Bing AI writes 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' as a children's book

Deeply invested in parenthood and the youth of tomorrow are we, here at Signs of the Times: Underground. One of our favorite things to do at night is read our kids children's versions of our favorite movies. Right now, we're big into Back to the Future with our kids. We wondered if AI would be able to write us a simplified, kid-friendly version of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Of course, it did a pretty good job, and we might have to read this one to our little ones in a coming day. We made a few minor tweaks to grammar and punctuation, but other than that, what you're about to read was all AI. Take a seat and enjoy!

** INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE: THE CHILDREN'S BOOK **

Indiana Jones is a brave adventurer who loves to explore ancient places and find hidden treasures. He learned to be an explorer from his father, Henry Jones, who is also a professor of history and knows a lot about the past.

One day, Indiana receives a package from his father, who has been missing for a while. The package contains his father’s diary, which has clues to the location of the Holy Grail, a special cup that can give eternal life to anyone who drinks from it. Indiana decides to follow his fathers trail and find the Holy Grail before the bad guys do. The bad guys are called Nazis, and they want to use the Holy Grail for evil purposes.

Indiana travels to Venice, Italy, where he meets Elsa, a beautiful lady who helps him find the entrance to an underground library that has a secret map to the Holy Grail. But Elsa is not really a friend; she is working for the Nazis and she betrays Indiana. Indiana escapes from the library and finds out that his father is being held prisoner in a castle in Austria.

Indiana goes to rescue his father, but he is captured by the Nazis, too. They take him and his father to a desert in the Middle East. They have found the Temple of the Sun, where the Holy Grail is hidden. The temple has three challenges that anyone who wants to reach the Holy Grail must pass: a path of blades, a word puzzle, and a leap of faith.

Indiana manages to pass all three challenges with his father's help, and he enters the chamber where the Holy Grail is kept. There are many cups there, but only one is the real one. A wise old knight guards the cups and tells Indiana to choose wisely. Elsa tries to pick the fanciest cup, thinking it is the Holy Grail, but she is wrong and she dies. Indiana picks the simplest cup, which is the right one, and he uses it to heal his father, who has been wounded by a bullet.

Indiana and his father leave the temple with their friends Marcus and Sallah, but they have to leave the Holy Grail behind, because it belongs there and it cannot be taken away. They ride away on horses, happy that they have found each other and shared an amazing adventure.

THE END

How'd that go? What other grown-up stories would you like AI to turn into a children's book? Let us know in the comments, find us on Twitter - or X or whatever it's called now - (here and here) or find us on Facebook.

Until next time.

Bing AI writes The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power

As our AI-written video game The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions drew to a close, Link had defeated the Illusionist and order appeared to have been restored to a twisted version of Hyrule. However, in the distance, a mysterious figure had his eye on our Hylian hero. The story continues as Bing AI helps us create a direct sequel called The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power.

**The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power**

Link is enjoying a peaceful life in Hyrule, until he receives a mysterious message from Zelda, who tells him that the Triforce of Power has been shattered and stolen by a new enemy, who calls himself the Chaos Lord. The Chaos Lord is using the Triforce of Power to create portals to other worlds, where he unleashes his army of monsters and wreaks havoc. Zelda asks Link to help her stop the Chaos Lord and recover the Triforce of Power, before he destroys everything. Link sets out on a new adventure, where he reunites with his animal companions Flick, Shell, and Blaze, and meets some new allies, such as a robot named Spark, a fairy named Twinkle, and a pirate captain named Jack. Link travels to different worlds, such as a futuristic city, a haunted graveyard, a tropical island, and a medieval castle, where he faces new challenges and enemies. He also learns more about the Chaos Lord’s origin and motive, and discovers that he has a personal connection to him. Link must use his courage, wisdom, and power to defeat the Chaos Lord and save the worlds from his evil plan.

