XML Schema for Theatrical Scripts? 14
skunkeh asks:
"I was recently discussing innovative uses for IRC bots with a
friend and we came up with the idea of using bots for theatrical
performances, with different bots taking on different roles and
outputting a pre-defined script to a moderated IRC channel.
The obvious solution for inputing scripts to the bots would be
using XML - is anyone aware of an XML standard for play scripts or
would we need to create our own?" Bots doing Shakesspeare?
Hrmm....OK, after that image, this is the last time I post
Slashdot articles while drinking Bawls.
Why obvious? (Score:1)
Best version I know of (Score:4, Informative)
http://www.oasis-open.org/cover/bosakShakespear
http://www.ibiblio.org/xml/examples/shakespeare
Re:Best version I know of (Score:3, Insightful)
Thats pretty cool. He just has to figure out a way to "direct" the bots. The dialog should flow slowly for somethings and fast for other things ( like arguments ), so he should have delays between lines. Perhaps even have the bots enter / leave the channel at certain times, and even kick themselves out of the channel when they are fighting.
You know you've been on IRC way to long when your thinking about Shakespeare on IRC
Re:Best version I know of (Score:3, Interesting)
Character did indeed leave the channel as they went offstage, and of course you only need enough people for the maximum number of actors in any scene, because "costume changes" are instant.
freechess.org... (Score:1)
I've played chess very occasionally on freechess.org [freechess.org]. If you monitor the main forum, you'll see bots occasionally announcing that they will be starting a lecture in a few minutes, whether it be on endgame technique or a particular notable historical game. The ones I've seen seem to last in the neighborhood of an hour, though I've never actually "attended" any.
Text Encoding Initiative (Score:2, Informative)
XML could result in humourous XSLT translations. (Score:1)
I also seem to remember a ghetto translator at one point in particularly poor taste. (no link)
Another cool approach, and the one I see moving forward, is something that generates an MP3 of a performance, with scratchy Dr Sbaitso-esque (remember Dr. Sbaitso from SoundBlaster?) voices for all the actors, with some pitch modulation to differentiate between the dramatis personae.
Seems lame, I know, but this is precisely the kind of tech that gets better and better.
Re:XML could result in humourous XSLT translations (Score:1)
LaTeX (Score:2)
While not exactally the information you were looking for, there is a perfectly good LaTeX macro set for making scripts. This many be a good base for creating an XML Scheme, knowing what tags you will need and such.
It's been done before. (Score:1, Informative)
A stunning waste of time, but it does in fact perform plays on IRC. Requires Perl, POE, and a fair amount of patience. Have fun.