ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY is the second episode in an interactive fiction series that began with the 2001 comp entry EARTH AND SKY, and will continue with its third episode in Fall 2003. However, it isn't necessary to have played EARTH AND SKY in order to understand and enjoy ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY. Like its predecessor, this game contains a variety of ways in which the PC (player character) can converse with NPCs (non-player characters), but with one added feature. ASK ABOUT and TELL ABOUT are still available as conversation commands, as is the more general TALK TO . The latter will initiate a pre-scripted dialogue between PC and NPC, based on what's currently happening in the game. When an NPC takes the initiative to address the PC, the game will by default present a menu of possible replies, asking the player to select one of these. (Remaining silent is always an option as well.) The new feature in this episode is that players who don't care for menus can type MENUS OFF, in which case the PC will answer the NPC with a pre-scripted reply. Menus can be reactivated by typing MENUS ON. ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY is designed so that it cannot be put into an unfinishable state. For best performance, I advise running ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY in a maximized window, at a resolution of at least 1024x768. You can still run the game in a smaller window, but you may not see all the graphics. Those graphics, by the way, were designed on a white background, and that's where they'll look best. However, they are full-alpha PNGs, so it is possible to use them against any color background. [PC Users with older nVidia graphics cards should note that an occasional display problem may cause even full-alpha PNGs to display on a rectangle colored one shade lighter than the background. This problem can be corrected by altering your color settings to "True" (32-bit) color.] I've also found that using a suitable comicbook font, such as Windows' "Comic Sans MS", can heighten the experience of the game, so try that if you wish. I love getting feedback. What you liked, what you didn't like, what horrible bugs you've found -- send it all to me at obrian@colorado.edu. *** As always, grateful acknowledgement is due to Graham Nelson for creating Inform and its excellent documentation, notably the fourth edition of the Inform Designers Manual. Now that I'm using Glulx, I acknowledge further debts: to Andrew Plotkin for creating the virtual machine, to L. Ross Raszewski for the Blorbifier, and to Adam Cadre and Marnie Parker for adding to Plotkin's documentation. Thanks as well to Adam for his flags.h library extension, and to Brendan Barnwell for his help deciphering Inform's mysterious adjudication process. The AskTellOrder library, which allows syntax like TELL EMILY TO FLY, was written by Irene Callaci, and modified for Glulx compatibility by Emily Short and Dan Shiovitz. Also, a tip of the hat to the crew on #glulx and #inform at ifMUD, who always came through when I needed them. Lots of the fonts used for title pages and sound effects are courtesy of Blambot fonts at http://www.blambot.com. All the chapter-head quotes are from Emily Dickinson. My wife Laura is unfailing in her support of my work, and she is an instrumental part of making these games happen. ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY is dedicated to my mom, who bought me comics when I was a kid and still does today. And finally, my warmest and humblest thanks to the best and the brightest, my betatesters: Admiral Jota, Suzanne Britton, Jenny O'Brian, and Emily Short. Each of them provided a ton of useful feedback on an entirely volunteer basis, without which this game would be a much more painful experience. They rule. *** This is Release 1 of ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY, entered into the 2002 IF competition ANOTHER EARTH, ANOTHER SKY is freeware, meaning that it may be freely distributed as long as it is unaltered and no profit is made from its distribution.