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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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 Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject: The 1st Annual Insert Credit IF Contest |
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While packing and sorting my personal items for storage/ebay, I came across a particular object that I picked up at a comic shop in Cambridge, MA, an object that was just too good to go and sell on ebay. So I decided to put it up for ICers to compete over. As suggested, I am officially announcing the Insert Credit Interactive Fiction Contest.
I am tasking YOU, IC, to build text adventures using the latest version of Inform. As documented here, the latest version of inform is unique in that rather than using C like, object oriented code, it's syntax resembles english, instead. From the manual:
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"Cave Entrance"
The Cobble Crawl is a room. "You are crawling over cobbles in a low passage. There is a dim light at the east end of the passage."
A wicker cage is here. "There is a small wicker cage discarded nearby."
The Debris Room is west of the Crawl. "You are in a debris room filled with stuff washed in from the surface. A low wide passage with cobbles becomes plugged with mud and debris here, but an awkward canyon leads upward and west. A note on the wall says, 'Magic word XYZZY'."
The black rod is here. "A three foot black rod with a rusty star on one end lies nearby."
Above the Debris Room is the Sloping E/W Canyon. West of the Canyon is the Orange River Chamber.
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That's executable code to create four rooms and two objects. Isn't that neat?
At any rate, the contest official will begin in about a week (you'll get a day's notice) in order to give people time to download the editor (it's mac/pc!) play around with it, familiarize yourself, learn a few things, etc. The documentation is fantastic and has lots of sample code, it should be no sweat. When the actual contest begins, I will announce the MYSTERY THEME and you'll have another week to write your entries (longer if people are howling for more time, but we're talking fairly small scale, here). Ingenious, high concept projects that don't quite execute correctly will likely be judged more favorably than larger, more polished works that are kind of dull to actually go through. Also: short and sweet is most likely preferable to long and kind of sweet but also really long.
So let's get to it! Download everything you need at the official inform site. A photo of the prize will go up later tonight; Toups and Shaper: You want this prize.
I said let's get to it! |
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professor_scissors
Posts: 1033
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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Theme? I hope my BRILLIANT IDEA can be fit into it.
I'm in! Maybe! |
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dessgeega
Posts: 3317
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| all aboard the inform 7 train. destination: the future. |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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You should be in!
Also, to everyone out there who wants to make a game but has no technical skills ( <-- ) or maybe platform issues, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE |
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dessgeega
Posts: 3317
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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i'm way in. i'm about halfway through the inform 7 manual, and i should be able to finish in a week if i stop forgetting to.
i'm gonna go 'head and sticky this thread. |
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Monthenor
Posts: 455
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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| This may be the beer(s) talking but lordy I do love to hear myself type. I will write something unnerving! For IF! |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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So what is it that you guys like?
That's right. I know what.
(DVD for size reference) |
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Dark Age Iron Savior
Posts: 3148
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| If I win, can I have the chair instead? |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| You know I was kind of expecting a bigger reaction. |
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GrimSweeper
Posts: 530
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| If I write something for this, that little guy will feature as a useable item or some-such. |
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Sawtooth
Posts: 2350
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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Sweeeeeeeeet. Entering this contest!
EVERYONE GET IN THIS THREAD and ENTER this CONTEST let's make this GOOD
OK |
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Takashi
Posts: 820
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Aw screw it, I'll write something. |
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LegatoB
Posts: 1546
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Servbot? Fuck yeah! Count me in, too. |
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ReroRero
Posts: 2148
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I'll be in it even though I'll probably write something so incredibly bad that it will embarass all who are involved. |
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ipslore
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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dark steve wrote:
Also, to everyone out there who wants to make a game but has no technical skills ( <-- ) or maybe platform issues, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE
Hey, that's me!
Yeah, I think I could probably work up some froth for this. |
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Screwtape
Posts: 81
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 4:55 am Post subject: |
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| I don't know what that prize is (well, OK, I do now - thanks, Wikipedia!), but I look forward to an excuse to play with I7 some more. |
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vision
Posts: 472
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 10:17 am Post subject: |
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dark steve wrote:
(DVD for AWESOMENESS! reference)
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 10:21 am Post subject: |
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Actually it's just the case, somebody swiped the disc at a party or something.
