Whoopy! That's great! Having to route to the Jaws cursor all the time is such a pain!
----- Original Message ----- From: "Brandon Cole" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 2:43 PM Subject: Re: audyssey: A Talking WinFrotz Interpreter for the blind! > The interpreter will read the text without all that mucking about with the > jaws cursor. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "FigureInTheCloak" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 3:41 AM > Subject: Re: audyssey: A Talking WinFrotz Interpreter for the blind! > > >> Uh, and the difference between that and Jaws reading text games woudl >> be...? >> Sorry, confused. Or will Jaws for some reason not read them? >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "matt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 3:14 AM >> Subject: Re: audyssey: A Talking WinFrotz Interpreter for the blind! >> >> >>> It is a program called win frotz. It is just the program that reads text >>> games. >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "FigureInTheCloak" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> To: <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 2:08 AM >>> Subject: Re: audyssey: A Talking WinFrotz Interpreter for the blind! >>> >>> >>>> Um, what's a Frotz? >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "feliberto Escobar III" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>> To: <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 6:59 PM >>>> Subject: audyssey: A Talking WinFrotz Interpreter for the blind! >>>> >>>> >>>>> Hello Everyone: >>>>> >>>>> My name is Beto (Bay toe) Escobar III, and I am, most likely, the >>>>> newest >>>>> entry into this list serve. Here's the deal, I've befriended a >>>>> programmer, which works for a very large computer company, and he, >>>>> through my pleading, decided to update one of the Windows Frotz >>>>> Interpreters to work specifically for the blind. He included the MS >>>>> speech engine in it so blind gamers, such as us, can now play all of >>>>> those wonderful Infocom games on our Windows based PC! Hurray! >>>>> >>>>> Now, I know, just as you do, the Microsoft SAPI 5 speech Engine speech >>>>> quality is disgusting, but the company NextUP sells fantastic SAPI 5 >>>>> speech Engines which work wonderfully with this updated WinFrotzTTS >>>>> Interpreter for the blind gamer! I can say this because I am using it >>>>> right now to play all of these games! >>>>> >>>>> Now, believe it or not, but W. Scott Dillman, found the original Zork >>>>> game which was written at MIT by some of the charters members of the >>>>> Infocom Corporation, and included it in the game zip file. It is-the >>>>> original Zork-and it is hard! I've yet to win even though I've made >>>>> it >>>>> through Zork I, II, and III! Look, just go and download the >>>>> interpreter >>>>> first, then download all of the public domain text adventures, **and** >>>>> if you still have, or can purchase any of the Infocom games, they will >>>>> work wonderfully as well. >>>>> >>>>> I was fortunate to purchase all major releases of the Infocom games >>>>> e.g. >>>>> Lost Treasures of Infocom I, II, and Masterpieces of Infocom only a >>>>> couple of years ago, and they were all new! If I found them, you can >>>>> too. Just read below, where the programmer, W. Scott Dillman, wrote >>>>> out >>>>> this little memo! Have fun playing! >>>>> >>>>> You New Friend, >>>>> Beto Escobar III, LMSW >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> WinFrotzTTS2002 Interpreter >>>>> By W. Scott Dillman >>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Welcome to the most updated version of the popular WinFrotz >>>>> Interpreter. >>>>> This is an updated version of David Kinders great Inform interpreter >>>>> 'WinFrotz 2002'. The main goal of WinFrotzTTS2002 Interpreter was to >>>>> design an interface that was easy to use for the visually impaired >>>>> gamer >>>>> and to allow game play without the use of a screen reader by >>>>> leveraging >>>>> Microsoft's SAPI 5 speech Engine API. The application is freely >>>>> available on my website for download along with a module of over 300 >>>>> games from the Interactive Fiction Archive. This last version took a >>>>> lot >>>>> of hard work and testing, and still needs some improvement in areas. >>>>> WinFrotzTTS was developed in my spare time and is a bit lean on good >>>>> documentation. I advise anyone interested to stop by the forum links >>>>> listed below and contribute to the enhancements request list and >>>>> general >>>>> conversation. The site will also run polls now and again to see which >>>>> new features are most needed. I