Some of the new challenges and enemies are:

• In the futuristic city, Link has to deal with robots, lasers, and security systems. He also has to avoid being detected by the Chaos Lord's spies, who are disguised as humans. He faces a boss fight against a giant mech, controlled by the Chaos Lord's second-in-command, a cyborg named Metal.
• In the haunted graveyard, Link has to overcome his fears and fight against ghosts, zombies, and skeletons. He also has to solve puzzles and find clues to uncover the secrets of the graveyard. He faces a boss fight against a vampire lord, who is the Chaos Lord's ally and the ruler of the undead.
• In the tropical island, Link has to explore the jungle and the beach, where he encounters exotic animals and plants. He also has to deal with pirates, who are after the treasure hidden on the island. He faces a boss fight against a giant octopus, who is guarding the Triforce piece of Power on the island.
• In the medieval castle, Link has to infiltrate the castle and rescue Zelda, who has been captured by the Chaos Lord. He also has to fight against knights, archers, and wizards. He faces a boss fight against the Chaos Lord himself, who is wielding the Triforce of Power and has transformed into a monstrous form.

Some of Link's skills, weapons and experiences carry over from the first game, "Shattered Illusions." For example, Link still has the Master Sword, which he can use to dispel the Chaos Lord’s illusions and break his defenses. [However,] Link cannot [exclusively] use the Master Sword for the entire game. The Master Sword is a powerful weapon, but it also has a drawback: it drains Link’s energy when he uses it. Link has to be careful not to overuse the Master Sword, or he will become exhausted and vulnerable. He has to balance the use of the Master Sword with other weapons and items, depending on the situation. He also has to find ways to restore his energy, such as eating food, drinking potions, or resting. The Master Sword is a valuable tool, but it is not a solution for everything.

[Additionally, Link's animal companions from the first game] can help him with their abilities and personalities. He also has some of the items and weapons that he obtained in the first game, such as the bow, the boomerang, the hookshot, and the bombs. However, he also has to learn new skills and find new items and weapons to adapt to the different worlds and situations.

Some of the new weapons or powers that Link uses in this game are:

• A laser gun, which he finds in the futuristic city. It can fire beams of energy that can damage or stun enemies. It can also be used to activate switches and open doors.
• A magic wand, which he finds in the haunted graveyard. It can cast spells of fire, ice, or lightning, depending on the color of the gem on the wand. It can also be used to light up dark areas or melt ice.
• A coconut bomb, which he finds on the tropical island. It can be thrown at enemies or obstacles, causing a large explosion. It can also be used to create distractions or lure enemies into traps.
• A shield gauntlet, which he finds in the medieval castle. It can be used to block attacks or deflect projectiles. It can also be used to charge at enemies or break through walls.

The most shocking moment of the story is when Link discovers the personal connection between him and the Chaos Lord. He learns that the Chaos Lord is actually his long-lost brother, who was kidnapped and corrupted by the Illusionist in the first game. The Illusionist used the Triforce of Wisdom to manipulate and brainwash him, turning him into his loyal servant and giving him a fragment of the Triforce of Power. The Chaos Lord hates Link for abandoning him and wants to destroy everything that he loves. Link is shocked and saddened by this revelation, but he also feels a glimmer of hope that he can save his brother from the Illusionist's influence. He tries to reason with him and remind him of their past, but the Chaos Lord is too far gone and attacks him with rage. Link has to fight his own brother, while also trying to reach his heart and free him from the Illusionist's control.

The final battle between Link and the Chaos Lord is a fierce and emotional confrontation. The Chaos Lord uses the full power of the Triforce of Power, creating a storm of chaos and destruction around him. He also summons his army of monsters and illusions to attack Link. Link has to use the Master Sword, his animal companions, his weapons, and his items to fight back and reach the Chaos Lord. He also has to use his courage, wisdom, and power to resist the Chaos Lord’s taunts and temptations. The battle takes place in a twisted version of Hyrule Castle, where the Chaos Lord has his throne. The battle has several phases, each one more difficult and intense than the previous one. The final phase is the most dramatic and climactic one, where Link and the Chaos Lord face each other in a one-on-one duel of swords and magic. Link has to use all his skills and determination to defeat the Chaos Lord and save his brother from the Illusionist’s control.

