Hi Dark, Okay, I get where you are coming from, and I need to clarify a few things here. By Inform I mean the Inform 7 language itself not Glulx. Yes, I know basically Glulx is an updated and extended version of Inform, but when I say Inform I mean Inform not Glulx. So with that in mind Inform 7 itself isn't the best option for an RPG, because it has a limited number of types, (objects,) for handling massive numbers of stats. Glulx is indeed better for this sort of thing because Glulx was written and expanded to handle all kinds of things that Inform on its own couldn't do.
However, I will also admit I am coming from a slightly biased opinion. I am a college educated programmer who has worked with everything from script kiddy languages like Inform to assembly code. As a result it is sort of beneath me to go back to using a language like Inform or Glulx, which I consider script kiddy languages, because I can see their limitations firsthand. I feel boxed in by lack of features, lack of ability to do what I want to do with it, and regard them as languages for rank amateurs. An attitude I am sure most interactive fiction writers would probably not appreciate. The problem has to do with object oriented programming and philosophy. In OOP languages like C++ I can create an unlimited number of classes to build anything and everything my heart desires just by writing the class and then creating an object of that type in my program. In a language like Inform you have 16 basic types such as Doors, Man, Woman, Animal, Thing, etc with very little ability to expand those types or modify how they function. They are just there, and you have to make do with them. So as a more advanced programmer I want to be able to go into the underlying classes and modify how the doors work, define what a Man or Woman is, and if I want to create a special creature or monster of some kind I don't want to use a generic Animal type. I want to be able to define more specific monster classes etc. I hope I'm making sense here. I guess what I am saying is if I am going to write a full fledge Dungeons and Dragons RPG I'd start out with a language like Python instead of Inform, because I can create specific classes for orcs, goblins, elves, demons, warriors, you name it without having to rely on generic types like Man, woman, or Animal. Why should I, a skilled programmer, settle for generic classes and simplistic game mechanics when I can write something better? Cheers! On 10/10/14, dark <d...@xgam.org> wrote: > Hi Tom. > > I disagree about Inform not being good for rpgs, or at least not Inform as > it exists as Glulks. Given what has been done by Victor with Kerkerkruip, > and his previous efforts such as the unfinished idols of war. > > The Inform 7 modules he created are still freely available and some other > people have made games with them, indeed he created those modules > specifically so that rpg mechanics could! be handled in a standard if > language. > > yes, while it's true Inform 6 and the standard Zcode format never got the > wherewithall to make rpgs, mostly because as we've said before the if > community don't like rpgs, that doesn't mean glulks isn't an option, indeed > > I'd be rather pleased if more rpg games were made in Glulks. > > Dark.Take them to the refirbished chamber that was once bad! > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. > --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
