---------------------------------------- * * * WELCOME TO THE ADVANCED AUTHORING SYSTEM * * * ---------------------------------------- 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