TAB Alpha Release 28

[catventure]

Hi,

Here is new bundled version of Thinbasic Adventure Builder.

http://tab.thinbasic.com/tabdemo.zip

(thinbasic not required to be installed)

04 May 2008 (Release 28)
===========
*NEW. %vsyn% formatting code substitutes synonym typed by player into message text instead of verb keyword. (suggested by Jason Nicholls)

*CHANGED. Bigger font in *most* Editor textboxes for clarity and easier reading. (suggested by Jason Nicholls)

*NEW. Ability to make TAB_Player autoload and run a specified adventure datafile. (suggested by Jason Nicholls)
To make this work simply rename your database to "autorun" and place in same folder as TAB Player.

*CHANGED. TAB Editor can now be minimized.

*NEW. "invlistoff" ACTION command forces TAB to concatenate PLAYER inventory listing. If choosing this option the previously unused System Message 51 should be set to read by default: "You are wearing" and all object text descriptions should begin with a lower case letter and should not terminate with a period. (full stop)
eg: "a brown satchel" is OK. "A brown satchel." is not OK for this type of inventory output.

Example code required in Script 2:

' enable concatenated player inventory listing...

[start]flag20=0[acts]flag20=1#invlistoff[end]

Example output:

You are carrying a torch and a spanner. You are wearing a satchel, a hat and a blazer. In the satchel is a map, a small compass and the revolver.

"Crystal_Keepers.tab" has been updated to use this type of inventory listing.

*NEW. Random Messages feature. Use %r% format code(s) inside a message text to signify elements of a randomly printed message

EXAMPLE
-------

"The knife is bloodstained and very sharp.
%r%The knife is covered in blood.
%r%The knife is coated with patches of blood.
%r%The knife is smeared with red blood.
%r%Knife: It's got blood on the handle and blade!
%r%Ugh! The small knife has got blood all over it.
%r%The knife looks like it's been used recently. There are splashes of blood on it."


>examine knife

Knife: It's got blood on the handle and blade!

Can be used in locations, messages, custom messages (cmess), object descriptions, object examine text, Character text and *some* system messages (one's that are complete messages)
There is no fixed upper limit to the number of random elements a text may contain.
A very useful addition to TAB.

"Character_demo.tab" has some example uses of %r% code embedding.

*FIX. LOADING Response ,Script1, Script2 and Character Speech text files now operating correctly without trouble.

*NEW. New %?% format code used in Response and Character Speech to provide customised replies when words not understood by TAB. eg: Response entries

[start]?[acts]cmessSorry. I do not understand "%?%" as a verb.#done[end]

[start]%v% ?[acts]cmessSorry. I do not understand "%?%" as a noun in that sentence.#done[end]

[start]%v% %n1% ?/%v% %objn1% ?/%v% %charn1% ?[acts]cmessSorry. I do not understand "%?%" in that sentence.#done[end]

[start]%v% %n1% %p% ?/%v% %objn1% %p% ?/%v% %charn1% %p% ?[acts]cmessI didn't understand "%?%" as a noun in that sentence.#done[end]

[start]%v% %p% ?[acts]cmessSorry."%?%" is not in my vocabulary as a noun.#done[end]

Traps nonsense words or words not understood by TAB and prints appropriate reply.

All example demo datafiles updated to include this.

Regards,
catventure.

[Petr Schreiber]

Thanks a lot for new version,

I like all new features, especially "random" message.


Thanks,
Petr

[matthew]

Another nice update, cat. :)

[ErosOlmi]

Thanks a lot for this update catventure.

I just noticed there is no "TAB_Updater" in the "Alpha 28 (04 May 2008)". It is a great tool.

Ciao
Eros

[kryton9]

Cat just downloaded and I usually do the graphical game as it is easier for me:) I am not a text adventure player as you can tell.

I had an idea to make it easier for guys like me. Instead of having to type in commands, that all available commands for that situation be given in a list. either text list where I enter a number or letter to run the command or select it from a list box. Maybe this goes against the charm of text based games, I don't know. If it doesn't, I think it would make playing them a lot easier for new playes as myself.

[matthew]

...I had an idea to make it easier for guys like me. Instead of having to type in commands, that all available commands for that situation be given in a list. either text list where I enter a number or letter to run the command or select it from a list box. Maybe this goes against the charm of text based games, I don't know. If it doesn't, I think it would make playing them a lot easier for new playes as myself.


Yeah or you could use a system like in the Secret of Monkey Island (http://hol.abime.net/1859) & have all the commands listed in the corner & then the user could select them with the mouse.

[Petr Schreiber]

Secret of Monkey Island was beautiful ( still have the CD version with 256 color graphics and perfect music ),

and the controls were ok. Although fact is this was a bit different kind of adventure game ( as it relied on graphics ), I think it would not be bad to have something like that in TAB. Maybe even some context propositions, like for "take" it would pop up list of objects.


Petr

[catventure]

Hi. Some good ideas there!

However, TAB will always primarily be a text adventure maker and there is still a lot of adjustments and new features to be added in the coming months. I also expect to get feedback from the Interactive Fiction community- ideas and suggestions for improves etc.
I'm also thankful to forum members here for their support, testing and reports on the program.
As a matter of fact I think it probably a lot, lot easier and straightforward to make a point'n'click graphic adventure with clickable button commands using thinBasic so I definately think a project like that is very do-able...
A TAB user is currently making a graphic adventure based using TAB about the Bronte sister book "Wuthering Heights" and hopefully a sneak peek of this later..

Best wishes,
catventure.

[ErosOlmi]

A TAB user is currently making a graphic adventure based using TAB about the Bronte sister book "Wuthering Heights" and hopefully a sneak peek of this later..


Great news catventure!
Thanks
Eros

[catventure]

A TAB user is currently making a graphic adventure based using TAB about the Bronte sister book "Wuthering Heights" and hopefully a sneak peek of this later..


Here is a work in progress on youtube of it as it was originally being written using my older adventure creator - but it will give you some idea...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jjo0WDZN2ME

catventure

[Petr Schreiber]

That is great news!

while watching the video, one thing occured to me.

If you would be interested I could take a some photographs of interesting places here in Brno and surrounding, and the images could be used as free resources for TAB game creators. We have a castle, lake, damaged castle ;D, rocks and much more here :)

I am busy with other stuff, so cannot support TAB with sample games, but this way I could help without problems. Just let me know ( if you are interested ) which types of locations do you think would be suitable for adventure games.


Petr

[catventure]

Eros Olmi wrote:



I just noticed there is no "TAB_Updater" in the "Alpha 28 (04 May 2008)". It is a great tool.



Eros, I am pleased to report that the 'TAB Online Updater' will now be accessible from the TAB Editor Main Menu buttons in the next "bundled" release, rather than as a separate program.

@Petr: Do not worry about the help with the graphics etc. I know you are busy with your own projects. I'm more than satisfied with your help and continuing interest in TAB past and current.

Cheers,
catventure.