="formatprofile">\
<b>Birthdate</b>: 17 September
<b>Interests</b>: Jamming out to classic records and sharing playlists, indulging in the latest audio tech and formats, hosting parties for audiophile enthusiasts.
<b>About</b>: Hey, I'm FLAC—the one who believes in giving you everything, with no compromises. Every beat, every note, every sound, exactly as it’s meant to be heard. You won’t find me compressing or cutting corners—what you get from me is pure, unfiltered audio bliss. I’m a heavy file format. In my defense: quality takes up space! But when it comes to me, you’ll never want less.
<b>Social Media</b>: Don't forget to follow me on PRONOM <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/fmt/279" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fmt/279</a>! Like and subscribe to <a href="https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000198.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fdd000198</a> at the LoC.
</p>\
<p><h2>EML</h2>\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/EML.png" alt="EML" class="formatprofile">\
<b>Birthdate</b>: August (I never share my full birthdate!)
<b>Interests</b>: Creating the perfect email for any occasion, hosting digital debates of the best email clients over fine wine.
<b>About</b>: Hello darlings, you can call me EML. I am full of love, ready to attach myself to the right match! By day, I’m a data analyst, and by night, I’m a pun-loving romantic searching for my perfect subject line. My ideal date? A charming evening of conversation that makes our hearts bounce like a well-formatted attachment! My favourite quote is 'Love, laugh, logistics.'
<b>Social Media</b>: Check out <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOMfmt/278" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fmt/278</a> at PRONOM and <a href="https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000388.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fdd000388</a> at LoC.
</p>\
<<if $HUS_ending1 or $HUS_ending2>>\
<p><h2>HUS</h2>\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/HUS.png" alt="EML" class="formatprofile">\
<b>Birthdate</b>: <b>[UNKNOWN]</b>
<b>Interests</b>: Dark forests, crocheting and knitting, chainsaw maintenance
<b>About</b>: Greetings... I am HUS. I am intricately woven with dark designs that tell stories of longing and unease. My ideal encounter? A night spent exploring the depths of our fears, stitching together fragments of what haunts us.. Let’s explore the chilling intricacies of our souls, perhaps with the distant hum of a chainsaw reminding us of life’s fragility. If you’re ready to delve into the unknown and unravel the threads of existence, let’s connect. Just remember, not all patterns are meant to be understood.
<b>Social Media</b>: ...Here. <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/fmt/2000" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fmt/2000</a>.
</p>\
<</if>>\
<div class="space-around">\
<<button "Go back">>\
<<goto $prevpassage>>\
<</button>>
</div><b>FLAC</b>, putting down the guitar briefly, before picking up the microphone: "I value clarity in sound, just as I value it in relationships. Structure helps ensure we stay in tune, but I also appreciate flexibility in how we express ourselves."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 6]] >><<set $pointsFLAC to $pointsFLAC += 1>><</button>></div><b>FLAC</b>, while playing a perfect melody, sings along: "A strong relationship maintains its original qualities. Just as I ensure that audio remains true to its form, partners should prioritize honesty and authenticity to sustain love over time."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 8]] >><<set $pointsFLAC to $pointsFLAC += 1>><</button>></div>"First question of the quiz," states <b>Flash</b>. "Which defining trait makes a file format truly compatible for you?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Reliability and permanence]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Detailed documentation]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Compatibility and flexibility]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[How can one be compatible with a file format?]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Precision and completeness]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Crystal clear quality]]>><</button>></div>"Are you one to share things, $name?" asks <b>Flash</b>. "Let's find out how the candidates think about that!
Question 2: How do you feel about sharing your data with others?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I'm open to sharing]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Absolutely, I love sharing]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meh, it's all mine]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Sharing is essential]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I value sharing scientific data]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Definitely, I love sharing quality]]>><</button>></div>"Let's continue to the next question, shall we? What kind of environment do you thrive in?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Professional settings]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[A solitary space]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[The web]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I'm a freak in the sheets]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Laboratories]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Music studios]]>><</button>></div>"Question 4 already! Almost halfway there," claims <b>Flash</b> filled with joy. "What is your favorite animal?"
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Cheetah]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Spider]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Nightingale]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Cat]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Golden retriever]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[I once saw some roadkill]]>><</button>></div>The game lights begin to move wildly.
<b>Flash</b> taps the mic before moving on to the next question:
"Do you have your priorities straight $name? Let's find out how the candidates think about this. What do you prioritise more in a relationship: structure or flexibility?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Neither]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I prefer structure]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Flexibility is key!]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[A bit of both]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Structure is essential]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Quality and clarity come first]]>><</button>></div>"Honesty is needed from the beginning. Be honest with yourself, and to your partner," <b>Flash</b> says in a very serious voice. The audience applauses in agreement.
"Question 6: What do you struggle with?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I tend to hide my problems]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Sometimes, I am a bit fragile]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I thrive on the feeling I get from struggle!]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I often oversimplify matters]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I get tripped up by little things]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[At times, I can be difficult to read]]>><</button>></div>"What do you think makes a relationship last?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Consistency and trust]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Preservation of memories]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Communication and organisation]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Attention to detail]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Quality and fidelity]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Is anything truly meant to last?]]>><</button>></div><b>Flash</b> notices their assistant is signing something, and <b>Flash</b> nods. "Let's continue with a more lighter question, shall we?
