I’ll mainly echo what has been said and include my historical observations regarding people who propose to create a new IF parser/choice authoring systems from scratch:
- Making an interactive fiction creation system is a lot of work, potentially for little reward
- Duplicating the exact functionality of an existing system is a lot of work, and invariably will suffer comparison: “Why should I learn and use XXXcreator when ChoiceScript exists already with thousands of hours of testing and support?”
-
- Specifically: ChoiceScript can be used for free so long as you’re not making money from what you create. If you don’t want them to host, you can negotiate a royalty payment/scheme with Choice of Games for rights to self-publish commercially.
- Ideally, you want to distinguish yourself and your system - if you’re duplicating an existing creation system, you want to improve on it in some way that makes similar-minded people want to use your system instead of the original that can be explained in an elevator-pitch. For example: "I want to make a system like ChoiceScript, but including robust multimedia support for images and music, an inventory system, and auto-mapping."
- As good as your system is, ideally you also should develop a “killer game” (or at least a very competent one) to release alongside it that shows off your system’s abilities to their best effect. If possible this should be a playable game that shows it off well, not just Cloak of Darkness or a one-room example of functionality. Ideally you want people to play this debut game and inspire them to say, “I really want to make a game with this system…” Ideally, enter this game in a comp for exposure so you’ll get buzz “What did they use to make this? I’ve never seen a game do X and X before/at the same time! I want to be able to do that!”
- There are already many lesser-known choice-narrative systems online that are “good enough” for people who don’t want to use a complicated standalone system. so your prospective “killer feature” or combo of killer features that gives people reason to use your system and not an established one is key.
- “ChoiceScript, but free” isn’t something people are clamoring for, and may step on their legal intellectual property if you simply duplicate the functionality of their work.
Real World Example
I will cite one system that got a long way and crashed and burned: ElmStory Creator. It was perfect for what I wanted - I even donated a bit to its progress. It was usable in alpha state (with some problems that were being worked on) and being developed by a team. Then the lead programmer got a day job, team infighting ensued, and the all progress was halted due to lack of support, and all messages regarding its progress were rage-deleted on here by someone who was upset about it before we restored them. This was a professional-quality QBN choice system with ideas and a ton of work put into it that did not reach fruition.
I even posted screenshots of prototypes I was creating with it: