intfiction.org

In Andromeda Awakening, the laser at the end of the game can be pushed to fire, but if a player wants to MOVE it to point it somewhere else, the laser... just fires.

a button on the laser instead?

the button is a thing. the button is part of the laser.

understand "laser button" and as button.

does the player mean pushing the laser button: it is very likely.

instead of pushing the laser:
say "Maybe you want to push the button on the laser? The laser gun is too bulky to move."

moving is an action applying to one thing.

understand the command "move [something]" as something new. understand "move [something]" as moving.

carry out moving:
if the noun is not the laser:
try pushing the noun instead;
say "Which way do you want to move the laser?" instead;

moving to is an action applying to one thing and one direction.

understand the command "move [something] [direction]" as something new. understand "move [something] [direction]" as moving.

carry out moving (a - a thing) to (b - a direction):
if noun is not the laser:
say "Pick it up instead." instead;
if nowhere is second noun of the location of the player:
try going b instead;
move player b;
move laser b;

pull a trigger.

I want the laser to fire no matter what the player decides to push, pull, move etc, so it's better i leave it a single object.