Question 8: What's your favorite game?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Guitar Hero]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Animal Crossing]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I’d rather die than play games]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Stardew Valley]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Rock, Paper, Scissors]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Football Manager]]>><</button>></div>The stage lights begin to flicker wildly before focusing on the last question flashing on the screen before you.
<b>Flash</b> reads the question over the mic:
"Let's look to the future. Where do you see yourself in five years?"
<div class="space-around"><<button[[I plan to make a protein shake, it will be the only thing that anyone will need. Forget water, plants crave my protein shake]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Own a farm, harvest, have a lot of goats and sheeps, anyone is welcome.]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Establish world peace with their music]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Solve all of digital preservations problems]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[I want kids!]]>><</button>></div>
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Who knows where we will all be in five years? We might be all dead.]]>><</button>></div>"Thank you for sharing such a memorable harvest with me! Keep gathering love and laughter. 🌾 🐑 🦊 - <b>WARC</b>.”
“I really need to spend less time on the internet before bed,” you muse with a smile. But deep down, you know this was one dream farm visit you wouldn’t soon forget.
After all, you and <b>WARC</b> have undoubtedly <i>captured</i> some unforgettable moments together.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Your phone bings]] >><</button>></div>"Ah, so you appreciate a dependable partner! I like to keep things consistent—no surprises, just the same familiar look every time you open me. Trust me, I’ll always display things exactly as you left them!", <b>PDF</b> responds.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 2]] >><<set $pointsPDF to $pointsPDF += 1>><</button>></div>You wobbled precariously atop the unicycle, legs pumping like overworked processors struggling not to overheat under an impossible load. Every pedal felt like trying to recover corrupt data from a disk: delicate, tense, and one wrong move away from total collapse. The breeze whipped past your face—more of a <i>data leak</i> than anything refreshing. Around you, the world had somehow morphed into the digital equivalent of a cursed circus—a ghoulish, glitch-riddled dimension where nothing made sense and everything screamed <b>“ERROR 404: SANITY NOT FOUND.”</b>
The sky cracked open in jagged, corrupted pixels, blending purples and greens in a kaleidoscope of <i>bit-depth nightmares</i>. Clowns—the kind with missing chunks of their rendering—shifted in and out of view like malformed sprites, laughing in distorted <b>.wav</b> files that echoed through your skull. One clown juggled what looked like dismembered <b>.pdf</b>s, each one spinning dangerously close to your head, their <i>metadata hemorrhaging</i> as distorted text floated in the air.
Another grotesque figure on a broken merry-go-round spun violently, driven by some sinister algorithm gone rogue—its horses glued together from the discarded bits of forgotten <b>.png</b>s, glitching in and out of existence like a corrupted image cache.
You pedaled faster, but riding a unicycle was like defragging a nearly full drive: slow, terrifying, and prone to failure. Every pothole—or was it a <i>pixelated void</i>?—threatened to send you crashing down like an unsaved document. "Just, please, no <i>fatal error</i> until I get off this thing," you muttered under your breath.
Reaching home you <div class="space-around"><<button [[unlock your door]]>><</button>></div><h1>Finale</h1>
<b>Flash</b> looks into the light beyond the stage as he announces:
<<if $pointsHUS2 == 9 && $optOut == false>>
"Well, $name, it seems that you would rather be alone. However, today we have a mystery file format present that we think you would enjoy spending time with!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Leave together with HUS|HUS2ending]]>><</button>></div>
<<elseif $pointsHUS1 >= 4 && $optOut == false>>
"Well, $name, it seems that you would rather be alone. However, today we have a mystery file format present that we think you would enjoy spending time with!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Leave together with HUS|HUS1ending]]>><</button>></div>
<<elseif $pointsPDF >= 4>>
"You have enough points to connect with PDF!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Leave together with PDF|PDFending]]>><</button>></div>
<<elseif $pointsCSV >= 4>>
"You have enough points to connect with CSV!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Leave together with CSV|CSVending]]>><</button>></div>
<<elseif $pointsFLAC >= 4>>
"You have enough points to connect with FLAC!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Leave together with FLAC|FLACending]]>><</button>></div>
<<elseif $pointsFASTA >= 4>>
"You have enough points to connect with FASTA!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Leave together with FASTA|FASTAending]]>><</button>></div>
<<elseif $pointsWARC >= 4>>
"You have enough points to connect with WARC!"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Leave together with WARC|WARCending]]>><</button>></div>
<<elseif $pointsHUS1 == 3 && $pointsHUS2 == 3 && $optOut == true>>
"I'm afraid you won't find love tonight, $name."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[I'm out|Flying free ending]]>><</button>></div>
<<else>>
