I think I have all the elements required to make my game a cracker jack. I was wondering what others here think.

discuss

Decent room descriptions,
logical puzzles and story line,
hint system,
absolutly NO MAZES!!
a sense of atmosphere,
and very importantly a sense of achivement if you complete the game.

I expect there is a few more but these are my main points.

So what are your crutial elements then Unknown?

Yes, Unknown, tell us the secrets of writing the game that will win the IFComp 2006.

davidw wrote:Yes, Unknown, tell us the secrets of writing the game that will win the IFComp 2006.

Why in the hell do you keep taking pot shots at him, Davidw? This is the kind of crap that I have been talking about for a while now. It's not enough for you to respond, sometimes twice to his posts but you have to actually call him out when he's asking for help about his game. You know, you and your internet entourage may think that you are the know-all say-all about text games but I wouldn't be surprised if the Unknown doesn't show you up one day. Yes, Davidw, you will have your comeuppance and there are many of us who will be all to glad to watch quietly as you are served. Don't look to us for support either. You have pushed too many of us around and but for a few of us martyrs most have taken the high road and have sat quietly by as you have spewed your vitrolic prose onto this forum. Those of us who have stood up to your tyrannic crusade have gladly done so for the greater good. The day that you finally spiral out of control in the jetwash of someone like the Unknown will be a great victory for the downtrodden that you have so blithely run over for so long. Who is to say when this day will come? I don't know but I do know that all tyrants eventually fall victim to their own hubris.

I think well writen descriptions are the most important aspect for a text game Buck.

Good luck in finishing game and I hope you do well in the competition.

O_VAUGHAN wrote:

"davidw"

Yes, Unknown, tell us the secrets of writing the game that will win the IFComp 2006.

Why in the hell do you keep taking pot shots at him, Davidw? This is the kind of crap that I have been talking about for a while now. It's not enough for you to respond, sometimes twice to his posts but you have to actually call him out when he's asking for help about his game. You know, you and your internet entourage may think that you are the know-all say-all about text games but I wouldn't be surprised if the Unknown doesn't show you up one day. Yes, Davidw, you will have your comeuppance and there are many of us who will be all to glad to watch quietly as you are served. Don't look to us for support either. You have pushed too many of us around and but for a few of us martyrs most have taken the high road and have sat quietly by as you have spewed your vitrolic prose onto this forum. Those of us who have stood up to your tyrannic crusade have gladly done so for the greater good. The day that you finally spiral out of control in the jetwash of someone like the Unknown will be a great victory for the downtrodden that you have so blithely run over for so long. Who is to say when this day will come? I don't know but I do know that all tyrants eventually fall victim to their own hubris.

Vaughan, thank you for giving me so many hilariously mad quotes to use against you when trying to make you look like an idiot. Not, I hasten to add, that you actually need my help.



But it was a serious question all the same. Unknown seems to think he has what it takes to write a game capable of winning the IFComp and, to quote him, make "us all suck crow" (whatever that means). I'm curious as to just why he thinks his game is so amazing.

I almost feel bad to steer this conversation back to the main point but what the heck...

I think what is really important in a good interactive fiction game (now granted I am new to this) is exactly what the name implicates...interactive FICTION. If I bought a book that had no deep charactors, tension, excitement, or surprises...well, I'd be pretty pissed off. Playing these games is just a differant way of soaking in a story...and as such, the story should come first. In my humble opinion, the coolest puzzle or neatest bit of coding is worthless if there is no point to even finding it. Do I really want to go through twenty rooms of:

This is the yard. You see a rock.

to finally discover the really clever trick that somebody put into the game. @#!%$ NO I do not. I want to find this clever trick while I am involved in something that I can not put down...just like a great novel. I also think that while the game needs to be playable (you need to access all the described items, have several ways for players to type in the commands, etc) a badass story will give people a reason to overlook some small (and I mean small...beta test the darn thing) errors and still enjoy the expierance. If I am going to step into the shoes of someone else (the main game charactor) than I really want something that I can not have in real life. Where are the amazing action scenes, mysterious circumstances, crazy plot twists, romantic undertones (subtle...real subtle), horror, and violence. Don't say I can't be done in a game because authors use the same tools to take us there all the time in books.
If the story is good, and you can tell it well, (and you can take enough time to make sure that you have a playable game) then it will be well recieved by more people than it will be condemed by.

That said, you can't please them all.

Moisture and Froth,
Dr. Froth

...the story should come first. In my humble opinion, the coolest puzzle or neatest bit of coding is worthless if there is no point to even finding it.

I think I was beginning to lose sight of this as I sprinted down the gamist road, coding my merry way. Thanks for the reminder.

*pulls out writing pad, turns off computer*

davidw wrote: I'm curious as to just why he thinks his game is so amazing.

In a nutshell It's me that's writing it. I'm the Buck.. You are a fucking loser hellbent on being an arse to everyone here. Your timing is coming when you'll feel the POWer of the Buck's awe inspiring game.

You will eat all your words and bow down to the POWer of my game making.

The Buck

Roll on the IFComp. We'll see how smug you are when you come last.

(Not, of course, that you're going to enter, but it'll be nicely satisfying taking the piss out of you when you chicken out.)

Shut up David or I'll kill you.

Gee, that was a good come back. How long did it take you to come up with?


Reminds me of all those arguments we used to have before where I'd make you look like an idiot time and time again and you'd come back with the lamest reply of them all. Nice to see nothing's changed.

I'm reading up and will enter.

I'm making a Twinkie adventure - its a comedy.

Good luck Headspace, glad to see there will be a few of us representing Quest.

I think you'll find Headspace is joking.

davidw wrote:Gee, that was a good come back. How long did it take you to come up with?


Reminds me of all those arguments we used to have before where I'd make you look like an idiot time and time again and you'd come back with the lamest reply of them all. Nice to see nothing's changed.

I just thought of the most simplest thing you'd actually understand. From recent examination, long posts seem to confuse you a bit. I was feeling generous at the time

I don't think I have a problem with long posts as such.

Lemme check...

Nope, no problem with long posts.

Insane rambles that make no sense? Yep. Big problem there. Maybe that's why I've always had such a problem with you in the past...?

davidw wrote:I think you'll find Headspace is joking.

It would be interesting if he wasn't joking. I think a comedy game might be fun.