encourage everyone interested to stop >>>>> by >>>>> and make their voices heard. I have also briefly tested >>>>> text-to-speech >>>>> additions to 'Scare' which is another interpreter that runs Adrift >>>>> text >>>>> adventures which there seems to be a fair number of games, and a >>>>> modification to the Level9 interpreter mostly just for nostalgia sake. >>>>> Please direct all questions about this updated version of the >>>>> WinFrotzTTS2002 to me at >>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> >>>>> Here are the important links: >>>>> >>>>> Main website: >>>>> >>>>> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts >>>>> >>>>> Main download page: >>>>> >>>>> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts/modules.php?name=Downloads >>>>> >>>>> Deep link to the updated WinFrotzTTS2002 Interpreter download: >>>>> >>>>> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=v >>>>> iewdownload&cid=2 >>>>> >>>>> Deep link to the IF Archive game module download: >>>>> >>>>> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=v >>>>> iewdownload&cid=5 >>>>> >>>>> Link to the forums for discussion: >>>>> >>>>> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts/modules.php?name=Forums >>>>> >>>>> Below is a list of features and a brief introduction to how the >>>>> application works. >>>>> >>>>> Game loading: >>>>> >>>>> When the app is started it will search a directory for games, the >>>>> default is the directory where WinFrotzTTS is installed. You will >>>>> probably never have >>>>> to change this so when the app starts just hit return when it asks you >>>>> to pick a directory to scan. After the app has scanned the directories >>>>> looking for >>>>> games it will present you with a list by telling you how many games it >>>>> has found. At this point you can use the up and down arrow keys to >>>>> move >>>>> through >>>>> the list of games and it will read the titles aloud. You can also hit >>>>> the first letter of a title and it will skip to that letter in the >>>>> list, >>>>> the list >>>>> is sorted alphabetically, so you would hit the letter z and it would >>>>> skip ahead in the list to Zork 1 most likely. The arrow keys work well >>>>> for the short >>>>> list of Infocom games, but I have 326 games installed and it is easier >>>>> to jump ahead to a letter if I know the game I want to play. >>>>> >>>>> After finding the game you want just hit return and it will load up. >>>>> >>>>> You can hit 'escape' to dismiss this dialog. If you click cancel the >>>>> standard file dialog is presented. Games loaded using the standard >>>>> dialog are not guaranteed >>>>> to work with the extra text to speech functionality, so be warned. It >>>>> will also ask you to type the title of the game so it can be added to >>>>> the supported >>>>> list of games. If this is a game you plan to play often it is a good >>>>> idea to put the game in a folder under the main WinFrotzTTS >>>>> application >>>>> so it is found >>>>> on every startup. >>>>> >>>>> Game saving: >>>>> >>>>> When you type save the app will tell you to type some text. This text >>>>> is >>>>> used to create a file name in the same directory that the current game >>>>> is running >>>>> from. Text entered in the dialog is spoken aloud as well as deleted >>>>> characters. It also handles file overwriting. You can always hit >>>>> 'escape' to dismiss >>>>> the dialog. >>>>> >>>>> Game restoring: >>>>> >>>>> When you type 'restore' the same kind of dialog for game loading comes >>>>> up. The app tells you it is going to search a certain directory for >>>>> saved games. >>>>> You simply hit return and the app scans the directory for saved games. >>>>> It then presents you with a list of save game titles and the name of >>>>> the >>>>> game that >>>>> they were saved from, and you can use the up and down arrow keys again >>>>> to find the saved game you want and hit enter to load it. >>>>> >>>>> You can also delete a game by highlighting a game and hitting the >>>>> delete >>>>> key. The app will then confirm your deletion by asking you to hit 'Y' >>>>> or >>>>> 'N'. >>>>> >>>>> The app will tell you whether it was successful or not. >>>>> >>>>> Command line speech: >>>>> >>>>> Most speech in the game can be interrupted. For example when the app >>>>> is >>>>> telling you which directory it wants to scan you can just hit return >>>>> instead of >>>>> sitting through the whole speech. When the game list comes up you can >>>>> browse from game to game with the arrow keys, as soon as you move to >>>>> the >>>>> next game >>>>> in the list, the previous game title read aloud is cut off. This is >>>>> all >>>>> done to save time and cut out