EARTH AND SKY behaves like most interactive fiction, with the exception
of its conversation system. This system is a mad scientist's hybrid of
various techniques from other games:
* ASK <character> ABOUT <topic> and TELL <character> ABOUT <topic>
are enabled, and can be used to interact with any non-player
character (NPC).
* However, when an NPC addresses the player character (PC), EARTH AND
SKY will present a list of possible replies, and ask the player to
select one of these. (Remaining silent is always an option as
well.)
* Finally, if the player would rather move along with the story than
grill NPCs, the verb TALK TO <npc> is also available. Selecting
this verb will prompt EARTH AND SKY to launch an entire dialogue
between the PC and the NPC, each of whom will choose their words
and topics based on what's currently happening in the game.
EARTH AND SKY is designed so that it cannot be put into an unwinnable
state.
Note to PalmPilot users: For best results, play Earth And Sky with a
40-column-width screen. To set this under Frobnitz, access the menus (by
tapping the menu button in the bottom left corner of the green lower
window) then tap Options, Configure Display, and set Columns to 40. Then
restart the game.
As always, grateful acknowledgement is due to Graham Nelson for creating
Inform and its excellent documentation, notably the fourth edition of
the Inform Designers Manual. Thanks as well to Adam Cadre for his
flags.h library extension.
I'd also like to extend my appreciation and apologies to Richard
Monastersky -- he wrote an article in the Oct. 19, 2000 edition of the
Chronicle of Higher Education about West Chester University's research
into isolating ancient bacteria, and that piece directly inspired much
of part two. Apologies and thanks as well to Drs. Vreeland et. al. for
the liberties I've taken with their work.
Without the support of my family, this work would probably never have
been started, let alone finished. A thousand thanks to them.
EARTH AND SKY is an affectionate tribute to the creators of Marvel
Comics, whose dazzling imaginations have illuminated my childhood and
adulthood.
And saving the best for last: extra-special thanks to David, Jenny, Jon,
and Stephen, my outstanding cadre of betatesters. Way to save my skin a
hundred times over, crew.
