The Ghost In My Machine

Stories of the Strange and Unusual

The Most Dangerous Games: Channel Infinity

by

Previously: Tomino’s Hell.

I’m honestly not sure where Channel Infinity comes from; it was first posted to the Creepypasta Wikia on March 2, 2014 by user Jett Cyber, but beyond that, I haven’t been able to find any other information about it (other than those same rules copied and pasted over and over again — a creepypasta in the classic sense). I assume the Creepypasta Wikia entry indicates its first instance. Truth be told, it’s a little difficult to follow; for example, the original version notes that, instead of turning your back to the television at a specific point, you can also arrange some sort of setup involving two hand mirrors — but I wouldn’t recommend taking that route. The description of the setup is confusing enough that I couldn’t even figure out exactly how the mirrors are supposed to be positioned.

A vintage television

From a technical standpoint, I believe part of what’s happening during this ritual is a combination of Troxler’s fading and the Caputo Effect — the same trickeries of perception that cause us to see “monsters” like Bloody Mary in the mirror. There’s also something somewhat hypnotic about staring at a blank screen or at a screen full of static for an extended amount of time; the end result is, I believe, perhaps not as literal as the rules might suggest, but rather something more like what occurs during the Three Kings ritual.

[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]

Whether you believe Channel Infinity to be an actual television channel or something you visit in your mind, though…

…Play at your own risk.

Players:

  • One principal.
  • At least one partner.

Requirements:

  • One quiet room with a door.
  • One television — the older, the better. Analog is ideal.
  • One remote control— not necessarily the one that came with the television.
  • One item of personal significance.
  • One favorite book.
  • One key — any key.
  • One cell phone.
  • One weapon— a hammer is a good choice.

Instructions:

The Prelude:

  1. Set up the television in the quiet room.
  2. Turn the television on. Tune it to any channel that does not receive — static if using an analog machine, plain black or a “no signal” screen if using a digital one. Place the remote control nearby.
  3. Leave the room. Do not enter it for three hours. If you live with other people, make sure they stay out of it, too.
  4. While you are waiting for the three hours to pass, gather the following items: The item of personal significance, the book, the key, the cell phone, and the weapon. Call your partner and have them come over. You may also invite over more friends or loved ones if desired. Brief them on what is about to occur.

Finding The Channel:

  1. Gather your partner(s) outside the quiet room. Items in hand, enter the room, leaving your partner(s) outside. Close the door behind you.
  2. Settle yourself in front of the television. Keep your eyes on the screen. Stay there until you begin to feel… different. Disoriented might be a good way to describe it, but the experience may not be the same for everyone.
  3. When you’ve reached the right mental state, call your partner(s) into the room.
  4. Select the partner who means the most to you. Hand the item of personal significance to them.
  5. Send your partner(s) out of the room. Instruct them not to come back in until you open the door yourself — regardless as to what they may or may not hear coming from inside.
  6. Close the door.
  7. Face away from the television. Listen closely.
    • If you hear silence: Do not proceed.
    • If you hear a noise: Pick up the remote control and turn to face the television. Proceed to Step 8. 
  8. A yes or no question will be displayed on the screen. Answer it with the remote: Press the “channel up” button for yes, and the “channel down” button for no. Answer truthfully.
  9. Do this for as many questions as appear on the screen.
  10. At the conclusion of the questions, one of three things may occur:
    • If your favorite television show appears on the screen: Watch it. It will be difficult, but do not look away, no matter what you might see. Proceed to Watching The Channel: Step 1.
    • If an image of the person or thing you hate most in the world appears on the screen: Pick up your weapon. Destroy the television screen. Proceed to Watching The Channel: Step 1.
    • If you look around you and feel like something is… off:
      1. Pick up the cell phone, the key, and the book; they will be available for you here. Then exit your home.
      2. Find the nearest public building. Open the door with the key. Enter.
      3. Inside the building, find a room with only one way in or out. Enter it and close the door behind you. Sit down. Read your book.
        • If you hear nothing: Do not proceed.
        • If you hear footsteps: Wait until they fade out of auditory range. Then begin to count, aloud, to 250. Proceed to Substep 4. 
      4. Listen.
        • If you hear three knocks: Open the door.
        • If you hear four knocks: Repeat the words “I forbid you” twice. Then open the door.
      5. If you open the door and…
        • …There is no one there: Do not proceed.
        • …There is a statue of a person you love outside: Destroy the statue. Proceed to Substep 6.
      6. Exit the building.
      7. Look at the moon.
        • If you see a pink half moon: Take out your cell phone. Call your third most recent contact. Proceed to Watching The Channel: Step 1.
        • If you see a pink full moon: Take out your cell phone. Call a random number. Before the person on the other end picks up, bite your tongue straight through. Proceed to Watching The Channel: Step 1.
        • If you see a green half moon: Remove your clothing. Run home. Don’t look back. Proceed to Watching The Channel: Step 1.
        • If you see a green full moon: You will be incapable of proceeding.

Watching The Channel:

  1. After completing any of those three scenarios, you will have reached Channel Infinity. You may now do any of the following:
    1. Press the “guide” function on your remote control. Select the show you believe will answer your most pressing question. Watch it carefully.
    2. Continue watching the static or “no signal” screen. Pay close attention to what, if anything, appears. If you look at it the right way, it, too, will answer your most pressing question.
    3. Something else. Anything else. You decide.

Ending The Show:

  1. Turn the television off.
  2. Leave the room.

Additional Notes:

This ritual may be performed using just the room, the television and the remote control, although it will likely be much more difficult without the other objects. If you choose to play it in this way, the following adjustments may be made:

  • Instead of handing an item of personal significance to your partner, hug them and whisper a secret in their ear.
  • Instead of unlocking the door to the building with the key, climb in a window.
  • Instead of reading the book, simply wait.
  • Instead of using the weapon to destroy the television screen, destroy it in some other way — kick through it, tip it over, etc.

