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From: trolfs@vax1.tcd.ie (Tommy)
Newsgroups: rec.games.programmer,comp.lang.forth
Subject: Interactive Adventure Writting Language
Message-ID: <39514@vax1.tcd.ie>
Date: 10 Apr 89 17:31:13 GMT
Organization: Computer Laboratory, Trinity College Dublin
Lines: 64

( This is also being posted in comp.lang.forth, as well as in
rec.games.programmer, for Forth progammers who might be interested )

  I'm in the initial stages of considering writting an *Interactive
Adventure Writting Language*. My motivation for doing this is the
language FORTH and my love of text adventures.

  Ignoring Forth for the moment ( You can start breathing again:-), I
want to describe the sort of thing I have in mind and see what you
think. I'd like to hear from anyone, even if its just to say you
think its stupid and a waste of time (give reasons).


 Criteria For The Interactive Adventure Writting Language:

   1) Its got to be a Language as apposed to a Package.

          This is very important as I feel packages limit the designer.
          He/she would only be able to do things that the package knew
          about, and as packages are made to be general there could be
          quite alot of compromise.
          The language approach would let the designer make best use of
          resources and his ideas.


   2) Its got to be Interactive.  

          Again, this is a must for creativity. The idea is to be able
          to create something (room/trap/monster/object) and immediately
          be able to use it. As you write the adventure you can play it,
          and thus get instant feedback to the design process.

   3) ... etc.. ? ( any further ideas welcome)


  I'm think of writting this in Forth as it is:

             i) Compact,fast and fits on any microcomputer,
            ii) Interactive, 
           iii) Very flexible, 
            iv) and I like it.

  Of coarse, it doesn't have to be Forth. I'm open to persuation.

 If you have any ideas (eg How movement/actions/events should be 
handled/encoded/tested by IAWL. What you would like to see in IAWL)
or have done anything like this before or have used adventure writting
software or just anything you think might be of value then e-mail me.

 I'll summarys replies and repost to let you  know what the reponse was,
if any. If you don't want me to summarries your reply then I won't.

 I know this has probably been done a hundred times over but I'm doing this
as a hobby and for fun, and who knows, maybe something good might come of it,
so get out your electronic pens and write. I enjoy getting mail so why not
make someone happy.

:-)  Tommy.

Ps. I'm very interested in hearing from anyone who has been thinking of
   doing something like this.
-- 
Thomas Rolfs                         E-mail to trolfs@vax1.tcd.ie
Disclaimer: As an engineer I cannot be held reponsible for spelling misteaks.