Floatpoint

From IFWiki

Science Fiction
Science
Fiction
Outer space
Outer space
Blue IF comp ribbon.png
IF Comp 2006
1st of 43
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XYZZY Awards 2006
Best Setting and Best NPCs
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XYZZY Awards 2006
Finalists - Best Game, Best Writing, Best Individual Puzzle
Floatpoint
Floatpoint small cover art.png
Author(s) Emily Short
Publisher(s) n/a
Release date(s) 30-Sep-2006
Authoring system Inform 7
Platform(s) Glulx
Language(s) English
License(s) Freeware
Multimedia
Color effects none
Graphics optional
Sound/Music none
Ratings
Cruelty scale Cruelty to be determined

How It Begins

The work opens with a foreword: You are the recently appointed Earth's ambassador to Aleheart Colony. Since the progress of the ice is threatening the entire planet your mission is to come to an agreement with the local representatives to move all the Aleheart inhabitants back to the Earth.

Next the program asks whether the player has played interactive fiction before.

You are at the lakeshore under Cordia Peak. A narrow track takes you along the side of the glacier to the town. You are carrying a chronometer, a grey undersuit, shoes and socks.

Notable Features

  • Includes a novice mode, as well as a gradual hint system, and commands to refer to the characters/rooms/exits introduced in the work.
  • Occasionally, the time of the day on the status line plays a role in the piece.
  • The work uses a goal directed approach to develop the plot (sometimes by means of reminders/thoughts/notifications). Also the scoring system keeps track of the accomplishment of such goals.
  • Implements and reacts to a rich assortment of hundreds of verbs denoting the various types of possible actions. Additionally, as a novice-friendly feature, some verbs have a lot of synonyms: attack (at least 14), take (at least 16), etc.
  • During the introduction, the digital cover art is displayed.
  • A simulationist approach to model a sort of electrogravitational(?) repulsion.
  • The work has multiple endings that are in connection with the main problem: a moral decision.

Versions

Competition version

Links

Reviews

Spoilers