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From: engst@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Adam C. Engst)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Interactive fiction
Message-ID: <950@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Date: Sun, 10-May-87 22:45:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: batcompu.950
Posted: Sun May 10 22:45:05 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 13-May-87 00:58:59 EDT
Reply-To: engst@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu.UUCP (Adam C. Engst)
Distribution: world
Organization: Cornell Theory Center, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
Lines: 45
Summary: What happened and where it is now.
Xref: mnetor comp.sys.atari.st:3371 comp.sys.mac:3027 comp.sys.amiga:4709

Expires:



     Many of you saw my postings several days (weeks?) ago on 
interactive fiction.  I posted those notices to these groups 
because of the current status of interactive fiction on the 68000-
based micros and because of the necessity (at least I think so, 
but I may be wrong) of working inside of a graphic environment,
which allows the author to keep track of a complex branching 
structure.     
     I received quite a number of responses from different people 
expressing an interest in being put on a mailing list or in 
starting a new Usenet discussion group.  I asked around to find 
out the proper method of starting a new group and was told that I 
needed to talk about interactive fiction on an existing newsgroup 
for a while, then get names on a petition, and then apply to the 
net powers that be for a new newsgroup provided that I had shown 
that there was enough interest to warrant the new group.  This 
procedure seems reasonable, so I am writing to these newsgroups to 
inform all those who are interested in interactive fiction and 
those who previously replied that I will be discussing it in 
MISC.MISC.  
     I decided on MISC.MISC because it is for those topics which 
don't really fit into any existing newsgroup.  I don't think that 
interactive fiction does.  It is not a game, yet it is 
entertainment while also being serious literature.  It can also be 
used for computer-aided instruction and has a certain relationship 
to artificial intelligence.  It needs the technology of the 
computer and the creativity of the writer.  What it needs more 
than anything else at the moment is interest.  People must realize 
that it is not a game and it is not trivial, it is real.  This 
discussion will be devoted to any and all of the aspects of 
interactive fiction with the goal of developing it as a new medium 
for reading and writing with the aid of the computer.       
     To start the new discussion off on the right foot (or left 
foot, it's non-discriminatory), I will start posting the messages 
from the CSNEWS@MAINE discussion group that I started at the 
beginning of 1987.  I will also accept any email, but please 
specify if you don't want your ideas posted because I believe in 
free distribution of pertinant information.  In short, please give 
the subject a chance.  I think it is very interesting and has a 
great future.  
                         Thank you,
                             Adam Engst
  
engst@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu.UUCP
pv9y@cornella.bitnet