The application Infocom is (C) Bryan Scattergood, 1993-4.

Original source code is (C) InfoTaskForce.

Libraries used include Psion PLib,WLib,HWIF / Acorn CLib / DeskLib2

The application
---------------

Release 1.6x may be freely copied, provided that all the files are kept with
the program and are not modified.  The intention of this restriction is to
ensure that the copy you hand on is no more broken than the standard
distribution copy.  The other distribution conditions are so similar to those
of !Zap that I'll use the same paragraph ...

You may not sell the program without my written permission.  However, Public
Domain libraries may distribute the program provided they charge at most 3
pounds sterling per disc. If anyone else would like to distribute Infocom
then please write to me first to get my permission.

/* Soap-box mode on */

The program (both platforms) is, strictly speaking, SHAREWARE.  If you
enjoy using this program, then please consider registering your copy and
I'll keep you informed of updates.  To register send £5-£10 to the contact
address given in the Problems file.  Alternatively, send me a copy of *your*
shareware application.

When should you register?  (I'm as guilty as the rest of you here; I use
quite a few shareware apps which I never quite get round to registering.)
I'd suggest that if you finish a game using this interpreter, or are
buying games to use with the interpreter, then you really should register.

Why should you register?  To convince me that *somebody* out there finds the
application useful, and give me some feedback about the relative usage of the
different platforms.  I use a ridiculous range of machines and operating
systems, and if it seems as though I'm the only Acorn/Psion user who finds
this program useful, then I might as well move to OS/2 or the Mac.  The
fact that the Psion version has been pushed to release 1.6 before the
Acorn version reflects the registrations received.

If you feel that paying for this is unreasonable, when the original sources
are available for free, I suggest that you take a look at the original
sources.  'Out of the box,' the ITF sources will not even compile on the
Acorn or Psion; considerable effort has gone into integration with the
windowing systems and the memory usage of the current Psion version is less
than half that of a naive compilation.  In particular, the move from 1.4
to 1.6 (especially the 3a support) has involved a steady effort over a period
of months; the addition of the code for zooming means that at least half the
source tree is not derived from the ITF release.

Excuse me while I go and register all the shareware apps on my machines ...

/* Soap-box mode off */


The games
---------

THE INFOCOM DATA FILES ARE NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN.  To legally obtain a copy of
the relevant files, you need to BUY a copy from your favourite software
supplier.  This used to be problematic, in that many of the games were no
longer generally available.  However, Activision has now released two packs,
known as the Lost Treasures of Infocom.  Volume I contains 20 of the most
popular early games, and Volume II contains 11 later (and larger) games. 

Note that these bundles are available for Amiga, Macintosh and IBM PC, with
the latter (at least) available on CD-ROM as well as disk.  I have only
tested the PC version.

However, ONE PUBLIC DOMAIN GAME (Curses) is available from the FTP site,
"ftp.gmd.de".  Also available from this site is the compiler with which
Curses was written, Inform.  More games written with it would be nice.


The source
----------

The source code for this release is not included.  Of course, the original
sources are available from FTP sites (see the Thanks file).  The main reason
for this is that the sources are too embarassing for general release.  If
however you want to port to another machine (say the Amiga), and think
(however misguidedly) that my hacked sources would make a better starting
point than the original ITF sources, then I might be convinced to clean up
the mess and release the source.

Obvious targets for other ports are the Amiga, the Mac, OS/2 and X-windows. 
The latter of these exists in a beta-version; alas, more work on cleaning up
the sources is needed before a source release is possible. In fact the X
support has not tracked the changes from 1.4 onwards, so the X version will
need significan updating.  (Note: prolonged exposure to RISCOS means that I
am allergic to MS-Windows; OS/2 is as close as I get.)

I'd love to support a version for the Psion MC200/400; if someone owns one
of these beasts, then feel free to contact me.