Lunar Base 1 is near-future parser-based science fiction, with light puzzle content. As usual, the jump will be followed by non-spoilery comments; then if I have anything spoilery to say, there will be spoiler space. The fact that I am reviewing it at all indicates that there are beta-testers.
Continue reading “IF Comp 2012: Lunar Base 1 (Michael Wayne Phipps Jr)”
Kicker is a brief, parser-based game in which the player takes the role of kicker in American football. As usual, the jump will be followed by non-spoilery comments; then if I have anything spoilery to say, there will be spoiler space. As usual, the fact that I am reviewing this game means that it does list beta-testers.
The Sealed Room is a short parser-based fantasy piece, using conversation and NPC interaction as the basis of several puzzles. As usual, the jump will be followed by non-spoilery comments; then if I have anything spoilery to say, there will be spoiler space.
Continue reading “IF Comp 2012: The Sealed Room (Robert DeFord)”
Sunday Afternoon is a short, parser-based puzzle game set in Victorian England. As usual, the jump will be followed by non-spoilery comments; then if I have anything spoilery to say, there will be spoiler space.
Continue reading “IF Comp 2012: Sunday Afternoon (“Virgil Hilts”)”
Escape from Summerland is parser-based puzzle IF concerning an abandoned fairground, and lists a number of beta-testers. As usual, the jump will be followed by non-spoilery comments; then if I have anything spoilery to say, there will be spoiler space.
Continue reading “IF Comp 2012: Escape from Summerland (Jenny Roomy and Jasmine Lavages)”
Trailed for some time as a new creative tool from the team at Failbetter responsible for Fallen London (aka Echo Bazaar), Cabinet Noir and the Night Circus, StoryNexus is now open for public use.
StoryNexus supports authors in building what Failbetter calls “quality-based narratives” — stories where the available nodes and choices depend on the player’s stats at that point in the narrative. The result is somewhat more fluid than the typical choose-your-own-adventure model, in that it doesn’t impose a strict order to the branch points, but allows the player to explore whichever of the available storylets happen to be open to him.
The only other tool I know of that currently supports this particular blend of world model and choice-based storytelling is Varytale — not entirely coincidentally, since Failbetter had considerable input about Varytale at the design stage. But where Varytale tends towards the more literary possibilities of the format, with long prose passages and a book-like presentation, StoryNexus aims more at RPG-like explorable worlds reminiscent of the original Echo Bazaar. The tool allows authors to select from artwork and theme options, and in the future will also allow authors to upload their own imagery to accompany their creations.
StoryNexus authors may offer their work for free, or may charge for it, as they like, using StoryNexus’s built in system for putting purchase gates on content. (This functionality is I think closed at the moment, but scheduled to open very soon, offering a 60/40 split with authors on any revenue a story may earn.)
Edited to add: there’s also some coverage at the Escapist.
Emily Short's Interactive Storytelling 