Re: Homemade Adventure Games for the Amiga


13 Mar 1995 08:48:59 -0500

d92magca@isy.liu.se (MAGNUS CARNBORG) writes:

>And another question is, of course, will anyone be intersted in a
>menu-based game like this?

Well some die-hards might not like it for obvious reasons. And, like the
previous poster, some may not like it because it's more trouble than text.
But the truth is that in order to implement a system like that, you have
to list every option, which makes it tough to develop good puzzles. For
instance, with the "Take item" command, it would have to list every item
in the room. So much for searching. Or what if getting past the troll
involved giving him a wedgie? (or something equally obscure) A menu would
give that away.

>and besides, I thought it would be rather much work
>implementing a complete parser...

Given your memory limitations, I'd just start with a simple "noun" -"verb"
parser, like in the original "Adventure". I think you'll find it to be
easier than you think. Very little work really, considering the play
quality it could add to your game.

Above all, no matter what approach you take, go ahead and do it! Even if
your friends hate it, it will be worth it to you, if only for its "hack
value".

Just my 2 cents...

- Jeff

jeffjetton@aol.com
jjetton@delphi.com