Text Parser

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FromMomsBasement · #1 Post by **FromMomsBasement** » Fri Apr 19, 2013 11:26 pm

I want to make a graphic text adventure in the vain of Cypher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23T4s_usZio
Would I be able to do this in renpy? Could I make the Parser in renpy, and if not, could I make a parser in python and import it to renpy?

gekiganwing · #2 Post by **gekiganwing** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 7:50 am

That's a good question. There are quite a few things that can be done with Ren'py, but I don't know if you would be able to create a text parser with it. You may benefit more by trying other game engines such as Inform 7, TADS 3, or ADRIFT 5 Developer.

Also, were you referring to Cypher: Cyberpunk Text Adventure?

FromMomsBasement · #3 Post by **FromMomsBasement** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:11 am

gekiganwing wrote:
Also, were you referring to Cypher: Cyberpunk Text Adventure?

Yes, visually I want something very similar. I thought about using Interactive Fiction engines like Hugo, but I want a specific graphical layout and effects that I don't think they can do. Plus, I want this to be a commercial game and games made with traditional IF engines seem to only draw the attention of those already part of the community.

kankan · #4 Post by **kankan** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:11 am

Since Ren'py lets you program in Python, you can do close to whatever you want. I'd agree with gekiganwing in saying that it's not the ideal engine for text parsing though. You'd probably end up having to use either a ton of "does the string contain these words" (the tedious way) or regular expressions/regexes which are a pain to use (heck, I've never even tried using Python regexes). I strongly suggest you use an engine built specifically for text adventures though; parsing is a huge pain unless you force the player to follow formats pretty closely.

FromMomsBasement · #5 Post by **FromMomsBasement** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:30 am

kankan wrote:Since Ren'py lets you program in Python, you can do close to whatever you want. I'd agree with gekiganwing in saying that it's not the ideal engine for text parsing though. You'd probably end up having to use either a ton of "does the string contain these words" (the tedious way) or regular expressions/regexes which are a pain to use (heck, I've never even tried using Python regexes). I strongly suggest you use an engine built specifically for text adventures though; parsing is a huge pain unless you force the player to follow formats pretty closely.

I'm not under any delusions that this will be easy, and I'll probably have to make a few small prototypes before I even get started on the main project.
But anything I work out I'll share with the renpy, python, and IF community.

kankan · #6 Post by **kankan** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:47 am

Ah, well. If you're set on Ren'py, try giving this book a lookover. I probably have more of a personal grudge against regex than it actually being horrible to learn (to be fair, who wants to be stuck using regex for 30+ hours? Pray you never have a required project that needs it). Getting simple instructions through shouldn't be too bad, it's just when you have people entering riddles as commands that gets tricky.

It's a good idea though; now I'm tempted to try my hand at parsing again sometime. Best of luck to you!

FromMomsBasement · #7 Post by **FromMomsBasement** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 9:14 am

Thanks.

Greeny · #8 Post by **Greeny** » Sat Apr 20, 2013 5:49 pm

It's definitely doable in Ren'Py, but it'll take a skilled programmer to do it with any form of elegance.

#9 Post by **PyTom** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:16 pm

Ren'Py isn't really meant for traditional text IF games. While you might be able to get it to work with a lot of effort, there isn't a text parser ready for you, and you'll be spending a lot of time fighting Ren'Py, rather than letting it help you. There are systems that are meant for traditional text IF - I know of TADS, INFORM, and ADRIFT, but my knowledge might be a few years out of date.

Ren'Py tries to occupy a fairly specific niche - VNs, and VN-like sim games. (People also seem to use it for VN-like RPGs.) Once you leave that niche, you begin to fight against it.

TrickWithAKnife · #10 Post by **TrickWithAKnife** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:08 pm

I was working on something a few weeks ago that processes user text input in 2 different ways.

They're really basic and incomplete, but perhaps it could be useful as a starting point. If you send me a PM, tomorrow night I'll upload some .rpy files or copy some code to pastebin or something. A little late for me to do it tonight as I'm about to head to bed.

The coding side of it isn't actually that tough.
If you include a few examples of what you might like the user to be able to input and the responses, I can tweak it a bit.

SusanTheCat · #11 Post by **SusanTheCat** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 5:19 pm

Thera'py (http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 11&t=19128) uses a basic parser that is written in Python. The code should be included in the game. If it isn't, PM me.

I think a Ren'py / IF cross breed would be cool. Ren'py does visuals and dialogue really well and IF does more open ended
puzzles well.

Susan

FromMomsBasement · #12 Post by **FromMomsBasement** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:40 pm

Thank you all for all the help and suggestions.
I'm also planning to make plenty of visual novels to get use to ren'py. I have two in mind already.

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