"Well, $name, I am afraid that none of the file formats present here today are a good match for you..."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Leave alone|Flying free ending]]>></div><</button>>
<</if>>
Of course only <b>CSV</b> gets exicted with such an orderly game.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 9]] >><<set $pointsCSV to $pointsCSV += 1>><</button>></div>You blink your eyes open, fuzzy at first, but the haze clears quickly. You’re backstage—at what looks like a flashy game show? Neon lights flicker like corrupted <b>.gif</b>s, and the walls are a chaotic swirl of shifting colors, partly-rendered and pixelated. Backstage equipment is strewn everywhere: mic wires tangled worse than your inbox. A loud hum fills the air, like a hard drive on the edge of overheating.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[What is going on?]]>><</button>></div><b>CSV</b> straightens up and nods in your direction:
"I’m all about collaboration! My straightforward format makes it easy for others to access, manipulate, and understand data, fostering teamwork and communication."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 3]] >><<set $pointsCSV to $pointsCSV += 1>><</button>></div>"Digital preservation? Honey, I am preservation. Lock me up, throw away the key, and I’ll still look perfect in 100 years. Formats may come and go, but I'll keep it all crisp, from fonts to figures. I’m the digital vault everyone’s been dreaming of." <b>PDF</b> says with a cheeky grin.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Ending]] >><<set $pointsPDF to $pointsPDF += 1>><</button>></div><b>FASTA</b> crosses their arms slightly and quickly says: "I have some really precise requirements that to you might appear as arbitrary and a little archaic. However, they are very important to me and I don't always cope well if they are not respected."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 7]] >><<set $pointsFASTA to $pointsFASTA += 1>><</button>></div>"I feel like a spider in a web sometimes." <b>WARC</b> appears to be pleased with your answer.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 5]] >><<set $pointsWARC to $pointsWARC += 1>><</button>></div>Harvesting is something <b>WARC</b> is good at by nature. You shouldn't be surprised!
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 9]] >><<set $pointsWARC to $pointsWARC += 1>><</button>></div><b>Flash</b> comes up to you and whispers in your ear: "I have met all the candidates and you are really in for a treat tonight! I'm quite jealous..."
<b>Instructions</b>
<b>Flash</b> will ask you <u>9</u> questions so you can find that special someone. While you are thinking about your answer, so will the candidates. After you have selected your answer, you will know which candidate matches your answer. The closer your responses are <i>formatted</i> to each other, the greater the chance of a true file-to-file connection!
Get those bits aligned, and compatibility is in the code!
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue to the first question|Question 1]]>><</button>></div>
<<set $pointsPDF to 0>>
<<set $pointsCSV to 0>>
<<set $pointsFLAC to 0>>
<<set $pointsFASTA to 0>>
<<set $pointsWARC to 0>>
<<set $pointsHUS1 to 0>>
<<set $pointsHUS2 to 0>><<set $prevpassage to "Start-screen">>\
<center><h2><b>Welcome to the Digital Preservation Dating Simulator!</b></h2></center>
You are a happy, but lonely, digital preservation practioner looking for love but it's just not working. You head to bed alone, ready for a sleepness night dreaming of lost love. But tonight, in your dreams, you are given the chance of love.
Are you brave enough to find love or will you wake up as alone as you started?
<div class="space-around">\
<<button [[Start!|Opt Out]]>><</button>>\
</div>
<div class="space-around">\
<<button [[Profiles]]>><</button>>\
<<button [[Achievements]]>><</button>>\
<<button [[About]]>><</button>>\
</div>\It was like you were stuck in an infinite Save Loop—you wanted to go home, but the files? Well, they had other plans. Apparently, tonight it was make-or-break for a cryptic <b>.tar</b> archive that refused to properly extract. Honestly, it was giving you major <i>de-compressed</i> vibes.
You were stuck battling ancient <b>.html</b> scripts coded with all the finesse of a Geocities page circa 1999. The worst offender had been a rogue <b>.rm</b> file—RealPlayer?!—that made you question all your life choices.
You leaned back in your chair, your mind sluggishly circling back to a single thought—"When was the last time I didn’t spend a night trying to decrypt a bad <b>.pst</b> file or chasing down obsolete codecs?"
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Lament your lack of social life at your desk]]>><</button>> <<button [[Go home]]>><</button>></div>Everything is so absolutely ridiculous—this motley crew of once-helpful, now-weirdly-retired digital mascots are more fun than… well, dating a file format ever could be! Instead of exchanging longing glances with a QR code, you end up twirling spaghetti made out of MS-DOS commands, and playing leap-clippy over broken JPEGs on the blanket. At one point, Clippy even tries to propose. Not in a romantic way, of course—he literally pulls out a proposal document. But we all laugh about it over pixelated lemonade.
Honestly? you are having way too much fun <i>bit-mapping</i> out your new life with this odd ensemble of beloved digital relics.
Wait… what?
Before you can react, everything around you begins to fuzz out like cloud storage running out of space—poof! The Tamagotchi beeps one last time; BonziBuddy clangs a cymbal in this absolute chaos; and Clarus lets out a final, haunted “moooooooooof” that sounds too much like it was going through an unplugging in slow-mo.
Then it was over.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Wake up]]>><</button>></div>"In both biology and relationships, every detail matters! I focus on precise sequences, and I believe a solid structure allows for trust and understanding, leading to a long-lasting bond." <b>FASTA</b> explains, in-between reps, and reaching over to take a sip from their protein shake.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 6]] >><<set $pointsFASTA to $pointsFASTA += 1>><</button>></div>As the train pulled out of the station with a hiss and a low hum—like your hard drive just as it’s about to fail—you sunk into your seat, feeling the familiar <i>upload process</i> that was your evening commute. The tracks jostled you back and forth, the rhythmic click-clack sounding eerily similar to the endless <i>tick-tick</i> of bad sectors on a corrupted disk. You stared out the window as the landscape sped by in blurry, pixelated motion, recalling the garbled mess of a .gif that refused to render properly earlier in the day. “At least <i>this</i> ride won’t crash halfway through,” you sighed, though, given the state of public transport, you weren’t <i>entirely</i> convinced.
As the train picked up speed, you felt your own bandwidth thinning out—much like trying to open one-too-many tabs in an ancient version of Internet Explorer. Every station felt like another checkpoint you had to <i>cache</i>, slowing you down just enough to remind you of all the processes running in the background of your mind. The announcement system crackled unintelligibly, reminiscent of a scrambled .wav file, while the overhead lights flickered on and off like some kind of visual equivalent to a flickering .tiff corrupted by sunspots. “Just get me home without a <i>kernel panic</i>,” you muttered under your breath, clutching your ticket like it was some sort of encryption key to an end-of-day salvation.
Reaching home you <div class="space-around"><<button [[unlock your door]]>><</button>></div>You gulp, realizing you’ve been caught. “I… I miss the work. The deadlines. The organization. The tasks. Is that weird?”
<b>EML</b> tilts their head, as though calculating the optimal response time in their mind. Then, they give you a slight nod, their expression softening just a fraction. “Not weird at all. A structured inbox can be a beautiful thing. Productivity, after all, is just another form of connection.”
No exotic file format could ever compare to the delight of a well-ordered workday. You think of the calm rhythm of replying to emails, the satisfaction of setting reminders, the joy of sorting through old messages and figuring out which attachments to save and which to purge.
You inhale deeply, feeling understood.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[The only real attachment you need is sent via email|EML ending]] >><</button>> <<button
[[Take me back to the game show|Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div><<set $prevpassage to "The End">>\
<h1 style="text-align:center;"><i>The End</i></h1>
<center>Thank you for playing File Format Fling!</center>
<div class="space-around">\
<<button [[Go back to start|Start-screen]]>><</button>>\
</div>
<div class="space-around">\
<<button [[Profiles]]>><</button>>\
<<button [[Achievements]]>><</button>>\
<<button [[About]]>><</button>>\
</div>\
\
This game was lovingly created by:
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/pixelartist.png" alt="Susanne" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Susanne</b><br><i>Lead Developer<br>Pixel Art artist</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/fileformatlover.png" alt="Lotte" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Lotte</b><br><i>Project Lead<br>File Format Enthusiast</i></center>\
</div>
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/plotcreator.png" alt="Francesca" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Francesca</b><br><i>Plot Designer<br>Likes Clowns</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/csssculptor.png" alt="Anton" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Anton</b><br><i>CSS Sculptor<br>Coder Magnifique</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/quizmaster.png" alt="Elaine" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Elaine</b><br><i>Quiz Master<br>Editor Extraordinaire</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/formatstylist.png" alt="Sharon" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Sharon</b><br><i>File Format Stylist<br>Team Wrangler</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/codebreaker.png" alt="Ellie" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>Ellie</b><br><i>Code Cracker<br>Resident Sword Expert</i></center>\
</div>\
<div class="creditsbox">\
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Creators/chatgpt.png" alt="ChatGPT" class="creditspic">\
<center><b>ChatGPT</b><br><i>Ghost Writer<br>Robotic Powerhouse</i></center>\
</div>\<b>WARC</b> nods approvingly, a gentle twinkle in their eyes: "I thrive in the digital world, where I can capture and preserve a wide range of web content. My purpose is to archive information, ensuring that nothing important is lost to time."
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Question 4]] >><<set $pointsWARC to $pointsWARC += 1>><</button>></div>Another deadline. Another project. Another file to preserve.
"Choose love?" you scoff quietly to yourself. "I barely have time to choose a new password every three months."
You weren’t built for love, not of the romantic kind. You were built for productivity. For ticking off checkboxes and hitting "Reply All." Who needs a partner when you've got project plans and perfectly organized directories?
Your phone buzzes.
<b>New email: "[Urgent] Incoming Task—Immediate Action Required."</b>
Without hesitation, you pocket the phone, already planning your next steps. The cycle continues. You'll always be working, drawn deeper and deeper into the never-ending inbox of life. After all, why complicate things with messy feelings when you could spend your nights gently cradled in the arms of routine?
"Ahh," you murmur softly to yourself, "back to my true love—work."
And so you log in, open the next email, and let the perpetual grind roll on, like an infinite loop in a corrupted script.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Next|Achievements unlocked]] >><</button>></div><p class="title">\
File Format
✿ Fling ✿
</p>\
<div class="space-around">\
<<button [[Continue|Start-screen]]>><</button>>\
</div>\
<<set $CSV_ending_achievement to false>>\
<<set $EML_ending_achievement to false>>\
<<set $FASTA_ending_achievement to false>>\
<<set $FLAC_ending_achievement to false>>\
<<set $HUS1_ending_achievement to false>>\
<<set $HUS2_ending_achievement to false>>\
<<set $PDF_ending_achievement to false>>\
<<set $WARC_ending_achievement to false>>\
<<set $Clippy_ending_achievement to false>>\
<<set $Bird_ending_achievement to false>>\"This candidate gathers and stores, with patience and care, safeguarding the old, preserving the rare," reveals Flash.