The number of questions that appear during the questions phase may be as few as three, or as many as 26. No matter how many questions there are, the most important thing is to answer honestly. Failing to do so will cause the ritual to fail.

The number and variety of television shows that will appear as options on the “guide” function of Channel Infinity will depend on who you choose as partners. Consider them carefully. There is safety in numbers.

You may only watch Channel Infinity a maximum of four times over the course of your life. Choose your moments wisely.

Do not speak of what you learned after watching Channel Infinity. To anyone. Ever.

Concerning The Green Full Moon:

If you see one…

…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

Channel Infinity: FAQ.

***

Follow The Ghost In My Machine on Twitter @GhostMachine13 and on Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine. And don’t forget to check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available now from Chronicle Books!

[Photo via phrenzee/Flickr]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. wolfy says

    Questions:
    Why must you bite your tongue if you see the pink full moon? Or do I just have to be silent?
    What is the “something is off” feeling, what things could be off?

    Reply

  4. Alina says

    Does a green full moon just appear randomly or is it because you did the ritual wrong or aren’t capable of holding the knowledge? – Alina

    Reply

  5. RandomEncounters says

    If you look at the corner of the picture of the tv, you can see someone wrote “i love you”. And also great story! Not trying this! You could die!
    Dangouous Rating:7/10
    chance of death
    creepy stuff
    your worst fear
    other world

    Reply

  7. Diana says

    Yeah, a question I have is, if you’re not able to proceed and you are in this alternate dimensions, are you stuck in this dimension or do you die?? Does anybody really know??

    Reply

    • Anonymous says

      According to the original source, you are taken to another dimension for the moon thing so it will not matter. After all, the moon isn’t pink or green in our world either.

      Reply

  13. Terrance Williams says

    I am curious, how much time will actually pass in the normal world in relation to the “evil dimension”, when night looms over in the latter? I’m planning on doing this soon myself and I’d like to know for the safety of my partner(s).

    Reply

  15. Hi says

    Nice game, I probably wouldn’t try it though.
    I feel this game is slightly different to others as it involves a television, a recent new invention and the fact you can bring partners, leave your home to go to a public place and not have to use candles.
    I have some questions, if something feels off and you have to leave the building, do you leave the room and walk past your partners? Imagine their faces of shock when you just walk past them and leave.
    And what about pets?
    And the bite your tongue straight through part.. doesn’t seem good.

    Reply

    • Sumi says

      1. In the case you do have to do that, it’s always good to brief your partner(s) on every scenario, like it said near the beggining to do, so that they won’t be confused
      2. I believe pets don’t need to be cleared of the house, but they should stay out of the room
      3. According to other comments on here “bite your tongue” is just a weird way of saying “do not speak”. So just don’t speak if it comes to that

      Reply

  16. Isaac says

    So your partners don’t go with you to the building, but if you see a green full moon you won’t go back to them, so are you essentially telling the people you chose “Hey, if you never see me again it’s because I’m being tortured by some hell demon have fun with that knowledge for the rest of your life”

    Reply

    • Reevo Navarro says

      “Your favorite TV show will appear but it would be hard to not look away”. Some source said that the show will feature your favorite character getting killed gruesomely, but then again my favorite show is Game of Thrones, so I should be good

      Reply

  19. NUTROLLER says

    Hey! According to the source if you see a green-full moon ,umm…you are screwed you’ll be dead within half an hour. Soooooo creeepppyy!!!

    Reply

    • The Ghost With No Name says

      Also another fun fact: Concerning the TV show, I read somewhere that the episode of the TV show will be gruesome, it will be hard not to look away. I can’t imagine watching SU like this, so definitely not playing this game. Ever, and beyond that.

      Reply

    • M. Langdon says

      Although I can’t tell you what Channel Infinity is, I can refer to other games on this site. When it says to only ask the creatures for a favor once, doing so a second time would be seen as being greedy, and the creatures don’t take that too well. Even if you don’t intend to come over as a greedy person, they will interpret it so. And you will be punished accordingly.

      Reply

    • SuperCaligro says

      “Do not proceed” means do not continue. It means that further participation of the ritual would have either no result or a negative consequence.

      Reply

    • Des says

      Well I read that you will die within 30 minutes… They way you die thought, probably varies from person to person and if you are killed or you just die is a mystery..

      Reply

  28. Jordyn says

    What do the other partners do while you complete the ritual? Do they also need their books and stuff? What does the other partner do when theyou leave the room

    Reply

    • Shadina says

      I’ll answer your questions:

      1. Nothing. They stay outside, chit-chatting around.
      2. Nope.
      3.They may enter the room then.

      Reply

    • SuperCaligro says

      It means this step has resulted in failure. Further participation would either have no result or a negative consequence.

      Reply

  32. Michal says

    If someone is planning to break an old(analog) TV with hammer or something similar, please use SAFETY GLASSES or better FULL FACE SHIELD and gloves !!

    Reply

  33. Mikaela says

    What does it mean by “do not proceed”? Does this mean you just leave the room or building and go on your marry way or do you just sit there until forever?

    Reply

    • Kia says

      yea, pretty much… tbh…. I’ve looked into it and different variations but I find this the most accurate

      Reply

  36. Chyomi Jin says

    What? Bite your tongue through? Wouldn’t that be the same as seeing a green full moon? ‘Cause I probably won’t be able to proceed choking on my blood and all.

    Reply

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