The current issue of PC Plus (in the UK) is carrying a tutorial I wrote on interactive prose and description. (Code samples in Inform, but the design advice applies to other languages as well.) This is one of two; the second piece, on action design, is due (I think!) for next month.
Author: emshortif
Another Play This Thing Review
Play This Thing is now running my review of Treasures of a Slaver’s Kingdom by S. John Ross.
Two small things
JayIsGames gave a brief mention to To Hell in a Hamper: the use of the cover art there is a good sample of how outside bloggers would like to be able to show off IF. (Not that I’m obsessed with this at the moment or anything.)
The XYZZY awards were yesterday! Congratulations to the winners and nominees.
A really intriguing post on IF and storytelling
Jeff Nyman has written up some experiences using Inform 7 and TADS 3 with authors new to IF (or at least new to IF programming) and their responses about storytelling this medium and the specific tools involved.
Deluxe Doors extension
Added a new extension:
Allows for doors that are implemented as having independent ‘faces’ — to put a knocker on that can only be seen from on side, for instance, or to allow the player to lock one side with a key but the other with a latch. Also introduces a ‘latched door’ kind.
Your journey begins at the giant mushrooms.
In general I am in favor of narrative in games. However, a trend I totally do not get is that which says we should glue a framing fantasy story around some completely abstract puzzle or arcade game-play.
For instance, I just spent an hour or so with an angular-shooting game called Sparkle. Not great, not terrible. I had some fun with it on the higher levels of the demo, but not so much fun that I want to buy the complete version of the game.
Continue reading “Your journey begins at the giant mushrooms.”
Emily Short's Interactive Storytelling 