Delightful Wallpaper

From IFWiki

Mystery
Mystery
Fort
Fort
Green IF comp ribbon.png
IF Comp 2006
6th of 43
Four trophies.png
XYZZY Awards 2006
Best Writing, Best Puzzles, Best Individual Puzzle, and Best Individual PC
One white ribbon.png
XYZZY Awards 2006
Finalist - Best NPCs

"A Cozy Mansion Mystery in the Making by Edgar O. Weyrd"

Delightful Wallpaper
Author(s) Andrew Plotkin
Publisher(s) n/a
Release date(s) 30-Sep-2006
Authoring system Inform 7
Platform(s) Z-code 8
Language(s) English
License(s) Freeware
Multimedia
Color effects none
Graphics none
Sound/Music none
Ratings
Cruelty scale Cruelty to be determined

How It Begins

You are a conceptual entity, carrying a notepad and no intentions, and standing in the courtyard outside a large mansion. You are here to examine and ready the mansion for the drama to come, and to direct the players to their places after they arrive.

Notable Features

  • Unusual PC. The PC, being conceptual itself, cannot manipulate physical objects, only conceptual ones called "intentions".
  • Unusual NPCs. The NPCs can exist in multiple locations simultaneously. Unlike standard NPCs which wander and can be conversed with, the NPCs of Delightful Wallpaper exist as potential story slices in those locations that their respective stories take them.
  • The game has two distinct parts to it. In the first part, the PC is exploring a mansion that doesn't want to be explored; the mansion is maze-like in this section. In the second part, the players are directed by moving their intentions, each to die and be eulogized with short couplets in the style of Edward Gorey.
  • The notepad object automatically updates itself with information that the player needs to know, and frees the player from having to make their own notes. Sometimes, the notepad draws inferences that the player might not otherwise be certain of; this is deliberate to minimize the need to test cause and effect.

Trivia and Comments

Versions

Competition version, Release 4

  • Delightful Wallpaper (Andrew Plotkin as "Edgar O. Weyrd"; 30-Sep-2006; Z-code 8).
    • Release 4 / Serial number 060928 / Inform 7 build 3Z95 (I6/v6.31 lib 6/11N)
    • IFID: 78C03780-9F93-4780-9044-97158BD940A1
      IFID links: IFDB
    • IF Comp 2006: 6th place of 43 games.
    • XYZZY Awards 2006: Winner of Best Writing, Best Puzzles, Best Individual Puzzle (navigating the mansion), and Best Individual PC (PC). Also finalist for Best NPCs.
    • Download Wallpaper.zlb from the IF Archive - the story file.
    • Download walkthrough.txt from the IF Archive - game walkthrough by the author.

Links

Reviews