Inform 7 allows creative writers with little coding knowledge to design interactive fiction. The program uses natural language and checks for errors, making revisions easy. It is free and can run on different operating systems. The latest version was released in 2006.
In the past, to write interactive fiction, the producer required not only a talent for creative writing, but also extensive knowledge of computer programming language. With the advent of Inform 7, everything changed. Inform 7 enables the everyday creative writer, with very little coding knowledge, to design a compelling and interactive narrative adventure.
Interactive fiction began in the early 1970s, with the pioneering games ADVENT and Colossal Cave. Quickly following was the Zork trilogy, which required the user to navigate through a labyrinth of both underground and above-ground scenarios. Interactive fiction allows the user to determine the course of the game, the movements and actions of the central character. Typically, the central character is the user himself, which makes for a totally immersive and interactive experience.
Inform 7 creates a new interface for writing interactive fiction. A panel in the program acts as a writing medium. Writers can then use natural language to describe what they are trying to accomplish through the story. The Inform 7 program will then transfer the story to another panel, at the writer’s command, and also automatically check the work for errors. Revisions are also easy, as Inform 7 will help the writer clear up any inconsistencies resulting from rewriting earlier parts of the work.
The nice thing about Inform 7, at least for the aspiring interactive fiction writer, is the cost of the program. It’s totally free. Stories designed using it can be distributed for free or for profit. The creators of Inform 7 place no restrictions on works designed using it. Stories designed using the program can run on different operating systems, including Windows and Macintosh systems.
Inform 7 is the latest version of the program, released in 2006. The previous version was known as Inform 6. However, the programmers felt that the newest version was such a dramatic upgrade over the original version that they didn’t call it Inform at first 7. Instead, it was originally called Natural Inform. The program can be downloaded for both Windows-based systems and Macintosh operating systems.
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