Everything has already been done, and chances are it has been done better. In building an IF engine this realization is always lingering in my mind. I will never write anything that compares to TADS. It's just not going to happen. TADS is huge (Inform as well) and has been worked on by people much smarter than I am and for decades. This fact was why I fought the urge to start an engine in the first place. But as I worked in TADS there were some things I wanted to do differently. I've achieved most of my stated goals. Once I get a client written for Android I will be much closer.
This week a friend in the IntFiction IRC channel posted a link to an amazing looking IF game that is ten years in the making. It is truly impressive. It was written in TADS and has maps and other graphical UI components. It has been ported to Steam and has received a decent amount of funding from a GoFundMe campaign. Trailers and other promo pieces were done and it is for sale for about $15.
The game is Thaumistry, written by the legendary Bob Bates. It was created in TADS.
Now not inly am I creating an engine that will never compete with other engines out there, but my games will never compete with the likes of Thaumistry. But there isn't anything else I want to work on, so I am at a quandary. Do I press on, or listen to reason and let it go?
For now I am pressing on :)
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