October 29, 2008 Archives

Inform 7 programming exercises.

Sketch out a map of four or five locations (connected by compass directions), and place simple objects in each location. Then, write a brief transcript of an imaginary session playing a text game that features those rooms.

It's kind of a tradition for this kind of test project to be set in "My house" or "My dorm," but you might want to be more creative than that. If you've ever written a short story, try to sketch out the location of a character's house, or the vampire dungeon, or Dr. Von Sinister's mind-control laboratory.

Write out a transcript of what the rooms look like -- but keep your writing focused on the setting, not on things that happen.

Von Sinster's Hideout

The muffled bustle of a London street casts shadows on the frosted glass windows. Heavy oaken doors lead north. A small metal panel in the floor leads down to a service tunnel.

A guard surprises you by jumping out at you demanding the password.

You wouldn't expect the guard to keep jumping out at you -- the thrid or the thirtieth time you've passed through this location. It would certainly no longer be a suprise.

We chose Slouching Towards Bedlam, by Star C. Foster and Daniel Ravipinto.

I've got a version on my website, but if you want to be able to save and restore games, you should check the IFDB for the appropriate downloads.