PGOETZ@LOYVAX.BITNET (02/25/88)
I've written (almost done) a text adventure for the Apple. I'd like
to have some idea what the interest in it is, so could you please read
this and then send a "Very Intersted/Interested/Not interested" vote
to me at PGOETZ@LOYVAX.BITNET ? It would be best if people who didn't care
for it or for games in general voted as well, so I could get percentage
estimates. They are important to software publishers.
Also, I'm looking for testers. If anyone is willing to test this
program & write up a 3-page evaluation (bug report, playablilty, challenge,
consistency, realism, miscellaneous) within one month of receiving the
program, I'll send the first 10 or so such people a free copy.
Thanks,
Phil Goetz, Baltimore MD
"Computers don't actually think. You just think they think. I think."
HARDWARE
Inmate should run on any Apple II (II, II+, IIe, IIc,
IIgs) or clone with 64K RAM and one 5 1/4 floppy drive.
THE ADVENTURE
Well, that seems to be the problem, doesn't it: your
insistence that this is a game. But there's no adventure here.
Really. You're totally safe. So just relax, and cooperate...
INPUT
Inmate's parser accepts these basic sentence patterns:
1. Verb
2. Verb Place
3. Verb Object(s) (EXCEPT Object(s)) (Preposition Destination)
All these forms may be followed by an instrument, i.e. TAKE A
PHOTO OF THE PLANT WITH THE CAMERA.
Some verbs may be divided into two parts, i.e. PICK THE BOX UP.
Some other patterns can be parsed because they are first
transformed into one of the above forms. For example,
GIVE HIM THE APPLE -> GIVE APPLE TO HIM.
Some examples of the above patterns:
1. I [Inventory]
2. Look in the flashlight.
2. Enter the closet.
3. Put the tape which is on top of the desk in the tape player.
3. Pick 2 of the notes up.
3. Turn off the faucet and the flashlight.
3. Put everything in the shelf but the blue book and the key on
the desk.
3. Clean the clean clothes with water. [Some words can mean
different things within the same sentence.]
3. Tell Ed "Give me the little black key."
You can be spartan if you like:
>w
>go bed
>exam all
If you specify a verb but not an object or instrument, and
there is only one of each available to which that verb applies,
Inmate will assume it:
>Get
(digital watch) [The watch is the only small object
in the room.]
>Attack
(Mark)
(with wooden bar) [You must be carrying the bar.]
CONVERSATION
To talk to characters, you must put your sentence in
quotes:
>Ask Ed "May I please borrow your camera?"
"Sure," Ed says.
Ed picks up a camera.
Ed gives you a camera.
_________________________________
>Say "Hi there!" to Dr. Sheffield.
Dr. Sheffield smiles. "Hello, James. Would you like to talk?"
_________________________________
>Tell Mark "You're crazy!"
He smirks. "I wouldn't say crazy."
You may give them commands of the same type you can enter.
Of course, they might not care to follow them. You may also say
things which the command parser doesn't understand. Inmate doesn't
even have to know all the words within quotes. And remember it is
rude to break off a conversation without at least a goodbye.