Although YES. |
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internisus
Posts: 961
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 10:30 am Post subject: |
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| This is kind of exciting. I'll plan to do something, but I don't have much free time lately. I'll do my best. |
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Nana Komatsu
Posts: 697
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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Holy crap a servbot! I want!
I will also throw in a copy of Ys Ark of Something or other for PSP since I can't seem to give it away otherwise.
Also, are we required to use Inform if we know how to do something object oriented instead?
Note: I wouldn't want to add features that Inform doesn't support, I might just go crazy writing that readable-english-like syntax. |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, if you wanted to try to swing Inform 6 or TADS, that would be cool. Not sure why you would even want to try and bust out a full fledged language, though.
Also, I'm on a mac, so obviously I can't judge your entry if I can't play it.
Are you other guys learning mad inform by now? |
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ipslore
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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dark steve wrote:
Are you other guys learning mad inform by now?
Oh yes, it's quite nice! Working on a practice thing right now. I can't put things into or on other things, though! Oh, and 'if' statements, too. Bleagh! |
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Persona-sama
Posts: 1145
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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I have that same Kobun plush!
I like to slowly rotate its head around so that it looks like it's creepily staring at people. |
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Nana Komatsu
Posts: 697
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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dark steve wrote:
Yeah, if you wanted to try to swing Inform 6 or TADS, that would be cool. Not sure why you would even want to try and bust out a full fledged language, though.
Also, I'm on a mac, so obviously I can't judge your entry if I can't play it.
Are you other guys learning mad inform by now?
Well I'm just so used to writing code in php/java/c++/whatever now that it's become habit. Things don't seem right unless there are $'s everywhere.
Also, I'd be developing on a mac, so of course you could play it. |
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Persona-sama
Posts: 1145
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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I think you should also include visual novels made in the style of Bowling Pin's little game too.
I mean, it's pretty similar except it has music and pictures while not having as many options as text adventures. |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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NO MUSIC OR PICTURES, NO WINDOWS-ONLY EXECUTABLES
I AM THE LAW OF THIS CONTEST
Nana: if you can compile binaries for both platforms, yeah, go for it. |
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Persona-sama
Posts: 1145
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| ...hitler. |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Persona you will stop sassing me and enter this contest >:| |
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Persona-sama
Posts: 1145
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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You're not the boss of me, dark steve!
...maybe if you still had a Dr. Slump avatar, but not now!!
(We'll see. Maybe if the mystery theme is really awesome.) |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Dude I never had a Dr. Slump avatar are you smoking the wacom tablet or what |
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ApM
Posts: 113
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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| I am so up for this, despite the fact that it's always been my lack of puzzle design ability, rather than programming skill, that has prevented me from developing quality IF. |
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schild
Posts: 536
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| Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 4:02 am Post subject: |
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| I call shennanigans on IC contests. |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 8:48 am Post subject: |
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How dare you.
(reminder for people to be learnin' the inform! Mystery topic scheduled to land tuesday!) |
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Toups the Elder
Posts: 508
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| Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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For all of us Linux homies: here is how to install inform 7 under wine.
First download the latest wine from http://www.winehq.com/. I downloaded the source package and used the installer in the "tools" directory which compiles everything for you without even the troublesome "./configure;make;make install" process. The only hitch is that it will try to ask you for root permissions when it gets to the install step and it always fails there for me, so I have to "sudo make install" by hand.
You should be able to install Wine from a repository also.
Then download and install IEs4Linux and follow the instructions it gives. This installed without a hitch on my Ubuntu system, and I hope it goes as easily for you as it did for me.
IEs4Linux installs ie5, ie5.5 and ie6, but we will be using ie6 to run Inform. It will create a few scripts in "$HOME/bin" for launching each of the browsers. IEs4Linux works by creating directories specifically tailored for each browser, it then launches each browser after telling wine which directories to work with. More on that later.
