Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Inform VS ChoiceScript

Compare Inform VS ChoiceScript and see what are their differences

Inform logo Inform

Description The market is unpredictable and keeps on changing over time.

ChoiceScript logo ChoiceScript

ChoiceScript is a simple programming language for writing multiple-choice games (MCGs) like Choice of the Dragon. Writing games with ChoiceScript is easy and fun, even for authors with no programm…
  • Inform Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-18
  • ChoiceScript Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-12

Inform features and specs

  • Natural Language Syntax
    Inform 7 allows authors to write interactive fiction using a syntax that closely resembles natural English. This makes it accessible to writers who may not have a programming background.
  • Integrated Development Environment
    The Inform 7 IDE includes built-in testing tools, a game runner, and a documentation browser, which helps streamline the development process.
  • Rich Documentation
    The language comes with comprehensive documentation and a large number of examples, which can significantly reduce the learning curve.
  • Extensibility
    There are a variety of extensions available that allow authors to add new features and capabilities to their interactive fiction works without a deep dive into lower-level coding.
  • Community Support
    Inform 7 has an active and supportive community, which can be a great resource for beginners and experienced developers alike.

Possible disadvantages of Inform

  • Steep Learning Curve at Advanced Levels
    While the basics of Inform 7 are relatively easy to grasp, implementing more complex features can become challenging and may require a deeper understanding of the underlying architecture.
  • Performance Limitations
    Inform 7 projects can suffer from performance issues, especially for larger and more complex games. Optimization can become a necessity in such cases.
  • Limited Graphics and Multimedia Support
    Inform 7 is primarily designed for text-based interactive fiction, and it has limited support for graphics, audio, and other multimedia elements, which may be a drawback for some developers.
  • Dependency on Specific IDE
    Inform 7 relies heavily on its own integrated development environment, which might not be as flexible or customizable as some developers would like.
  • Niche Use Case
    The platform is highly specialized for creating interactive fiction, making it less suitable for other types of game development or software applications.

ChoiceScript features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    ChoiceScript is designed for writers with limited programming experience, making it relatively easy to learn and use for creating interactive fiction.
  • Focus on Storytelling
    The language emphasizes narrative flow and player choices, allowing writers to focus on story development rather than complex coding.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Games developed in ChoiceScript can be easily published on various platforms, including web browsers and mobile devices, without much additional work.
  • Built-in Systems
    ChoiceScript includes features for handling variables, conditional logic, and simple game mechanics, such as stats management, making it versatile for different story styles.
  • Supportive Community
    There is an active community of ChoiceScript developers and users who provide resources, forums, and support for new writers.

Possible disadvantages of ChoiceScript

  • Limited Graphics and Multimedia Capabilities
    ChoiceScript primarily focuses on text-based games and lacks advanced support for graphics, sound, or multimedia elements.
  • Simple Game Mechanics
    The engine is not designed for complex game mechanics or rich interactive features, limiting its use to primarily narrative-driven experiences.
  • Learning Curve for Non-Coders
    Despite its simplicity, non-coders still have to learn basic programming concepts, which could be a hurdle for those entirely new to coding.
  • Customization Limitations
    While ChoiceScript offers some customization options, advanced users may find its capabilities limiting when trying to implement specific features or styles.
  • Monetization Restrictions
    Publishing and monetization through Choice of Games comes with specific guidelines and revenue-sharing models that might not appeal to all developers.

Inform videos

IS THIS WORTH IT?! 87 INFORM HAALAND PLAYER REVIEW! FIFA 21 Ultimate Team

More videos:

  • Review - RIP DIEGO MARADONA! 🙏 84 INFORM CARRASCO PLAYER REVIEW! - FIFA 21 Ultimate Team
  • Review - BEST GK IN THE GAME?! 👀 (90) INFORM (IF) NEUER PLAYER REVIEW (TOTW NEUER) - FIFA 21

ChoiceScript videos

Learning ChoiceScript: Part 0: Playing "My First ChoiceScript Game"

More videos:

  • Review - Learning ChoiceScript: Part 9: Customizing the Stat Screen
  • Review - Learning ChoiceScript: Part 6: Inputs

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Inform and ChoiceScript)
Law Enforcement And Public Safety
Visual Novel Engine
58 58%
42% 42
Project Management
77 77%
23% 23
IDE
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Inform seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 39 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Inform mentions (39)

  • Share a niche programming language you have tinkered with before
    Inform 7 is a domain-specific language for creating parser-based works of interactive fiction (i.e. old-school "text adventure games"). It does the heavy lifting of parsing and maintaining the consistency of the world model for the programmer. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How does programming language syntax affect screen readers?
    Inform 7 takes this to the extreme, allowing code such as "A distance is a kind of value. 5 miles specifies a distance.". Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Does anyone have examples of "dead" game genres?
    Pure parser-based games have become niche, but they are still out there and, like others mentioned, have continued to evolve (see Inform 7). You no longer have to "guess the verb". Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: How to keep my daughter busy while tickling her curiosity
    How will you earn its trust? http://inform7.com. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Gaiman: Programming language for text-based games in browser
    Neat. Have you ever seen Inform? http://inform7.com/ Might offer some inspiration on future features. It's a pretty cool language that's been around for a long time and has the same use case. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

ChoiceScript mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ChoiceScript yet. Tracking of ChoiceScript recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Inform and ChoiceScript, you can also consider the following products

FLEX - An in-app debugging and exploration tool for iOS.

Twine - Twine is an open-source tool for telling interactive, nonlinear stories.

Accurint Crime Analysis Workstation - Police

Ink by Inkle - ink is a popular open source scripting language for branching stories, designed for writers

Quest - Quest lets you create sophisticated text-based games, without having to program.

Photo Evidence Pro - Other Public Safety