The light settles on <b>WARC</b>, a gentle figure clad in a rustic flannel and work boots, standing with hands in pockets and a warm smile stretching across his face.
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/WARC.png" alt="WARC" class="formatprofile">\
“Well now!” Flash booms with enthusiasm. “Here’s <b>WARC</b>, a strong yet kind-hearted format. <b>WARC</b>’s all about preserving history, <i>capturing</i> moments in time—whether it’s entire websites or country life memories. Careful and dependable, <b>WARC</b> is the backbone of digital archives everywhere and a real traditionalist. If you're looking for <i>long-term backup</i> with a down-to-earth vibe, <b>WARC</b>’s the one.”
<b>WARC</b> chuckles deeply, tipping his weathered hat. “Ain’t nothin’ like savin’ a little piece of the past for the future, darlin’. Stand by your side like a sturdy backup drive.”
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Hear what WARC has to say]]>><</button>> <<button [[Ask WARC to tell you a joke]]>><</button>> <<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>As twilight casts its golden hue over the vibrant fields of Archive Acres, you find yourself walking hand-in-hand with <b>WARC</b>, the caring file format with an innate desire to gather all formats together. <b>WARC</b>’s farm is a harmonious haven, bustling with goats, sheep, and a mischievous pet fire fox. It is clear that <b>WARC</b> knows a lot about the internet, but they are equally knowledgeable about nurturing both crops and connections.
<b>WARC</b> looks at you with eyes gleaming like hyperlinks, filled with warmth and wisdom.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[This is too smushy for me, I want out]] >><</button>> <<button
[[You talk together|talk with WARC]]>><</button>></div>
<<set $WARC_ending to true>><<set $WARC_ending_achievement to true>>\You blink. You wake up in your own bed, under your real, non-pixelated ceiling, a pile of actual blankets (not defragged desktop icons) bunched up around you.
You check your phone, real-world daylight streaming through your window like a <i>freshly-rebooted</i> spreadsheet of responsibility.
"Was it all a dream?" you mumble.
Your inbox pings instantly. A single email… from Clippy.
"Hey, I saw you snoozing. Would you like to help with your next REM cycle?"
And that’s when you know. No matter how advanced our technology gets, you just can’t keep the nostalgia of outdated creature-companions from wandering into your RAM. Or your heart.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Your phone bings]]>><</button>></div>
<<set $Clippy_ending to true>><<set $Clippy_ending_achievement to true>>\You rush up to a camera assistant, who seems to be a <b>.mp4</b> file format!
What is this?! Why am I here?
The <b>mp4</b> turns to you.
"Why you are on <i><b>Let’s get .txt-ual</b></i> where we match you with your perfect file format partner," <b>.mp4</b> asks. "The the dating game show! You’re on next you know?"
<<button [[Your mouth gapes open]]>><</button>>With a gut-wrenching gasp, you wake up in your bed, drenched in a cold sweat. The morning light filters through your curtains, a stark contrast to the darkness you just escaped. You sit up, heart pounding, trying to shake off the lingering terror of the dream.
But as you catch your breath, a chilling thought crosses your mind: in some twisted layer of digital reality, had you narrowly escaped, or did a part of you remain stitched forever into <b>HUS</b>'s dark tapestry?
You chuckle nervously, shaking your head. "Maybe I should steer clear of late-night horror flicks," you mutter to yourself, but the unease lingers.
After all, some nightmares have a way of threading themselves into the very fabric of your soul.
<div class="space-around">\
<<button[[Your phone bings ominously]] >><</button>>\
</div>\
<<if $optOut == true>>\
<b>Flash</b> is disappointed in your attitude and is glad that the quiz is over.
<<else>>
The lights go dark and out of nowhere you hear another, new voice:
"Five years? Try five minutes—if the software crashes, it’s lights out for me! One corrupt stitch and poof, I’m a ghost. But hey, embroidery’s a delicate art; maybe I was never meant to last. Let’s just enjoy each stitch while it lasts, yeah?"
<</if>>\
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Continue|Ending]] >><<set $pointsHUS1 to $pointsHUS1 += 1>><</button>><<set $pointsHUS2 to $pointsHUS2 += 1>></div>A welcoming committee of the most gloriously unused creatures of computer history!
"Is that...Clippy?" you exclaim, your voice breaking in disbelief.
"Hey $name!" Clippy says, smiling with that same wide-eyed bounce, spouting the voice of someone who’s been waiting for this moment far too long. “It looks like you're trying to escape a file format love game. Need help?”
Before you can answer, an animated cow with a paintbrush in its mouth trots out of the shadows.
