Interactive Fiction

Not sure if this goes under the "Literature" section or elsewhere. In which case, I've decided to start a topic about interactive fiction.

Anyone got any particular favorites they want to discuss? I'm actually pretty fond of Violet and most of the Choice of Games creations as of late.

Do you like your IF more gameplay-based, or more story-based?

Sorry if these questions are a bit grating; I never start topics, you see. -u-;

I could see an argument for putting it in video games too. It's a tricky question.

I have very fond memories of Ditch Day Drifter, despite a few odd choices of solutions, and some irreversible ways to ruin your ability to finish the game. I also remember enjoying Photopia. To be honest, I have the same problem with IF as I do with most puzzle/exploration games, namely that my threshold of frustration is low before I start looking up walkthroughs.

Ahem.

I don't think that they're quite the same thing — for one thing, many examples of Interactive Fiction have no visuals at all, I believe. Indeed, by my reading the article on Visual Novels notes them as being a descendant of Interactive Fiction, rather one name being a synonym for the other.

I loved IF, especially the old Infocom games; their game A Mind Forever Voyaging actually won a Hugo award. I remember it took me years to finish the game Enchanter, all because I couldn't come up with the word "reach." I'd tried "get all from hole" and "put hand in hole" and multiple other variations, but for some reason never thought of "reach into hole" (actually, I didn't try it because I THOUGHT I already had). Love IF, hate "guess the verb" puzzles.

Finally! This medium needs more love. Zork and Photopia will always stay close to my heart.

Slouching towards Bedlam and just about anything Zarf's ever made are awesome. Dreamhold and So Far are particular favorites of mine. Probably for the hints of Worldbuilding and leaving a lot of unanswered questions that give food for thought.

I haven't finished Photopia, but from what I've been playing through, it's pretty good. Actually, I'm taking a seminar on interactive fiction at my uni this semester, and we're discussing Photopia (along with 9:05) right now. In fact, Cadre himself might come speak with us (if the professor actually sticks to his word regarding that part of the class).

Ye gods. You've probably been spoiled already, but either way the ending's pure Tear Jerker territory. Maybe you could record it, I've always wanted to meet the man.

Was looking for an IF thread to plug these works pages I made (and the games they're about)

Already posted about 'em over in this other thread I found, but what the hey.