Quest

Creating a text-based adventure game nowadays might seem like a bold move, considering the incredible technical capabilities of graphics engines nowadays. However, there are still those who do not get overly excited at the sight of DirectX 11 special effects and would prefer a good story instead. Thus, there’s certainly a fanbase out there, waiting for someone to take charge.

Quest is a clever framework that allows you to both design your text-based game and publish it, in order to reach the interested public. Not only that, but it doesn’t even require you to be familiar with a programming language, since you can do it all using the mouse alone. Obviously, a bit of code knowledge can help a lot, and it might give you a running start, but it’s not a prerequisite.

The application welcomes you with a list of popular games developed with the framework, which can be downloaded and enjoyed with just a few clicks. This way, you can see what has already been done before, so you won’t end up with a similar product on your hands. After that, you are given the option to start developing your game, or even make a game book, depending on what would make your idea shine the most.

Probably the most useful gimmick about the application is the fact that everything takes place in steps, which means that you are guided from start to finish. Thus, you won’t get lost on the way to the final product, nor have to consult an outside source regularly. You are not forced to do so, on the other hand, which means that experienced developers also have the option to follow their own routine.

When it comes to the actual user interface, Quest is more than friendly and streamlined to provide everyone with easy access to every function. The buttons are clearly explained and you can quickly find what you need in the menus. There is also a useful tutorial to get you started, which takes you through the basics of creating your very first text-based adventure.

In the end, Quest is a wonderful thing, even if it may appear to be out of time and out of place in today’s pixel shader 4.0-infused world. However, it certainly has a decent audience, and no one should be hesitant to use it in order to put their ideas into practice.