Newsgroups: rec.arts.int-fiction
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From: ceforma@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Christopher E. Forman)
Subject: Inform: Z-Code limitations
Message-ID: <1995Sep5.234226.79007@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu>
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 23:42:26 GMT
Organization: Illinois State University
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]
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Okay, I need some opinions on overcoming the Z-Code limitations in Inform.
I haven't yet reached the limit (Got about 60K left to go), but I can see
the day coming when I'll have to chop some of the unnecessary details from
the code -- i.e., scenery that can be examined but not much else.

Trouble is, I find myself very reluctant to do something like this, for two
reasons.  1) Taking out the unnecessary stuff will clue the player in to
what is important in the game  and  2) We've put a lot of time and effort
into writing this extra text to allow the player to enjoy the world we've
created.  Overall, the game is not complex (not nearly as much as something
like "Curses"), it's just got a lot of hidden text and fun stuff for players
to uncover.

So my question is, when the Z-Code limit of 256K is finally reached, what
is there to be done?  I know Inform has the ability to create .Z7 and .Z8
files, which require a modified interpreter to run.  But how many interpreters
support this, and which ones?

I was thinking of making 2 versions of the game -- one for players with older,
obscure interpreters, so they could play it; and another "full" version of
the game, not unlike a director's cut of a film, for players with the more
powerful interpreters.  The edited version would be essentially the same game
as the full version, minus a good deal of the hidden text.

What's your opinion on this?
-- 
C.E. Forman                                      ceforma@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu
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