The final scene of the game is a touching and satisfying conclusion. Link manages to defeat the Chaos Lord and break the Illusionist’s control over him. He also manages to restore the Triforce of Power and reunite it with the Triforce of Wisdom and the Triforce of Courage, which he already has. He uses the power of the Triforce to close the portals to the other worlds and undo the damage caused by the Chaos Lord. He also uses the power of the Triforce to heal his brother and free him from the Illusionist's influence. He embraces his brother and apologizes for leaving him behind. His brother also apologizes for hurting him and thanks him for saving him. They forgive each other and reconcile. Zelda also joins them and congratulates Link for his heroic deeds. She also thanks him for rescuing her and restoring peace to Hyrule. She kisses him and tells him that she loves him. Link also tells her that he loves her. They hug and smile. Link's animal companions also join them and celebrate their victory. They thank Link for his friendship and tell him that they will always be there for him. Link also thanks them for their help and tells them that they are his best friends. They hug and laugh.

The Illusionist, who was defeated by Link in the first game, appears in a ghostly form and tries to attack them one last time, but he is stopped by the Triforce, which banishes him to a dark dimension, where he will be trapped forever. The game ends with a panoramic view of Hyrule, where everything is restored and peaceful. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the people are happy. A narration by Zelda says that Link has fulfilled his destiny as the Hero of Time, and that he will always be remembered as a legend. The credits roll, accompanied by a beautiful song.

 

THE END

*****

The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power is Part 2 of an original video game series:

The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions | The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power

There you go! A nice little two-parter. What did you think? We'd love to get your thoughts in a comment on this post or, as always, you can follow us on Twitter (here and here) or try to look us up on Facebook.

Until next time.

Bing AI writes The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions

We have occasionally felt bad for giving up on "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," which many have called the greatest modern video game of all time. We just couldn't with the breakable weapons. But here we are, years later, and we picked up "Breath of the Wild" on Prime Day to finally give it another chance. Truth be told, we're a couple days back into it and we're actually really having a good time, now that we've come to grips with the fact that pretty much every single one of those weapons and shields is going to break after about three minutes of use.

A few weeks ago, we asked our beloved Bing AI buddy to write a synopsis for a new Zelda game called "Shattered Illusions." He had no idea what that title meant, but it sounded cool at the time and we wanted to see what the AI would come up with. We also asked it a few clarifying questions and wanted more detail about some of the features in the game. Here's what we could be looking at with a new hypothetical story set in Hyrule:

**The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions** 

Link wakes up in a strange world where nothing is as it seems. He discovers that he has been trapped in a twisted version of Hyrule by a mysterious villain who calls himself the Illusionist. The Illusionist has shattered the Triforce of Wisdom and scattered its pieces across the land, creating dangerous illusions that distort reality and threaten to destroy everything. Link must find and restore the Triforce of Wisdom, while facing his own fears and doubts, before the Illusionist can use it to unleash his ultimate plan: to erase Hyrule from existence and create a new world in his image.

Some of the illusions that Link encounters are:

• A dark forest where the trees come alive and attack him
• A frozen lake where he has to skate across thin ice while avoiding giant snowflakes
• A haunted mansion where he has to solve puzzles and escape from ghosts and zombies
• A desert oasis where he has to find water and avoid mirages and sandstorms
• A volcano where he has to climb up the lava flows and dodge falling rocks and fireballs

The strongest weapon in the game is the Master Sword, which Link obtains after he restores the Triforce of Wisdom. The Master Sword is the only weapon that can break through the Illusionist’s defenses and defeat him. The Master Sword also has the power to dispel illusions and reveal the truth. However, the Master Sword is not easy to wield, and Link has to prove himself worthy of it by passing several trials and tests.

[As in other recent Zelda games,] all of the weapons are breakable, except for the Master Sword. Link has to be careful not to use them too much or they will wear out and break. He can find new weapons or repair his old ones by visiting shops or finding materials. He can also upgrade his weapons by using special items or completing quests. Some weapons have special effects or abilities that can help Link in different situations, such as fire, ice, electricity, etc. 

There are some new animal companions for Link to travel with. One of them is a winged fox named Flick, who can fly and help Link reach high places and scout ahead. Another one is a giant turtle named Shell, who can swim and carry Link across water and shield him from attacks. The third one is a fire-breathing lizard named Blaze, who can burn obstacles and enemies and light up dark areas. Link can switch between them at any time and use their abilities to solve puzzles and explore the world.

