User:Gio

I have an IF blog now: http://giomancer.wordpress.com/

A bit of an update: I removed all of the projects; prolly gonna do more authoring system research

Authoring Systems

This is sort of a general thing.. I want to write an article on what I've collected, and perhaps do an update to Roger Firth's Cloak of Darkness page.. dunno. I have no webspace of my own, though. I like diversity, I root for the underdog.. I'm a very strange person.

Concerning Choosing Authoring Systems:

A wise sailor once said that, in choosing an authoring system, one should check if the system is still being actively maintained by its creator(s) (or their successors). Since I'm new to IF, I've done a little bit of research into this.

Updated - 2008/04/02

As of this writing, there are 15 living authoring systems (for Windows, and in English). I took out DreamPath, as it's more of a CYOA system than actual IF (this being a bias I have). I removed ACE and AIEE! and added ADL, as I've recently spoke to it's author, and he seems at least marginally interested still. I'm keeping WinPAW because of historical reasons for the most part.. it remains one of the few ways to edit some older games. It will, however, stay in the "unknown" section. Update: I managed to contact the author of WinPAW, and he states that he is still working on it. Hurrah!

Living systems:

1) TADS - (http://www.tads.org/index.htm) Need to research. Free.

2) Inform - (http://www.inform-fiction.org/I7/Welcome.html) After a bit of testing, I've found that I prefer I6 to I7. Nothing against 17; it's a personal choice.

3) Hugo - (http://www.generalcoffee.com/hugo.html) Needs research. Free.

4) ALAN - (http://www.alanif.se/) New version currently in alpha test, but is available and recommended by the developers. Free.

5) ADRIFT - (http://www.adrift.org.uk/cgi/new/adrift.cgi) New version is apparently in progress. Pay.

6) Quest - (http://www.axeuk.com/quest/index.htm) Needs research. Pay.

7) SUDS - (http://www.sudslore.org/) A new author has taken the reins, and is actively developing it. Free.

8) RAGS - (http://www.ragsgame.com/) In alpha test. The alpha is free, but will be a Pay system.

9) JACL - (http://jacl.sourceforge.net/index.html) Needs research. Free.

10) TAB - (http://tab.thinbasic.com/) In alpha, but is available. Free.

11) ADL - (http://adl.sf.net/) Needs Research. Free.

12) Scribe - (http://www.4webgames.com/scribe/) Needs research. Pay.

13) MechaniQue 2 - (http://www.mechanique.nl/) Needs research. Free.

14) PAWS - (http://home.fuse.net/wolfonenet/PAWS.htm) If you write a game in PAWS, the author will provide support. Free.

15) WinPAW - (http://www.winpaw.com/)