Um, for those of us who are somewhat broke, do you have to purchase the new speech thingy or can you make do with the free download of the Frots interpreter? I hope I'm understanding this all correctly. And are the 300 plus games free downloads or do you have to buy the zipped package?
----- Original Message ----- From: "feliberto Escobar III" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 3:15 PM Subject: RE: audyssey: A Talking WinFrotz Interpreter for the blind! > That's the reason for the WinFrotzTTS being updated, and modified is > because you "cannot" play these types of text adventures, well, for the > blind that is, simply on Windows alone! We do need the Text To Speech > i.e. TTS added on this particular WinFrotzTTS2002 interpreter. > > All I ask everyone to do is simply download the WinFropzTTS2002 > Interpreter, plus the zipped file of over 300 inform games onto your PC, > and play them yourselves. > > I will advise you to go and purchase the speech engine from the company > entitled NextUP and purchase the AT&T speech engine. It will replace > the MS speech engine with is used by default. Go ahead and give it a > ty! > > Beto > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of FigureInTheCloak > Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 2:41 AM > To: [email protected] > 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/
