At what cost?

I have decided to take the plunge, and offer ADRIFT 5 for free.

There are several reasons for doing this. These include the release of Inform 7, which is easier to use than it's predecessor (although still not a patch on ADRIFT!) and makes it simpler for non-programmers to get started with. Also with Quest becoming free it increases the number of no-pay alternatives, making the decision of which system to use somewhat more difficult. In addition, a large proportion of the ADRIFT user-base are minors who do not have easy access to online payments.

I really think ADRIFT 5 has the potential to become a major player in the IF world - but only at the right price. It is by far the easiest system to use, and has been for some time. Now at least, that ease of use will be open to everyone.

The first free version will be 5.0.19. I don't anticipate this will be ready for release for a good few weeks yet however.

Linux version now available

I've uploaded a Linux version of Runner to the ADRIFT website. This makes use of the Mono Framework.

The software is still pretty buggy, especially the Mono version which is not 100% compatible with Windows, but it should be possible to run games reasonably well.

I'm obviously new at creating Linux distributions, so if anyone has any suggestions of improvements, please let me know.

I also introduced a couple of major bugs in 5.0.18, so I have fixed these, and the versions on the website are now 5.0.18.2.

5.0.18 out now

I have just uploaded 5.0.18 to the ADRIFT website. Along with the usual load of bug fixes, there are some nice enhancements such as improved flexibility of specific task overrides and Undo. The full list is as follows:

Enhancements

• Bracket Check For Restrictions. (ID 4610)
• wait and again (ID 5560)
• Improve Intellisense (ID 4619)
• Run sub task Instead of/Before/After parent task (ID 5503)
• Saved game file option (ID 5525)
• Linux Runner (ID 4558)
• Undo (ID 4792)
• Room Names (ID 58)

Bug Fixes

• Restore Error from Start Location (ID 5167)
• Syntax Highlighting Minor Issue (ID 5403)
• Runner not to close when quitting game (ID 5492)
• Map Tools|Add Location ribbon button is non-functional (ID 5521)
• Move Character To Parent Location (ID 5602)
• Conversation not counting as task output (ID 2694)
• Map - Deleting Links (ID 2664)
• Developer memory leak (ID 5526)
• Properties scrollbar (ID 5634)
• Adding Properties (ID 3048)
• Reordering Restrictions (ID 4569)
• Command color in the transcript inconsistent? (ID 4437)
• Starting Character On Objects - Runner Crash (ID 5454)
• Alternate text tab re-ordering (ID 5510)
• Alternate Descriptions in Properties. (ID 5449)
• Alternate Descriptions in Text Properties (ID 5007)
• Objects in worn or held containers considered worn or held (ID 4229)
• Moving folders (ID 5381)
• Unregistered version not saving modules of any size (ID 5380)
• Object Recognition Using %Objects% (ID 5130)
• Error when saving game (ID 5277)
• Runner Crash - PC in Same Location as Any Object (ID 4736)
• Character Sub Object Error (ID 4759)
• Prevent Task From Being Inherited (ID 4656)
• LongLocationDescription property isn’t working (ID 4565)
• Unselecting Selection Only Properties in Actions (ID 4414)
• Problem loading/saving files on different regional settings (ID 4346)

Linux Runner

I've been working on a Linux version of ADRIFT 5 Runner, which runs using the Mono Framework. This has required a few tweaks around Window-isms and stripping out the third party libraries, but it is looking quite promising so far, and I don't anticipate any major problems.

All being well I will be releasing this shortly after the next Windows release.

5.0.17 out now

5.0.17 is now available for download from the ADRIFT website. There are quite a few enhancements in this release, many of which are revolved around beefing up the flexibility of task actions. The list of changes is as follows:

Enhancements

• Allow LocationOf function to accept objects as key (ID 4281)
• New Event Control "Event should start off when you enter Location:" (ID 3327)
• Special group properties (ID 3269)
• Task shortcuts for characters (ID 4200)
• System task triggers (ID 4130)
• Initialise multiple array elements (ID 4167)
• Modify walk step order (ID 4193)
• Drag variables (ID 4189)
• Auto-backups (ID 4188)
• Enable default fonts (ID 4151)
• Location Groups (ID 556)
• Scatter objects througout a location group - Updated (ID 1194)
• Loop through objects in actions (ID 1366)
• Action - Move Character [Group] (ID 1445)
• Moving Objects (ID 451)
• Actions Enhancements (ID 608)
• Move All Objects Somewhere to Somewhere (ID 1365)
• Move Objects in or out of an object group (ID 1215)
• Climb Objects (ID 2908)