a lot of repetitious reading. >>>>> >>>>> This also works on the command line in the game.. For instance when >>>>> you >>>>> continue to move into the same room in the game and the app reads the >>>>> description >>>>> over and over again. Simply hitting the space bar will clear the >>>>> speech. >>>>> You can also use the up and down arrow keys on the command line of the >>>>> game to >>>>> scroll through commands you have already entered and it will read them >>>>> aloud. Don't worry about extra spaces before and after words, the game >>>>> just ignores >>>>> them so use spaces to verify what you have typed even if it is just >>>>> one >>>>> word. When backspace is used the deleted character is read aloud. >>>>> >>>>> Read again: >>>>> >>>>> Sometimes you want to hear a room description read again and not waste >>>>> a >>>>> turn to hear it. This can be done by hitting CTRL R which will read >>>>> the >>>>> last bit >>>>> of text saved since the last command typed. >>>>> >>>>> Word list spelling: >>>>> >>>>> Many times, games use words that are not easy to spell or are not >>>>> really >>>>> words at all. Some thing like Frobozz. You would not know how many >>>>> 'z's >>>>> are in >>>>> the word. To help with this you can hit CTRL Z after a room >>>>> description, >>>>> and a word list will be presented to you. Using the up and down arrow >>>>> keys you >>>>> can move from word to word or use a character to skip to a word in the >>>>> alphabetic list and the word will be spoken aloud. If you hit 'space >>>>> bar' the word >>>>> is spelled out loud. If you hit 'enter' while on a word, the dialog is >>>>> closed and the word is added to the command line so you don't have to >>>>> type it. If >>>>> you know you are going to use the word a lot, you can hit 'insert' and >>>>> the word will be added to a scratch list that I will describe later. >>>>> You >>>>> can always >>>>> hit escape to dismiss the dialog. >>>>> >>>>> Scratch list: >>>>> >>>>> Sometimes you want to save typing or keep track of certain word. By >>>>> using the 'insert' key in the word list, words can be added to the >>>>> scratch list. hit >>>>> CTRL X to bring up the list. This list can be navigated just like the >>>>> word list. Arrow keys move between entries ( spoken aloud ), >>>>> characters >>>>> move to words >>>>> alphabetically, 'enter' adds the word to the command line, and 'space >>>>> bar' spells the entry. The only difference is that 'delete' removes >>>>> the >>>>> entry from >>>>> the list. The nice thing about the scratch list is that it is saved >>>>> between WinFrotzTTS uses, so the next time you play it is still there. >>>>> >>>>> Input processing: >>>>> >>>>> Text entered on the interpreter command line is processed and words >>>>> are >>>>> read aloud after a space is entered. Since the interpreter ignores >>>>> spaces, before >>>>> and after words it can be used to verify input or stop speech. This >>>>> can >>>>> be useful if you are in and out of the same room over and over again >>>>> and >>>>> don't >>>>> want to sit through the same boring description; just hitting space >>>>> will >>>>> clear the speech buffer. Hitting the 'delete' key will read the last >>>>> deleted character >>>>> out loud. Using the up and down arrow keys will cycle though the >>>>> command >>>>> history and read aloud the commands. Hitting enter on the command line >>>>> will read >>>>> the whole entry aloud before the interpreter's response. >>>>> >>>>> Options: >>>>> >>>>> I have added an setting in the options dialog to disable speech is >>>>> application dialogs for people with screen readers. As well as fixed >>>>> the >>>>> voice selection >>>>> dropdown. >>>>> >>>>> Voices: >>>>> >>>>> Speech voices can be chosen by hitting CTRL+Y. This is the standard >>>>> speech list dialog used throughout WinFrotzTTS. You can use insert to >>>>> hear a voice and >>>>> then hit enter to select it. >>>>> >>>>> Code update: >>>>> >>>>> I have updated the code base to David Kinder's 'Windows Frotz 2002 >>>>> 1.05'. >>>>> >>>>> Games support: >>>>> >>>>> In order to be able to have the interpreter recognize games despite >>>>> their filenames, and since serial numbers don't seem to be a constant. >>>>> I >>>>> devised a fingerprinting >>>>> system that identifies games. These numbers are read in from a simple >>>>> XML file at interpreter startup and associates a file fingerprint with >>>>> a >>>>> game title. >>>>> This makes it easier to add new games to the supported list and remove >>>>> games that don't work and not have to make a new release. I will >>>>> probably be making >>>>> the tool for creating entries for this file available for people who >>>>> want