Re: [bookclub] Prose style in 'Losing Your Grip'

[Paul O'Brian <obrian@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>]

On Fri, 4 Feb 2000 icallaci@my-deja.com wrote:
> 
> The question is: do I write the description as best I can and get
> docked for not implementing every object mentioned in it, or do
> I limit the description to objects I can code and get docked for
> not providing rich descriptive text? It's very difficult to strike
> a balance between these two extremes, and I'm *very* interested in
> how other i-f authors handle it.

Two principles can ease the burden here:

1) Aliasing. Say you're describing a computer, with a keyboard, monitor,
CPU, mouse, cables, CD-ROM drive, etc. Creating one object whose names
include "drive", "CD-ROM", "computer", "keyboard", "mouse", "cables",
"monitor", "CPU", and "screen" allows you to mention lots of things in
descriptions, all of which refer to the same one object. The nice thing
about this compromise is that not only does it escape the appearance of
failing to code objects, but it also gives the savvy player a hint that it
won't be important to do anything with, for example, the cables
specifically. Of course, the granularity with which you employ this
technique depends a lot on what level of detail you want to implement -- 
like many things, it can be taken too far.

2) Implication. Sometimes you can just imply the existence of things
without mentioning them, and thereby avoiding the necessity of coding
them. For example, you might say "The computer is attached to a monitor
and keyboard." The word "attached" clearly implies the existence of
cables, etc., but since you don't mention the cables, it's unlikely the
player will go looking for them. By the same token, if the computer is
turned on, the player will fill in the notion of a power cord, which
implies a wall outlet, which implies a fuse box, which implies a voltage
meter, etc. etc. Simple words carry a great weight of implication with
them, and the IF author can use this to her advantage. That's how you can
mention a keyboard and not have to code 100 different objects for "The 'A'
key", "The 'B' Key", "The 'Escape' key" and so on. 

-- 
Paul O'Brian  obrian@colorado.edu  http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~obrian
SPAG #19 is here, featuring reviews of 1999 IF competition games and
interviews with the winners, along with news, scoreboard, and more!
              Find it at http://www.sparkynet.com/spag