                            +------------------+
                            |  INFORM 5.4/5.9  |
                            +------------------+
                                   Pack!

                               What is INFORM?

        INFORM is a program that makes Text Adventure games (also
        known as Interactive Fiction) in the style of old "Infocom"
        games, such as ZORK and Planetfall.

        INFORM uses the exact same compiled language as those games
        used, which is extremely flexible and powerful.

        This package of software contains various tools for creating
        and playing INFORM/INFOCOM games/fiction. All the files in
        this archive were put together from free files found on the
        internet, primarily on ftp.gmd.de in the /if-archive directory.


                            What are the Files?

        ZIP203.ZIP   - Infocom interpreter. You may use this program
                       to play any games created with Inform; it also
                       can be used to play any old Infocom games (and
                       is generally a better interpreter than the
                       ones distributed by infocom).

        CURSES.Z5    - This is a very large game created by Graham
                       Nelson, the author of INFORM. It can be played
                       using the ZIP203 interpreter. Just use the
                       command ZIP CURSES.Z5 to try it out.

        BUSTED.Z5    - Another example game, ready to be played with ZIP.

        I54PC.ZIP    - INFORM 5.4 executable program for IBM PC and
                       compatable computers. INFORM supports many
                       different kinds of computers, but included
                       here are just files for PC compatable systems.
                       This is a compiler and takes INFORM "INF"
                       source code and compiles it into a playable
                       game such as CURSES.Z5.

        I54P386.ZIP  - INFORM 5.4 excecutable program for IBM PC and
                       compatable systems using a 386 processor or
                       greater. This will not run under windows, but
                       on a 386+ system is faster and better.

        I59LIB.ZIP   - INFORM 5.4 Library files, release 5/9. You
                       need these library files in the same directory
                       as the INFORM.EXE compiler to compile any
                       Inform source code. The Libraries contain all
                       the Functions, Grammer, and Parsers needed
                       by the system to work. They system is highly
                       flexible and can be customized.

        EXAMPES.ZIP  - A collection of INFORM source code examples.
                       Some of the "INF" files in this archive are
                       just examples of how things work, others are
                       full fledged games you can compile and play,
                       including the classic "Adventure". To Compile
                       these files use the INFORM.EXE compiler and
                       I would suggest using this command line:

      INFORM.EXE $LARGE $MAX_SYMBOLS=5000 $MAX_DICT_ENTRIES=750 <file>

                       Replace the <file> in the commandline with the
                       filename of the example you want to compile.
                       Do not include the "INF" extention on the name.

         INFORM.MAN  - Ascii text converted manual and documentation
                       for the INFORM compiler. This is fairly difficult
                       to read but will teach you how to use the INFORM
                       language to create your own INFORM/INFOCOM style
                       games and adventures.

         ITEXMAN.ZIP - All the manuals for INFORM were originally written
                       in a format called TeX. In this archive are the
                       manuals in DVI format and a viewing program so
                       you can view them graphically on screen. Additional
                       documentation is present in this package to explain
                       further all you might need to know.

         IF-TEXT.ZIP - This archive contains miscellanious plain text
                       documents related to Interactive Fiction and
                       Adventure Games. Included is Graham Nelson's
                       excellent article called "The Craft of Adventure",
                       and several E-Zines, and FAQ sheets.



         I am sorry to say that what you have read is all the information
         you are going to get out of me. If you can't figure out what all
         this means and you are interested I suggest you check with the
         Usenet (internet) newsgroups REC.GAMES.INT-FICTION or
         REC.ARTS.INT-FICTION for more information if you are hell bent
         on creating your own interactive art!

         What you have here is a rag-tag collection of files with very
         little explanation. Consider it the beginning of your Adventure
         just to try and learn what they are and discover what they do!

