Beta Tester(s) wanted for Text Adventure (Follow-up to SIGMA Experiment)

[melchett]

I believe I have corrected all of your 18 queries.

Well thank you - that's great service Lee! I didn't expect you to turn this around quite so quickly.

Updated the image in the first post to RC2.

Will test hopefully tomorrow or Weds night. I did wonder if you'd pack it more to make it fit a standard Model B - a Master with a 65c02 co-pro seemed quite large for an adventure game How do you pack it?

I did have quite a read of the source code in a Windows BBC Basic editor. Educational and interesting to see how it's put together - took a little time to work out OP vs OPR vs O$ vs MN vs P etc etc Readable code though.

The feedback at 16 has been noted, but I haven't altered the behaviour there.

Happy with that, as I say just took me a while to realise, my glass of wine probably didn't help.

I have addressed point 8, and this has introduced another puzzle for free!

Intriguing - will have to play with this and see. Thank you.

I have left the behaviour of your point 14 as it matches the behaviour of SIGMA.

I think stupidly the reason it took a while to work out is because <rot13>V cerffrq nycun </rot13>

And, just in case you are still confused - point 13 is completely incorrect behavior.
As it states in the first post, the plot is to kill the creatures and get back in the cubicle.

I figured that from one of your previous responses - and I probably missed the detail in the first post. And it 100% makes sense for the creatures to be the target.

Thanks again for the rapid updates!

[leenew]

Hey,
It is packed using (I think) Advanced BASIC Editor.
It does a decent job I think.
Lurkio may be able to give more details here as it was him that pointed me to it.
SIGMA was written from scratch in BASIC because..., well, I just wanted to do it.
ALPHA then used the "skeleton" of the SIGMA program, which made it much quicker to write.

If you want my notes for things like the OPR meanings, you are welcome. (It ain't pretty - and some don't make much sense!!)
But, the main thing is, I have really enjoyed completing this "thing" that I first thought of back in 1983.

Once ALPHA is complete, I can start the daunting task of thinking of more puzzles for the next episode

Lee.

[lurkio]

It is packed using (I think) [PRES] Advanced BASIC Editor. It does a decent job I think. Lurkio may be able to give more details here as it was him that pointed me to it.

No idea what you're talking about...

search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&keyw ... or_id=9799

[melchett]

I ran through before work this morning and it's become quite polished. All test on ALPHA Unpacked rc2 14092020 3.02pm.ssd

<rot13>
1. Svkrq - yvxvat gur arj orunivbhe bs guvf, znxrf zhpu zber frafr gung ur sbyybjf lbh - nqqf cerffher naq grafvba gbb.

2. Svkrq - lbh nyjnlf qvr vs lbh oybj hc gur yno naq lbh ner vafvqr, rira vs lbh ner va gur nveybpx jvgu gur vagrevbe qbbe pybfrq.

3. Svkrq - lbh nyjnlf qvr vs lbh oybj hc gur yno naq lbh ner vafvqr.

4. Svkrq - lbh whfg arrq gb or bhg bs gur pnir flfgrz abj ertneqyrff bs qbbe fgngr.

5. Svkrq - fb zhpu zber vaghvgvir abj.

6. Svkrq - nf cre 5.

7. Svkrq - fgnlf ol gur cbby.

8. Svkrq - terng arj srngher gung sbeprf na raq tnzr, yvxr gur nqqvgvba bs gur zbafgre gbb gb nqq na nygreangvir jnl gb xvyy lbh. Naq gung lbh bayl unir fb zhpu bkltra nsgre lbh fubbg gur Dhngrevhz - unir gb erzrzore gb bcra ivfbe.

9. Fnzr orunivbhe fgvyy - V pna qrcerffhevfr gur yno ol yrnivat gur vagrevbe qbbe bcra (jul qbrfa'g gung xvyy zr?). Vs gurer'f n ernfba gura, jryy, V fubhyqa'g trg oybja gb fznyy sentzragf jura bcravat gur rkgrevbe qbbe. Orggre gung rirelguvat syvrf sebz gur yno naq xvyyf zr jura V qrcerffhevfr?

10. Svkrq - unir gb erzbir obbgf orsber qebccvat fb bayl bar jnl gb trg gur orunivbhe.

11. Svkrq - vzcbffvoyr gb gryy abj - rvgure lbh qvr sebz gur yno rkcybfvba be lbh qba'g unir rabhtu bkltra gb trg onpx gb gur uvir naq ghea n yvtug ba.

