QtFrotz - Frotz port to Kobo e-readers

[Pinchart]

Hi!
As a newbie, I don't understand where to put files Frotz.zip, Frotz-12-13-2013.zip and QtFrotz-src.zip. Could you precise? Y have a Kobo Aura HD. When I open Frotz, I get a black screen. I suppose I have to open a game, but where can I find one?
Thanks a lot.
Patrick

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by Pinchart

Hi!
As a newbie, I don't understand where to put files Frotz.zip, Frotz-12-13-2013.zip and QtFrotz-src.zip. Could you precise? Y have a Kobo Aura HD. When I open Frotz, I get a black screen. I suppose I have to open a game, but where can I find one?
Thanks a lot.
Patrick

See post #5 for a link to games. See post #1 for instructions on installing the program that reads Interactive Games, in some of the formats that they come in.

The classic IA games are text descriptions of an environment, where you are expected to type in commands to interact with the described environment, changing it in some way. (Zork1 is a good example, it is available through the link in post #5) The black box is where the descriptions appear. There is a bar under the box for you to enter your commands.

You will need to select the version of the game that matches the description of games supported by the version of Frotz that you downloaded.

Luck;
Ken

[Pinchart]

Unfortunately, I'm blocked. I don't know if it's due to the install of the program, but my Kobo is blocked on a page "welcome to cool reader". The exit function in the menu always come back to that page. The Kobo is not recognized anymore by my computer. No way to reset it is working. Any idea to quit the program and go back to the main menu of the Kobo?

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by Pinchart

Unfortunately, I'm blocked. I don't know if it's due to the install of the program, but my Kobo is blocked on a page "welcome to cool reader". The exit function in the menu always come back to that page. The Kobo is not recognized anymore by my computer. No way to reset it is working. Any idea to quit the program and go back to the main menu of the Kobo?

How did you get to Coolreader? Did you create a Frotz menu item?

Have you tried poking at the very top of the display? That should give you a dropdown menu with a "Close" selection.

Luck;
Ken

[TazX]

Hey BigBoot, this is the first thing I looked for. Nice work, are you basing your code on this?
https://github.com/sussman/zvm/blob/master/README

Looking forward to playing some games

[the_doc]

Is there a list of games that work well with this? I mean, without crashes and until the end.

EDIT:
I answer myself.
I have started several games just to check if they work. It seems that file types z5 and z8 are supported. I guess z3 too.
File type zblorb crashes the app and the ereader. You get an error message but not way to exit the app, so your only way out is pushing the turn off button for more than 10 seconds and restart.
Above somebody said that colour graphics crashes the app too, so it is necessary to look for a black and white version of the game if available.

[emacsomancer]

If I've got Kobo Start Menu 08 installed on my Kobo device, do I still KoboLauncher to install (Q)Frotz? If so, is there a link to instructions for installing KoboLauncher into KSM8?

[Ken Maltby]

The install guides in the KOReader forum should still cover that. At least a link to the Pbchess Kobo download.

http://pbchess.vlasovsoft.net/en/index.html

Basically, you just put the vlasovsoft folder into your .adds folder.

Luck;
Ken

[tshering]

Originally Posted by emacsomancer

If I've got Kobo Start Menu 08 installed on my Kobo device, do I still KoboLauncher to install (Q)Frotz? If so, is there a link to instructions for installing KoboLauncher into KSM8?

I upload here a package that installs QFrotz to be started from KSM 08 directly.

• extract KoboRoot.tgz from the uploaded archive and copy it to .kobo of your device
• eject the device and disable usb
• select "handle update" > "install update"

You can start Frotz by: (ksm home) "user srcipts" > "frotz ksm.sh"

Edit: For KSM 09 use the package attached to this thread.

[emacsomancer]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

The install guides in the KOReader forum should still cover that. At least a link to the Pbchess Kobo download.

http://pbchess.vlasovsoft.net/en/index.html

Basically, you just put the vlasovsoft folder into your .adds folder.

Thanks, Ken. I'll check that out also for installing other bits. I'm sometimes uncertain what instructions are out-of-date and which still work.'

Originally Posted by tshering

I upload here a package that installs QFrotz to be started from KSM 08 directly.
....
You can start Frotz by: (ksm home) "user srcipts" > "frotz ksm.sh"

Many thanks, Tshering. I got it installed and it works exactly as described. I've discovered that it doesn't like .z3 files, but .z5 and (most?) .z8 work.

Cheers!

Very cool to be able to play these old text adventures on my "book".

[Nemo1984]

Unfortunately, QtFrotz is not working anymore with PBchess launcher 2017-10-18. It just returns a screen with Failed to start application.

Frotz might now be dead for those with only PBchess.

[sergeyvl12]

Originally Posted by Nemo1984

Unfortunately, QtFrotz is not working anymore with PBchess launcher 2017-10-18. It just returns a screen with Failed to start application.

Frotz might now be dead for those with only PBchess.

I've added Frotz to the latest test build

http://pbchess.vlasovsoft.net/files/test/

please try.

[Nemo1984]

Originally Posted by sergeyvl12

I've added Frotz to the latest test build

http://pbchess.vlasovsoft.net/files/test/

please try.

I will test it as soon as I return home.

Thank you!

[Ken Maltby]

It works fine on my AuraHD. Good to see you Sergey.

Luck;
Ken

[Nemo1984]

Yeah, I figured out I forgot to put back frotz.sh, I just copied the folder. Thanks!