programming/aas/readme.txt

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* * * WELCOME TO THE ADVANCED AUTHORING SYSTEM * * *
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Welcome to the Advanced Authoring System! version 2.0 public beta
release 5.  (Also known as AAS.) AAS is a system for creating text
adventures, or TAs.  AAS uses JAVA and XML to make games that can be
played on any number of systems.

If you just want to play AAS games, you only need four files:
AASexe.jar, AAS.jar, crimson.jar, and jdom.jar. Put all of them in the
same folder. Then you should be able to double-click on AASexe.jar to
play games.  If that doesn't work, you will need to open a terminal
window, go to the folder where you put all of the files, and type

    java -jar AASexe.jar

But if you are made of sterner stuff, and think you have what it takes
to create the next TA masterpiece, you'll need AASide.jar, along with
crimson.jar and jdom.jar. AASide.jar is the Integrated Development
Environment (don't worry, that's the last big computer science term
I'll throw at you!) for creating AAS games. While the IDE is simple to
use, there are a few things that might trip you up. That's why I've
written a whole manual to make your life easier! The manual is called
AASdoc.pdf, and you can get it from the AAS websight at
http://www.aas-ta.com. You should be able to double-click on
AASide.jar and run it, but if that doesn't work, do the same thing I
mentioned above, only replace "AASexe.jar" with "AASide.jar"

Both programs require the freeware JAVA. If you don't have JAVA, you
will need the JAVA VM from http://java.sun.com.

AAS is free to use to play games. To write games, you can write simple
ones for free. If you haven't registered AASide, then you're
prohibited from releasing any TA with more than 15 rooms. But it's not
all stick, there are carrots, too! Registered users get a registered
version of AASide with online help, thanks to our mate Lanty. You also
get some other nice features to make your writing life easier. To
register, visit the AAS websight at http://www.aas-ta.com.

That's all you need! Now get to playing and writing TAs!

    Roddy