Hi Dark, This does sound good. Those games are quite addictive as simple as they are, and I think it is the simplicity that makes them so enjoyable.
As you pointed out with a lot of text adventures, especially interactive fiction, its often a case of guess the verb or difficult puzzle elements that turns people off playing it. However, text adventures as you've seen don't have to be that way. If and when I do my RPG I agree that keeping the commands simple stupid is the best practice. Its hard to go wrong with commands like put, take, use, wear, equip, etc. if you stick to a few basic commands people can generally go from there. I've even thought that adding a Dos style menu where you simply press a number for the selection is even easier yet. On 1/7/12, dark <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi everyone. > > Today I've been testing some of the beta versions for the new eamon delux > with it's vi compatibility mode. > > it's going very well, all the irritations with display are totally gone so > that it just displays like any console window dos application, and the > developer has completely altered several menues so that now they all have > numbers to press, for instance in the character editer to alter your > characters' hardiness you now just hit one and then type the new number just > like those number driven choices in dos programs. > > Also, the developer is doing a lot of very nice extra work in the vi mode, > such as writing in text descriptions of graphics, and with more of a > campeigne mode to be added where you can actually use that gold from > adventures to buy improvement for your character (rather than having to > cheat with the editer), this is looking like it'll be awsome. > > Oh and yes, he's also making the dungeon designer accessible too in case > anyone would like to write their own eamon games. > > So, today i've been playing all the beginner eamon delux adventures and > having thoughts. > > As beginner adventures these are not complicated in the least, go into > location, slaughter your way through and grab the loot to take back to the > main hall to sell for dosh. > > what is surprising me is how addictive these are, and how just a few lines > of description and a very simple system can create an immersive game. > > The parza is fairly unsophisticated, indeed the only item manipulation > commands are put, remove, wear and use, so puzles tend to be a matter of > looking in the room description and searching objects for other objects. > > the combat is equally simple, but at the same time has enough in for > variation. Five basic types of weapons with your character gaining > experience in them as they use them, a heal, damage, and speed spell with > again limited chance of use, and the chance to have your charisma affect > your dealings with npcs, meaning they either ignore, fight, or fight along > side you. > > Yet, the system has enough to be interesting, particularly when you've got > got three or four allies on your side vs three or four enemies, ---- indeed > in those situations you might play healer. > > Don't mistake me, the system is stil primative. I'm rather sorry for > instance there is no menue driven conversation, and some more spells or > fighting moves would be nice to have. > > Also the descriptions obviously vary in quality according to the game, ---- > and yet, i've spent considderable time today just running around dungeons > hacking up nasties for fun and prophit. > > So, what Tom has said recently about text games really holds true I think, > even though I personally am not a fan of interactive fiction, ---- too many > item manipulation commands and puzles that are too obscure. > > Yet something like a more complex eamon, with some more commands, some more > character interaction and some random text would I think be awsome! indeed I > might think about creating something like this if I ever start writing > games. > > Beware the grue! > > Dark. > --- > Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > [email protected]. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to [email protected]. > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
