[SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available

Jimmy Maher wrote:

> Hi, folks...
>
> Issue #50 of SPAG is now available on the SPAG website (see my sig) for
> your perusal. Subscribers should also be receiving their email copies
> Real Soon Now.
>
> This issue features an article by Peter Nepstad on his Lovecraft
> Commonplace Book Project, an interview with some of the Textfyre folks,
> and a couple of reviews of submissions to the recent Spanish FI Comp
> from Maureen Mason. Valentine contributes his usual much-appreciated
> reviews as well, as does SPAG newcomer Michael Bacon.
>
> Enjoy!
>
> --
> Jimmy Maher
> Editor, SPAG Magazine -- http://www.sparkynet.com/spag
> Thank you for helping to keep text adventures alive!

Enjoyed the information on the Commonplace Book Project and the Textfyre
company.

--
W. Doug Bolden
Si Vales, Valeo
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

Jimmy Maher wrote:

> Hi, folks...
>
> Issue #50 of SPAG is now available on the SPAG website (see my sig) for
> your perusal. Subscribers should also be receiving their email copies
> Real Soon Now.

Very nice issue, I liked the article about Lovecraft Commonplace Book
Project !
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

The issue is great (thanks, Jimmy!), but I'm not so sure about the
removal of the SPAG Most Wanted List of games. Over the past few
years, it gave me a direction which games to concentrate on (I haven't
so much time I could play every new game released), so at least
personally to me, it's a loss. It's interesting, though, what others
think about it...
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

On Dec 3, 2:03 pm, George Oliver <georgeolive... DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:

> I particularly appreciate the articles about the IF scene around the
> world, and the references in Peter's article sent me to Google
> translator much to my reward. It makes me wish my language skills were
> a little sharper so that I could try my hand at some translations.

Me, too. I use Google Translator all the time...for Chinese language
stuff particularly, for which it is appallingly bad, making the
Spanish to English and French to English translations look near
flawless by comparison.

For others trying it out, note that you can't just paste the URL for
SPAC in Google to translate, as the page is too long, and the article
related to Lovecraft will still be in Spanish. You'll need to find the
article, entitled "Entrevista Ignomiousa", select all the text of the
article, and paste it into the translate text box.

And count me as another fan of Maureen's reviews. I've tried playing
some Spanish language games, but although I can usually kind of follow
the story (and can run text through a translator when confused), the
parser so far resists my attempts to communicate. Maybe all I need is
a command list, and some hints about whether I should conjugate (and
to what) or not.

-- Peter
http://www.illuminatedlantern.com/if/
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

On Dec 4, 11:39 am, Andreas Davour <ante....DeleteThis@updateLIKE.uu.HELLse>
wrote:
> No I really feel like checking out some of those games, and I'd love to
> read all of the Commonplace Book. It's not available on the web, is it?

I think I must have forgotten to include it in the article, but you
can download all the games at http://www.illuminatedlantern.com/if/games/lovecraft/.

Also, the Spanish-language game, El Museo de las Consciencias,
actually includes a complete copy of the Commonplace Book text as part
of the game package (in English, with Spanish commentary!).

-- Peter
http://www.illuminatedlantern.com/if/
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

Great issue!

I must say that the editorial was indeed filled with food for thought. I
have noted already my dislike for the way all the reviews for the IFComp
got spread out, and how that generated less discussion than hoped for. I
wasn't even aware of some of the wiki's and forums (fora?) that the
editor mentioned. I do think the community as a whole suffer from the
fragmentation. We're not that many to begin with, and to get your game
out and be played and to get the discussion going is now harder than
ever. Where to you go for IF news? A wiki? Here? A blog? Some
aggregation of blogs? I might be a bit old fashioned, but I think
resisting the "everryone can be a publisher" urge of Web2.0 hype. Maybe
I am an old fart that prefers games with text interfaces, and netnews to
the multimedia saturated world wide web, but I think it would be a big
loss to us all if focal points with tradition like r.a.i-f and r.g.i-f
and SPAG went away and it all became a myriad links to wikis and blogs.

The rest of the issue was interesting as well. It was very entertaining,
and illuminating, to read about the Lovecraft exhibition. To have
succeeded in getting a IF package for the exhibition is no mean
feat. Good work!

No I really feel like checking out some of those games, and I'd love to
read all of the Commonplace Book. It's not available on the web, is it?
I might even got the idea to write a game myself that way someday...

It was also very good to hear that Textfyre is working on their
project. I remember how David posted here about how he had arranged for
the printing of the Inform manual, and how elated I felt about at last
hold it in my hands. He surely have impressed me as someone who "get
things done" so I hope no sorry fluke of economy throws spanners in
works for Textfyre. It sounds really interesting. 2008 might be a very
good year for IF.

I look forward to #51!

