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            Super Speech Toy.COB
        An object File for Creatures

               (Version 1.1r)

      by Lee Gaiteri (LummoxJR@aol.com)

         Visit the Norn Underground
http://www.dreamscape.com/lummoxjr/creatures

       DO distribute this file freely!
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What it does:

    The Super Speech Toy allows Norns (or Grendels!) on the go to learn new
    words without the aid of the computer. When the object is touched, it
    says a word 6 times, to make sure any creatures in earshot learn the word
    properly. By playing with this often enough, any Norn or Grendel can
    learn the complete language.

    This is an improvement over the original Speech Toy in that it can say
    any of 50 known words, not just the original 14 used by the computer. You
    can teach Norns and Grendels the names of objects, vehicles, each other,
    and even drives and needs. Words are arranged in four categories.

    In addition, the Super Speech Toy plays a sound and has the following
    effect on all Norns in earshot whenever it is played:

        Need For Pleasure:  -10
        Boredom:            -10


How to use it:

    Creature activation:

        When a Norn or Grendel touches the speech toy, it plays a random
        word out of the complete list of 50.

    Hand activation:

        Category picture or right arrow button: Next category.
        Play button (lower left):               Repeat word.
        Question button:                        Random word in category.
        Fast-forward button (lower right):      Next word in category.


WORD CATEGORIES (50 words total)

    Basic Verbs (16 words)      Picture: 2-ended arrow
        Includes the 14 basic words along with 2 more: "think" and "stay".

    Objects (14 words)          Picture: Ball
        Includes all simple objects, except the hand.

    Complex Objects (7 words)   Picture: 2 gears
        Includes the five known classes of compound objects, and the words
        "norn" and "grendel".

    Drives and Needs (13 words) Picture: Thermometer
        All 13 drives and needs.

    NOTE: There are two other known words. #16 is the Creature's name, and
          #17 is the player's name.


How it works:

    The super speech toy installs scripts for not one but two objects. Two
    scripts are used for the toy itself, and one is used for the temporary
    "computer" object spawned by the toy.

    When the toy is activated, first it stimulates all creatures in earshot
    so that it's more "fun". After that, it figures out who activated it and
    what they want.

    If a Norn or Grendel activated the object, it calls a subroutine to
    select a random word out of the 50 total. Otherwise, it acts according to
    whichever button the player pressed.

    To play a word, the object sets two variables: obv0 and obv1. Variable
    obv0 stores the index of the word within the category, and obv1 stores
    the category. It then creates an invisible computer object at the same
    location, and tells it the word/category to play.

    The computer object is activated immediately. Depending on the category,
    it loads a list of words. (A blackboard object can't hold more than 16
    words at a time.) It plays the appropriate word and then disappears.

    Meanwhile, the toy itself is still disabled; a timer routine (scrp 2 13
    193 9) is called to deactivate the toy.


Implementation codes:

    Super Speech Toy:       2 13 193    (A toy)
    Temporary computer:     3 3 197     (A computer)

Scripts installed:

    scrp 2 13 193 1
    scrp 2 13 193 9
    scrp 3 3 197 1

To use the object:

    Copy SSPC.SPR to the Creatures\Images directory.
    Move Super Speech Toy.COB and Super Speech Toy.RCB to the Creatures
     directory.
    While running Creatures, open the Object Injector and select this file.

    (The RCB file is a remover which works with the new object injector. If
     you are using an older version of the injector, rename this file to a
     COB file, such as "Super Speech Toy Remover.COB".)

Changes since version 1.0:

    - The word "red" was replaced with "call", which refers to the red call
      button for lifts. I thought this was a better choice.

    - The stimulus shouted by the toy is more "significant" to the creatures
      who hear it. Not much more, but enough to make them pay more attention.

    - The words are now played and repeated instantaneously. After much
      experimentation, I find I prefer this. It may also minimize the
      autosave bug, which has been a real problem (and in fact was the real
      reason for this update); it will not fix the bug, however.
      (The bug, incidentally, is in the game itself. It has been observed in
      version 1.02 of the game, and it may exist in earlier versions. It
      happens only during an autosave, when a creature is using the toy. It
      seems the autosave bug also affects other things unrelated to the toy.)


Acknowledgements:

    The information I used to make this object came from a vocabulary patch
    written by Sandra J.G. Linkletter (slink@netins.net).


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  Lee Gaiteri (LummoxJR@aol.com)
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