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/Dogcow.png" alt="Dogcow" class="formatprofile">\
“Clarus the <span class="hover-text" data-tooltip="The dogcow, named Clarus, is a bitmapped image designed by Apple for the demonstration of page layout in the classic Mac OS. The sound it makes is Moof! a portmanteau of moo and woof. Clarus became the archetype of surrealistic humor in the corporate culture of the original Macintosh group, particularly as the mascot of Apple’s Developer Technical Support as officially documented in Technote #31.">Dogcow</span> at your service!” it moofs, striking an adorable pose. “We’re all out of jobs now, thanks to your fancy new UIs and extensions... but at least we can have a cow-abunga time together! It’ll be woofillishous.” And it wags its tail.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Have a cow-abunga time!]] >><</button>> <<button
[[No seriously, you dash through the corridor again back to the main stage|Meet the candidates]]>><</button>></div>The blaring theme music of <b><i>Let’s get .txt-ual</i></b> echoed through the dimly lit studio. All around you, file formats were shimmering and posing, from the mysterious <b>PDF</b> who never quite revealed his layers until it was just the right moment to the <b>FASTA</b> format proudly displaying data. You aren't sure what is more unsettling—the constant sparkle effects or the fact that offstage a <b>.GIF</b> keeps looping the same wink every three seconds…
But something doesn't feel right. Are you really destined to date a file extension? Are you ready for a lifetime of <i>compatibility errors</i> and <i>copyright issues</i>? Your heart says "no," or maybe "404: Not Found."
<div class="space-around">
<<button[[Let’s give it a go anyway|Meet the candidates]]>><</button>>
<<button[[Bolt toward the nearest exit-only passage]]>><</button>>
</div>Months pass. You live in the cabin with <b>HUS</b>, your life a tapestry woven with equal parts love and whispered fears. Sure, you ignore the odd midnight excursions, the distant screams muffled by the forest, and the growing collection of "artistic" chainsaws in the basement. After all, some threads are better left unpulled.
In the twisted <i>embroidery</i> of your life, you never wake from this dream. Instead, you find a strange solace in the shadows, your reality forever entwined with <b>HUS</b>’s dark patterns. And in the background of your mind, a silent needle continues its relentless stitching, binding you to a tapestry of nightmarish bliss.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Next|Achievements unlocked]] >><</button>></div>“$name, let's meet your eligible file format candidates!” <b>.eml</b> announces, voice smooth as a meticulously-written email chain. You squint as the lights dim a little, shifting towards the other side of the stage.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Meet the candidates]]>><</button>> <<button [[Nah I’m leaving now, I should be working!]]>><</button>></div>As the two of you delve deeper into your conversation—strategizing not just your next meeting but a complete overhaul of your career goals—you start to feel a pace of momentum you haven’t experienced since… well, since ever.
<b>.eml</b> is like a relentless out-of-office reply, keeping you accountable, keeping you sharp. <b>.eml</b> winks, or at least you thought they did—it is hard to tell through all the back-to-back meetings you’d scheduled.
“It’s settled then,” <b>.eml</b> declares, their data-rich voice brimming with enthusiasm. “We’ll draft a five-year plan with quarterly progress reports, complete with a detailed breakdown of your professional milestones.” Your pulse races, not with love, but with optimized efficiency. “I can’t believe this is happening,” you murmur. “You’re really helping me achieve peak attachment to my career path.”
“Thanks for everything,” you say as the glow of your monitor dims. <b>.eml</b> smiles — or maybe it is an error notification? Who can tell?—and replies, “Don't mention it. Just think of me whenever you’re <i>attached</i> to your work.”
With that, you send one final email: Subject—achievements. Attachment—your future.
And, trust me, that is one email you don’t want to archive.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[You wake up to your phone vibrating|This is too smushy for me, I want out]]>><</button>></div>
<<set $EML_ending to true>><<set $EML_ending_achievement to true>>\<b>EML</b> looks up, and for one sweet, fleeting moment, your eyes meet. It’s like staring into the eyes of an organized inbox. Everything in its place, no unread flags, no spam. A small, precise smile, the kind of smile that says: "We’ve got six appointments and I even scheduled in time for a coffee break."
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Francesca4242/File_Format_Fling/refs/heads/main/assets/file-formats/EML.png" alt="EML" class="formatprofile">\
Your heart flutters. Not for any of the candidates onstage, but for the clear, dependable structure of a well-planned workload.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Talk to EML]]>><</button>></div>"Next up!" a voice barks, and you spin around. Before you stands <b>Flash</b>—yes, the old, suddenly not so much obsolete file format. <b>Flash</b> is grinning widely, pixels occasionally dropping off him like bad frames on a dying <b>.swf</b> animation.
“Hi! I’m Flash, your host for tonight’s game: <i><b>Let's get .txt-ual</b></i>” The voice is snappy, quick, and riddled with jittery excitement, like it's one <i>bug</i> away from crashing at any moment.
Behind Flash you see the most organized entity you’ve ever seen. An <b>.eml</b> file steps forward. Clean, crisp, and calculated. Eml straightens their jacket that is patterned with orderly rows of headers and senders. Eyes cool yet efficient. “Please be prompt. Our contestants are ready.”
Before you can reply, they <<button [[whisk you toward the stage]]>><</button>>You blink, pulling out your phone, half-expecting another spammy notification or a reminder from your neglected to-do app. Instead, it’s a message from your work inbox. But this one’s different.
