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'Mad Men' game full of pixelated whiskey and cigarettes

Interactive YouTube video game brings old-school graphics and a cheesy MIDI soundtrack together for a choose-your-own-adventure romp through Don Draper's world.

Amanda Kooser
Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET. When not wallowing in weird gear and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto.
Amanda Kooser
Mad Men: The Game Don Draper screenshot
Choose your next step wisely. Video screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET

"Mad Men" returned to television last night after an interminably long wait. Mad Men: The Game on YouTube should help tide you over until the next episode airs.

There are more than 40 different videos in the game, so you have quite a few paths to explore -- with plenty of hard liquor and 8-bit cigarette smoke along the way. The game comes from the Fine Brothers, the same guys who brought us the "Saved by the Bell" interactive YouTube game.

Mad Men: The Game screenshot
Peggy visits Don's office. (Click to enlarge.) Video screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET

"Mad Men" may be set in a time before the Nintendo Entertainment System debuted, but there's something about the 8-bit-style graphics that lends a certain charm to the show's stylish backstabbing. The bouncy MIDI soundtrack would fit right in with an early Mario game.

There are three different possible endings. My first run through the game ended in bloody failure (nothing to do with a lawn mower), but I'm not going to drop any spoilers. The beauty of the choose-your-own-adventure format is that you can have a do-over.

After exploring some other options, I am now back on top of the cutthroat advertising world. Time for a Manhattan to celebrate.

(Via BuzzFeed)