Authoring System FAQ's


12 Sep 1995 23:10:41 -0700

> As Allison says, there is a TADS vs Inform FAQ (which the rai-f FAQ
> mentions), and the good news is, that nice guy Bob Newell has said he will
> update and expand it to include other systems. I quote:
>
>> Well, I'll take it on, but fair warning: it will be the end of the
>> year before it is done! I had planned on a 3-tier system similar to
>> the way our expensive consultants rate computer companies:
>> world-class frontrunners (Tads, Inform), good/good enough (Hugo, AGT,
>> Alan) and also-rans (LADS, Gamescape, many more).

Thanks, Jools, for an excellent job on the FAQ.

_Thanks, Bob_ for the TADS vs Inform FAQ. The comparison is excellent,
but it was actually the comments on whether you need to be a programmer
to use them that I read with greatest interest. I _do_ have some
programming know-how, but only in high-level languages like Rexx and
BASIC. You recommended Alan for non-programmers; I tried it; I love it.
With any Lisp/C/Pascal syntax I would likely _not_ have the patience
to learn the language, let alone write a game.
I look forward to the AGT/Alan/Hugo comparison, whenever it may appear.

Dennis Carlyle - dgcarlyl@freenet.vancover.bc.ca

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