Theory

Theory articles listed here attempt to define terms, eg: "What is X?"; sort things into categories, and make comparisons between things, eg: "How does X compare to Y?"

For articles that are more hands-on and attempt to answer "How do I do X?", see Craft.

For articles about the history of interactive fiction, see History.

General Theory

• The Rosebush - Online magazine featuring articles on interactive fiction theory and criticism. Articles are from 2023-present.
• Gold Machine - Drew Cook's blog. Features literary readings of Infocom games. Posts are from 2021-present.
• Renga in Blue - Jason Dyer's IF blog. Contains several entries on IF theory topics. Posts are from 2005-present.
• Toward a Theory of Interactive Fiction by Nick Montfort appears in the book IF Theory Reader (PDF version), published in 2011. An older version of this article is available at Nick Montfort's website.
• A Writer's Guide to Interactive Fiction by Andrew Plotkin, July 2010.
• Discussions about IF theory on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup. Linked discussions are from 1990-2007.
• Why Write IF? (archive) by Emily Short. 2000.
• "Interactive Fiction as Literature" by Mary Ann Buckles. An early literary analysis of interactive fiction originally published in the May 1987 issue of BYTE magazine.
• The Meta-Puzzle of Interactive Fiction: Why We Like What We Like (archive) (table of contents and appendix only; other links have no archived version) by Marnie Parker.

Comparisons

• A Comparison of TADS 3 and Inform 7 by Eric Eve, © 2008-2009. Very useful (but long).
• TADS vs. Inform - a (vaguely) in-depth comparison by Dan Shiovitz.
• Discussions about different authoring systems on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup. Linked articles are from 1999-2007.
• Choosing a Language for Interactive Fiction (2004), by Liza Daly for O'Reilly ONLamp.com.
• Character Gender in Interactive Fiction, Part I (archive) and Part II (archive) by Doug Atkinson for XYZZYnews issues #3 and #6. 1995. Compares how a variety of games handled PC gender.

Design

• On Chris Crawford and Interactive Storytelling by Emily Short.
• Multilinear Interactive Fiction by Emily Short. Afterthoughts on concept and reactions to Galatea.
• Discussions about game design on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup. Linked discussions are from 1993-2007.

Taxonomy

(In other words, lists and categories.)

• The different schools of recent twine-adjacent interactive fiction by Autumn Chen. April 9, 2022.
• Standard Patterns in Choice-Based Games by Sam Kabo Ashwell. January 26, 2015.
• An Alternative Taxonomy for Interactive Stories by Emily Short. May 3, 2011.
• Discussions about game genres on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup. Linked discussions are from 1993-2006.
• Categories of Interactive Fiction by Jason Dyer. February 4, 2005.
• NPC Conversations: Ask/Tell Theory by Jim Fisher. 2004. Discusses four NPC models: Librarian, Rambling Idiot, Lecturing Professor, and Conversationalist.
• The Player Character's Role in Game Design by Duncan Stevens for Brass Lantern. 2001. Discusses certain key techniques in creating a meaningful PC and certain gimmicks that have been used to bring PCs to life.
• Player Character Identity in Interactive Fiction (archive) by John Wood for XYZZYnews #9 (May/June 1996). Associates types of PCs with types of IF and genres.
• List of things that may get a player stuck by Jan Thorsby - Contribute!
• List of things that causes automatic playing by Jan Thorsby - Contribute!

Terminology

(See also: FAQ, Glossary.)

• What is IF? by Jim Fisher (2004).
• What's IF? by Emily Short.
• Eric on Interactive Fiction by Eric.xyzzy.

See also

• IF Theory Reader
• Theory Club