12. Svkrq - gunax lbh.

13. Svkrq - oybj hc gur yno naq qvr!

14. V'z bx jvgu guvf orunivbhe, nf lbh fnl vg'f pbafvfgrag.

15. Whfg n pbzzrag.

16. Ab ceboyrz, V jbexrq vg bhg riraghnyyl.

17. Svkrq - gunax lbh!

18. Svkrq - vzcbffvoyr gb trg onpx gurer naq fjvgpu bau yvtug jvgu rabhtu bkltra.
</rot13>

Number 9 still bugs me a little but up to you as the author what behaviour you want for this. The rest is rock solid and thank you - wish I could have fed back on e.g. Philosopher's Quest in the 80s as a kid like this!

[Rod C]

Hi Lee
I'm having a lot of fun playing this and trying harder to solve it than to test it. However, I've found a few interesting oddities in the latest version:

<rot13>
1. V qebc gur cncre va gur qnex pnir. V pna ernq gur cncre ohg pna'g trg vg orpnhfr vg'f gbb qnex gb frr.

2. Vs V trg natel Cnqznanouna gb sbyybj zr vagb gur nve ybpx ur qbrfa'g qvr jura V qrcerffhevmr gur punzore. Harkcrpgrq ohg V'z unccl gb nffhzr gung ur'f jrnevat n cerffher fhvg yvxr zr.

3. V znxr Dhngrevhz naq fubbg Cnqznanouna. Ur'f qrnq. V ab ybatre unir Gevmobegvhz be Frcgbyrar ohg V pna fgvyy nqq gurz gb gur zvkre. V nqq, zvk naq npgvingr. Jura V cerff rwrpg, Cnqznanouna nccrnef, abg (QRNQ) ohg (NATEL) naq pneevrf ba nf orsber V fubg uvz.

4. Nf nobir, V unir hfrq gur Gevmobegvhz naq Frcgbyrar. Vs V nqq guerr dhnagvgvrf bs rvgure aba-rkvfgrag purzvpny naq npgvingr vg rkcybqrf.

5. Va snpg, V pna nqq Gevmobegvhz naq Frcgbyrar gb znxr Dhngrevhz whfg ol xabjvat gurl rkvfg jvgubhg univat tbar bhg gb qvt gurz hc!

6. Svanyyl, V'z whfg jbaqrevat vs lbh punatrq gur bkltra fhccyl va gur yngrfg irefvba. V'z abg fher ohg vg frrzf gb eha bhg orsber V pna trg zhpu qbar bhgfvqr ohg qvqa'g abgvpr guvf va svefg irefvba.
</rot13>

Thanks for this second offering in the series.
It's got a lot of atmosphere - well, until I chyy gur yrire!

Rod

[leenew]

He he
Very.... interesting
I shall attend to these problems tomorrow.
I will give a better response later...


Lee

[leenew]

V guvax n ybg bs gurfr ceboyrzf jrer qhr gb zr abg purpxvat vs lbh npghnyyl unq gur purzvpnyf jura lbh nqqrq gurz gb gur zvkre.
Ol qbvat guvf purpx, vg fbyirf zbfg bs gubfr vffhrf.
V unir tvira Cnqznanouna nabgure tevmmyl qrngu va gur nve-ybpx vs lbh cersre qr-cerffhevfvat uvz gb fubbgvat uvz!
Lrf, V nygrerq gur bkltra fhccyl.... Guvf tvirf nabgure yvggyr chmmyr arne gur raq, naq bcraf gur cbffvovyvgl bs n 'oyrnx' raqvat...

Thanks to everybody who have spoilt their pleasure somewhat by beta-testing this game.
I have added the latest version to the first post, which hopefully cures most if not all of the issues.
Hopefully it isn't far off finished now!

Lee.

[Rod C]

Playing the new update now and found a new inconsistency:

<rot13>
Vs V qba'g trg gur obbgf be trg gurz ohg qba'g jrne gurz V pna tb bhgfvqr jvgubhg sybngvat. Ubjrire, vs V tb bhgfvqr jvgu obbgf abg jbea gura jrne gurz naq erzbir gurz V sybng hcjneqf.
</rot13>

Rod

[leenew]

Cheers Rod.
V guvax V unir fbegrq bhg gur obbgf ceboyrz.
Whfg nqqrq n purpx gb frr vs lbh ner jrnevat gur obbgf jura lbh chyy gur yrire va gur nveybpx.
Guvf oht zhfg unir orra gurer fvapr gur svefg irefvba!

