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Inform VS Quest

Compare Inform VS Quest and see what are their differences

Inform logo Inform

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

Quest logo Quest

Quest lets you create sophisticated text-based games, without having to program.
  • Inform Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-18
  • Quest Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-21

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.

Quest features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Quest provides a graphical interface that is intuitive and easy to use, allowing both beginners and advanced users to create interactive fiction without needing programming skills.
  • Versatile Storytelling Options
    It supports a variety of storytelling techniques including text, images, sounds, and video, allowing for rich and immersive experiences.
  • Web and Desktop Versions
    Quest can be used both as a web-based platform and as a downloadable desktop application, providing flexibility for various user preferences.
  • Active Community
    There is an active community of users and developers, providing support, sharing resources, and collaborating on projects.
  • Open Source
    Quest is open-source software, allowing for customization and improvements by any developer who wishes to contribute.

Possible disadvantages of Quest

  • Learning Curve
    While Quest is designed to be user-friendly, there is still a learning curve for those completely new to interactive fiction or game development.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Advanced users may find that Quest lacks certain features or flexibility found in more complex game development engines.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance issues, particularly with larger projects or when using the web-based version.
  • Reliance on Community
    As an open-source project, timely updates and support can be inconsistent and heavily reliant on community contributions.
  • Web Version Limitations
    The web version of Quest may have some limitations compared to the desktop version, particularly in terms of performance and advanced feature support.

Analysis of Inform

Overall verdict

  • Inform is a powerful tool for creating interactive fiction, known for its English-like syntax and robust features.

Why this product is good

  • Inform, particularly Inform 7, is appreciated for its natural language approach, which makes it more accessible to writers and non-programmers. Its integrated development environment (IDE) offers extensive documentation and examples, making it easier to learn. Additionally, the community provides strong support, with numerous libraries and resources available to enhance storytelling capabilities.

Recommended for

  • Writers interested in interactive fiction or narrative-driven games.
  • Educators looking to incorporate storytelling in teaching.
  • Hobbyists and developers exploring game design using natural language.
  • Anyone interested in experimenting with text-based game development.

Analysis of Quest

Overall verdict

  • Quest is a good choice for those interested in exploring the world of interactive fiction and text adventures. Its intuitive design and helpful community resources make it an accessible entry point for anyone looking to create or enjoy text-based games.

Why this product is good

  • Quest, available on textadventures.co.uk, is appreciated for its user-friendly platform that allows both beginners and experienced creators to develop interactive fiction and text-based games. It offers a versatile toolset for crafting narratives with branching paths, puzzles, and intricate storytelling elements without requiring extensive programming knowledge. The online community provides ample resources, support, and examples, making it a welcoming environment for creativity and learning.

Recommended for

    Quest is highly recommended for aspiring game designers, writers interested in interactive storytelling, educators looking to engage students with creative projects, and gamers who enjoy narrative-driven experiences. It caters to both beginners and those looking to expand their skills in game development.

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

Quest videos

I was WRONG - Oculus Quest Review

More videos:

  • Review - Oculus Quest Review - The Best Value VR Headset Money Can Buy!
  • Review - OCULUS QUEST - My Honest Review After 1 Year

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Inform and Quest)
Law Enforcement And Public Safety
Visual Novel Engine
39 39%
61% 61
Project Management
69 69%
31% 31
IDE
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Inform should be more popular than Quest. 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: almost 3 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
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Quest mentions (14)

  • Help needed for choose your own adventure style game
    On a quick search I found Quest, but I remember there being more, some even had their own subreddits. Maybe I can look them up later. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Write any Call of Cthulhu solos?
    Other software that I haven't tried: quest, inklewriter, gamebook authoring tool. Source: about 2 years ago
  • good program for creating a puzzle based text adventure without any real programming?
    Surprised no one has mentioned Quest, it's complicated to figure out but it should be able to do everything you're asking, based on what I've seen other people do with it. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Shin Megami Tensei-style Dottore boss fight - made in RPG Maker MV
    It was just a text adventure in my case, but it had sounds and images playing when different choices were picked. It was about a hunt for a werewolf in the forests, just used as a test but I still recall it. It was a bit of a time ago, using it to learn pc and trying to make games out of fun, but I greatly recommend the program I used https://textadventures.co.uk/quest it is called Quest. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Program for non-coders to write IF?
    Another option is called Quest (https://textadventures.co.uk/quest) which is a tool that allows you to create text-based games using a simple visual editor. Quest games are similar to the classic Zork-style games. It allows you to create rooms, characters, and other game elements using a visual editor, and then link them together to create your story. Quest games can be played in a web browser, and also can be... Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Inform and Quest, 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

RenPy - Ren'Py is a free and cross-platform visual novel engine that helps you use words, pictures, and...

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

Photo Evidence Pro - Other Public Safety