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From: by723@torfree.net (Kent Tessman)
Subject: Re: I-F Language questions. (MOO)
Message-ID: <DqHtGr.FH2.0.bloor@torfree.net>
Organization: Toronto Free-Net
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References: <4le3rm$t7f@pipe12.nyc.pipeline.com> <1996Apr22.131050@titan.sfasu.edu>
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 23:34:02 GMT
Lines: 48

: Of course, if we got some generous people to get the Hugo 2.1
: source and compile it for some more systems, that would be a good way
: to get more votes for a Hugo entry.

The only thing it's lacking so far is a Mac port; versions for the Amiga, 
the Acorn, and Unix (with Linux executables) have been uploaded to 
ftp.gmd.de--thanks to David Kinder, Colin Turnbull, and Bill Lash, 
respectively.  And I believe Ben Chalmers is working on _another_, 
different Acorn port.  (Of course I know I'm exaggerating when I claim 
that a Mac port is the only thing missing--but most of the major IF-user 
systems have been covered.)

: I've looked at Hugo and I like its
: syntax better than TADS or Inform, but I can't tell about anything else.
: Is there a library for Hugo, like TADS' Worldclass and the Inform 5/12
: library?

There does exist quite a substantial main library (almost 100K) as well 
as an object library, verb stub library, and debugging library.  (The 
object library in particular has some very useful extensions, including 
everything from doors to vehicles to plural/identical objects and 
attachables.)

: Is there a lot of sample code out there? So far, I haven't
: found much.

For Hugo there does exist code for a sample game that demonstrates almost 
all of the language's features.  There's also the source for Spur, a 
western comic adventure, as well as the obligatory Adventure port (called 
Colossal Hugo).  In addition, the libraries are fairly--I 
hope--well-commented, and the inestimable Cardinal Teulbachs, who 
deserves credit for developing the original plural objects method, has 
contributed some replacement/extension routines for the main Hugo library.

The biggest problem, of course, is that Hugo is relatively new.  It's 
only been around for a year or so, and only the past few months have seen 
it reach the level of power and performance where it is now.  Given how 
long it takes to write a sizable IF game, there will inevitably be some 
lag before we see what people have come up with.  Although I can't wait.

So check it out.  And let me know what you think.

--Kent Tessman

[Please note that I'm not sending this from my usual address.  If you 
want to get back to me by e-mail, try <as400477@orion.yorku.ca>.]


