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David Lynch Teaches Typing

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 6 min

Short description: 2018 video game
David Lynch Teaches Typing
itch.io version header art
Developer(s)Rhino Stew Productions
Platform(s)Windows, Linux,[1] Macintosh
Release27 February 2018
Genre(s)Educational
Mode(s)Single-player

David Lynch Teaches Typing is a 2018 game by independent developer Rhino Stew Productions. Described as a "short playable interactive comedy game"[2] and an "interactive experience",[3] David Lynch Teaches Typing is a satire of touch typing educational software titles such as Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. A likeness of David Lynch assists the player in completing a series of increasingly bizarre and unsettling typing tasks.

Gameplay

A screenshot of David Lynch Teaches Typing.

Asserting he will assist the player as a guide "through the magical world of typing", a likeness of David Lynch instructs the player to input various characters on their keyboard. Following simple prompts to press the F and J keys, Lynch instructs the player to press their finger on the "undulating bug" next to the keyboard, of which the player's failure to do so causes the game to temporarily crash. After being instructed by Lynch to press the A key, a series of disturbing images and sounds ensue, causing the game to end. It is revealed the game is a trial for a full product, which Lynch instructs the player to acquire by going to the nearest bathtub and "make smacking noises with your hands until someone can assist you".[4]

Development

David Lynch Teaches Typing was developed by Luke Palmer, a filmmaker and founder of Rhino Stew, in collaboration with independent developer Hyacinth Nil.[5] Palmer, who formerly had worked as a typing tutor, stated the "hellish" nature of "motivating kids to type" had a "macabre and mundane element perfect for David Lynch".[3] Palmer integrated elements of David Lynch films in the game, such as the undulating bug as a "homage to Eraserhead, noting that the game's intent was to evoke "its own kind of Lynchian hell."[4] David Lynch Teaches Typing was also showcased in the exhibition Hunt and Peck: Alternative Expressions of the Keyboard at the Chicago Video Game Art Gallery in June 2018.[6]

Reception

David Lynch Teaches Typing received positive attention from numerous outlets. Many critics expressed amusement or bewilderment at the game's absurd premise. Writing for Slate, Rachel Withers stated the game was a "painfully, slow, fittingly weird typing tutorial that will inevitably glitch out on you."[7] Critics also praised the interpretation of David Lynch and his work in the game. Jordan Devore of Destructoid suggested players will "probably get a kick out of (the game) if they're familiar with Lynch's work and mannerisms".[8] Amanda Kooser of CNET similarly observed "Rhino Stew's Lynch impersonator does a good job of replicating the director's speech patterns".[9] Jess Joho of Mashable praised the game as a "perfect translation of (Lynch's) sensibilities to games...by turning the comforting, nostalgic virtual spaces of everyday modern life into something horrifying."[10] Many critics commented on the game's nostalgic and effective evocation of 90s educational entertainment games,[2] with Erin Schwartz of Vice stating "the game's design is familiar to Mavis Beacon graduates.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "David Lynch Teaches Typing". https://rhinostew.itch.io/david-lynch-teaches-typing. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Alexander, Julia (28 February 2018). "David Lynch will help you learn to type in this new game". https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/28/17062750/david-lynch-teaches-typing-game. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Goukassian, Elena (8 March 2018). "A Game in Which David Lynch Teaches You How to Type". https://hyperallergic.com/431050/david-lynch-teaches-typing/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Johnson, Astrid (6 April 2018). "Let's analyse David Lynch Teaches Typing as if it's a David Lynch movie". https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/lets-analyse-david-lynch-teaches-typing-as-if-its-a-david-lynch-movie. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Schwartz, Erin (14 March 2018). "This Terrifying David Lynch Typing Game Is Still Better Than Computer Class". Vice. https://garage.vice.com/en_us/article/neqa9m/david-lynch-teaches-typing-game. 
  6. ↑ "Hunt and Peck - Alternative Expressions of the Keyboard". 29 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190701115236mp_/https://www.videogameartgallery.com/events/hunt-and-peck-alternative-expressions-of-the-keyboard. 
  7. ↑ Withers, Rachel (28 February 2018). "Let David Lynch Turn You into a Typing Wizard in This Lynchian Parody Typing Gaming". https://slate.com/culture/2018/02/the-internet-was-made-for-this-nonsensical-david-lynch-themed-90s-style-typing-lessons.html. 
  8. ↑ Devore, Jordan (1 March 2018). "David Lynch Teaches Typing is a fun little parody". https://www.destructoid.com/david-lynch-teaches-typing-is-a-fun-little-parody/. 
  9. ↑ Kooser, Amanda (1 March 2018). "David Lynch Teaches Typing is 'Twin Peaks' of typing games". https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/david-lynch-teaches-typing-a-game-like-twin-peaks/. 
  10. ↑ Joho, Jess (28 February 2018). "A game where David Lynch teaches you to type, while breaking the fabric of reality". https://mashable.com/article/david-lynch-teaches-typing-game-indie. 
  • Download of the game at Itch.io
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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