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From: erkyrath@netcom.com (Andrew Plotkin)
Subject: Re: Chris Crawford's new IF engine
Message-ID: <erkyrathE8LzL2.40w@netcom.com>
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Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 03:41:26 GMT
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Dirk Coppelmans (dcoppelm@solair1.inter.nl.net) wrote:
> erkyrath@netcom.com (Andrew Plotkin) wrote:

> >I've looked at the erasmatazz site and it looks extremely nifty. I don't 
> >think I can decide whether it's a Good Idea until I play the first few 
> >worlds that come out of it. It seems like it might have too many 
> >personality attributes hardwired -- or maybe I'm nuts.

> Sounds like you're happy with the tools you have right now.
> But why not having an open mind on new developments. 

You're reading something into my post that I didn't intent. I have nothing
against new developments. And as for an open mind -- I can't decide
whether it's good until I try it. I don't think I can get any more open
than that. :)

> I think this engine has a lot of potential. OK, maybe limited
> in its current (very preliminary) version, but the ideas behind 
> it make sense. 

And are very nifty.

> I seriously believe that engines that provide more high level
> features like the personality stuff in Erasmatazz will provide 
> tools that are more powerful than the ones we have today. 

I seriously don't know.

> Sure, there is a long way to go, but this is a start from 
> IF *programming* to true IF *writing*. There is a difference.
> And maybe this implies that the IF community will change
> and attract more writers.

I think the success of Infocom-style IF has *been* the very good writers
that it has attracted. The problem is that thus far it's only
(successfully) attracted writers who are also programmers. 

I don't get the impression that this is the problem that Crawford is 
trying to solve here, though. I think (and this is only what I've picked 
up from his web site, so I could be wrong) that he started out desiring to
make a tool for non-programmers, but changed focus along the way -- the 
tool got so complex that using it was, well, programming. 

I can hardly argue with that -- it's the classic programmer's flaw, and 
I've given up trying to avoid it myself. In any case, this has nothing to 
do with erasmatazz's capabilities *as* a tool -- which I look forward to 
trying out, both as a player and a programmer.

--Z

-- 

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the
borogoves..."
