Re: Proposal - PBM Writing System

From: ratt@Castle_Chaos.com (The RATT)

Date: Wed, 02 Feb 1994 21:07:08 +0000

In <1994Feb2.181647.12446@cs.tcd.ie>, rwallace@cs.tcd.ie (Russell Wallace)
write:
>I've got a vague idea for a PBM writing system that I might perhaps
>implement at some stage.  The idea is that the system would allow you to
>write PBM games in a special-purpose language, hopefully much more
>quickly than they could be written in a general-purpose language like C.
>(Somewhat similar idea to an adventure writing system, a number of
>successful adventure writing systems being currently available.)

Already done.. It is called AGORA and Fractal Dimensions does not
sell it.. Some of its algorithms are trade secrets..

>1.  The system would provide all the boring code for processing player
>input, keeping track of email addresses, generating reports and so on,
>that you need to write yourself if you're doing it in C.
>
>2.  The special purpose language (I haven't got a detailed spec yet, but
>it would treat the universe as a collection of objects with attributes,
>and rules to determine how they interact) would make it much quicker and
easier to write and modify a game, than using a conventional programming
>language.
>
>3.  The system could be used by people who have no programming
>experience.

Just what the PBM field needs, ZORK clones... or TADS clones...
wouldn't your system straight-jacket the creativity of developers?

Special Purpose Languages never did anyone any good...except make all
of their system look alike... Why not just program your PBM in
...hmmm.. Superbase...or DBASE...LOTUS...

Before you sink your time in such a project.. think about...
What we lack in the PBM field right now is creative ideas and looks..

>1.  A game written using the system would be less efficient than one
>handcoded in C, and therefore require heftier hardware.  Possible memory
>requirements might be 2 to 4 megabytes for a simple-to-medium game and a
>good deal more for a very complex game.  Turn processing times might run
>from minutes to hours.  (Not a fatal disadvantage for PBM.)
>
>2.  There would be much less freedom of choice in how things are done.
>All the PBM games I can think of offhand, at least 95% of the rules
>could be implemented in the system, but things like report formats would
>be restricted to be done in a certain way; an Olympia/Atlantis style
>object numbering system would probably be imposed, for example.  (Though
>this would have a slight advantage in that people playing more than one
>game with the system would have to waste less time coping with
>ideosyncracies in administrative details.)
>

Your disadvantages certainly outweigh your advantages...

-- ratt

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Fractal Dimensions
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References

Proposal - PBM Writing System
rwallace@cs.tcd.ie (Russell Wallace)
Wed, 02 Feb 1994 18:16:47 +0000

Referenced By

Proposal - PBM Writing System
rwallace@cs.tcd.ie (Russell Wallace)
Wed, 02 Feb 1994 18:16:47 +0000