Posted October 16, 2014
high rated
... That when a game walks in with an itty bitty space
And a blinky thing in your face
You get sprung, wanna pull out your ... (etc.)
I admit it. I'm one of the select few who really loves text parsers. I prefer text parser adventure games over their point-and-click evolution. And I think text parser games are long overdue for a revival in the form of voice recognition parser games.
There is something about the freedom of a text parser that allowed me to connect more with the game and character, and which personalized the game in a way which most other games can't. It was as if the character was really thinking my thoughts, and doing (or attempting to do) the things in my imagination. True, most text parser games built back in the day were quite limited in how they responded to input outside of their basic parameters, but when you found a game where the developers thought the way you did and let you do things which you thought would not have been possible it opens up a whole different level of connection with a game.
I also do understand that I am in the minority here, and that most people find text parsers archaic and frustrating. So I am starting this thread to start a discussion on why most people seem to dislike text parsers and why people like me exist, who actually adore them. I'd also like to explore what technical limitations are currently in place that prevent text/voice parsers from being implemented in an amazing way in games or interactive media in the future.
-------------------------------------------(last update Nov. 15, 2014)------------------------------------------------
Since it seems I am not alone in my love of text parsers, I'm adding a list of games with a text parser to this first post for ease of reference.
My GOGmix: GOGmix - Games on gog with a text parser interface
Running list of major games with a text parser interface:
Game titles which are not currently available on gog link to the wishlist page for easy upvoting
* denotes game is available on gog as of last edit date
* 1980 - The Zork Anthology (Zork I, II, III, Beyond Zork, Zork Zero, Planetfall)
* 1981 - Softporn Adventure (included in Leisure Suit Larry Collection)
* 1984 - King's Quest 1, 2, & 3 (and 4, too)
1986 - The Black Cauldron HTML Javascript Game
* 1986 - Space Quest 1, 2, & 3
* 1987 - Leisure Suit Larry 1, 2, & 3
* 1987 - Police Quest 1 & 2
1988 - Gold Rush!
* 1989 - Quest for Glory 1 & 2
1989 - Codename: ICEMAN
1989 - The Colonel's Bequest
1989 - Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail
* 1989 - Personal Nightmare
* 1990 - Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire
* 1990 - The Hugo Trilogy
1990 - Les Manley in: Search for the King
* 1996 - Harvester
* 1998 - Starship Titanic
* 2004 - Creatures Exodus
* 2009 - TIME GENTLEMEN, PLEASE! + BEN THERE, DAN THAT!
2012 - CYPHER: Cyberpunk Text Adventure
* 2012 - The Real Texas
* 2014 - Hadean Lands
Freeware
links go to game downloads or browser embeds - please remember to always be careful and install files at your own risk)
* The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
* Peasant's Quest
* Trillby's Notes
* Don't shit your pants
* Hank's Quest
* Enclosure
* [url=http://wiw.org/~jess/replicated.html]Space Quest Chapter 0: Replicated[/url]
* Façade
Interactive Fiction Resources
http://www.ifarchive.org/
http://www.ifcomp.org/
http://ifdb.tads.org/
And a blinky thing in your face
You get sprung, wanna pull out your ... (etc.)
I admit it. I'm one of the select few who really loves text parsers. I prefer text parser adventure games over their point-and-click evolution. And I think text parser games are long overdue for a revival in the form of voice recognition parser games.
There is something about the freedom of a text parser that allowed me to connect more with the game and character, and which personalized the game in a way which most other games can't. It was as if the character was really thinking my thoughts, and doing (or attempting to do) the things in my imagination. True, most text parser games built back in the day were quite limited in how they responded to input outside of their basic parameters, but when you found a game where the developers thought the way you did and let you do things which you thought would not have been possible it opens up a whole different level of connection with a game.
I also do understand that I am in the minority here, and that most people find text parsers archaic and frustrating. So I am starting this thread to start a discussion on why most people seem to dislike text parsers and why people like me exist, who actually adore them. I'd also like to explore what technical limitations are currently in place that prevent text/voice parsers from being implemented in an amazing way in games or interactive media in the future.
-------------------------------------------(last update Nov. 15, 2014)------------------------------------------------
Since it seems I am not alone in my love of text parsers, I'm adding a list of games with a text parser to this first post for ease of reference.
My GOGmix: GOGmix - Games on gog with a text parser interface
Running list of major games with a text parser interface:
Game titles which are not currently available on gog link to the wishlist page for easy upvoting
* denotes game is available on gog as of last edit date
* 1980 - The Zork Anthology (Zork I, II, III, Beyond Zork, Zork Zero, Planetfall)
* 1981 - Softporn Adventure (included in Leisure Suit Larry Collection)
* 1984 - King's Quest 1, 2, & 3 (and 4, too)
1986 - The Black Cauldron HTML Javascript Game
* 1986 - Space Quest 1, 2, & 3
* 1987 - Leisure Suit Larry 1, 2, & 3
* 1987 - Police Quest 1 & 2
1988 - Gold Rush!
* 1989 - Quest for Glory 1 & 2
1989 - Codename: ICEMAN
1989 - The Colonel's Bequest
1989 - Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail
* 1989 - Personal Nightmare
* 1990 - Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire
* 1990 - The Hugo Trilogy
1990 - Les Manley in: Search for the King
* 1996 - Harvester
* 1998 - Starship Titanic
* 2004 - Creatures Exodus
* 2009 - TIME GENTLEMEN, PLEASE! + BEN THERE, DAN THAT!
2012 - CYPHER: Cyberpunk Text Adventure
* 2012 - The Real Texas
* 2014 - Hadean Lands
Freeware
links go to game downloads or browser embeds - please remember to always be careful and install files at your own risk)
* The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
* Peasant's Quest
* Trillby's Notes
* Don't shit your pants
* Hank's Quest
* Enclosure
* [url=http://wiw.org/~jess/replicated.html]Space Quest Chapter 0: Replicated[/url]
* Façade
Interactive Fiction Resources
http://www.ifarchive.org/
http://www.ifcomp.org/
http://ifdb.tads.org/
Post edited September 18, 2015 by the.kuribo