There are some Easter eggs or connections to other Nintendo games. For example, Link can find a Mario hat and wear it as a costume, which gives him the ability to jump higher and stomp on enemies. He can also find a Metroid helmet and wear it as a costume, which gives him the ability to scan objects and fire missiles. He can also find a Pikmin whistle and use it to summon Pikmin to help him fight or carry items. There are also some references and nods to other Nintendo games in the dialogue, music, and scenery.

The final battle against the Illusionist is a challenging and epic showdown. The Illusionist will use his power to create multiple illusions of himself, each one with a different weapon and attack pattern. Link will have to use the Master Sword to dispel the illusions and find the real Illusionist, who will be hiding and casting spells from a distance. Link will also have to dodge the Illusionist’s attacks, which include fireballs, lightning bolts, ice shards, and dark energy blasts. Link will have to use his animal companions, his weapons, and his items to survive and counterattack. The battle will take place in a large arena that changes shape and appearance according to the Illusionist’s whims, such as a castle, a forest, a desert, a volcano, etc. The battle will have several phases, each one more difficult and intense than the previous one. The final phase will be the most dramatic and climactic one, where Link and the Illusionist will face each other in a one-on-one duel of swords and magic. Link will have to use all his skills and courage to defeat the Illusionist and save Hyrule from his evil plan.

The game [ends as] Link restores the Triforce of Wisdom, frees Hyrule from the Illusionist’s grip, and returns to his own world. He is hailed as a hero and reunited with his friends and family. He also says goodbye to his animal companions, who decide to stay in the twisted world and protect it from any future threats. The game ends with a celebration and a fireworks show, where Link and Zelda share a romantic moment. However, the game also teases a possible sequel, where a mysterious figure is seen watching Link from afar, holding a fragment of the Triforce of Power and smiling evilly.

 

TO BE CONTINUED... in The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power!

*****

The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions is Part 1 of an original video game series:

The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions | The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power

Of course, there's nothing stopping you from checking out the sequel right now, but if you have a second, you can leave us a comment, follow us on Twitter (here and here) or send a smoke signal in hopes of locating us.

Until next time!

Bing AI pitches the next great Disney World ride

We were bored one night and asked Bing AI to pitch us the next great ride at a Disney Park. Here's what it came up with:

How about The Lion King: Circle of Life Adventure? It's a thrilling ride that takes you on a journey through the Pride Lands, where you'll encounter Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Scar, Mufasa and more. You'll board a safari vehicle that moves along a track, simulating the movements of the animals and the terrain. You'll experience the sights, sounds and smells of the African savanna, as well as some surprises along the way. You'll also witness the iconic scene where Simba is presented to the animals at Pride Rock, with the song "Circle of Life" playing in the background. This ride is inspired by The Lion King, one of the most popular Disney movies of all time. It's suitable for all ages and has a height requirement of 40 inches. It's located in Animal Kingdom, one of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. It's a must-see attraction for any Disney fan!

There are some fun things to do while waiting in line for this specific ride, too. You can:

• Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Pride Lands, with realistic rock formations, trees, grasses, and waterfalls.
• Look for hidden Mickeys in the rocks and plants. There are at least three of them in the queue area1.
• Watch the animated screens that show clips from The Lion King movie and trivia questions about the characters and the environment.
• Listen to the soundtrack of The Lion King, featuring songs like "Circle of Life," "Hakuna Matata," and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."
• Play with the interactive elements in the queue, such as a spinning wheel that shows different animal footprints, a touch screen that lets you create your own animal sounds, and a photo booth that transforms your face into a lion, a meerkat, or a warthog.

The ride is about eight minutes long, which is the average duration of a Disney World ride. However, you might have to wait for a while before you can board the ride, as the average wait time for a Disney World attraction is 36 minutes. Of course, this depends on the day, the time and the popularity of the ride. Some rides can have wait times of up to 300 minutes, which is crazy! You might want to use Disney Genie+ or Lightning Lane to skip the lines and save some time. 

 

Would you like to see The Lion King: Circle of Life Adventure added to Disney World? Let us know in the comments, on Twitter - are people still allowed to use Twitter? - (here and here) or find us on Facebook.

Until next time.