Gargoyle – another IF player

[baf]

There were many posts about different interactive fiction players lately. I've never played this kind of games, so I decided to try it.

But…
Instead of playing I lost some time porting Gargoyle to Kindle Touch. I couldn't stop until I saw it running.

Now, when it is more or less ready I want to share it with you.
You will find KUAL package on my webpage.

There are probably bugs, which I will find when I finally play a game…

Supported formats:

• Adrift games (.taf, played with Scare)
• AdvSys (.dat)
• AGiliTy (.agx/.d$$)
• Alan2 (.acd)
• Alan3 (.a3c)
• HUGO (.hex)
• Inform Z-Machine (.z1/.z2/.z3/.z4/.z5/.z6/.z7/.z8, played with Frotz, Nitfol or Bocfel)
• Inform or Superglús games compiled to the Glulxe VM in Blorb archives (.ulx/.blb/.blorb/.glb/.gblorb, played with Git or Glulxe)
• Inform Z-Machine games in Blorb archives (.zlb, .zblorb, played with Frotz)
• JACL (.jacl/.j2)
• Level 9 (.l9/.sna)
• Magnetic (.mag)
• Quest games (.asl/.cas, played with Geas)
• Scott Adams Grand Adventures (.saga)
• TADS (.gam/.t3)

[Aeris]

Not working on Kindle PW

Font missing, can see only black squares

[nasser]

Great.. this is the last word in IF interpreters.. as it includes modules to play a wide variety of IF formats.. super work to port it, baf..
Ok.. may have some bugs.. only to be expected.. sure you can fix..

[nasser]

Works ok on my PW.. didn't get the issues faced by aeris..
Tried half a dozen files.. zcode, tads, glulx.. all working fine..
Will try some of the less common types: magnetic, hugo, alan..
Interesting that kterm isn't used.. like in the earlier ports posted here..
Maybe due to the above, the gluxe module was actually able to show the opening graphic in one game..
also relieves the extra baggage of matchbox and dialog..
Font is a bit smaller but still quite comfortable.. can always be adjusted through the .ini file..
Reading books and text adventures are closely related.. and in the kindle, with these IF ports, they are a heavenly combination..
Will post some screenshots..

[nasser]

Only one nag..
After quitting, it goes to kindle home screen..
I would prefer it go back to the opening screen where it asks you to select a story file..
From here, we can still quit by selecting 'cancel'..
Possible, baf..?

[nasser]

Some screenshots.. showing the glulxe module loading the opening graphics in 3 games..

One bug report: the frotz module is not able to open zcode files with extension as '.DAT'.. like for the old infocom games.. worked ok after changing the extension to '.z5'..

The earlier frotz port was able to handle '.DAT' files.. don't know how the one in the gargoyle package differs.. maybe older version..?

[baf]

Originally Posted by Aeris

Not working on Kindle PW

Font missing, can see only black squares

Strange. It works for nasser, so I don't have any idea now

[brianinmaine]

Originally Posted by baf

Strange. It works for nasser, so I don't have any idea now

maybe it's a locales problem? Screenshot of spacebar is french?

[baf]

Originally Posted by nasser

Some screenshots.. showing the glulxe module loading the opening graphics in 3 games..

One bug report: the frotz module is not able to open zcode files with extension as '.DAT'.. like for the old infocom games.. worked ok after changing the extension to '.z5'..

The earlier frotz port was able to handle '.DAT' files.. don't know how the one in the gargoyle package differs.. maybe older version..?

Great! Thanks for screenshots.
As far as I understood you can set file associations in ini file. You may try to link DAT with frotz.

Originally Posted by nasser

After quitting, it goes to kindle home screen..
I would prefer it go back to the opening screen where it asks you to select a story file..
From here, we can still quit by selecting 'cancel'..
Possible, baf..?

I am not sure it is necessary. I will think about it.

[baf]

Originally Posted by brianinmaine

maybe it's a locales problem? Screenshot of spacebar is french?

Good point. May be worth trying it with another locale.

[hawhill]

Must try this out...
BTW, .dat file extension seems to be reserved for a different format. See https://code.google.com/p/garglk/sou...launcher.c#324
I think there's no way but renaming if it is in fact z-code.

[baf]

Originally Posted by hawhill

BTW, .dat file extension seems to be reserved for a different format. See https://code.google.com/p/garglk/sou...launcher.c#324
I think there's no way but renaming if it is in fact z-code.

You are right!
If nasser prefers not to change the extension there is also a possibility to override the association just for one game in ini file:

# Override for specific game
[ Floatpoint.zblorb ]
terp glulxe

[Aeris]

Originally Posted by brianinmaine

maybe it's a locales problem? Screenshot of spacebar is french?

My Kindle PW is in italian language

[brianinmaine]

Originally Posted by Aeris

My Kindle PW is in italian language

Sorry, I'm not great with languages. Would it be possible to try a different language (locale) to see if this is the font/black box issue?

[brianinmaine]

Originally Posted by baf

There were many posts about different interactive fiction players lately. I've never played this kind of games, so I decided to try it.

But…
Instead of playing I lost some time porting Gargoyle to Kindle Touch. I couldn't stop until I saw it running.

Now, when it is more or less ready I want to share it with you.
You will find KUAL package on my webpage.

There are probably bugs, which I will find when I finally play a game…

Is this a huge file? I'd like to try it, but where I am it is not allowed to download from dropbox. Can you post a copy here, please?