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Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 10:58:14 -0500
From: John Colagioia <JColagioia@csi.com>
Organization: No Conspiracy Here...
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Subject: Re: what is an inventory?
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Przemyslaw Wstrzemiezliwy wrote:

> Most IF games seem to treat the inventory as some kind of mysterious
> container capable of accomodating an amazing amount of, often quite
> sizeable, objects. Is this something one should accept as part of the genre,
> or is it too unrealistic?

It depends on your definition of the inventory.  I'll get to mine in just a bit.



> I've been thinking about a different, more 'realistic', approach where the
> PC carries a number of containers (a bag over his shoulder, pockets inside
> his clothing, a scabbard attached to a belt...) where things are
> automatically put. Typing GET LONGSWORD will tell the game to find a
> suitable container for the longsword and put it there. If no such container
> can be found GET LONGSWORD fails (unless the PC can HOLD the object). If the
> player is unhappy with the games decision he may specify exactly where he
> wants the object to be put by typing PUT LONGSWORD INTO SCABBARD. Could this
> work?

It CAN work, yes.  What you're describing doesn't sound intrusive or
complicated.  I don't think it needs to be done, though.  Since I first started
playing "IF," I've considered the inventory to be an abstracted system of the
type that you mention--so well abstracted, in fact, that I don't ever think
about where I left my pen or battleaxe.  When I use something, I find it in my
hands, ready to be used.

Now, keep in mind, though, that even though I don't think it's necessary, this
does not mean that I think it is an unusable idea.  Just like walking into a
room might tell me about a crack in the path or a musty smell (after walking has
been turned into abstract commands like GO EAST), the system you describe can
easily lend to the mood of a game, as well.

For example, consider a "mad scientist" type character.  A good way to give the
player an idea of how convoluted the character's actions are might be to do
something like the following:
    ] TAKE REMOTE CONTROL
    (putting the sack of flour in the laptop case to make room in the
shoulderbag.)
    (putting the batteries, the Aztec calendar, and the peacock feather into the
shoulderbag to make room in your pocket jacket pocket.)
    (putting your plane tickets and calculator into your shirt pocket to make
room in your left pocket (in your pants).)
    (putting your wallet into your left pocket (in your pants).)
    Taken.

This doesn't do anything special for the player, and I don't think it would
annoy many players, but I think it gives a nice "feel" for how convoluted the PC
does things.


