iPad Interactive Fiction Heaven - Page 4

The Old Man · 06-08-2010, 08:19 AM

Yes, probably just graph paper would be easier and quicker but then I couldn't play with my toy as much. Anyway, here's a map for the short but cute adventure 9:05 created with Popplet.

It has been reduced a little, the idea is that the small red boxes attached to the rooms contain the articles found in the rooms. I think once the OS update that allows multitasking it will be a lot easier to create these.

Popplet does need a few improvements. There is no way to draw just a plain line (outside of the popplet) or to put a 90 degree bend in a line. This would be a limitation on organizational charts or schematic diagrams.

madman · 06-08-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rique

Wow, I truly feel like a dinosaur now. I always used to simply create a grid on writing paper with room names shown in row headings, and destinations shown in the column headings (N S E W NE NW SE SW U and D). Crude but effective - and faster than drawing boxes.

And I guess I could use "Numbers" for that.

-- Riq

You're not a dinosaur, I still have a working c64 and an apple][e and that's how we made games for them, even pen&paper D&D type stuff as well! I can't wait to play the Zork games on my ipad - this is awesome!

6charlong · 06-09-2010, 09:43 AM

Thank you, Harry. This is a great find. For me, it's the best app for the iPad yet. It's tragic that Activision refuses to sell the Infocom games anymore.

Many thanks.

volwrath · 06-09-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6charlong

Thank you, Harry. This is a great find. For me, it's the best app for the iPad yet. It's tragic that Activision refuses to sell the Infocom games anymore.

Many thanks.

I agree. They could charge $10 on their website for all their games and rake in some dough.

dorino · 06-09-2010, 05:52 PM

I still have my Babelfish t-shirt... Without walkthroughs, I tore the hell out of that game. Took forever.

I want IF on my Sony now... Why did you have to bring back these memories? Oh infocom, you treated me so well!

6charlong · 06-10-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volwrath

I agree. They could charge $10 on their website for all their games and rake in some dough.

Or put them up for $.99 each on iTunes. All they have to put up is the little DAT files, how hard can it be?

dorino · 06-10-2010, 12:53 PM

Being that it's apple's store, probably fairly hard. Remember all the turmoil with the C64 app? Apple tries to avoid emulators, even when they're used legally.

scottjl · 06-10-2010, 12:56 PM

well. apple doesn't allow interpreters, or apps with dynamic code execution. but frotz is already in there, so allowing you to download games should be nothing. they are just data files (databases actually) for the frotz engine.

dorino · 06-10-2010, 01:00 PM

It's odd, apple has made exceptions to that rule (like how you can buy the c64 app, yes?) but still seems to enforce it on new developers and such. Pity...

I actually never played Frotz. Was too young, and my brother didn't own it.
Still, played some of the later infocoms.

Hitchhiker's Guide is still my favorite, as said.

JMikeD · 06-10-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorino

I actually never played Frotz. Was too young, and my brother didn't own it.

I may have misunderstood your comment, but Frotz is the name of an interpreter that allows playing the Infocom games on various platforms, not the name of an actual game.

BTW, for anyone that hasn’t seen this article, here is a link to blog from a fellow who found one of the backup drives from Infocom with a partially completed unpublished Douglas Adams game on it.

Unreleased Infocom

I found it very interesting.

scottjl · 06-10-2010, 01:29 PM

actually the c64 app isn't really an interpreter. apple had him change the app. the original app included the c64 BASIC interpreter which violated apple's rules. the one that was eventually released only plays set "cartridge" games that are coded into the app. no user-generate content is available. since the author is unable to go out and license some of the popular commercial games that were available at that time you're stuck with pretty much unknown freebies. needless to say the c64 app isn't selling as well as it could have.

i'd love to see an old apple // emulator, it could easily be done on the ipad with full screen. and at 143k a floppy i could load up boxes of my disks. unfortunately unlikely to ever happen.

Trubu · 06-10-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottjl

i'd love to see an old apple // emulator, it could easily be done on the ipad with full screen. and at 143k a floppy i could load up boxes of my disks.

Ooooh, the original Castle Wolfenstein. Wasted many an hour of study hall on that game.

