Escapade!
An interactive fiction by Juhana Leinonen (2008) - the Inform 7 source text
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The light bulb is a device. It is middle. It is switched off. It is part of electrical wire. The description is "[if the light bulb is part of the electrical wire]The light bulb is hanging low on an electrical wire. It is [otherwise if the light bulb is in the cell]The light bulb is placed on the floor. It is [otherwise]The light bulb is [end if][if the light bulb is switched off]un[end if]lit.".
The light bulb can be swung or unswung. It is unswung.
The creature response of the light bulb is "[if the player is carrying the light bulb]You hold the light bulb in front of you. [end if][if the light bulb is not part of the wire]'How the [bowdler] is this possible?'[paragraph break][The creature] shrugs. 'Physical connection is not required for many things in [key castle]this place[endkey castle].'[otherwise][light bulb joke]".
The guard response of the light bulb is "[if the cell is dark][one of]'Could you please switch the light on?' you ask politely. 'WHAT ARE you TALKING ABOUT?' the guard yells. 'The power IS ALREADY ON!'[or]'What do you mean the power is on? The bulb isn't lit!'[paragraph break]'WELL that's not MY PROBLEM! I just make sure THE POWER IS ON and it IS ON!'[stopping][otherwise]'How many Screaming Communists does it take to screw in a light bulb?'[paragraph break]'Is that A JOKE? I don't GET IT,' the guard shouts."
Understand "lamp" as the light bulb.
Understand "socket" as the light bulb when the light bulb is not part of the electrical wire and the cell is lit.
Understand "lit" as the light bulb when the light bulb is switched on.
Understand "dark" as the light bulb when the light bulb is switched off.
Should the game suggest taking the light bulb when the light bulb is part of the electrical wire: never.
Should the game choose when comparing the light bulb against the moon: it is a good choice.
Instead of switching on the light bulb when the light bulb is switched off:
say "There's no light switch anywhere."
Instead of switching off the light bulb when the light bulb is switched on:
try turning the light bulb.
[we need to make sure the game doesn't automatically take the bulb as a part of some other action when the player doesn't yet "know" that they can take it.]
Inserting the light bulb into something is bulb-taking.
Putting the light bulb on something is bulb-taking.
Giving the light bulb to someone is bulb-taking.
Before bulb-taking when the light bulb is part of the electrical wire (this is the stop bulb-taking rule):
say "The bulb is attached to the wire.";
stop the action.
The stop bulb-taking rule is listed first in the before rules.
Instead of eating the light bulb:
say "You open your mouth as big as you can, but the bulb is just too big to swallow.[if the creature is present][line break][c]Man, did I pick the wrong cell to do business in,' [the creature] says.".
Carry out looking under the light bulb when the light bulb is part of the electrical wire:
say "At the moment [italic type]you[roman type] are under it.[if the creature is present][one of][line break][point out self-evidency][or][stopping]" instead.
Instead of taking or tearing or pulling the light bulb when the light bulb is part of the electrical wire:
if the light bulb is switched off:
say "The bulb comes easily out from its socket. It was screwed in only very slightly[if the light bulb is swung]. Good thing it didn't come off when you pushed it![otherwise].";
otherwise:
if the ktonk count < 3:
say "A good pull is all it takes - the wire snaps and you're left with a bulb and its socket.";
otherwise if the ktonk count < 8:
say "'Stupid bulb, you're gonna get it,' you mutter and yank the bulb from its socket. The wire snaps and you're left with a bulb attached to nothing but its socket.";
otherwise:
say "'I warned you!' you yell and pull the bulb as hard as you can. The wire snaps and you're left with a bulb attached to nothing but its socket.";
say "[line break]Miraculously enough the bulb is still lit even when it's not connected to anything[if the creature is present]. [c]Hmm,[c] [the creature] muses[end if].";
now the player carries the light bulb.
Instead of searching the light bulb:
say "There's nothing hidden inside." instead.
Instead of touching the light bulb:
say "[if the light bulb is switched off and the light bulb is a part of the electrical wire]It feels like it's a bit loose.[otherwise]It's round and smooth."
Instead of smelling the light bulb:
say "It smells a bit of burnt dust.".
Instead of listening to the switched on light bulb:
say "If you listen closely, you can hear a silent electrical whirring sound typical to such devices.".
Instead of pushing the light bulb when the light bulb is part of the electrical wire:
if the cell is dark:
say "You give the bulb a light push and it falls out of the socket; it was probably screwed in only very lightly. You fumble with the bulb and barely manage to stop it from smashing on the floor.";
now the player carries the light bulb;
otherwise:
say "You give the bulb a push and it swings back and forth a few times. It makes the shadows in the cell dance and change shapes menacingly.[if the creature is present][line break][c]Whee,[c] [the creature] says.";
now the light bulb is swung.
Instead of attacking the light bulb:
say "Break your only [if the cell is dark]potential [end if]light source? No way!".
Instead of turning the light bulb:
if the light bulb is switched off:
try screwing the light bulb;
otherwise:
try unscrewing the light bulb.
Instead of inserting the light bulb into the electrical wire:
if the light bulb is switched off:
try screwing the light bulb;
otherwise if the light bulb is part of the electrical wire:
say "The bulb is already in its socket.";
otherwise:
try tying the light bulb to the electrical wire.
Instead of screwing the light bulb with the electrical wire: [SCREW BULB IN SOCKET]
try inserting the light bulb into the electrical wire.
Check unscrewing the light bulb:
if the light bulb is switched on:
say "Being in the dark for a short while was bad enough. You are [italic type]not[roman type] going to turn the light bulb off voluntarily." instead;
Check screwing the light bulb:
if the light bulb is switched on, say "It's already switched on." instead.
Carry out screwing the light bulb:
now the light bulb is switched on;
now the cell is lit;
remove the ominous shapes from play;
now the creature is in the cell;
now the trading-bag is in the cell;
now the light bulb is part of the electrical wire;
change the pronoun he to the creature;
now the trading-bag is conversable;
now the creature is conversable;
rule succeeds.
Report screwing the light bulb:
say "You screw the lamp tighter into the socket and it lights up.[paragraph break]The light reveals the rest of the cell - an air duct running above the window, a simple rug on the floor, a hole that's probably meant to be used as a toilet and not much more.[paragraph break]Except a small, grinning, black monster in the corner next to a bulky sack.[paragraph break]'WHAT the... HELP!' you scream."
To say light bulb joke:
if the creature is present, say "[one of]'How many [key Screaming Communists]Screaming Communists[endkey Screaming Communists] does it take to change a light bulb?' you ask.[paragraph break]'In Soviet Russia the light bulb changes you!' the creature replies.[or]'How many ADHD kids does it take to screw in a light bulb?' you ask.[paragraph break]'Three. One to screw in the ... hey look a squirrel!'[or]'How many nihilists does it take to screw in a light bulb?'[paragraph break]'None. Why bother? The new bulb will just go out soon enough,' [the creature] replies.[or]'How many Usenet regulars does it take to change a light bulb?'[paragraph break]'Are you kidding? The last time they tried to change a light bulb, the result was 127 posts in 25 threads where they quarrel which bulb-changing method is best suited for the job, why people shouldn't complain because the light bulb was free to begin with, and that illumination will never be mainstream unless they stop using old technology and adapt led lights. The light bulb is [italic type]still[roman type] unchanged.'[or]'How many...' you pause to think for a while. Nothing comes to your mind. 'Oh, never mind.'[stopping][run paragraph on]".