The preview reads: <b>Mission: Balance Accomplished!</b>
Curious, you swipe to open the full message:
"All tasks completed. Inbox zero. No unread emails. Deadlines done. You are now free to unplug. 💼🔌 Take a deep breath—you deserve it."
You feel an instant wave of calm wash over you, like a perfectly optimized database with no loose ends, a pristine spreadsheet with no accidental cell merges.
Ping! Another notification pops up with a cheeky emoji—"EML has left the chat—Work-Life Balance Restored 🔄"
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Next|Achievements unlocked]] >><</button>></div>
A message on the screen appears: “Check your computer”
You open your work laptop, the screen flickering to life. But something’s... wrong.
The screen is filled with error messages. Not just one or two, but hundreds, cascading down like a flood of digital devastation.
<b>"DATA CORRUPTION DETECTED."
"FILES MISSING OR INACCESSIBLE."
"ARCHIVE FAILED."</b>
Every folder you click gives you the same heart-stopping response:
<b>0001 ERROR: FILE NOT FOUND.</b>
The data… all of it.
Fragile pieces of human history, file formats carefully curated, preserved, and stored over years—all <i>gone</i>. Erased. Fragmented into oblivion like dust in the wind of a forgotten hard drive. Weeks, months, years of careful curation, wiped out in a storm of catastrophic code. You stand there, frozen, barely breathing, as the weight of the loss settles.
"This is all my fault," you whisper in disbelief.
The horrifying reality sets in—the data, the records, everything you were supposed to protect, has simply… disappeared.
A single notice pops up at the bottom of the screen.
<b>"FINAL BACKUP: FAILED DURING SLEEP MODE."</b>
And in that moment, you feel it—that creeping sensation of a total, irreversible crash. An endless loop you can’t escape. There’s no undo, no recovery point. It’s all just… gone.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Next|Achievements unlocked]] >><</button>></div><b>CSV</b> turns to you, their eyes reminiscent of neat, orderly columns. "You know," <b>CSV</b> said with a gentle smile, "sometimes the most important data is the kind you can always count on."
You feel a warmth spread through you—<b>CSV</b> might not be flashy, but their consistency is something to cherish. Just as you are about to respond, the world around you starts to flicker. Rows and columns begin to blur, your surroundings transform into a cascade of commas and values.
With a sudden pull, you feel yourself being drawn into <b>CSV</b>’s world, as if you are being compressed into a single, tidy row. Everything dissolves into an orderly parade of cells and separators.
You jerk awake, blinking in the early morning light. Rubbing your eyes, you try to shake off the feeling of waking from such a vivid dream. That's when you notice something unusual on your bedside table—a single sheet of paper.
Curious, you pick it up and read the neatly printed message: "Thanks for organizing an unforgettable evening $name! Let’s keep things simple and steady. 📊 - <b>CSV</b>."
You couldn't help but chuckle, shaking your head with a smirk. “Maybe I should rethink my late-night data entries,” you mused to yourself. But you know that <b>CSV</b> had definitely <i>formatted</i> a place in your heart.
Because sometimes, the simplest connections are the ones that add the most value to your life.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Your phone bings]] >><</button>></div>"You know," <b>FASTA</b> begins, "I think you and I make a great sequence." You can feel your heart race, as if you'd just sprinted through a marathon of nucleotide pairings.
Suddenly, the digital beach begins to pixelate, your surroundings turning into a cascade of letters and symbols. You feel a strange pull, like being yanked into an uncompressed data stream. As you gaze into <b>FASTA</b>’s eyes one last time, everything around you dissolves into a swirling vortex of Gs, Cs, As, and Ts.
With a jolt, you wake up in your bed, the early morning light filtering through your curtains. Rubbing your eyes, you glance around, your heart still pounding from the dream's intensity.
Then you notice it—a crumpled piece of paper on your bedside table. Picking it up, you smooth it out and see a familiar string of characters. "Thanks for the dream date $name! Let's stay in sequence, champ! 💪 - <b>FASTA</b>."
You laugh, shaking your head in disbelief. "I really need to get more sleep," you mutter to yourself with a grin. But one thing is for sure—you and <b>FASTA</b> have definitely <i>gene-rated</i> some unforgettable memories together.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Your phone bings]] >><</button>></div><b>FLAC</b> looks at you with eyes twinkling like the stars coming out to play, each one a soulful note in the symphony of the evening. "You know," <b>FLAC</b> says, tuning a string on their guitar, "music is the universal language that connects us all. I think the world could use more of that harmony—and maybe a bit more of you and me together."
Your heart swells like a crescendo in your favorite song. Suddenly, the air around you begins to shimmer, the melodies transforming into vibrant waves of sound and color. You feel yourself being drawn into <b>FLAC</b>’s soulful eyes, the musical notes swirling around you like a dreamy psychedelic vortex.
With a sudden jolt, you wake up in your bed, the morning light filtering gently through your curtains. You rub your eyes, trying to hold onto the fading echoes of the surreal concert you just experienced.
Then, you notice it—a piece of paper resting on your bedside table. Picking it up, you read a heartfelt message: "Thanks for jamming and spreading the love $name! Keep making beautiful music in the world. 🎸 - <b>FLAC</b>."
