Welcome to ParserComp, the annual competition for new parser-based interactive fiction games!
Schedule:
- Join the Comp
- Submission window opens: Sunday 28 April 2024;
- Deadline for game submissions: end of Sunday 30 June 2024;
- Voting opens: Monday 1 July 2024;
- Deadline for voting: end of Sunday 31 July 2024;
- Results published
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Eligibility:
- ParserComp is for previously unreleased, parser-based text games: games which take a free-text input, parse it, and produce an output which typically is more text.
- Choice-based games where the primary mechanic is clicking through passages of branching text (think Twine or Choice of Games), graphical RPGs, arcade games, or point and click games are not what we're looking for, even if they contain elements of interactive text.
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Categories:
- Games must be entered under one of two categories:
1. Classic: for entries that look, feel, and play like conventional parser-based text games, in the tradition of Colossal Cave, Zork, and everything that has followed in their footsteps in the decades since. These are games with a command prompt, free text entry, parsing, and response in the form of text (illustrative graphics and sound effects optional). They're the sort of games typically produced in popular interactive fiction languages like Inform, TADS, ADRIFT, and ADVENTURON.
2. Freestyle: for entries that don't fit in the traditional mould, but still have text command parsing as their core mechanic. For example, games that take free text commands but output graphics, or take text commands and do something other than report the results of the player character's actions, or anything else that doesn't conform to the recognisable "GO NORTH, TAKE LAMP" parser game mechanic.
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Voting:
- Games must be voted on through the itch.io system - you'll need to register an account to vote.
- There will be a single Best Game voting category in each of the game categories (Classic, and Freestyle). The organisers will calculate the rankings in each category to determine the winners in Classic, and Freestyle.
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Winners:
- The game with the highest score in each game category (Classic, and Freestyle) is the winner in that category!
- There will be Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each category, determined by the ranked Best Game scores.
- Gold winners each receive the unique, fabled and much coveted ParserComp 1st place engraved lamp trophy, and a framed certificate of participation. Silver and Bronze winners receive a hard copy certificate of participation. All other participants receive a digital certificate of participation.
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FAQ
What are Parser games?
They're Games controlled by typing in free text commands which are then parsed to produce an output, usually in the form of more text. Typically, simple commands like GO NORTH or GET LAMP are used to navigate the player character through the game world. They have a long and distinguished history, dating all the way back to Colossal Cave Adventure in 1976, and the genre is still alive and well today!
What do parser games look like? Here's a couple of examples of typical parser text games (note the command prompt, text input and output, and optional graphics):
My game doesn't look like that! Can I still enter it?
Yes, as long as the primary game mechanic is the parsing of text input. If your game doesn't conform to the traditional look and feel of a parser-based text game (see examples above) then you'd want to enter it in the 'Freestyle' category. If it does, then the 'Classic' category is the place to put it.
What definitely isn't a parser game?
Choice-based games where the primary mechanic is clicking through passages of branching text (think Twine or Choice of Games), graphical RPGs, arcade games, or graphical point and click games (even if they contain elements of interactive text - unless entry and parsing of text commands is the primary game mechanic.)
Where can I find examples of parser games?
Check out the entries from 2021, 2022 and 2023, and the main database of text games (including parser games) at IFDB.
What category do I enter my game in?
If it looks more or less like the examples above, with command prompt, text input and text output (illustrative graphics and sound effects optional) then enter it in the 'Classic' category, to compete alongside others that are recognisably in the traditional parser text game mould. If it doesn't, but the primary game mechanic is still parsing of text commands, enter it in the 'Freestyle category'.
What if I enter my game in the wrong category?
If it's definitely in the wrong place, then we may ask you to move it.
My game has sound effect, graphics, video, etc. - can I enter it in ParserComp?
Yes, so long as the primary game mechanic remains text input and parsing.
Is there a theme for this year's ParserComp?
No, games can be about anything and from any genre.
Are there any dedicated utilities for creating parser games?
There are lots and they're free! Inform 6, Inform 7, TADS, Quest, and ADRIFT are long-established IF programming languages, and there are many others like Adventuron (a retro-style engine with modern capabilities), Gruescript (using a clickable keyword interface optimised for mobile devices), PunyInform (a variant of Inform designed for 8-bit platforms) and ZIL (the language Infocom used to write their famous text games in the 1980s). Check out the list here (filter the User Interface column for 'Parser'): https://www.ifwiki.org/Engine_List.
