Re: Inform Installation Question


Tue, 8 Aug 1995 11:53:28 -0400

gt5048a@prism.gatech.edu (Jon A. Preston) writes:
> Thanks for the help - I got ZIP for DOS.
>
> BTW - is there a way to create graphics ZIP files like Z6+ or so? Inform
> seems to have this capability, but is it documented?

You can stick in a graphics opcode yourself; the opcodes are
documented in the "Specification of the Z-Machine". However, I don't
believe that any available interpreters accept them -- except
Infocom's own interpreter, of course.

Even if they did, there is currently no way to distribute graphics or
sound with a Z-code game. The Z-code file doesn't actually contain the
graphics (even in V6); it just contains opcodes to "display image #4"
or whatever, with the assumption that the interpreter has image 4 in
some convenient format.

> or even better - is there a way to call C functions from within Inform code?

No. Think about it -- how would such a thing be stored in the
machine-independent Z-code file?

I hereby call upon the forces of the Net to invent an architecture by
which a machine-independent game and machine-indepedent graphics (and
sound, animation, music, etc) can be packaged into a single flat file.
Inform is my personal prejudice, but if TADS, HUGO, or some other
system pulled it off, I'd still be happy.

--Z

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the borogoves..."