Gerald Aungst

difying Basic Help Menu Content

When play begins:

choose row 1 in Table of Basic Help Options;

change description entry to "The daily school routine of going out to recess, transformed into an epic quest. In this game, you play Jamie, a fourth grader in Mrs. McClintock's class. Eager to go out to recess and try out your brand new sneakers on the first nice day in months, you are thwarted by one missing homework assignment. Problem is, you are [italic type]certain[roman type] that you already did it. If it's at home, you're sunk. Your quest, then, is either to find the project--or do it again--and turn it in to your teacher so you can go out and play.";

choose row 1 in Table of Instruction Options;

change description entry to "The game you are playing is a work of Interactive Fiction. In interactive fiction you play the main character of a story. You type commands which determine the actions of the character and the flow of the plot. Unlike many computer games, this one provides no pictures; instead, the imagery is provided courtesy of your imagination. On the other hand, there's a wide range of action available: whereas in other games you may be restricted to shooting, movement, or searching itemqs you can click on with a mouse, IF allows you a wide range of verbs.";

choose row 2 in Table of Instruction Options;

change description entry to "The [command prompt] sign is where the game says, 'Okay, what do you want to do now?' You may respond by typing an instruction -- usually an imperative verb, possibly followed by prepositions and objects. So, for instance, LOOK, LOOK AT SNEAKERS, TAKE PENCIL.".

Table of Basic Help Options (continued)

title subtable description

"Hints" Table of Hints --

"Settings" Table of Setting Options --

"About this game" -- "Like many current authors of interactive fiction, I have fond memories of playing Interactive Fiction games as a teenager. When I recently rediscovered it, I decided to combine my love of writing and my interest in computer programming and attempt writing my own."

"Credits"	--	"Thanks first of all to my wife, Michele, for allowing me the time to work on this little project that, as most of my projects do, managed to turn into a big one. (At least this one didn't involve a dozen trips to the hardware store and a much larger hole than originally planned.) She also gave me valuable feedback throughout the process of writing and developing the game.[/l]Many of the characters in Recess At Last were inspired by friends, colleagues, and teachers from my childhood, and this game is in part my way of honoring their influence on my life and of celebrating some wonderful memories.[/l]Thanks also to the many people on rec.arts.interactive-fiction who provided extensive and infinitely patient assistance as I wrestled with the Inform language and tried if not to tame it, at least to keep it on a manageable leash. In particular, Doug Egan, Jim Aikin, Jon Ingold, Emily Short, JDC, and cmasden gave invaluable suggestions as the game got bigger and more complex."
"About the author"	--	"I am a full time teacher of gifted students in a public school district in Pennsylvania. I am also married with three children, who also provided some of the inspiration for the events and story characters...but I'll never say which ones! When I'm not teaching or creating Interactive Fiction, I like to write and read, and I am also very active as a small group coach and member of the technical teams in my church.[/l]If you have any difficulties with [story title], please contact me at gerald@aungst.org."

Table of Hints
title	subtable	description	toggle
"Where is my missing homework?"	Table of Explorer Packet Hints	""	hint toggle rule

"Can I get an extra copy of the packet?" Table of Extra Packet Hints "" hint toggle rule

"Do I have a backpack?" Table of Backpack Hints "" hint toggle rule

"I can't find anything to write with"	Table of Scriber Hints	""	hint toggle rule
"I can't leave the classroom"	Table of Room 9 Hints	""	hint toggle rule
"How do I find the answers to the questions?"	Table of Research Hints	""	hint toggle rule
"How do I fill in the worksheet?"	Table of Filling In Hints	""	hint toggle rule
"What do I do with the finished homework?"	Table of Finished Hints	""	hint toggle rule

Table of Explorer Packet Hints
hint	used
"Have you looked in all the obvious places?"	a number

"Did you look in your desk?"

"Is there anything in your desk that might have the homework inside it?"

"Check the blue folder."
"No, of course it's not there, that would be too easy."
"In your search, did you find any clues about where it might be?"
"Check the other papers inside your folder."
"Whose homework does it appear to be?"
"If your brother's homework ended up in your folder...."
"Find your brother's folder and see if it's there."

Table of Extra Packet Hints
hint	used
"Of course you can."	a number

"Who might have one?"

"The teacher of course"

"Ask Mrs McClintock for worksheet"

Table of Backpack Hints
hint	used
"Where would a student normally keep a backpack?"	a number

"Probably in the coat closet."

"From Room 9, GO IN."

"You can't see anything in this mess."
"Try searching through the pile."

Table of Scriber Hints
hint	used
"Where would a student find a pencil?"	a number

"Look in your desk"

"Anything there that might contain a pencil?"

"Look inside the supply box"
"You could also borrow one from someone"
"Nope, Mrs. McClintock doesn't have one"
"Neither does Sam."
"But Mrs. Walker in the office does."

Table of Room 9 Hints
hint	used
"The teacher won't let you go outside without finishing your homework"	a number

"She also won't let you leave the classroom without a good reason"

"Maybe you have a good excuse to go to another room"

"Who could you go see that might help with your work"
"Maybe the librarian has some information you could use"
"Ask Mrs. McClintock about the librarian"

Table of Research Hints
hint	used
"The easiest way would be to copy from someone"	a number

"Try getting Sam to help you"

"Of course, if you turn in a copied worksheet, the teacher might catch you"

"Could be worth the risk, though. After all, recess is almost over."
"On the other hand, might be better to look them up yourself."
"Where could you find the answers?"
"Try the library"
"From Room 9, GO SOUTH twice"
"Once there, LOOK UP VASCO DA GAMA"
"Read the book to find the facts you need"

Table of Filling In Hints
hint	used
"Do you have a packet and something to write with?"	a number

"To write the answer to the first question, COMPLETE QUESTION 1"

"When asked, type the correct answer"

"The other questions work the same way"
"You can answer the questions in any order you like"

Table of Finished Hints
hint	used
"Well, the teacher is the one keeping you in"	a number

"GIVE WORKSHEET TO MCCLINTOCK"

"You were expecting something more complicated...?"

Book 2 - Beta Testing commands - not for release

Test me with "get box / open it / get pencil / write stuff on paper / read paper / write anything you want to put here in text form on paper / read paper / erase stuff from paper / read paper / write here's another sentence for the notes / read paper / erase paper / read paper"

Recess At Last — 63 of 73