What is an interactive fiction?
Interactive fiction is a text base story which lets the viewer explore the story mainly through text. It can be adventure games, historical simulations, gripping stories or experimental digital art. It uses a kind of code which can be written in English. And when created, can be played in many different platforms. Since video games have taken over in this day and age, there are still a lot of people who enjoy playing the so called interactive fiction.
While being introduce to interactive fictions in my last class on Monday 2nd Nov 2009, I could think noting but; this was the origin of the games we now play with great sounds, graphics, effects and many more. However, most of these video games started this way, from text to graphics, sounds, effects etc.
Are interactive fictions the same or related to the games we play?
Interactive fictions such as Hitchhiker had a kind of guideline to them they have a kind of programmed language and as you keep to the rules to what the games understand, would certainly enjoy it all. Inform 7 is a designed system for interactive fiction to help one create their own stories. The original version of Hitchhikers had its glory in 1984. This was the time when video games awareness took off also with games such as Nintendo.
I will argue that the brilliantly made video games of today mostly adventures were an idea of interactive fiction before gradually developed with graphics and amazing sounds. It was so interesting that it kept its originality, which some people still enjoy, with the traditional interactive texting if I may call it. I was so into it when Eben my tutor introduced it in class, being able to create one or know how it is done even got me more interested. Unlike todays game, which have both sports, adventures, actions, horror and many other genre, interactive fictions works better when it is adventures and mysterious mostly when you have to find clue and fix puzzles.
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
This was originally a radio show and just like a story, you choose from the things around it. It became an interactive fiction and is now a film. An interactive fiction doesn’t have to be a script from scrap. Unlike Hitchhikers, it can be a radio show, television programmer, film, history about a place, building and many more. What is really important is to use the right language. This language doesn’t only make it easier for the creator. It also makes it easier for the player both in understanding and in playing.
Richard Harris says and I quote “Something strange has now happened. The Net, and particularly e-mail, has become an integral part of millions of lives. People have learned to type again and are taking an interest in interacting, via their computers, with other people and with content”. Is the World Wide Web an interactive fiction?
This is a little story to watch guys, hope you enjoy it.
http://www.rif.org/assets/Documents/readingplanet/ReadAloud_Stories/micerto_mozart.html
Is this an interactive fiction?
Reference:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy 2009 [online] Available online at: http://tlrg.bangor.ac.uk/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=1383
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
I don't think it is an interactive fiction, or at least one where the interaction is very basic (clicking next). It is a nice example of the sort of on-line stories being used for teaching kids to read though. There are a lot of these available on CD-ROM. Generally they allow the reader not just to follow the story, but to explore the pictures by clicking on them to make things happen. That makes them more interactive. But thanks for the example story.
ReplyDelete