Authoring system
From IFWiki
A collection of programming tools that describes the ideal (default) behavior of objects in a simulated universe. This means that the IF author only needs to specify unusual behavior. A good authoring system can help one get started, however, even the simplest IF will require original code if the author/programmer wants any kind of personalized meaningful interaction with the user.
An authoring system typically comprises a parser, a library module, and a compiler. The end result is a story file, which must be loaded into an interpreter.
Some of the most commonly used, and talked about, authoring systems include:
- Choice-based: ChoiceScript, Ink, Twine.
- Parser-based: ADRIFT, Adventuron, Dialog, Inform 6, Inform 7, TADS 3, ZIL.
- Hybrid: Quest.
To browse IFWiki's lists of authoring systems, you can use this navigation box:
| Authoring systems | |
|---|---|
| By style | Parser • Choice • Parser-choice hybrid |
| By system | Browser • Android • iOS • Linux • macOS • Windows |
| Browse | Stable authoring systems • Search form • Drilldown |
| Other software | Interpreters • Utilities |
Contributing to the wiki
Please create an account, then:
- To add an authoring system page, use Form:Software.
- To edit an existing authoring system page, use the "Actions - Edit with form" option.
Links
- Adventure Games: Authoring Systems
- The PAW Reservoir by Nacho A. Llorente.
- Cloak of Darkness - annotated versions of the same example game implemented in several IF authoring systems
- Game Creation Resources
- Interactive Fiction Authorship Resource (archive) by Stephen Granade.
- Discussions about existing authoring systems on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup
On Creating an Authoring System
- Building a new interactive fiction system topic
- The Interactive Fiction Authoring System Developer's Guide by Peer Schaefer
- Designing a New Game Language, Not Just a Game (archive) by Derek Jones for XYZZYnews #4. Derek discusses his language, Archetype.
- Porting from OS/2? Rexx-Adventure Steps Up to the Plate (archive) by Mike DeSanto for XYZZYnews #7. Mike discusses his system, Rexx-Adventure.
- So you want to write a text adventuring authoring system... (archive) by Alan Conroy for XYZZYnews #14. Alan discusses his system, Adventure Builder.
- Discussions about creating an IF language on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup