Text adventure - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: potholes, etc.

2026-07-20T05:52:20Z

potholes, etc.

Furey: Describe "Adventure" in our article about text adventure games.

2024-06-21T01:39:51Z

Describe "Adventure" in our article about text adventure games.

Slandor: linked IFWiki; indicated a couple of descriptions that don't apply to most modern IF

2010-06-09T23:30:14Z

linked IFWiki; indicated a couple of descriptions that don't apply to most modern IF

Schneelocke: /* Entering the building */ OK, remove that extra }

2010-06-01T11:39:29Z

‎Entering the building: OK, remove that extra }

Schneelocke: Use {{kbd}}

2010-06-01T11:39:12Z

Use {{kbd}}

Ray Chason: Bypass disambig for Death; noversion

2008-06-13T19:44:41Z

Bypass disambig for Death; noversion

Rogerb-on-NAO: There are spoilers and spoilers; revert revelation of password.

2008-06-12T09:42:21Z

There are spoilers and spoilers; revert revelation of password.

68.174.112.96: /* Demonstration (spoily) */

2007-11-04T19:09:57Z

‎Demonstration (spoily)

68.174.112.96: /* Demonstration (spoily) */

2007-11-04T18:59:41Z

‎Demonstration (spoily)

68.174.112.96: /* See also */

2007-11-04T18:58:46Z

‎See also

@@ Line 142: / Line 142: @@
   You don't have a key that can open this door.
-The need to find a [[key]] is a common theme in text adventure games. (Contrast ''NetHack'', where you can just [[kick]] most of the doors down, but then the locked doors are only random.)
+The need to find a [[key]] is a common theme in text adventure games. (Contrast ''NetHack'', where you can just [[Kick (command)|kick]] most of the doors down, but then the locked doors are only random.)
 Maybe the key is on the other path?
@@ Line 262: / Line 262: @@
 And we have not yet scored any points! Hopefully, though, this demonstration gave you some of idea of what a text adventure is like.
-== See also ==
+==See also==
 * ''[[What Fools These Mortals]]'' ([http://www.crummy.com/software/WhatFools/ Home Page]) is a parody text adventure based in the NetHack world &mdash; played as one of the gods.
 ==References==
 <references/>
 {{noversion}}
 [[Category:Games]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-A '''text adventure''' (or "interactive fiction") is the type of game commonly found on computer servers before someone had the idea to draw a map in [[ASCII]] characters, thus creating the [[roguelike]] games including ''[[NetHack]]''.
+{{wikipedia|adventure game}}
 As the NetHack [[Guidebook]] explains it:
-: ''When NetHack's ancestor ''[http://roguebasin.t-o-m-e.net/index.php/Rogue rogue]'' first appeared, its screen orientation was almost unique among computer fantasy games. Since then, screen orientation has become the norm rather than the exception; NetHack continues this fine tradition. Unlike text adventure games that accept commands in pseudo-English sentences and explain the results in words, NetHack commands are all one or two keystrokes and the results are displayed graphically on the screen.''
+: ''When NetHack's ancestor [[rogue]] first appeared, its screen orientation was almost unique among computer fantasy games. Since then, screen orientation has become the norm rather than the exception; NetHack continues this fine tradition. Unlike text adventure games that accept commands in pseudo-English sentences and explain the results in words, NetHack commands are all one or two keystrokes and the results are displayed graphically on the screen.''
-:: From [http://www.nethack.org/v343/Guidebook.html#_TOCentry_3 Chapter 3, "What do all those things on the screen mean?"]
-For an example of what a text adventure game would be like, see the [http://www.nicolaas.net/dudley/index.php?f=20050308 strip of 8 March 2005] in ''[[Dudley's dungeon]]''. Or you can read the demonstration in the next section.
+=== NetHack reimagined as a text adventure ===
-There is another [http://www.ifwiki.org/index.php/Main_Page wiki] devoted entirely to text adventures/interactive fiction. As NetHack has changed since the days of Rogue, text adventures have changed since the olden days.
+For a relatable example, see the [http://www.nicolaas.net/dudley/index.php?f=20050308 strip of 8 March 2005] in ''[[Dudley's dungeon]]''.
-=== Demonstration (spoily) ===
+=== Dunnet ===
 The text editor ''[[Wikipedia:Emacs|GNU Emacs]]'' contains a text adventure called ''dunnet'', written by Ron Schnell. This section features a sample session of dunnet to see what a text adventure is like.
@@ Line 250: / Line 264: @@
 == See also ==
 * ''[[What Fools These Mortals]]'' ([http://www.crummy.com/software/WhatFools/ Home Page]) is a parody text adventure based in the NetHack world &mdash; played as one of the gods.
 {{noversion}}
 [[Category:Games]]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 For an example of what a text adventure game would be like, see the [http://www.nicolaas.net/dudley/index.php?f=20050308 strip of 8 March 2005] in ''[[Dudley's dungeon]]''. Or you can read the demonstration in the next section.
 === Demonstration (spoily) ===
 The text editor ''[[Wikipedia:Emacs|GNU Emacs]]'' contains a text adventure called ''dunnet'', written by Ron Schnell. This section features a sample session of dunnet to see what a text adventure is like.
-<p style="background:#ffeeee; border: 1px solid #cdcdcd; width: 375px; padding:3px">'''[[spoiler|Spoiler warning]]:''' ''The following demonstration contains plot spoilers for the text adventure "dunnet". '''If you do not want "dunnet" spoiled, do not read below this point.'''''</p>
+'''[[spoiler|Spoiler warning]]:''' ''The following demonstration contains plot spoilers for the text adventure "dunnet". '''If you do not want "dunnet" spoiled, do not read below this point.'''''
 Okay, since you feel okay with having the beginning of "dunnet" spoiled, let us go to a [[Unix]] machine with "emacs" installed and run the usual command to start "dunnet":
@@ Line 42: / Line 44: @@
+  $
-Oops. Maybe you were surprised that the game even understands the command "shake tree", but it is easy to die in text adventures. Now the game has quit, and we have returned to the Unix shell prompt (here shown as [[$]]).
+Oops. Maybe you were surprised that the game even understands the command "shake tree", but it is easy to die in old-school text adventures. (In more modern text adventures, instant deaths are less common.) Now the game has quit, and we have returned to the Unix shell prompt (here shown as [[$]]).
 Note, if you type "eat shovel" that also works!
@@ Line 57: / Line 59: @@
+  >
-That did not work. Though the '''help''' command has some hints, the ''Dunnet'' help does not explain much about the inventory. However, part of playing a text adventure is guessing some commands. Also, the inventory commands in ''Dunnet'' are similar to those in other text adventures.
+That did not work. (In a more modern text adventure, "pick up shovel" would almost certainly work.) Though the '''help''' command has some hints, the ''Dunnet'' help does not explain much about the inventory. However, part of playing a text adventure is guessing some commands. Also, the inventory commands in ''Dunnet'' are similar to those in other text adventures.
 We try a different command:
@@ Line 232: / Line 234: @@
   UNIX System V, Release 2.2 (pokey)
   login:
 We have the computer working, but we are not sure yet how to login. Computer use is peculiar to ''Dunnet'' and less common in other text adventures. (Back when ''Dunnet'' appeared, most Emacs users had significant [[Unix]] knowledge.) The results of using this computer might be surprising, and the game becomes more difficult after that...
@@ Line 249: / Line 251: @@
 * ''[[What Fools These Mortals]]'' ([http://www.crummy.com/software/WhatFools/ Home Page]) is a parody text adventure based in the NetHack world &mdash; played as one of the gods.
 [[Category:Games]]