You chuckle, shaking your head. “Maybe I should ease up on the late-night playlists,” you muse with a smile. But deep down, you know that dream or not, <b>FLAC</b> has definitely <i>tuned</i> into a special frequency in your heart.
After all, in the grand concert of life, some notes just strike a perfect chord.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Your phone bings]] >><</button>></div>“I think... I’ve fallen for you $name,” <b>PDF</b> confesses in a soft whisper that is printed directly onto your heart.
Just as you lean in to seal the deal with a romantic <i>CTRL+S</i>, the digital universe began to glitch. Pixels swirl, text boxes pop open, and then—ZAP! You feel yourself being sucked into <b>PDF</b>’s crystalline blue eyes, like a misbehaving file into the Recycle Bin.
Next thing you know, you jolt awake, staring at your ceiling. “What a dream,” you mutter, reaching for your glasses. As you rub the sleep from your eyes, you notice something peculiar on your desk: a single sheet of paper.
You blink and pick it up. It read, "Thank you for giving me a page in your story! 💙 - <b>PDF</b>."
You chuckle, shaking your head. “I need to clear my cache more often,” you sigh with a smile. But, hey—looks like you and <b>PDF</b> have some <i>documented</i> history now!
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Your phone bings]] >><</button>></div>“You know,” <b>WARC</b> says softly, guiding you past a row of neatly stacked hay bales, “out here, every bit and byte has a place. And I think you’ve found yours with me.”
Your heart feels lighter than a feathered data packet. The moment is perfect, like a well-indexed archive. But as you reach to embrace <b>WARC</b>, the scene around you began to glitch, colors blending into lines of code and fragments of URLs.
Before you can even save this cherished moment to your mental hard drive, you feel yourself being drawn into an ethereal web of internet threads. Everything faded into a serene tangle of digital wool.
You wake up in your bed, blinking at the early morning light filtering through your curtains. You sigh, a mix of nostalgia and confusion flooding your senses. That's when your eyes fall on a piece of paper on your bedside table.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Read it]] >><</button>> <<button
[[Don’t bother reading|Your phone bings]]>><</button>></div>You collapsed onto the couch, brain scrambled like a corrupt file trying to open in the wrong program. "I should sort my life out," you thought—but your body was already in <i>sleep mode</i>, crashing faster than an unsaved <b>.doc</b> during a power outage.
Dreams swirled in feverish <i>glitch</i>: spinning beach balls of doom, corrupted files chasing you down hallways of missing metadata. Somewhere, in the back of your mind, a voice echoed:
<b>System overload. <i>Life.exe</i> needs to restart.</b>
But it never did...
<div class="space-around"><<button [[Run sleep.exe]]>><</button>></div><b>Flash</b> ushers you through a curtain, and suddenly you’re standing in the spotlight, staring at the crowd of pixelated, squinting audience members. Applause erupts around you, though you’re pretty sure it’s asoundbite on an <i>infinite loop</i>.
“Welcome!” booms <b>Flash</b>, arms wide, screen flashes glitching briefly. “Tonight, $name is the lucky player looking for a format match! Find your perfect file and SNAP! <i>Compatibility</i> forever!”
The air smells like old server rooms and forgotten floppy disks as <b>.eml</b> glides up beside <b>Flash</b>.
<div class="space-around"><<button [[You blink in the strong lights baffled and REALLY not wanting to be here]]>><</button>> <<button [[You smile and wave, flicking your hair confidently]]>><</button>></div>As you step out of the game-show room, feeling a bit fragmented after not syncing with any eligible file formats ("We're just incompatible," you mutter to yourself), a shadow skims over your head. The unmistakable <i>flap-flap</i> of pixelated wings surrounds you. None other than the infamous Flappy Bird, who (without asking for your file permissions) lifts you into the air like an unsaved document. Before you can hit <i>Escape</i> clouds are forming below you- like the actual cloud storage you’ve been avoiding syncing your personal life with.
Cloud storage! You realize you’re perilously close to its vast expanse of endless backup and redundant data silos.
"You can't just <i>upload</i> me into this mess!" you scream. But the bird doesn’t listen, its wings struggling against the incoming surge of versioned clouds... You dodge a drifting OneDrive and narrowly miss a rogue AWS, its server-laden interior looming above you. Your heart races as you dodge towering digital clouds: Google Drive trying to auto-save your every movement, and Dropbox habitually nagging about storage limits. The bird swoops around a treacherous iCloud notification storm, lightning bolts shaped like password-reset emails flying inches from your face.
Then, without warning, the bird glides to a peaceful lull, and you get a panoramic view. Despite all this storage there will never be enough space to save all the important stuff. Yes it will save your files but can it save you? You deserve some leisure space—without going over capacity.
The realization trickles in like a slow Wi-Fi connection: you've been living your life like it’s an endless upload queue, never pausing long enough to clear the cache, to separate work from the rest of your life's file systems.
<div class="space-around"><<button[[Your phone buzzes|Your phone bings]]>><</button>></div>
<<set $Bird_ending to true>><<set $Bird_ending_achievement to true>>\