---
title: "Fun with Telnet"
date: 2024-01-08T22:33:42-05:00
draft: false
tags: []
math: false
medium_enabled: false
---

Some time ago I came across a cinematic experience 

```
.........                @@@@@    @@@@@      ...........           
.........               @     @  @     @     ...........           
 .........                 @@@   @     @      ..........           
  ........               @@      @     @       .........           
   ........             @@@@@@@   @@@@@  th     .......            
     ......           -----------------------    ......            
       .....            C  E  N  T  U  R  Y        ....            
         ....         -----------------------       ...            
           ...        @@@@@ @@@@@ @   @ @@@@@        ..            
            ==          @   @      @ @    @          ==            
          __||__        @   @@@@    @     @        __||__          
         |      |       @   @      @ @    @       |      |         
_________|______|_____  @   @@@@@ @   @   @  _____|______|_________
```

It was a Star Wars inspired animation, brought to you by Telnet!

```bash
telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl 23
```

*It's worth watching the entire thing.*

Fast forward a few years, and I've come across other great [telnet nuggets](https://www.telnet.org/htm/places.htm)

| Address                   | Description                                                  |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| freechess.org 5000        | Chess [[1]](https://www.freechess.org/)                      |
| towel.blinkenlights.nl 23 | Star Wars asciimation                                        |
| mtrek.com 1701            | Space combat game (inspired by StarTrek) [[1]](http://mtrek.com/) |
| fibs.com 4321             | Backgammon [[1]](http://fibs.com/) [[2]](https://tinysubversions.com/notes/backgammon-fibs/) |
| mapscii.me                | World map (Can zoom in with mouse) [[1]](https://github.com/rastapasta/mapscii) |
| telehack.com              | Arpanet/Usenet Simulation. Includes over 60 text-based games [[1]](https://telehack.com/) |

Remember that telnet communication is all over plaintext, so don't accidentally leak any secrets. Have fun discovering the quirky old world of Telnet!