/Andreas

--
A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet and in e-mail?
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

PTN <petern.RemoveThis@illuminatedlantern.com> writes:

> On Dec 4, 11:39 am, Andreas Davour <ante....RemoveThis@updateLIKE.uu.HELLse>
> wrote:
>> No I really feel like checking out some of those games, and I'd love to
>> read all of the Commonplace Book. It's not available on the web, is it?
>
> I think I must have forgotten to include it in the article, but you
> can download all the games at http://www.illuminatedlantern.com/if/games/lovecraft/.
>
> Also, the Spanish-language game, El Museo de las Consciencias,
> actually includes a complete copy of the Commonplace Book text as part
> of the game package (in English, with Spanish commentary!).

El Museo de las Consciencias, here I come!

Thanks for the link.

/Andreas

--
A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet and in e-mail?
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

PTN <petern.RemoveThis@illuminatedlantern.com> wrote:
> And count me as another fan of Maureen's reviews. I've tried playing
> some Spanish language games, but although I can usually kind of follow
> the story (and can run text through a translator when confused), the
> parser so far resists my attempts to communicate. Maybe all I need is
> a command list, and some hints about whether I should conjugate (and
> to what) or not.

Thanks, Peter! Also, your article about organizing the IF exhibit for
the Lovecraft project was a great read. I loved all the detail about
how it came together, including how you got your international
collaborators involved. It's definitely an encouraging story for anyone
who has the Next Big Idea

About the Spanish-language games: you're right, a command list is
essential, and I found it's good to check the help documents, e.g., the
pdf files that accompany games, if you start to struggle with the
parser. They are usually way more complete than what you get from
typing "ayuda" in a game. Also, you'll be glad to hear you don't have
to worry about conjugating verbs. The Spanish games (French games, too)
just take the infinitive.

Maureen
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

Ok, here you have a short list of common verbs in spanish games:

AYUDA -- help
LOAD, SAVE, RESTAURAR, GRABAR -- Restore, Save, etc
UNDO - Undo
Z, ESPERAR -- wait
N, S, E, O (for west), so NE, NO, SE, SO - moving around
ENTRAR, SALIR, IR HACIA -- In, Out, Go to...
INVENTARIO, INV, I -- Inventary
EXAMINAR, EX, X something-- Examine something.
MIRAR DEBAJO DE -- Look under something.
X (alone) -- list exits.
COGER/TOMAR, DEJAR - Take and drop.
PONTE/PONERSE/PONERME, QUITARME/QUITARSE -- wear and remove or take
off.
PONER/PON object SOBRE support, METER object EN container, SACAR
object DE container, QUITAR object DE container-- Put, put on a table,
put into a box, remove from, etc.
GOLPEAR pnc CON weapon, MATAR, LUCHAR -- Hit pnc with weapon, kill and
fight.
ENTRA EN, SALTA SOBRE, SUBE A -- Get on the bench, Jump on the couch,
climb table.
BAJA/ BAJA DE -- Get out, get out from...
FIN -- Quit.
SI, NO -- Yes, No.
PREGUNTA A pnc SOBRE topic -- Ask pnc about topic.
DECIR topic A pnc -- Say topic to pnj.
HABLAR CON pnc -- Talk to.


Maybe some difficult in parsing Spanish games comes about inffinitive
and reflexive forms of verbs, for example: PUT is PONER in Spanish,
this verb works for putting things into or onto some container, but in
the reflexive form PONERME (that is PONER A MI, Put on me = wear) or
PONERSE (someone (the puppet) put on something, wears something).
However there's just a few verbs with reflexive form that are useful
for interact with the enviroment, just that PONERME and QUITARME, ane
maybe any verb with the ME (me, I, my self) at the end: EXAMINARME
(examine me), MATARME CON LA PISTOLA (commit suicide)

And, you must use the prepositions EN or DE or DENTRO DE, when
refering to something ON or INTO a container, METE LA PISTOLA EN EL
CAJON, EXAMINA LA PISTOLA DENTRO DEL CAJON. SOBRE is used for
supporters PON LA PISTOLA SOBRE LA MESA, COGE LA PISTOLA SOBRE LA MESA/
COGE LA PISTOLA DE LA MESA. As you can see, you can use this
prepositions either for referring supporters or containers, althought
DENTRO is equal to INTO and SOBRE is equal to ON.

However, with actual standards in parsers, you should not have
problems with guess the verb, maybe just with guess the phrase or the
correct grammar, so if you feel you have some doubts of some kind of
orders, just ask.

See you!

Urbatain.
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

Off Topic... Jimmy, the last few e-mails I've tried to send you have
bounced back. I got an extension until Feb 15 for that article we
discussed. Are you still interested? --Dennis
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available 

On Jan 6, 7:26 am, dennis.j... RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:
> Off Topic... Jimmy, the last few e-mails I've tried to send you have
> bounced back. I got an extension until Feb 15 for that article we
> discussed. Are you still interested? --Dennis

If you have problems sending an e-mail to Jimmy Maher, why don't you
try giving the article to another person ? Maybe the problem is your e-
mail.

If you don't find anyone else, I could send it to Jimmy

--Depresiv
 >> Stay informed about: [SPAG] Issue #50 Now Available