🐰 Follow the White Rabbit v2 (Java Edition)

"I imagine right now you're feeling a bit like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole?"

A command-line mystery game that weaves together The Matrix and Alice in Wonderland into an interactive narrative experience. This is the Java version - playable on any system with Java installed!

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🎮 About

Follow the White Rabbit v2 is a text-based adventure that explores the deep connections between Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass and the Wachowskis' The Matrix trilogy.

The game examines timeless questions:

• What is reality vs. simulation vs. dream?
• Who are you when identity itself is a choice?
• What happens when you question everything you've been told?

Players navigate a branching narrative filled with riddles, philosophical choices, and easter eggs from both source materials.

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✨ Features

• ⚡ 5 Unique Endings - Each path reveals different truths
• 🎭 Multiple Story Branches - Your choices truly matter
• 🎨 Matrix-Style Terminal Effects - Green code rain, typing animations
• 🕳️ Deep Easter Eggs - Dozens of references to both Matrix & Alice lore
• 🔐 Secret Paths - Hidden routes for curious players
• 🔄 High Replay Value - Discover all the paths and endings
• ☕ Java Edition - Run on Windows, Mac, Linux - anywhere Java works!

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🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Java Development Kit (JDK) 8 or higher
  • Check if you have Java: java -version
  • Download from: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/
• A terminal/command prompt that supports ANSI color codes (most modern terminals do)

Installation & Running

1. Download the game:

   • Clone this repository or download WhiteRabbit.java

2. Compile the game:

   javac WhiteRabbit.java

3. Run the game:

   java WhiteRabbit

That's it! No external dependencies required.

For GitHub Distribution

Users can clone and run with:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/follow-the-white-rabbit-v2.git
cd follow-the-white-rabbit-v2
javac WhiteRabbit.java
java WhiteRabbit

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🎯 How to Play

• Read the story text as it appears with typing animation
• Make choices by typing numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) or keywords
• Type your choice and press Enter
• Some paths have secret keywords - experiment!
• Press Ctrl+C to exit at any time

Tips for Players

• 💡 Pay attention to quotes - they're often clues
• 🔍 Try typing unusual responses when prompted
• 🐱 Curiosity is rewarded in Wonderland
• 🔁 Play multiple times to see all endings
• 📝 Not all paths are obvious - some are hidden

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📖 The 5 Endings

Without spoiling too much, here are the endings you can discover:

1. 🐇 THE GUIDE - Become the eternal messenger
2. 🏗️ THE ARCHITECT - Transform the system itself
3. 💀 THE VOID - Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease
4. 💤 THE DREAM - Safety over truth
5. 😸 THE GRIN - [HIDDEN] - Find the secret path...

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🕵️ Easter Eggs & References

This game is packed with references to both The Matrix trilogy and Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking-Glass:

Matrix References

• Red pill / Blue pill choice
• "Follow the White Rabbit"
• Agent Smith, Jones, Brown
• The Oracle's cookie
• "There is no spoon"
• Switch character (white + pink)
• "Know Thyself" plaque
• Liquid mirror / Looking Glass Server
• Red Queen as system firewall

Alice in Wonderland References

• White Rabbit's pocket watch / "I'm late!"
• Mad Hatter's Tea Party
• Dormouse sleeping on server racks
• March Hare adjusting reality
• "Eat Me" / "Drink Me" (pills, cookie, tea)
• Cheshire Cat's grin & riddles
• "Who in the world am I?"
• Red Queen's "Off with their heads!"
• White Queen transformation
• Checkered chessboard floor
• "Curiouser and curiouser"
• "We're all mad here"
• Looking-Glass world

Philosophical Parallels

• Simulation vs. reality vs. dream
• Identity as choice, not prison
• "The Matrix cannot tell you who you are"
• Questions that drive us vs. answers

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📚 Story Structure

Chapter Breakdown

CHAPTER 1: THE KNOCK

• The mysterious visitor at 3:33 AM
• The white rabbit tattoo
• The red pill / blue pill choice
• Secret Cheshire path

CHAPTER 2: DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE (Red pill only)

• Mad Hatter's impossible tea party
• Riddles about reality and dreams
• "Know Thyself" philosophy
• Oracle's cookie choice
• Agent chase sequence

CHAPTER 3: THE LOOKING GLASS SERVER (Red pill only)

• The liquid mirror
• Meeting your reflection
• Confronting the Red Queen
• The final choice: Guide, Destroy, or Evolve
• Chessboard revelation

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🎨 Technical Details

Game Mechanics

• Branching narrative engine - Choices affect story flow
• ANSI color system - Terminal colors for atmosphere
• Typing animation - Adjustable text speed
• Matrix rain effect - Falling green code
• Input validation - Accepts multiple answer formats
• Replay system - Start over without restarting

Color Coding

• 🟢 GREEN - Matrix code, truth, system messages
• 🔴 RED - Danger, Red Queen, warnings, red pill
• 🔵 BLUE - Illusion, blue pill, choice
• ⚪ WHITE - White Rabbit, purity, revelation
• 🟡 YELLOW - Questions, prompts, uncertainty
• 🔷 CYAN - Cheshire Cat, philosophy, guides

Java Features Used

• Single-file application (easy to distribute!)
• No external dependencies
• Cross-platform compatible
• ANSI color codes for terminal styling
• Thread.sleep() for animations
• Scanner for user input
• Recursive method calls for replay functionality

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🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Here are some ways you can help:

• 🐛 Report bugs or issues
• 💡 Suggest new easter eggs or references
• ✍️ Improve story branches or dialogue
• 🎨 Add new terminal effects
• 📖 Enhance documentation
• 🌍 Translate to other languages

To Contribute:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a Pull Request

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📜 License

This project is open source and available under the MIT License.

This is a fan project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by:

• Warner Bros. (The Matrix)
• The Wachowskis
• Lewis Carroll's estate
• Any official Matrix or Alice in Wonderland properties

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🙏 Acknowledgments

• The Wachowskis - For creating The Matrix and its philosophical depth
• Lewis Carroll - For Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
• Film analysts & fans - Whose research revealed the connections between these works
• Players like you - For following the white rabbit
• Original Python version - This Java edition is inspired by the original Python game

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🎯 Quick Commands

# Compile the game
javac WhiteRabbit.java

# Run the game
java WhiteRabbit

# Exit the game (during play)
Ctrl + C

# Replay after finishing
Type 'yes' when prompted

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🐇 Final Words

"The Matrix cannot tell you who you are."

"'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!"

The rabbit hole awaits. Will you follow?

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"Curiouser and curiouser..." 🐰✨