Here's how we got from King's Quest to The Longest Journey and why it matters—and getting to the end of this particular story won't require the use of a text parser, demand that you combine two inscrutable inventory objects to solve a demented puzzle, or send you pixel-hunting across the screen.

This noise, this screeching, whining noise, has forever embedded itself in my auditory system as the sound of amazing things happening.

First, the long screech of the handshake; two machines sizing each other up. Questions asked and answered. Decisions made.

With both satisfied, the stuttering chatter. Quick as you can, what we have to say is too important to waste with frivolities.

In the silence — both machines process their exchange across the ether.

Somewhere, a bit flips. We repeat.

Update: Thanks to Chris for letting me know that, of course, Toshiba shamelessly ripped this advert off Simon Faithfull’s Escape Vehicle — which even has the original screeching noise.

Walkthrough of the shell/terminal, with commands and examples