ZZT-OOP Programming Language guide
CREDITS
Created by P-Bends, the man
[email protected]
Finished May 06, 2003
Version 1.01
Special thanks to...
-The mysterious "ZZT-OOP Programming Language Reference Manual"
-The creators of ZZT for making this awesome, primitive game
-GameFAQs for giving me purpose to write something like this
-The people at my school for giving me the nickname P-Bends
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Format
a. Symbols
b. Text
3. Messages
4. Directions
5. Flags
a. Flag variables
b. Internal flags
6. Commands
7. Music
a. Notes and Rests
b. Parameters
c. Sound effects
8. Objects vs. Scrolls
9. CHAR list
1. INTRODUCTION
ZZT-OOP, or ZZT-Object Oriented Programming, is a very easy and concise
language. It doesn't contain much, and is easy to learn. I have a file called
"ZZT-OOP Programming Language Reference Manual." I have no idea how I got it,
but would like to credit it as an outside source, for it is what taught me the
language which I can assist everyone at GameFAQs in learning. ZZT came to me in
two doses, and I don't know if this reference manual came with either, or if I
or someone else in this household who used ZZT typed it up. However, I have it
now and it is very useful.
ZZT-OOP is used in the text of objects and scrolls. However, objects and
scrolls bear major differences that will be described in Chapter 8. I will
hereafter speak only of "objects," but know that most of what I describe
applies to both, except where there are differences, which will be listed.
Anyway, read on and email me if there is a question.
2. FORMAT
(Symbols)
ZZT-OOP contains 8 symbols that tell ZZT what comes after is not to be treated
as regular text. The symbols are: @ # : / ? ! $ '
@objectname
The "at" symbol denotes, in the first line of code, the title of the object.
The title is shown to the user as its name and is used to receive messages from
other objects. If the object has no title, or the title contains space bars,
the object cannot receive messages from other objects.
#command
The pound sign denotes a command to the object. Commands will be listed in
Chapter 6.
:label
The colon denotes a point in the code that can be accessed later using the SEND
command. There are five specific labels that can also be accessed through other
interaction; those will be described in Chapter 3.
/direction
The forward slash tells the object to move in the given direction. For more
information, see the GO command.
?direction
The question mark tells the object to try movement in the given direction. For
more information, see the TRY command.
!message;text
The exclamation point denotes a menu choice accessed by the user. These are
choices that the user can highlight and press "Enter" to be sent to a label in
the code.
$text
The dollar sign denotes a line of text that will be centered to the user and
appear white. It does nothing special except make the text look better.
'comment
The apostrophe denotes a line of comment code. Comment code is for the
programmer only, and is completely ignored by ZZT.
(Text)
Text is what the user reads while playing ZZT. This text is denoted by having
none of the above symbols before the text. The only other types of code visible
to the user are the buttons (!) and the centered text ($).
3. MESSAGES
There are five special messages that are accessed not only by using the SEND
command. These five messages are:
:TOUCH, when the player touches the object.
:SHOT, when the object is hit with a bullet.
:BOMBED, when the object is in the blast radius of a bomb.
:THUD, when the object hits a wall during the WALK command.
:ENERGIZED, when the player touches an energizer.
4. DIRECTIONS
Movement in ZZT is initiated with the valid directions, which range from the
basic compass directions to random directions. The directions are:
N (NORTH), S (SOUTH), E (EAST), and W (WEST), the compass directions.
I (IDLE), the stationary direction.
SEEK, toward the player.
FLOW, the current direction.
OPP <direction>, opposite to the given direction.
CW <direction>, clockwise from the given direction.
CCW <direction>, counter-clockwise from the given direction.
RNDNS, random, north or south.
RNDNE, random, north or east.
RNDP <direction>, a random direction perpendicular to the given direction.
5. FLAGS
(Flag variables)
Flag variables are true/false variables. They are either SET or CLEAR/ Their
status is changed with the SET and CLEAR commands.
(Internal flags)
Internal flags have to do with an object's surroundings. They include:
ALLIGNED, whether the object is aligned horizontally or vertically with the
player.
CONTACT, whether the object is touching the player.
BLOCKED <direction>, whether the object's path is obstructed in the given
direction.
ENERGIZED, whether the player is currently under the effect of an energizer.
6. COMMANDS
Commands tell the object to perform a specific action. Commands include:
#BECOME <kind> tells the object to change into the specified type of item or
terrain. If no color is specified, the object retains its original color.
#BIND <objectname> changes the object's code to that of the specified object.
#CHANGE <kind> <kind> changes all occurrences of a certain type of item or
terrain into another. If no color is specified, it changes every color.
#CHAR <number> changes the object's character to that of the specified number.
#CLEAR <flag variable> changes the status of the specified flag variable to
CLEAR.
#CYCLE <number> changes the cycle speed of the object to the specified number.
Speed ranges from 1 (fastest) to 255 (slowest). The default is 3.
#DIE removes the object from the game.
#END ends interaction with the object until it is triggered again.
#ENDGAME removes all the player's health, ending the game.
#GIVE <item> <quantity> gives the specified amount of the specified item to the
player. Items to give are AMMO, GEMS, TORCHES, HEALTH, and SCORE.
#GO <direction> moves the object in the specified direction. If movement is
blocked, the object will stand until it can move or until another message is
received. This is equivalent to /
#IDLE keeps the object stationary for a moment. This is equivalent to /I
#IF <flag> [THEN] <message> tests the value of the specified flag, and if it is
SET, sends programming to the specified message. The THEN is not required.
#LOCK puts the object into "locked" mode, which means it cannot receive
incoming messages.
#PLAY <sound> plays the specified music. Music information is listed in Chapter
7.
#PUT <direction> <kind> puts the specified type of item or terrain in the
specified direction.
#RESTART sends interaction to the first line of the object's code.
#RESTORE <message> restores the first instance of the specified label that was
ZAPped.
#SEND <message> sends interaction to the specified label.
#SEND <objectname>:<message> sends interaction of the specified object to the
specified label.
#SET <flag variable> changes the status of the specified flag variable to SET.
#SHOOT <direction> fires a bullet in the specified direction.
#TAKE <item> <number> [<message>] takes from the player the specified amount of
the specified item. If the player does not have enough, none is taken and, if a
message is specified, interaction is sent there.
#THROWSTAR <direction> sends a star, which tries to hit the player, in the
given direction.
#TRY <direction> tries to move the object in the given direction. If movement
is blocked, the command is ignored. This is equivalent to ?
#UNLOCK takes the object out of "locked" mode, which means it can receive
incoming messages.
#WALK <direction> makes the object start to walk in the specified direction.
The object will keep moving that way until it receives the WALK IDLE command or
until it walks into a wall, in which case the THUD message will be sent.
#ZAP <message> changes the pound sign at the beginning of the first instance of
the specified message to an apostrophe, making it comment code and rendering
the message "zapped." The message can be restored with the RESTORE command.
7. MUSIC
Music is played with notes and rests preceded by parameters that describe the
length of the note, among other things.
(Notes and Rests)
X is rest
A - G are basic piano notes sometimes followed by:
# is sharp
! is flat
(Parameters)
T denotes a 32nd note.
S denotes a sixteenth note.
I denotes an eighth note.
Q denotes a quarter note.
H denotes a half note.
W denotes a whole note.
3 denotes triplets, meaning the three notes that follow take up the time of the
one length specified.
denotes time-and-a-half, meaning the note that follows takes up one and a
half times as long.
+ denotes going up one octave.
- denotes going down one octave.
(Sound effects)
0 tick
1 tweet
2 cowbell
4 high snare
5 high woodblock
6 low snare
7 low tom
8 low woodblock
9 bass drum
8. OBJECTS VS. SCROLLS
Objects and scrolls both contain ZZT-OOP language. However, they have many
differences. The interaction differences are that objects begin with their
first line of code upon entering the room, while scrolls do when touched, and
that objects simply stand idle when interaction ends, while scrolls die. Other
major differences are that scrolls cannot move or change character. Which also
means that their beginning character is always the same, and that color is not
specified.
Other than that, objects and scrolls are the same. Scrolls can shoot or change
terrain types just like objects, etc.
9. CHAR LIST
This is a list of the characters for objects in ZZT so they can be changed
using the CHAR command. I have also listed if any CHARs share their character
with that of a set item or terrain.
1 Hollow happy face
2 Filled happy face, ZZT player without background
3 Solid heart
4 Solid diamond, ZZT gem
5 Solid club, ZZT ruffian
6 Solid spade
7 Solid circle
8 Solid block with missing circle
9 Solid ring
10 Solid block with missing ring, ZZT door without background
11 "Male" symbol, ZZT bomb
12 "Female" symbol, ZZT key
13 Single music note
14 Double music note
15 Star burst
16 Solid right-facing triangle, ZZT pusher-east
17 Solid left-facing triangle, ZZT pusher-west
18 Up-and-down arrow, ZZT slider-northsouth
19 Double exclamation point
20 Paragraph symbol
21 Section / numbered clause symbol (jointed S)
22 Thick underscore
23 Underlined up-and-down arrow
24 Up arrow
25 Down arrow
26 Right arrow
27 Left arrow
28 Small "L" rotated 90 degrees clockwise and mirrored horizontally
29 Right-and-left arrow, ZZT slider-eastwest
30 Solid up-facing triangle, ZZT pusher-north
31 Solid down-facing triangle, ZZT pusher-south
32 Space bar
33 !
34 "
35 #
36 $
37 %
38 &
39 '
40 (
41 )
42 *, ZZT slime, ZZT ricochet
43 +
44 ,
45 -
46 .
47 /
48 0
49 1
50 2
51 3
52 4
53 5
54 6
55 7
56 8
57 9
58 :
59 ;
60 <
61 =
62 >
63 ?
