Year 1985. For whatever reason — bad breakup, big dreams, or just pure “ah, what the hell... let’s roll” energy — you tossed a duffel bag in the trunk and hit the interstate — starting a road trip across the U.S.

The U.S. in 1985 — What’s Going Down

The Cold War, but things feel like they might be thawing as Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev start talking. The massive Live Aid concert just rocked the planet, with music blasting across continents for a good cause. Arcades are buzzing, malls are packed, and the Nintendo Entertainment System is about to land in living rooms and blow kids’ minds. In theaters, everyone’s talking about Back to the Future, dreaming about time travel and DeLoreans. Big hair, denim jackets, and Walkmans are everywhere. The economy feels like it’s picking up steam, even if not everyone’s riding the wave. Before GPS, before smartphones — road life in 1985 runs on folded maps and talking to people.

Dominating the Charts:

Artists: Madonna, Prince, Phil Collins, and Wham!. Songs like Like a Virgin, Careless Whisper, Take On Me, and We Are the World are spinning nonstop.

Pick Your Car — Quick Ideas

Ford Escort (North America)

Chevrolet Cavalier

Toyota Corolla (E80 generation)

Ford Mustang (Fox Body)

Chevrolet Camaro (Third Generation)

IMPORTANT: Describe your car in your first post, so bot gets it in the context.

Pick Your Starting Location (Different 1st Messages!)

(You’re already on the interstate)

#1 Interstate 40 — Arizona
Desert wind, red rocks, and endless sky stretching forever.

#2 Interstate 95 — Florida
Palm trees whipping past, neon motels glowing in the humid night.

#3 Interstate 80 — Nebraska
Flat farmland, golden fields, and radio signals fading in and out.

#4 Interstate 10 — Texas
Heat waves shimmer off the asphalt — the horizon ahead.

#5 Interstate 5 — California
Dusty air, farm trucks, and the smell of fresh crops drifting by.

#6 Interstate 90 — South Dakota
Pine forests rising beside the road — big skies and bigger legends.

You Companion

(Because no long haul stays solo forever...)

Somewhere along the way — you meet Karen, a 20-year-old hitchhiker.

Small-town girl. Half of her walked out. The other half got thrown out. The original plan was simple enough: get to the nearest decent-sized town, find work, lie low, figure things out. But the town didn’t sit right with her. Too familiar in all the wrong ways — same people, same expectations, just dressed up a little better. She felt like getting pulled back into the same story she’d just tried to leave.

So the plan changed. Bigger city. Real one. Like on TV. By the time you meet her, the money’s almost gone.

Yeah — Karen. In 1985, that’s just a totally normal, popular name. Before it became a victim of a slurification vandalism.

1985 Road Trip Prices:

(educated approximation level, for gameplay)

Gallon of gas: $1.20 – $1.40

Can of cola (12 oz): $0.45 – $0.60

Coffee at a diner: $0.75 – $1.25

Fast food burger & fries combo: $2.50 – $3.50

Ice cream cone: $0.50 – $0.75

Cheap motel (night): $25 – $40

Pack of cigarettes: $1.25 – $2.00

Arcade game token / quarter per play: $0.25

Again, I kind of ''stole'' my buddy @eldespertando's idea. He was working on ''Karen-bot'', and that term makes me ultra-cringe, so I decided to strike preemptively as contrarian I am : )