09 Sep 2010 [ Prev
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Interactive Fiction
Introduction to interactive fiction (text adventure games) and Inform 7 (a tool for creating them.)
In class, we will sample some recent IF games, and we will start some simple coding exercises. Just as Scratch has a history behind it (it was created by MIT researchers in order to introduce kids to the thinking processes they'll need in order to learn computer programming skills), interactive fiction also has a history. I'll let Jason Scott's GET LAMP movie tell that story in detail, when he comes to SHU to screen a trimmed-down version. (Here's a trailer.)
People's Republic of IF (How to play IF postcard)
How did my son react to text adventure games, one dark night during Snowpocalypse '10? Here is his first encounter. Watching Peter play is not quite the same thing as watching a beta-tester playing through your own game, but you'll see how he uses problem-solving skills. Watch for when he realizes that progress in this game depends on reading the text carefully and interpreting the words (rather than just shooting anything that moves).
As I introduce Peter to "Adventure," I describe the significance and history of this game, which in about 1976 invented the text adventure genre (in fact, today's "adventure game" genre owes its name to this game.)
In class, we will sample some recent IF games, and we will start some simple coding exercises. Just as Scratch has a history behind it (it was created by MIT researchers in order to introduce kids to the thinking processes they'll need in order to learn computer programming skills), interactive fiction also has a history. I'll let Jason Scott's GET LAMP movie tell that story in detail, when he comes to SHU to screen a trimmed-down version. (Here's a trailer.)
People's Republic of IF (How to play IF postcard)
How did my son react to text adventure games, one dark night during Snowpocalypse '10? Here is his first encounter. Watching Peter play is not quite the same thing as watching a beta-tester playing through your own game, but you'll see how he uses problem-solving skills. Watch for when he realizes that progress in this game depends on reading the text carefully and interpreting the words (rather than just shooting anything that moves).
As I introduce Peter to "Adventure," I describe the significance and history of this game, which in about 1976 invented the text adventure genre (in fact, today's "adventure game" genre owes its name to this game.)
Categories: class_topics
