Re: Boy, Don't Ya Just Hate This 8)!


13 Jun 1995 08:00:25 GMT

gene.homan.246@horizonmp.com (Gene Homan) writes:

>Ok folks,

>I know how frustrating it can be to have a newbe pop in and start asking
>all types of seemingly goofy questions, but bear with me here.

>I just wanted to ask what TADS and Inform are. I'm interest

They are both Interactive Fiction (text adventure) development languages.
TADS stands for Text Adventure Development System, and it supports a C like
syntax. It currently has two library versions, ADV for standard adventures
and WorldClass, for large complicated projects. TADS has no restriction on
game size. The source code for the compiler/runtime is not available, but
ports have been made to many different systems.

Inform is the Infocom game compiler. It supports a simple, but powerfull
syntax and the final product is compiled into the z-code format (this
format is used by all the Infocom games, and as such there is a runtime
available for almost every computer). The C source code to Inform is
available.

There is a FAQ which compares the benefits of both TADS and Inform,
called the InformvsTADS.faq, or something like that. It's worth reading
if you want to get interested in developing games. Personally I prefer
TADS/WorldClass, but that's only my opinion, and you really should read
the comparison and make your own.

The faq is downloadable from ftp.gmd.de /if-archive/docs I think.
Inform is downloadable from ftp.gmd.de /if-archive/programming/Inform
TADS shareware version from ftp.gmd.de /if-archive/programming/tads

Hope this helps

--
Paul Gilbert           | s9406702@yallara.cs.rmit.edu.au
Bach App Sci, Bach Eng | The opinions expressed are my own, all my own, and
Year 2, RMIT Melbourne | as such will contain no references to pink furry
Australia	       | little creatures from Alpha Centauri.