64 @
65 A
66 B
67 C
68 D
69 E
70 F
71 G
72 H
73 I
74 J
75 K
76 L
77 M
78 N
79 O, ZZT centipede segment
80 P
81 Q
82 R
83 S
84 T
85 U
86 V
87 W
88 X
89 Y
90 Z
91 [
92 \
93 ]
94 ^
95 _
96 `
97 a
98 b
99 c
100 d
101 e
102 f
103 g
104 h
105 i
106 j
107 k
108 l
109 m
110 n
111 o
112 p
113 q
114 r
115 s
116 t
117 u
118 v
119 w
120 x
121 y
122 z
123 {
124 |
125 }
126 ~
127 Small house-shaped pentagon (three sides of a square with triangle
top), ZZT energizer
128 Uppercase C with small s underneath
129 Lowercase u with two dots
130 Lowercase e with right-facing accent mark
131 Lowercase a with carat
132 Lowercase a with two dots, ZZT ammo
133 Lowercase a with left-facing accent mark
134 Lowercase a with small circle
135 Lowercase c with small s underneath
136 Lowercase e with carat
137 Lowercase e with two dots
138 Lowercase e with left-facing accent mark
139 Lowercase i with two dots
140 Lowercase i with carat
141 Lowercase i with left-facing accent mark
142 Uppercase A with two dots
143 Uppercase A with small circle
144 Uppercase E with right-facing accent mark
145 Two S's together
146 Capital A and E joined together
147 Lowercase o with carat
148 Lowercase o with two dots
149 Lowercase o with left-facing accent mark
150 Lowercase u with carat
151 Lowercase u with left-facing accent mark
152 Lowercase y with two dots
153 Capital O with two dots, ZZT bear
154 Capital U with two dots
155 Cent sign
156 British pounds sign
157 Japanese yen sign, ZZT torch
158 Uppercase P with lowercase t tucked under it
159 Italic cursive f
160 Lowercase a with right-facing accent mark
161 Lowercase i with right-facing accent mark
162 Lowercase o with right-facing accent mark
163 Lowercase u with right-facing accent mark
164 Lowercase n with tilde
165 Uppercase N with tilde
166 Underlined superscript a
167 Underlined superscript o
168 Reverse upside-down question mark
169 Small "L" rotated 90 degrees clockwise
170 Small "L" rotated 90 degrees clockwise and mirrored vertically
171 One half
172 One quarter
173 Upside-down exclamation point
174 Much less than symbol (two < together)
175 Much greater than symbol (two > together)
176 Spread dot pattern block
177 Close dot pattern block, ZZT breakable wall
178 Bricks block, ZZT normal wall
179 Vertical line
180 Vertical line with left horizontal
181 Vertical line with double left horizontal
182 Double vertical line with left horizontal
183 Double halfway vertical line up with left horizontal
184 Halfway vertical line up with double left horizontal
185 Double vertical line with double left horizontal
186 Double vertical line
187 Double halfway vertical line up with double left horizontal
188 Double halfway vertical line down with double left horizontal
189 Double halfway vertical line down with left horizontal
190 Halfway vertical line down with double left horizontal
191 Halfway vertical line up with left horizontal
192 Halfway vertical line down with right horizontal
193 Halfway vertical line down with both horizontals
194 Halfway vertical line up with both horizontals
195 Vertical line down with right horizontal
196 Horizontal line
197 Vertical line with both horizontals
198 Vertical line with double right horizontal
199 Double vertical line with right horizontal
200 Double halfway vertical line down with double right horizontal
201 Double halfway vertical line up with double right horizontal
202 Double halfway vertical line down with both double horizontals
203 Double halfway vertical line up with both double horizontals
204 Double vertical line with double right horizontal
205 Double horizontal line
206 Double vertical line with double both horizontals, ZZT blinker
207 Halfway vertical line down with double both horizontals
208 Double halfway vertical line down with both horizontals
209 Halfway vertical line up with both double horizontals
210 Double halfway vertical line up with both horizontals
211 Double halfway vertical line down with right horizontal
212 Halfway vertical line down with double right horizontal
213 Halfway vertical line up with double right horizontal
214 Double halfway vertical line up with right horizontal
215 Double vertical line with both horizontals
216 Vertical line with both double horizontals
217 Halfway vertical line down with left horizontal
218 Halfway vertical line up with right horizontal
219 Solid block, ZZT solid wall
220 Bottom half of solid block
221 Left half of solid block
222 Right half of solid block
223 Top half of solid block
224 Lowercase Greek alpha
225 Lowercase Greek beta
226 Uppercase Greek gamma
227 Lowercase Greek pi, ZZT tiger
228 Uppercase Greek sigma
229 Lowercase Greek sigma
230 Lowercase Greek mu
231 Uppercase Greek upsilon
232 Uppercase Greek phi, ZZT scroll
233 Lowercase Greek theta, ZZT centipede head
234 Uppercase Greek omega, ZZT lion
235 Lowercase Greek delta
236 Lowercase Greek omega
237 Lowercase Greek phi
238 Lowercase Greek epsilon
239 Upside-down U
240 Three horizontal lines, ZZT passage without background
241 Plus-or-minus sign
242 Greater than or equal sign
243 Less than or equal sign
244 Right-face cane
245 Upside-down left-face cane
246 Divided by sign
247 Approximately equal sign
248 Degrees sign
249 Centered period
250 Tiny dash
251 Radical
252 Superscript n
253 Squared (superscript 2)
254 Solid block, ZZT boulder
