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From: erkyrath@netcom.com (Andrew Plotkin)
Subject: Re: Accessible to the Masses
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Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 22:01:36 GMT
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Stephen Griffiths (stevgrif@moc.govt.nz) wrote:
> I think the i-f archive at ftp.gmd.de provides a wonderful service to 
> people interested in interactive fiction. However, as with all ftp sites 
> it requires a reasonable level of computer literacy. 

> Some experienced Internet users and i-f players perhaps forget that there 
> are people who'd like to play interactive fiction who don't understand 
> hierarchical directory structures let alone binary mode file transfer, 
> file compression and the game-file/runtime-interpreter concept.

> Those members of the 'masses' who can handle the perils of ftp could be 
> assisted if game authors upload to the i-f archive self-extracting PKzip 
> files (or something similar) containing all the files necessary to play a 
> game on the PC. (The equivalent for Apple Mac's would be good too as I 
> imagine there is a large number of Mac users who have a low computer 
> literacy.) 

Mac users should be directed to 
http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive/Abstracts/game/adv/HyperArchive.html
which is a mirror of the Info-Mac software archive, which is *the* 
location for Mac shareware and freeware.

That URL points to the games/adventure folder, which contains all the big 
TADS and Inform games in Mac-friendly format. As long as the user's 
browser isn't totally screwed up, he can click on the link that says 
"So Far: download", and wind up with a Mac application on his 
desktop.

--Z

-- 

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the
borogoves..."
