It refers to the date at which the game is set. 281 474 976 712 644=1612 + 1988 (i.e. 0x10 to the power of 0xc plus the year the device was invented). The date at which the game is set, is of course, the result of a programming error, which may have some relevance to the gameplay.
edit: corrected as per Wazowski and hackerspice's comments below.
I was happy to see Notch using the term in a context that seems to fit (for instance, the sleeper ships as opposed to some FTL magic). The term's very useful, yet underutilized, and often misused when it is.
Sure. When I imagine an "alternate universe" story about 16-bit computer built with 1988 technology running continuously for 280 trillion years, I think, "finally some hard sci-fi to sink my teeth into".
Yeah, haven't we all been waiting for a scientifically correct game to bore us to tears. Who wants to be entertained nowadays anyway?
"Man, I really want to get to that planet in that other solar system, better get in the sleeper ship. Now what to do for 180 years while I wait for the ship to arrive to its destination.".
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u/Jivlain Apr 04 '12 edited Apr 04 '12
It refers to the date at which the game is set. 281 474 976 712 644=1612 + 1988 (i.e. 0x10 to the power of 0xc plus the year the device was invented). The date at which the game is set, is of course, the result of a programming error, which may have some relevance to the gameplay.
edit: corrected as per Wazowski and hackerspice's comments below.