Analysis and Reflection: Austin College Hangover (Interactive Fiction)

15May10

One work we have looked at in class was the IF Adventure. It was done by Will Crowther and Don Woods. It is considered one of the more complete IFs in that there is a lot you can do. One thing about it that I found intriguing was that it was somewhat exploratory. Although this was the case, at times that also drove me away because I felt that I was getting lost within the game. I had trouble figuring out what exactly to do next and ended up quitting quickly. Also, the commands were harder to figure out and things weren’t as obvious. One thing that was different about my IF was that it led you through the game better. I feel as though when you play my IF you don’t get lost. Also, the commands are more obvious. One thing that I think my piece does well is it makes those beginner IF players feel more at ease and not as frustrated.

The block game that we looked at in class had a very similar dynamic to the IF game that I created. The simple fact is that you are given a set of rules and then you are trying to get to an end result. The game progresses with different difficulty levels as well as different landscapes. Similarly, when you play an IF, you are given certain rules and then the game progresses, with different problems to solve along the way. One difference is that you don’t know what the final outcome will look like right away.

Most alternate reality games have a somewhat similar approach to IFs, in that they have some final prize or conclusion to the game. They also have a bunch of challenges throughout the game. One of the main differences is many alternate reality games can move through different media types.

An article that we were suppose to read in class was the article This Is Not a Game by Jane McGonigal. In it she talks about the internet becoming a support system for people and evolving over time. In the process of making my IF I used the internet as a helpful tool when working with Inform. Collaboratively, me along with other IF users problem solved on forums and discussion boards. Thus, creating my IF I was actively supporting her article that people are evolving the web and helping grow information.

Another text that we were suppose to read in class was The Open and the Closed: Games of Emergence and Games of Progression by Jesper Juul. In it he talks about emergence (things like rules) and progressions (things like games) that help develope a game. I believe that this is very relevant to all IFs in the fact that you are given a set of circumstances, then as you proceed the game developes with you. The challenge of my game, along with all computer games, is to figure out the rules then proceed through the game, taking on challenges as they arise. This is what Juul is saying within his paper and I believe this is what makes games so dynamic and addicting.

Filed under: Uncategorized   |  Leave a Comment