Interactive Fiction

[Rob Maule]

Is there anyone else here that enjoys playing interactive fiction (AKA: text adventures)? Maybe you've heard of games like Colossal Cave (Adventure), Zork, or Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Games that were quite possibly the first games played on computers. They're games kind of like Choose Your Own Adventure books or MUDs.

There's still a fairly active community of people that play IF. I'd love to talk with anyone that also plays or is interested. Maybe toss around the names of games we like, recommend, or hate.

But I'd also like to see if there was anyone interested in turning Cantr into IF. The idea came to me the other day and I've been thinking about doing it myself. It wouldn't be the greatest example, but I'm interested in combining the two, using Inform7. Maybe it would lure Cantr players to IF or IF players to Cantr. I've got a lot of ideas and I'd love to collaborate with someone.

[Rebma]

I've played a few in my time...Though not for at least a few months...


The idea of turning Cantr to IF is....well my brain is still wrapping around it, and there could be a lot of ways to do it...

I'm not imaginative, but if you do decide to go through with it, I'd love to see the finished product.

[Dudel]

Is Zork interactive fiction? O.o

I saw it more like DnD without the DM... and most IF games require DOS to run OR a separate downloadeder so I just sorta say "F it!".

Don't think I've EVER finished one of these games. My attention span is rather small and I was/am a poor speller.

[Rebma]

Is Zork interactive fiction? O.o

I saw it more like DnD without the DM... and most IF games require DOS to run OR a separate downloadeder so I just sorta say "F it!".

Don't think I've EVER finished one of these games. My attention span is rather small and I was/am a poor speller.

I always played with someone who had already done the game so I could cheat when stuck. Or had the walkthrough.

[Rob Maule]

Is Zork interactive fiction? O.o

I saw it more like DnD without the DM...

I've always thought of D&D as interactive fiction without a computer.

and most IF games require DOS to run OR a separate downloadeder so I just sorta say "F it!".

Don't think I've EVER finished one of these games. My attention span is rather small and I was/am a poor speller.

To combat all of those arguments, I give you Lost Pig. I think this award-winning game is probably the first thing I'd show any beginner.

[Snake_byte]

I enjoyed the first three King's Quest.
But If I'm understanding, that's not what you're talking about... You mean the games that are already much like Cantr... Where you're in an area and have exits (N,E,S,W) Like the hobbit, on dos?

[Dudel]

Well... that suggestion fit the first issue but didn't hit the second.

It still lost my attention due to being a visual person and not being able to SEE what was actually in the room.

But that's on me.

[Rob Maule]

You mean the games that are already much like Cantr... Where you're in an area and have exits (N,E,S,W) Like the hobbit, on dos?

Exactly.

And when I thought of Cantr as IF, I was thinking of something along the lines of: You start up the game and it asks you if you want to be male or female. Then it asks you for the name of your character. You are then immediately "spawned" in a strange new town, with strange new people.

Basically, Cantr that is offline, single player, not persistent, in which you find yourself spawned in the middle of some great story. Everything looks and feels almost like Cantr, but you get around like: ">go east" or ">enter Town Storage" and interact with the world such as ">get primitive bow" or ">attack man in his thirties with bare hands". It would be kind of like fan fiction you could move around in. For puzzles, you'd have to, say: collect wood, trade for some iron, build a boat, and sail to the nearby island.

[Dudel]

That story line wouldn't be difficult... considering the story that Cantr is. XD

[Snake_byte]

Now, are you talking about actually TURNING, Cantr, into something like that or creating a new game combining the two?

Cuz, as easy as WE think the interface is to follow, it really does take some getting used to. I do like those games too but think it may complicate things...
But that's an opinion.

[Rob Maule]

Now, are you talking about actually TURNING, Cantr, into something like that or creating a new game combining the two?

No, I didn't mean it as a suggestion for the current Cantr. Just a new, standalone homage that combines the two styles.

[Snake_byte]

Well either way it's an innovative, idea. One is similar to the other but not, identical. It would be interesting to see.

[Dudel]

It'd be cool.

Instead of popping up with the typical black and white DOS looking stuff, you get the green Cantr with yellow, etc.

When people tell you their name... the name goes from "a man in his twenties" to "Jeff".

Time stamp it, and everything.

[toon]

I think I know what you are talking about. Isn't Hollowgame.com one of those?

[Dudel]

Hollowgame.com would be a MUD... not an IF.