@golmac@zirk.us
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

golmac

@golmac@zirk.us

MFA, recovering poet

Currently writing criticism of "canonical" (I say this with a raised eyebrow) interactive texts (80s)

Author of "Repeat the Ending," an Inform 7 game.

A he.

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golmac, to random
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It's official! My next game, "I, Thief" will be set in the Zork universe. Planned release is Spring Thing 2025.

https://topexpert.blog/2024/05/20/italic-typei-thiefroman-type-an-inform-7-work-in-progress/

aeberbach, to random
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@golmac Hi Drew, just found your site and podcast - great stuff! I know emulation is more practical but just for the feels, what vintage system would you choose experience Infocom on? IBM 5170? Apple II?

golmac,
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

@aeberbach My experiences back then were largely with Commodore and IBM machines, but if I were nabbing a system today, I'd choose Apple II. Or some 80-column variant, since Infocom seemed to support that mode.

golmac,
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@aeberbach Although, looking over your post: did you mean emulating legacy hardware, or using an interpreter application to host what I guess I'd call an instance of Infocom's Z-Machine? I use modern apps to do the Z-Machine option.

Worth noting that the community has put together some nice vm apps for a wide range of retro micros (TRS-80, etc). An option for playing on classic gear with some QOL features modern players are used to!

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

Hi all, long time no post. I've emerged from my cave to boost the unionization efforts of creators at IGN. Please consider signing this petition in support.

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/urge-ziff-davis-and-ign-management-to-voluntarily-recognize-the-ign-creators-guild

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

Let's Make IF #6
Only a short update today, since I had a Gold Machine post to get out. Thoughts on clutter and.... the smell action from the standard rules.

https://topexpert.blog/2023/12/04/lets-make-if-7-ambiguous-scenery/

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

I've decided to make a second blog about playing games and making IF, since the audience/format for Gold Machine is pretty specifically about Infocom games.

So... posts about writing stuff and playing games, mostly. Not super exciting at the moment, but there's more to come.

https://topexpert.blog

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

Hi all. I've gotten some positive feedback on my accessible "story mode" for Repeat the Ending, but I could use maybe two more testers. If you dislike playing parser games but would consider "reading" one, get in touch. Details:

https://intfiction.org/t/repeat-the-ending-story-mode/65475

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

I'm looking for readers to try out a new accessibility mode for Repeat the Ending. It automatically queues the next move in a walkthrough. The mode can be paused for player exploration at any time. Details here:

https://intfiction.org/t/repeat-the-ending-story-mode/65475/1

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

Since a few reviewers have mentioned Repeat the Ending in their reviews of B.J. Best's LAKE Adventure, I decided to have a look.

https://golmac.org/lake-adventure-these-textual-delights-have-textual-ends/

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

I think Trinity is one of Infocom's best games, even though it isn't my favorite. The first of several posts is up now.

http://golmac.org/the-big-one-trinity/

#infocom #infocomodon #interactivefiction

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

More Ballyhoo, this time about setting and prose.

https://golmac.org/ballyhoo-big-top-noir/

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

I've had a couple of small improvements suggested for Repeat the Ending, and I'd like to revamp the hints related to scoring. I'll do another (final?) release to incorporate these changes.

Please let me know if you have had problems with it or would just like to suggest something.

No, "I didn't like it" doesn't count as a suggestion! :P

https://ifdb.org/viewgame?id=eueqjtej7bvnfp5a

golmac,
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@gray17 Thanks! I fixed it.

golmac, to Cats
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

Our dear friend towel.

golmac,
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

@c0dec0dec0de Not required, but I'm sure they enjoy having their own space (though they do cuddle sometimes)

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

Gold Machine is finally through with the Zork and Enchanter trilogies. What a ride!

http://golmac.org/and-in-the-end-spellbreaker/

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

I've written a post about learning Inform 7, among other things. I share my messy code in hopes of encouraging non-programmers to try Inform 7 if it interests them.

https://golmac.org/about-the-time-i-wrote-an-inform-7-game/

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

Today is the last day to nominate ribbons for the Spring Thing Festival of Interactive Fiction.

There's still time to play/nominate some games!

https://www.springthing.net/2023/

golmac, to random
@golmac@zirk.us avatar

I'm still working my way to an argument for reading the Zork and Enchanter trilogies as a single, standalone text. This time, I consider the ways that Zork I establishes that narrative.

http://golmac.org/beyond-puzzles-adding-narrative-to-zork/

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