@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 ==== Entering the building ====
-At the spot where we took the CPU card, we had the option to go northeast or southeast. We go northeast (most text adventures accept the shortcut '''ne''', equivalent to {{kbd|u}}} in ''NetHack''):
+At the spot where we took the CPU card, we had the option to go northeast or southeast. We go northeast (most text adventures accept the shortcut '''ne''', equivalent to {{kbd|u}} in ''NetHack''):
   >ne

@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 ==== Entering the building ====
-At the spot where we took the CPU card, we had the option to go northeast or southeast. We go northeast (most text adventures accept the shortcut '''ne''', equivalent to '''[u]''' in ''NetHack''):
+At the spot where we took the CPU card, we had the option to go northeast or southeast. We go northeast (most text adventures accept the shortcut '''ne''', equivalent to {{kbd|u}}} in ''NetHack''):
   >ne

@@ Line 150: / Line 150: @@
   I don't understand that.
-Luckily the game does not seem to understand our combat commands. This might have saved us, because fighting strong [[monster]]s is often an easy way to [[death|die]].
+Luckily the game does not seem to understand our combat commands. This might have saved us, because fighting strong [[monster]]s is often an easy way to [[die]].
   >'''feed bear'''
@@ Line 250: / Line 250: @@
 [[Category:Games]]

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 Oops. Maybe you were surprised that the game even understands the command "shake tree", but it is easy to die in text adventures. Now the game has quit, and we have returned to the Unix shell prompt (here shown as [[$]]).
-Just as a fun note, if you type "eat shovel" that also works!
+Note, if you type "eat shovel" that also works!
 ==== Manipulating the inventory ====
@@ Line 236: / Line 236: @@
 We have the computer working, but we are not sure yet how to login. Computer use is peculiar to ''Dunnet'' and less common in other text adventures. (Back when ''Dunnet'' appeared, most Emacs users had significant [[Unix]] knowledge.) The results of using this computer might be surprising, and the game becomes more difficult after that...
-The username is toukmond
+ ''(after some failed logins)''
-The password is robert
+ login incorrect
-(submitted by ace)
+ >'''shake tree'''
 == See also ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:59, 4 November 2007
Line 43:		Line 43:

	Oops. Maybe you were surprised that the game even understands the command "shake tree", but it is easy to die in text adventures. Now the game has quit, and we have returned to the Unix shell prompt (here shown as [[$]]).		Oops. Maybe you were surprised that the game even understands the command "shake tree", but it is easy to die in text adventures. Now the game has quit, and we have returned to the Unix shell prompt (here shown as [[$]]).
		+
		+	Just as a fun note, if you type "eat shovel" that also works!

	==== Manipulating the inventory ====		==== Manipulating the inventory ====

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:58, 4 November 2007
Line 248:		Line 248:

	[[Category:Games]]		[[Category:Games]]
−	~~Note: you can type "eat shovel" and that works~~