Bug Fixes

• Character comes across in walk doesn’t work (ID 4232)
• Player Character Properties - Cannot Assign in Actions. (ID 4152)
• Renaming Folders (ID 3049)
• nested functions (ID 3916)
• Critical Error on New Object Creation (ID 4006)
• integers positive only (ID 4171)
• Save game not working in command window (ID 2666)
• Copy character - shared noun (ID 3053)
• Player inside Any Object Restriction Crash (ID 1413)
• Runner State or PropertyTest (ID 3892)
• Integer Properties Not Working (ID 1217)
• Task shortcuts specific ordering (ID 4201)
• Changing Specifics always applies (ID 4199)
• Library - Put Objects in Others (ID 3038)
• Editing Properties In Actions. (ID 2873)
• Map ribbon selects on app focus (ID 3279)
• Characters Location Hidden or Nowhere? (ID 530)
• %CharacterDescriptor[key]% does not work. (ID 818)
• %Character1% gives error in runner. (ID 2769)
• Move Character to Nowhere Causes Runner Crash (ID 1244)
• Presentation Bug with Move Character in Direction Action (ID 1537)
• Object Groups Properties (ID 851)
• Event - Unset task (ID 2925)
• Can’t set dictionary location using browser (ID 2874)
• Command Line Failure in Runner (ID 1367)
• Randomness (ID 2660)

Action Power!

One of my main objectives for the next release is to boost the power of task actions. Up until now, it has only been possible to move specific objects, all held or all worn objects like so:

I have now added more options, so you can now move specific objects, everything at a location, everything held or worn by a player, everything in or on an object, everything in a group, or everything with a particular property, like so:

As well as just being able to move objects, you can add and remove them from groups:

Characters have been improved in much the same way, and I have introduced a Locations tab to move locations in and out of groups.

I realise this will require an extra couple of selections from the dropdown, but I think the additional time taken to select the options will be worth the additional power and flexibility.

I just need to do a little work on Properties and Variables to finish it off.

ADRIFT 5 goes Beta

I have now released ADRIFT 5.0.16, which is the first version to go Beta.  I think ADRIFT has now come to a point where I believe it is capable of creating full adventures with a certain amount of reliability.  There is still a long way to go, lots of bugs to fix, and many more enhancements to go in, but I think it's been long enough in development (about 6 years!) that it's about time it was opened to a larger audience.

Anyway, the changes in this version are as follows:

Enhancements

• Allow variables in macros (ID 2611)
• Auto centre the map axis (ID 2557)
• Endings (ID 610)
• Fixing the END game option in tasks (ID 1211)
• Shortcuts (ID 134)
• Registration (ID 2539)
• Commands with three or more references (ID 971)

Bug Fixes

• Problem saving anchor points (ID 2628)
• Specifics not matching References (ID 2613)
• Sequential references (ID 966)
• Loading previous saved game (ID 2065)
• Task priorities (ID 762)
• Short Room Descriptions (ID 1830)
• Center Doesn’t Continue Past Newline (ID 1368)
• Put Object In Object always fails. (ID 2570)
• Reference options not updating immediately (ID 2559)
• Character Groups show no characters. (ID 1405)
• Exporting as a module changes name of .taf (ID 1666)
• Game title / Author name won’t save (ID 1714)
• Text in Hints Doesn’t Save (ID 1544)
• Cannot Delete Hints, Properties, or Text Overrides (ID 1545)
• Location Properties - Unable to Select in Restrictions (ID 1560)
• Working with multiple items (ID 1416)
• Put Unknown Object In Object - Runner Crash (ID 1727)
• Error after maximising map and clicking folder in tree structure (ID 1600)
• Show exit from locations along with descriptions does not stay ticked (ID 2380)
• Problem Using Delete Key in Find Box (ID 2277)
• CopyStream error (ID 2463)
• Randomness not completely random in tasks. (ID 1563)
• When the object is listed in location, display this. (ID 920)
• Randomness Not Random (ID 1264)
• Can’t Select Characters in Specific Tasks (ID 1834)
• Seen Locations - Menu Items Missing (ID 1835)
• Events - Copy and Paste Issue (ID 1913)
• General Task Involving 2 Characters (ID 1869)
• Double Brackets do not work in alternate task restrictions (ID 1471)
• Deleting Text Overides does not work. (ID 1503)