IntroComp
| IntroComp | |
|---|---|
| Competition (series of events) | |
| Frequency | Annual |
 | |
| Website | https://introcomp.org |
| Organiser | Eric Brown |
| IFDB series page | Series |
| Events in this series | |
| IntroComp 2002, IntroComp 2003, IntroComp 2004, IntroComp 2005, IntroComp 2006, IntroComp 2007, IntroComp 2008, IntroComp 2009, IntroComp 2010, IntroComp 2011, IntroComp 2012, IntroComp 2013, IntroComp 2014, IntroComp 2015, IntroComp 2016, IntroComp 2017, IntroComp 2018, IntroComp 2019, IntroComp 2020, IntroComp 2021, IntroComp 2023, IntroComp 2024 | |
| Edit this infobox | |
- This article is about the yearly IntroComp that is open to games written in any authoring system.
For the ADRIFT-only versions, see ADRIFT Intro Comp 2005 and ADRIFT IntroComp 2009.
There was also a Speed-IF Introcomp in 2007.
IntroComp is an interactive fiction competition that was conceived by Neil deMause. Entrants submit excerpts of unfinished games, which the public votes on; the original criterion was "How much do you want to play more of this entry?". Currently, only the top three games in the voting receive placements and are called the 'winners'. Winners have a year to complete their games before they can claim their prizes; the first among the other ('Honorable') entrants to complete within this period can also claim a prize.
Until 2017, only beginnings of works could be entered. A rule change in 2017 allowed excerpts to be taken from the beginning, middle, or end of a work.
For its first seven years, IntroComp was sponsored and technically supported by Eileen Mullin and XYZZYnews. From 2009, IntroComp ran as an independent competition. Since 2023, IntroComp has been supported by the Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation.
Note that IntroComp entries are not eligible for XYZZY Awards until they are completed. The year that an IntroComp game is completed is the year when that game becomes eligible for the XYZZY Awards.
IntroComps to date
Organized by Neil deMause:
- IntroComp 2002: 13 entries. Winner: Hey, Jingo! (Caleb Wilson, Glulx).
Organized by Jacqueline A. Lott:
- IntroComp 2003: 6 entries. Winner: The Mage Wars: Statue (Jim Fisher; Z-code).
- IntroComp 2004: 7 entries. Winner: Intro to Jabberwocky (Gregory Weir; Z-code).
- IntroComp 2005: 7 entries. Winner: Deadsville (William McDuff; Z-code).
- IntroComp 2006: 7 entries. Winner: Southern Gothic (Mordechai Shinefield; Z-code).
- IntroComp 2007: 7 entries. Winner: The King of Shreds and Patches (Jimmy Maher; Z-code).
- IntroComp 2008: 6 entries. Winner: Phoenix's Landing: Destiny (Carolyn VanEseltine; Glulx).
- IntroComp 2009: 3 entries. Winner: Obituary (Drew Mochak and Johnny Rivera; Z-code).
- IntroComp 2010: 9 entries. Winner: Tourist Trap (Iain Merrick; Z-code).
- IntroComp 2011: 13 entries. Winner: Choice of Zombies (Heather Albano; Web browser).
- IntroComp 2012: 6 entries. Winner: Resonance (Nereida Scales; Web browser).
- IntroComp 2013: 7 entries. Winner: Best Laid Plans (David Whyld; Glulx).
- IntroComp 2014: 10 entries. Winner: The Cuckold's Egg (Daniel Ravipinto; Glulx).
- IntroComp 2015: 6 entries. Winner: Beyond Division (Joseph Geipel; Glulx).
- IntroComp 2016. 7 entries. Winner: Spellbound (Adam Perry; Glulx).
- IntroComp 2017. 11 entries. Winner: Sherlock Indomitable (mathbrush; Glulx).
Organized by Xalavier Nelson Jr.:
- IntroComp 2018. 12 entries. Winner: Intro to Implements of the Arcane (Oliver Frank).
- IntroComp 2019. 11 entries. Winner: Intro to the Devil's Music (Harkness Munt).
- IntroComp 2020. 15 entries. Winners (Tied): Guilt Free (Erika; Unity), Tonciven (Donald Conrad and Peter M.J. Gross; Twine).
- IntroComp 2021. 4 entries. Winner: Final Girl 2.0 (Hanon Ondricek; AXMA Story Maker).
- (IntroComp did not run in 2022.)
Organised by Eric Brown:
- IntroComp 2023. 7 entries. Winner: Loose Ends (Daniel Stelzer and Elisabeth Tricou; Ink).
- IntroComp 2024. 1 entry. Winner (by default): Good Bones (XYZoe and IronSerenity; Inform 6 / PunyInform).
Completed IntroComp games to date
- See also the tag IntroComp completed - at IFDB.
- Fellowship of the Ring (Adam Thornton; 2002; Atari).
- Weishaupt Scholars (Michael C. Martin; 2005–2007; Z-code).
- Child's Play (Stephen Granade; 2006–2007; Z-code).
- The King of Shreds and Patches (Jimmy Maher; 2007–2009; Glulx).
- Cryptozookeeper (Robb Sherwin; 2010–2011 ; Hugo).
- Speculative Fiction (Diane Christoforo and Thomas Mack; 2011–2012; Z-code).
- Choice of Zombies (Heather Albano and Richard Jackson; 2011–2012; Web browser).
- Choice of the Petal Throne (Danielle Goudeau; 2011–2015; Web browser).
- Scroll Thief (Daniel M. Stelzer; 2014–2015; Glulx).
- The Devil in the Details (Jerry Ford; 2014–2017; TADS 3).
- Going Down (Hanon Ondricek; 2014–2017; Inklewriter).
- Sherlock Indomitable (mathbrush; 2017–2018; Glulx).
- Nothing But Mazes (Greg Boettcher; 2006–2019; TADS 3).
- The Missing Ring (Felicity Drake; 2018–2019; Twine).
- Draw Nine (Damon L. Wakes; 2018–2019?; Twine).
- Napier's Cache (Vivienne Dunstan; 2018–2020; Glulx).
- Neurocracy (Joannes Truyens; 2019–2021; Web browser).
- Foreign Soil (Olaf Nowacki; 2020–2021; Glulx).
- Loose Ends (Daniel Stelzer, Elisabeth Tricou]; 2023–2024; Ink).
Links
- IntroComp website - Official site as of June 2017.
- Older IntroComp home pages: at All Things Jacq (archive) and XYZZYnews (archive).
- Interactive Fiction Community Forum at intfiction.org. (There is also a private authors' forum.)
- Unofficial list (2023) of which other comps accept works debuted in an IntroComp, by StJohnLimbo.