Can I use my use my own homebrew parser system?
Of course!
Is adult / mature content allowed? Is anything not allowed?
Pretty much everything that isn't illegal, defamatory, malicious or hateful is fine, as long as appropriate content warnings are included.
Is there a limit to the length (playing time) of games allowed in the competition?
No - games can be of any length.
Who can judge / vote on the games?
Anyone with an itch.io account can vote on games, except for their own.
Can I vote on my own game?
No - that would be a silly thing to do!
Can I vote on a game I beta-tested?
Yes - but please make every effort to play the final, tested game before voting.
Is there a limit to the number of games one person can submit to the competition? No.
Can I enter my previously released game?
No, entries must be previously unreleased. This also applies to beta-testing: it's fine to distribute your game privately for testing, but if you make it available on a public forum for testing (or for any other reason) then that constitutes a release and your game won't be eligible for entry.
Can I enter the full version of a game I entered into IntroComp?
Yes.
Can I enter an English translation of a game previously released in a different language?
Yes.
Is there a prize? Yes. ParserComp 2023 will award an engraved 1st Place lamp trophy to the overall winner (Gold) in each game category:
Please note: Shipping the lantern outside of the US is onerous. Customs can be a problem. As a lantern that uses fuel, there are numerous questions to be answered. In addition, the international shipping costs are quite expensive. We will send the engraved plate and try to work out a source for the lantern in the winner's local country if outside of the US.
Silver and Bronze winners receive a hard copy certificate of participation. All other entrants received a digital certificate of participation.
Where can I ask questions / get advice?
Ask questions in the jam community area, ParserComp Discord Server or on the IntFiction forum (where you can also DM the organiser via IntFiction @ fos1). The IF community is a very friendly and helpful one.
Wishing everyone the best of luck in the competition!
Thank you! Fos1
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RULES
1. Entries must be parser-based text games. By this we mean games where the primary gameplay is text-based and the game is driven by the player entering text commands.
2. Games must be previously unreleased, meaning that the game must not have been in the public domain prior to entry in this competition (*see exceptions below). Note this includes testing: making your game available publicly for testing, by e.g. posting a link to it in a public forum, constitutes a release and would make your game ineligible for entry in ParserComp (but providing your game privately to testers is fine).
*exceptions: full versions of games developed from IntroComp entries are allowed; English translations of games previously released in a different language are allowed.
2a. All entries must be free to play during the competition. Entries may not request payment in order to play through the game, require the player to view paid advertising, or make similar commercial demands of the player.
3. Disallowed content: anything illegal, anything hateful (by which we mean content included for no other reason than to cause hurt to a particular person or group of people).
4. Allowed content: any length of game, any genre, any subject, any content (provided there is adequate content warning, see below). Any engine can be used.
5. Appropriate content warnings must be included in the game description and at the start of the game itself. Sexual content, violence, trauma, and anything else that might reasonably be anticipated to be triggering, must be indicated.
6. There will be two categories for entries: ‘Classic’ (for games recognisably in the Colossal Cave / Zork classic text-adventure mould) and ‘Freestyle’ (for everything else). Entrants must choose a category in which to enter their game. The organisers reserve the right to reassign games to the other category if, in their judgement, a game clearly belongs in the opposite category to that in which it was entered.
7. The outcome of the competition will be determined by public voting in the Best Game category. Voters must cast their votes in good faith, by which we mean after having played the game on which they're voting for long enough (preferably to completion) to enable them to make a reasoned judgement about its quality, and for no other reason than to rate the quality of that game, to the best of their judgement. The organisers will calculate the rankings in each category to determine the winners of each category, and publish the results on itch.io.
8. The organisers reserve the right to disqualify games from the competition that are in violation of the rules above, or where malpractice is evident - by which we mean: attempts by an author to solicit and/or rig votes in their favour, coercion, denigration of another entry and/or author of that entry, excessive and disproportionate promotion of a game via social media or other channels, or anything else that might reasonably be considered to be against fair play.
9. The Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation (IFTF) is a nonprofit charitable organization working to maintain, improve, and preserve tools and services used in the creation and distribution of interactive fiction. They maintain the Interactive Fiction Database (IFDB). By entering ParserComp, you grant the Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation (IFTF) permission to archive your game in the IF Archive and make it playable online via the Interactive Fiction Database website, for future generations of IF players to enjoy. Authors who do not wish to have their game archived may opt out during the game submission process.