среда, 25 ноября 2015 г.

Infocom разработка

Роюсь любопытным кротом в архивах Infocom.

Infocom's Development Techniques

An Infocom title begins with a short synopsis. Following input
on the synopsis by other members of Infocom's development team, the
author begins programming the actual story into a DEC mainframe
computer, using Infocom's sophisticated proprietary programming
language. During programming, the story is expanded to its full
length.

Once the story has been programmed onto the mainframe, it is
ready for testing. Infocom's team of in-house testers approach the
product as players rather than as developers. They suggest new plot
twists and character motivations and report "bugs" to the writer, who
makes appropriate changes in the program. Infocom testers spend more
than 2000 hours "playing" each product.

One of the features of the Heart of Gold, a spaceship upon which
Arthur Dent spends much of his time, is the Nutrimat, a nutrition-dispensing
machine. Testers felt there should be more of an indication as to how to
use the machine. So, the following passage, programmed to appear
randomly, was added to the story: Zaphod Beeblebrox walks in and presses
the touch-sensitive pad. The Nutrimat produces a huge , ice-cold Pan-Galactic
Gargle Blaster.

When the program has passed Infocom's in-house standards, it is
sent to up to twenty outside testers, whose comments invariably
improve the product further. The program is still later sent to an
additional dozen testers, located in various U.S. cities. This long
process of review and alteration is part of the quality control
Infocom applies to each product, each step of the way.


Тестирование, тестирование и еще раз тестирование. 2000 часов внутреннего теста, плюс десятки внешних тестеров.