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Re: Tom Frost Profile
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 12:14 pm
by 8BitAG
Trantoss wasn't really split-screen, it just had it's graphic window on the left of the screen rather than at the top, like most text & graphics adventures do. Technically you could say they're all split-screen too. The tool used for Trantoss, Ramjam's The Biro did allow for some more interesting screen layouts than the GAC or the PAW, though. As you can see from that game, Twice Shy, and also several of the unreleased projects that were going to use the system, like Three Days in Carpathia.
There were quite a few multi-character text adventure games, but Tom's were interesting with the two viewpoints being represented side by side.
Re: Tom Frost Profile
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:19 pm
by Einar Saukas
8BitAG wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2019 12:14 pm
Trantoss wasn't really split-screen, it just had it's graphic window on the left of the screen rather than at the top, like most text & graphics adventures do. Technically you could say they're all split-screen too. The tool used for Trantoss, Ramjam's The Biro did allow for some more interesting screen layouts than the GAC or the PAW, though. As you can see from that game, Twice Shy, and also several of the unreleased projects that were going to use the system, like Three Days in Carpathia.
There were quite a few multi-character text adventure games, but Tom's were interesting with the two viewpoints being represented side by side.
Do you mean Twice Shy was also authored with The Biro?
Re: Tom Frost Profile
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:29 pm
by 8BitAG
Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:19 pm
Do you mean Twice Shy was also authored with The Biro?
We've got it listed as having been so, on CASA. I will see if I can find the reference.
Re: Tom Frost Profile
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:32 pm
by Einar Saukas
8BitAG wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:29 pm
Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:19 pm
Do you mean Twice Shy was also authored with The Biro?
We've got it listed as having been so, on CASA. I will see if I can find the reference.
Good enough for me, there's no need for a reference.
This information will be in the next ZXDB update. Thanks!
Re: Tom Frost Profile
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:40 pm
by 8BitAG
Well... as I've just dug it out anyway...
Here's a reference to Twice Shy being created with the Biro
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Ga ... he+biro%22
And here's a nice big article on RamJam and The Biro (with a Twice Shy review) if anyone is interested.
https://archive.org/details/ComputerAnd ... he+biro%22
The Biro was an interesting utility. Developed for in-house use by RamJam. It was offered out to the general public to use with the proviso that anyone who made a game with it had to first get their game approved by RamJam before it could be released! Unsurprisingly, people didn't exactly rush to take them up on the offer when the Quill was available without such strings attached.
The creator of the system was interviewed by CASA, but he seemed to not know any of what RamJam went on to do with his tool.
http://solutionarchive.com/interview_tony/