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From: erkyrath@netcom.com (Andrew Plotkin)
Subject: Re: Capsule Reviews of Contest Games
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Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 02:23:25 GMT
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Andrew D. Pontious (byzantium@tuna.net) wrote:
> It's interesting that the authors who are trying to do the most "unusual"
> things are often the ones who come across as the most pompous *and* the
> most concerned about their games winning. I can imagine being scornful of
> the huddled masses who just want good, solid puzzles and writings, but
> then if you're so elitist, why care if you win?

I'm curious whether you meant to include me in this, since I must count 
as one of the "most ''unusual'' things". (And I'm certainly an elitist 
snob.) (And, contrariwise, I didn't care at all about my game winning.)

> LISTS AND LISTS
> My score: 6
> Andy Plotkin does it again! Once I heard from a friend that it was simply
> a tutorial, I was sure I would have to pan this one, but as a would-be
> C++ programmer I found it all fascinating. The only reason I didn't give
> it a higher score was because, c'mon, Andy, it's a tutorial! I found
> there to be far too few examples and explanation, especially for the
> harder questions.

Examples in the manual or in the genie's hints?

> My head was spinning! And while it wasn't quite as
> savage to the player as his earlier games (the genie was actually polite
> when you screwed up), he was still plenty grudging (in a funny way) about
> giving hints at all. Lighten up, Andy! It's a tutorial! You're *supposed*
> to be giving us information!

Astonishingly, it was not my intention to be stingy with hints in this 
game. (Why do you think I avoided entering a story game?) What needs 
expansion?

I'll see if I can upload the source tomorrow, by the way.

--Z

-- 

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the
borogoves..."