Updated to RC4

Lee.

[Rod C]

Thanks, Lee.
While you were doing that I had a moment of inspiration and I should be able to make a bit more progress now. Not sure how far I might be from the end though. Perhaps just a few more things to get in place...

Rod

[iamaran]

Lee, is it the intention that both 'wearables' count towards your inventory limit?

[leenew]

Hmmm...
I never thought about it that way.

Gur chmmyr jurer lbh unir gb trg gur purzvpny sebz hc ba gur yrqtr:
Lbh arrq:
Gur cerffher fhvg
Zntan-obbgf
Fcnqr
ENQNE
CYHF gur purzvpny.
Gung'f lbhe yvzvg.
Fb, jura lbh ernyvfr lbh arrq gur ebpx gb or noyr gb trg onpx qbja, lbh unir gb yrnir gur fcnqr be gur ENQNE ba gur yrqtr.
Gurersber guvf purzvpny UNF GB or gur svany bar lbh ergevrir.
Jbhyq vg znxr vg rnfvre vs V qvqa'g nqq jrnenoyrf gb gur vairagbel yvzvg?
Vg jbhyq whfg zrna lbh pbhyq trg gur punzvpnyf va nal beqre, naq V thrff vg jbhyq zrna n ovg yrff ehaahat nebhaq.
Vg'f bayl fznyy gubhtu!
Jung qb lbh guvax?


Lee.

[melchett]

I quite like the design as it is right now Lee - it did cross my mind that if you wear something, it shouldn't count as inventory any more but many adventures back in the day did that too. I think it's ok and the right amount of evil.

[leenew]

Yeah, I am inclined to leave it as it is unless someone gives me a good reason to change it!
I will let Rod finish the game, and then add it to the SIGMA experiment disc.
I may have a little break before thinking about plot and puzzles for the next instalment!

Lee.

[iamaran]

Yes, that works and in fact that is the way I played it originally; whether that was by design or coincidence I can't remember! It's been a while since I played it, but what about the endgame where lbh arrq gb unir gur fhvg, obbgf, evsyr, Fjrqryvhz, Dhngrevhz, naq tybj fgvpx?
Jura V cynlrq vg V qvqa'g arrq gb cbffrff be jrne gur obbgf.

[leenew]

Gurer jnf n obbgf oht!
Lbh qba'g arrq nyy bs gubfr naljnl qb lbh?
Va zl (aba-bcgvzvfrq) jnyxguebhtu V znxr 2 frcrengr gevcf.
Svefg gb arhgenyvmr gur npvq, naq gura n gevc gb xvyy gur zbafgref...

[iamaran]

Oht, lrnu - ohg jvgubhg gur arrq sbe obbgf V pbhyq cerivbhfyl qb vg va bar gevc!

[iamaran]

Is the inventory limit a simple 5? If so I'm afraid I may have found another bug.

Nsgre fubbgvat gur perngher, naq ergheavat (abj gung V zhfg unir gur obbgf!) - vs V qba'g rkcyvpvgyl qebc gur tybjfgvpx gura zl vairagbel vf yvzvgrq gb 4.

[leenew]

Gah! I will double-check this in the morning.
EDIT:
Confirmed
Will fix in the morning.
Surely that's it now?!

Lee.

[Rod C]

I don't want to decode the comments above in case of spoilers but it may be what I noticed a while ago and forgot to report.

Jura gur yvtug fgvpx vf hfrq hc naq nhgbzngvpnyyl qvfpneqrq gur vairagbel vfa'g serrq hc gb nyybj cvpxvat hc nabgure vgrz rkprcg, V guvax, nabgure yvtug fgvpx.

Rod

[leenew]

Yes Rod,
That's the bug.
I will fix it when I get up and have a cuppa

Lee

[leenew]

Updated to rc5

[Rod C]

I've been doing my best to explore this strange place and solve all its mysteries without revealing any secrets that might be dangerous in the wrong hands but some of my experiences have been so other-wordly that I must record them if only to help preserve my sanity. There are things that I have seen or perhaps think I have seen which defy all probability. Sometimes I feel that I have been dreaming other lives. Dreaming and waking into a new life, then another. Each a new variant on the last, strangely illogical existence.