I'm not really into the jailbreaking scene - are there many emulators available?

scottjl · 06-10-2010, 01:51 PM

nes and snes.. there used to be a PS one but i think it was discontinued. i thought the C64 one was available as well but he had to pull it to get into the app store. i think there is one for the gameboy. it's been a long time since i bothered to look for any of them. i believe someone attempted to port basklisk as well but it was buggy.

kjk · 06-10-2010, 03:20 PM

Interesting change to Apple's iPhone Developer License Agreement:
http://www.appleoutsider.com/2010/06/10/hello-lua/

Quote:

Unless otherwise approved by Apple in writing, no interpreted code may be downloaded or used in an Application except for code that is interpreted and run by Apple’s Documented APIs and built-in interpreter(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with Apple’s prior written consent, an Application may use embedded interpreted code in a limited way if such use is solely for providing minor features or functionality that are consistent with the intended and advertised purpose of the Application.

Bolded parts are new this week. Sounds like Apple is loosening up a bit on interpreted code.

scottjl · 06-10-2010, 03:29 PM

wow.. this is a very nice change. it would open the door to emulators. thanks!

06-09-2010, 05:52 PM	#50
dorino I'm odd. Take note. Posts: 325 Karma: 779 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Montana Device: deceased PRS-600, Nook STR	I still have my Babelfish t-shirt... Without walkthroughs, I tore the hell out of that game. Took forever. I want IF on my Sony now... Why did you have to bring back these memories? Oh infocom, you treated me so well! Last edited by dorino; 06-09-2010 at 05:57 PM.

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06-08-2010, 08:19 AM	#46
The Old Man Fanatic Posts: 525 Karma: 1300001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keene, New Hampshire Device: iPad Mini, iPad Pro, Fire 8", iPhone, PaperWhite 2	Yes, probably just graph paper would be easier and quicker but then I couldn't play with my toy as much. Anyway, here's a map for the short but cute adventure *9:05* created with Popplet. It has been reduced a little, the idea is that the small red boxes attached to the rooms contain the articles found in the rooms. I think once the OS update that allows multitasking it will be a lot easier to create these. Popplet does need a few improvements. There is no way to draw just a plain line (outside of the popplet) or to put a 90 degree bend in a line. This would be a limitation on organizational charts or schematic diagrams.

06-09-2010, 09:43 AM	#48
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	Thank you, Harry. This is a great find. For me, it's the best app for the iPad yet. It's tragic that Activision refuses to sell the Infocom games anymore. Many thanks.

06-10-2010, 12:53 PM	#52
dorino I'm odd. Take note. Posts: 325 Karma: 779 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Montana Device: deceased PRS-600, Nook STR	Being that it's apple's store, probably fairly hard. Remember all the turmoil with the C64 app? Apple tries to avoid emulators, even when they're used legally.

06-10-2010, 12:56 PM	#53
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	well. apple doesn't allow interpreters, or apps with dynamic code execution. but frotz is already in there, so allowing you to download games should be nothing. they are just data files (databases actually) for the frotz engine.

06-10-2010, 01:00 PM	#54
dorino I'm odd. Take note. Posts: 325 Karma: 779 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Montana Device: deceased PRS-600, Nook STR	It's odd, apple has made exceptions to that rule (like how you can buy the c64 app, yes?) but still seems to enforce it on new developers and such. Pity... I actually never played Frotz. Was too young, and my brother didn't own it. Still, played some of the later infocoms. Hitchhiker's Guide is still my favorite, as said.

06-10-2010, 01:29 PM	#56
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	actually the c64 app isn't really an interpreter. apple had him change the app. the original app included the c64 BASIC interpreter which violated apple's rules. the one that was eventually released only plays set "cartridge" games that are coded into the app. no user-generate content is available. since the author is unable to go out and license some of the popular commercial games that were available at that time you're stuck with pretty much unknown freebies. needless to say the c64 app isn't selling as well as it could have. i'd love to see an old apple // emulator, it could easily be done on the ipad with full screen. and at 143k a floppy i could load up boxes of my disks. unfortunately unlikely to ever happen.

06-10-2010, 01:51 PM	#58
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	nes and snes.. there used to be a PS one but i think it was discontinued. i thought the C64 one was available as well but he had to pull it to get into the app store. i think there is one for the gameboy. it's been a long time since i bothered to look for any of them. i believe someone attempted to port basklisk as well but it was buggy.

06-10-2010, 03:29 PM	#60
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	wow.. this is a very nice change. it would open the door to emulators. thanks!

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