# 8-Bit Messenger Games 'Emily is Away' is an Interactive Story Told Through a Recreated AIM By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2015-11-03 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emily-is-away References: [refinery29](http://www.refinery29.com/2015/11/96855/emily-is-away-instant-messaging-game) & [emilyisaway](http://emilyisaway.com/) 'Emily is Away' is an [interactive story game](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/talktostory-ai) styled to look like an [AIM chat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-history-30) on a 2000s version of Windows XP. The nostalgic game has players begin by choosing a screen name and begin [chatting with a bot](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mehugo) by the name of "emerly35." Inside the game, over the course of five chapters, players are able to build up a relationship with the bot, talking about everything from high school crushes to favorite bands. As designer Kyle Seeley puts it: "AIM still exists today but it's not like how it was, gone are the iconic Away Messages and Buddy Infos. That's one of the main reasons I made Emily is Away, so we could all relive that slice of time again." This nostalgic computer game will feel all too familiar to those who used to use AOL messenger every day. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 29% | Activity: 77% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Humor](https://www.trendhunter.com/humor) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Nostalgia Gaming:** Developing interactive story games that simulate past technologies and experiences. - **Chatbot Conversational Storytelling:** Expanding on the narrative potential of chatbots in gaming environments. - **Retro Aesthetic Design:** Incorporating vintage design elements into modern gaming experiences. ### Where This Applies - **Video Game Development:** There is growing opportunity and demand for nostalgic gaming experiences in the industry, particularly among millennials. - **Chatbot Development:** Innovations in chatbot technology can be leveraged to create more complex narrative storytelling in gaming. - **Marketing and Advertising:** The use of retro aesthetics and interactive storytelling in advertising can engage millennial audiences who enjoy nostalgia-driven experiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI Roleplay Chatboys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dreampal.md) - [Interactive Story Chats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loremate.md) - [AI Dating Adventures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flipped-chat.md) - [Interactive AI Stories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saylo-ai.md) - [Emotion-Driven Messaging Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emochat.md) - [AI-Crafted Structured Teen Stories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/characterai-stories.md) - [Interactive AI Storytelling](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/euphoria-stories.md) - [AI Chat Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bluebubble-ai.md) - [AI Celebrity Chats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-celebrity-chats.md)