Inform is a programming language designed for creating interactive fiction, or text-based adventure games. It was first created by Graham Nelson in 1993 and has since become one of the most popular languages for creating interactive fiction. In this beginner's guide, we will provide an overview of Inform, how to write it with an example, and what are the best applications for it.
Overview of Inform
Inform is a domain-specific language designed for creating interactive fiction, or text-based adventure games. It is based on the Z-machine, a virtual machine used by Infocom for their text adventure games in the 1980s. Inform allows you to create games with descriptive text, non-player characters, puzzles, and branching storylines.
One of the key features of Inform is its natural language syntax, which makes it easy to read and write. The language is also highly flexible and customizable, allowing you to create games with different levels of complexity and depth.
How to Write Inform with an Example
To create a game in Inform, you will need to download and install the Inform development environment, which is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Once you have installed Inform, you can start creating your game by writing code in the Inform language.
Here is an example of a simple game in Inform:
```
"Escape the Room" by Your Name
The Kitchen is a room. "You are in a small kitchen."
The Living Room is north of the Kitchen. "You see a sofa and a TV."
The Front Door is east of the Living Room. "The door is locked."
The key is in the Kitchen.
After taking the key: "You pick up the key."
Instead of opening the Front Door when the player does not have the key: "The door is locked. You need a key to open it."
Instead of opening the Front Door when the player has the key: "You escape the room!"
```
In this example, we have defined three rooms: the Kitchen, the Living Room, and the Front Door. We have also defined an object called a key, which is located in the Kitchen. We then use the "After" and "Instead of" rules to define what happens when the player takes the key and tries to open the Front Door.
Best Applications for Inform
The main application for Inform is creating text-based adventure games. Interactive fiction has a long and rich history, and Inform allows you to create games that are engaging and immersive. Interactive fiction games are also a great way to learn programming and game design, as they require a mix of technical and creative skills.
In addition to creating games, Inform can also be used for prototyping and simulation. The natural language syntax and flexible structure of Inform make it easy to create complex systems and scenarios, which can be useful for testing and experimentation.
Conclusion
Inform is a powerful and flexible language for creating interactive fiction and text-based adventure games. Its natural language syntax and customizable structure make it easy to write and understand, even for beginners. If you are interested in creating your own interactive fiction games, or if you want to learn programming and game design, Inform is a great place to start.