Add links to online DM4 at appropriate places.

[ibg.git] / chapters / 17.rst

diff --git a/chapters/17.rst b/chapters/17.rst
index c4a69d1da55aa7bf95da81caa384fa537a7cc59e..12be3966c017e7a91c5a42d080868d7af8250e7c 100644 (file)
--- a/chapters/17.rst
+++ b/chapters/17.rst
@@ -45,21 +45,20 @@ organised in a prettier way." Go right ahead. "I want to have a better
 social life thanks to Inform." No problem, but you'll have to be one 
 damn charming designer. Oh, well.
 
 social life thanks to Inform." No problem, but you'll have to be one 
 damn charming designer. Oh, well.
 

-Inform has been designed to let you do simple things intuitively and 
-quickly. Left to its own devices, it offers a wide range of default 
-functionality, and we’ve seen that it’s also easy to alter some of its 
-standard behaviour. The desirable goal is for you to reach a state of 
-such familiarity with the system that you can concentrate on designing 
-your games. By "such familiarity" we are not implying that you should 
-know the innards of the library inside out; such people exist, but 
-they're few and far between. However, once you become reasonably 
-proficient at typing in code, with a knowledge level similar to the one 
-provided by this guide, a careful look at the appropriate section of the 
-*Inform Designer's Manual* should help you through most difficulties. 
-Admittedly, there are problems and *problems*, from the slap-on-the-head 
-trifle to the teeth-gnashing nightmare. We advise you to put the 
-nightmares on hold for the time being. It may be that one day you 
-discover that their fangs were not as sharp as they seemed.
+Inform has been designed to let you do simple things intuitively and
+quickly. Left to its own devices, it offers a wide range of default
+functionality, and we’ve seen that it’s also easy to alter some of its
+standard behaviour. The desirable goal is for you to reach a state of such
+familiarity with the system that you can concentrate on designing your
+games. By "such familiarity" we are not implying that you should know the
+innards of the library inside out; such people exist, but they're few and
+far between. However, once you become reasonably proficient at typing in
+code, with a knowledge level similar to the one provided by this guide, a
+careful look at the appropriate section of the |DM4| should help you
+through most difficulties.  Admittedly, there are problems and *problems*,
+from the slap-on-the-head trifle to the teeth-gnashing nightmare. We advise
+you to put the nightmares on hold for the time being. It may be that one
+day you discover that their fangs were not as sharp as they seemed.

 
 There are many interesting topics that you could pursue next. Here are a 
 few:
 
 There are many interesting topics that you could pursue next. Here are a 
 few:


@@ -136,16 +135,16 @@ players, so their advice beyond the call of bug-hunting is as priceless
 counsel as you are likely to get. Encourage them to comment on your 
 achievements in both programming *and* design.
 
 counsel as you are likely to get. Encourage them to comment on your 
 achievements in both programming *and* design.
 

-Now: where to go, what to do? Allow us to insist one last time on the 
-importance of reading the *Inform Designer's Manual*, an excellent book 
-in all respects. While you are at it, write small games, training 
-exercises; we don't advise you to try an epic saga for your first 
-scenario, but if nothing else will work for you -- the Think Big 
-approach -- don't let us deter you. It's a good idea to play other 
-people's games, because you'll know the average level that players may 
-expect; check the newsgroups for comments on good titles. Be sure around 
-September to keep an eye open for the Interactive Fiction Competition 
-(http://www.ifcomp.org/), an annual showcase for short(ish) works.
+Now: where to go, what to do? Allow us to insist one last time on the
+importance of reading the |DM4|, an excellent book in all respects. While
+you are at it, write small games, training exercises; we don't advise you
+to try an epic saga for your first scenario, but if nothing else will work
+for you -- the Think Big approach -- don't let us deter you. It's a good
+idea to play other people's games, because you'll know the average level
+that players may expect; check the newsgroups for comments on good
+titles. Be sure around September to keep an eye open for the Interactive
+Fiction Competition (http://www.ifcomp.org/), an annual showcase for
+short(ish) works.

 
 And, who knows? It might be that next year we’ll all be smashed by 
 *your* entry.
 
 And, who knows? It might be that next year we’ll all be smashed by 
 *your* entry.