Gunna Die (probably spelled "Gonna", but who cares) was both ASCII game experiment and statement about arcade games. Here's how SOL in Space is played : You're sh*t out of luck — in space — say out of fuel. All you can do is drift into the asteroid field, and shoot the asteroids that threaten your spaceship. Here's the thing — as you drift (you never notice a "drift") the asteroids get faster. So, you're "gunna die" no matter what. All you can do is hold out as long as you can.
The commentary part is that there is no way for arcade games and early console games to end except in your character's unfortunate death. Take Frogger — there is no way to end Frogger except drowned, ran over, or otherwise dead. Take Space Invaders. End = death. Super Mario Bros? You're still gunna die there too, eventually. If you beat the game, it doesn't end, it keeps going until you die.
—hartnell