to add games to the list. At this time I have 328 games in the >>>>> supported list. >>>>> >>>>> A caching system keeps this from bogging down application loading. You >>>>> will see a performance slowdown when the first time the application is >>>>> loaded and games are >>>>> parsed. >>>>> POST SCRIPT: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I have done some things to modify the updated WinFrotzTTS2002 >>>>> Interpreter, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF W. SCOTT DILLMAN. This is >>>>> replaceing >>>>> the Microsoft Speech Engine. The AT&T's Natural Voices is also a SAPI >>>>> 5 >>>>> compliant speech engine. However, make note, there are some >>>>> stipulations your PC **must have** in order to use this fantastic >>>>> speech >>>>> engine. Contact the makers of the AT&T's Natural Voices at >>>>> http://www.nextup.com <http://www.nextup.com/> for further >>>>> assistance. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The E-mail with the link to the interpreter written by David Kinder is >>>>> below::: >>>>> >>>>> The original version, without Scott's changes, is just called Windows >>>>> Frotz 2002". You can get it here: >>>>> >>>>> http://mirror.ifarchive.org/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/frotz/Window >>>>> sFrotz2002.zip >>>>> >>>>> David Kinder >>>>> >>>>> Hello Beto, >>>>> first I'd like to apologize for delay in respoding to your email, next >>>>> time I'll respond in 24 hours on business days. >>>>> Because there is many text adventures from Infocom/Activision on our >>>>> site, probably the best option is to use our fulltext search: >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/search.php?s=infocom >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/search.php?s=activision >>>>> Here are some deep links, however this list is not complete: >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/role_playing_games/ga >>>>> mes_n_r/quarterstaff_tomb_of_setmoth.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_g_h/h >>>>> itchhiker_s_guide_to_the_galaxy_the.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_d/dea >>>>> dline.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_p_r/p >>>>> lundered_hearts.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_b/bey >>>>> ond_zork_the_coconut_of_quendor.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_b/bal >>>>> lyhoo.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_k_l/l >>>>> eather_goddess_of_phobos_solid_gold_.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_k_l/l >>>>> urking_horror_the.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_p_r/p >>>>> lanetfall_solid_gold_.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_sa_so >>>>> /seastalker.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_m_o/n >>>>> ord_and_bert_couldn_t_make_head_or_tail_of_it.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_g_h/h >>>>> ollywood_hijinx.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_sp_sw >>>>> /spellbreaker.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_sp_sw >>>>> /starcross.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_t_z/z >>>>> ork_zero.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_t_z/z >>>>> ork_quest_1_assault_on_egreth_castle.html >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_t_z/t >>>>> ombs_and_treasure.html >>>>> etc. For more games, please use our fulltext search as mentioned >>>>> above. >>>>> Is it only one game for that price, or are there >>>>> more than one game in the Gold Seriesrice? >>>>> We charge $4 or $6 fee for access to download section of our site. For >>>>> $4 you'll able to download games without limitations for one day (24 >>>>> hours), for >>>>> $6 you'll be able to use our download service for 30 days. This period >>>>> doesn't apply to playing the games, just for downloading. >>>>> Would you encounter any probems, please don't hesitate to contact me. >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> Ondrej Muncinsky >>>>> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/ >>>>> Block quote start >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: >>>>> Beto Escobar III >>>>> To: >>>>> Ondrej Muncinsky >>>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 8:28 PM >>>>> Subject: Would You Please... >>>>> >>>>> Hello Ondrej-- >>>>> Hello, this is Beto (Bay toe) Escobar III, LMSW, and I am the guy >>>>> who >>>>> E-mailed you a question regarding the Solid Gold Series of the >>>>> Infocom/Activision >>>>> games. Let me try to give you a brief synopsis of why I am asking >>>>> these >>>>> types of questions. The deal is that I am totally blind, and use a >>>>> program on >>>>> my Gateway PC entitled JAWS. JAWS is a screen reader, and reads out >>>>> the >>>>> text to me on my PC monitor. The thing is, however, that it is only a >>>>> text reader, >>>>> and as a result, the games I play are solely text. As a result, the >>>>> games I really enjoy playing are all of the old Infocom text >>>>> Adventures. >>>>> This is >>>>> not too bad because I really enjoyed playing all of these games when I >>>>> purchased them in the mid to late 80's when I **did** have my sight! >>>>> Well, what >>>>> I want to ask of you Ondrej is if you would not mind sending me >>>>> another >>>>> E-mail with all of the Infocom/Activision games you have on your >>>>> website? Please? >>>>> I am specifically asking for the deep links to the exact pages where >>>>> the links are at to download. >>>>> One more thing, the only reason I am doing this now is that a new >>>>> friend >>>>> of mine, W. Scott Dillmanm, who is a programmer, by profession, at IBM >>>>> has updated >>>>> an Interpreter to play on Window N.T., 2000, and XP environments! You >>>>> see Ondrej, when I played these games in the 80's I had my sight, and >>>>> the most beautiful >>>>> IBM PC with an 8088 processor! Do you remember those days! Well, now >>>>> that I am blind, I was unable to get any type of Interpreter to work >>>>> with a screen >>>>> reader like JAWS. My friend, however, took it upon himself to do >>>>> something for a community of people which would bring them some joy at >>>>> this date and >>>>> time in their lives. I make this statement because I am blind, and I >>>>> have enjoyed being in the beta team helping Scott fix, and refix, and >>>>> re-refix , >>>>> the WinFrotzTTS2002 Interpreter! >>>>> I will ask the question one more time, but would you please put >>>>> together >>>>> an E-mail with "deep links" to all of the Infocom and Activision games >>>>> you have >>>>> on your website. Especially all of the Gold Series of games... >>>>> Please >>>>> send the E-mail to both me and Scott... I will put both E-mail >>>>> addresses below... >>>>> Beto Escobar III: >>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> W. Scott Dillman: >>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> Thank you my new friend, >>>>> Beto Escobar III >>>>> Block quote end >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> to leave send a blank Email to: >>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> You can contact the list owners/moderators by Emailing >>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> to go nomail send a blank message to: >>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> change "nomail" to "normal" to resume messages. >>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> to leave send a blank Email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> You can contact the list owners/moderators by Emailing >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> to go nomail send a blank message to: >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> change "nomail" to "normal" to resume messages. >>>> Yahoo! Groups Links >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> to leave send a blank Email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> You can contact the list owners/moderators by Emailing >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> to go nomail send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> change "nomail" to "normal" to resume messages. >>> Yahoo! Groups Links >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> to leave send a blank Email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> You can contact the list owners/moderators by Emailing >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> to go nomail send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> change "nomail" to "normal" to resume messages. >> Yahoo! Groups Links >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > to leave send a blank Email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > You can contact the list owners/moderators by Emailing > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > to go nomail send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > change "nomail" to "normal" to resume messages. > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > to leave send a blank Email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can contact the list owners/moderators by Emailing [EMAIL PROTECTED] to go nomail send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] change "nomail" to "normal" to resume messages. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindgamers/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