I was doing experiments in the lab the other night when I got an eerie feeling that there might be some agent working under cover, intentionally changing the rules of reality. I'm so confused...

Could Swedelia herself be tinkering with the equipment to sabotage the SIGMA Experiment? There are so many strange things here and I'm probably using them in dangerous ways. Am I losing my mind? I must get a grip on this overwhelming sense of deja vu. A little while ago I could conjure things into existence just by recalling their names from a previous lifetime. Surely these are false memories! At one stage I even believed that I had the power to raise the dead! How deluded must I be? I just hope that I'm not making things harder for Swedelia.

This insanity can't go on forever. I must work faster...so much to do...so many ideas...

Ahh! Finally I feel a great soothing calm. So calm. Everything makes perfect sense. I feel a new adventure is about to begin.

[leenew]

I've been doing my best to explore this strange place and solve all its mysteries without revealing any secrets that might be dangerous in the wrong hands but some of my experiences have been so other-wordly that I must record them if only to help preserve my sanity. There are things that I have seen or perhaps think I have seen which defy all probability. Sometimes I feel that I have been dreaming other lives. Dreaming and waking into a new life, then another. Each a new variant on the last, strangely illogical existence.

I was doing experiments in the lab the other night when I got an eerie feeling that there might be some agent working under cover, intentionally changing the rules of reality. I'm so confused...

Could Swedelia herself be tinkering with the equipment to sabotage the SIGMA Experiment? There are so many strange things here and I'm probably using them in dangerous ways. Am I losing my mind? I must get a grip on this overwhelming sense of deja vu. A little while ago I could conjure things into existence just by recalling their names from a previous lifetime. Surely these are false memories! At one stage I even believed that I had the power to raise the dead! How deluded must I be? I just hope that I'm not making things harder for Swedelia.

This insanity can't go on forever. I must work faster...so much to do...so many ideas...

Ahh! Finally I feel a great soothing calm. So calm. Everything makes perfect sense. I feel a new adventure is about to begin.

I had to quote the full post

Rod, I have sent you a private message in case you wish to discuss what this game is doing to your mental state...

Lee.

[leenew]

One final niggle.
I will leave this un ROTed!

Rod C mentioned that you should only get a message that "light was dimming" and "light goes out" if the light was in your possession or you were in the room with the light source.
You should not get a "light is dimming" message if the light is in a cave somewhere and you are somewhere else.
I think this is correct so I have changed the behaviour.
The latest release is rc6 (in the first post) and will be the release version unless any last minute bugs come in.
Do you want to test the light behaves how you want Rod?

Lee.

[Rod C]

Rod, I have sent you a private message in case you wish to discuss what this game is doing to your mental state...

Feeling much better now after a nice long sleep.

Do you want to test the light behaves how you want Rod?

That's OK, I'm sure the new reality is completely logical!

I'm glad you're working on this as a series and really looking forward to what comes next. It's a great theme and I really like the style of puzzles you create. Thanks heaps!

[leenew]

You are welcome

I declare testing over.
I will - of course - fix anything that comes to my attention later, but I think ALPHA is now good to go!

Time to squish it on to the SIGMA disc...

Swedelia.

[leenew]

I was doing well in the early hours of yesterday morning, but had to sleep and didn't think I'd get chance to pick it up again this weekend. I unexpectedly found a couple of hours this morning and got absolutely nowhere. Then a sneaky 15 minutes this aft and, just like a good crossword, 2 hours of seemingly nothing then it all fell into place. Good work, Leedelia

Fancy a go at part 3? viewtopic.php?f=74&t=20696

Leedelia.

[leenew]

Rod, I have sent you a private message in case you wish to discuss what this game is doing to your mental state...

Feeling much better now after a nice long sleep.

Do you want to test the light behaves how you want Rod?

That's OK, I'm sure the new reality is completely logical!

I'm glad you're working on this as a series and really looking forward to what comes next. It's a great theme and I really like the style of puzzles you create. Thanks heaps!

Fancy a go at part 3? viewtopic.php?f=74&t=20696

Leedelia.

[leenew]

I quite like the design as it is right now Lee - it did cross my mind that if you wear something, it shouldn't count as inventory any more but many adventures back in the day did that too. I think it's ok and the right amount of evil.

Fancy a go at part 3?

Leedelia.