The next step is to download the inform 7 installer here. Its an MSI file, which is a little tricky to install. Do it like so:
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toups@sky:~$ msiexec /i I7_3M43_Windows.msi
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Now we need to create a script to launch inform in the context of IE6 that we installed above. The easiest way to do this is to modify the ie6 startup script
installed by IEs4Linux:
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toups@sky:~$ cd ~/bin
toups@sky:~/bin$ cp ie6 inform7
toups@sky:~/bin$ vim inform7
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Then change THIS:
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#!/bin/bash
cd
WINEPREFIX="/home/toups/.ies4linux/ie6" wine "/home/toups/.ies4linux/ie6/drive_c/Program Files/Internet Explorer/IEXPLORE.EXE" "$@"
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into THIS:
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#!/bin/bash
cd
WINEPREFIX="/home/toups/.ies4linux/ie6" wine "$HOME/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/Inform 7/Inform7.exe" "$@"
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If you installed everything like default (and, I guess, if you are on a Debian-like system) then your directories should be the same as mine. If not you may need to change the path to inform to whatever it was when you used the inform installer/wine installer.
Now you should be able to launch inform by typing:
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toups@sky:~$ ~/bin/inform7
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PM me with any questions or post a reply if you had to do something different on another flavor of linux. |
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nothingxs
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 3:04 am Post subject: |
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| I'll be learning Inform to try this out. |
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professor_scissors
Posts: 1033
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| Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 7:52 am Post subject: |
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| Man, Linux looks so damn easy to use. |
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LegatoB
Posts: 1546
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| Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 10:02 am Post subject: |
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professor_scissors wrote:
Man, Linux looks so damn easy to use.
He is trying to run a piece of Windows software that integrates IE into itself rather heavily. |
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Mister Toups
Posts: 4943
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| Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 10:20 am Post subject: |
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I doubt I will enter this because I can't write fiction for shit, but...
Has anyone ever done interactive FAN fiction? |
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Toups the Elder
Posts: 508
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| Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 10:21 am Post subject: |
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| If the world only complied with standards we wouldn't have to deal with all this shite. |
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Scratchmonkey
Posts: 2229
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| Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| Guys, I'm in on this even though I'm only up through Chapter 2.9 in the Inform tutorial and I will almost certainly not be all the way through it before the contest is over. |
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Intentionally Wrong
Posts: 673
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 12:34 am Post subject: |
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Mister Toups wrote:
I doubt I will enter this because I can't write fiction for shit, but...
Has anyone ever done interactive FAN fiction?
That's what this would be if I'd hurry up and finish it. I'm currently too enthralled with Inform 7 and the opportunity to have a legitemate excuse to remake what games I've already published to get around to it, though.
(By the way, I'm in. I have to maintain my record for misjudging my abilities and entering contests I don't really have the time or energy to properly devote to.) |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 10:06 am Post subject: |
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| Mystery topic drops tomorrow! |
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Wilkes
Posts: 1603
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 10:12 am Post subject: |
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Shit. I found this thread just today. The hell.
Well, I'll poke around today and win this tomorrow, I guess. |
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dark steve
Posts: 3002
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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The Mystery Topic is:
Machines In Trouble
Use and subvert as you will!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |
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dessgeega
Posts: 3317
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| Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 6:20 am Post subject: |
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that's a good topic!
i'm working on my entry. |
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dessgeega
Posts: 3317
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| Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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so hey, i started coding my entry today.
who else is working on theirs? |
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Monthenor
Posts: 455
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| Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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I am, but I'm having a devil of a time making the game count down every turn.
EDIT: Got it. Silly Inform7, not having "is equal to" built in. 1105 words so far! |
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internisus
Posts: 961
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| Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not going to be able to do this, I can tell. However, I have been inspired to put together a fabulous binder full of Intro-to-IF documentation, essays and articles, CDs including IF games and developmental software, and full manuals for both Inform 6 and 7.
Putting together fabulous binders is hereby the new thing to do. |
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Jeff Garneau
Posts: 1622
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| Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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| dark steve you goddamn son of a bitch reply to my pm. |
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Intentionally Wrong
Posts: 673
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 1:28 am Post subject: |
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| I'm working on it, but I'm also in the middle of about a bazillion other things that need my time and attention. How long do we have on this, again? |
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