Newsgroups: rec.arts.int-fiction
Path: gmd.de!jvnc.net!yale.edu!spool.mu.edu!uunet!world!tob
From: tob@world.std.com (Tom O Breton)
Subject: Whether to use and recognize words
Message-ID: <BzoGLz.3wG@world.std.com>
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 20:22:47 GMT
Lines: 46

> But let's stop talking generalities: Why don't you write a game with an
> implementation of your ideas? Then we can see
> a) if it saved you much effort

> b) if the users will like it more than a "conventional" game, and if they
>    won't feel that the game is "too helpful" (*)

I have, in several different ways. They're just not text adventures.(*)

It's possible readers will have heard of the ZZT system (By Tim Sweeney, I
just create stuff on it). Essentially, it contains everything a text
adventure system does, but it all shows on the screen. If you can do
something, the potentiality is obvious.

And I flatter myself that people may have heard of Tehomega (my update of
Laurence Brothers' Omega). Again, if you can do something here, it's obvious
that you can.

I'm also in the process of writing my own game platform (Magic Wilderness),
and it will indeed support a "what can I do with" for late objects.


Users emphatically did not find it too helpful. In fact, one of my two boards
with I won the Best Of ZZT contest (**) is described as "sadistic" and people
are surprised to learn that it's solveable. But it's =fair= -- everything you
need to know is in plain sight.

Saved me effort? I certainly think so. The process you describe sounds a
lot more painful than what I had to do, and much less foolproof.

        Tom



(*) See, I read this newsgroup to hear about abstract stuff such as plotting,
and keeping player interest, and making the game fun, not because I write
text-only games.

(**)  Along with 20 other winners. Don't want to exaggerate my
accomplishment.

PS:  Ack, I intended to write a very short message!

-- 
The Tom spreads its huge, scaly wings and soars into the wild sky...      
(tob@world.std.com)
