Theory: Difference between revisions
From IFWiki
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==General Theory== | ==General Theory== | ||
* [http://emshort.home.mindspring.com/why.htm Why Write IF?] by [[Emily Short]]. | * [http://emshort.home.mindspring.com/why.htm Why Write IF?] by [[Emily Short]]. | ||
* [http://bluerenga. | * [http://bluerenga.wordpress.com/ Renga in Blue] is [[Jason Dyer]]'s IF blog. Contains several entries on IF theory topics. | ||
* [http://www.ifarchive.org/if-archive/articles/byte87_buckles.html "Interactive Fiction as Literature"] by [[Mary Ann Buckles]] is an early literary analysis of interactive fiction originally published in the May 1987 issue of BYTE magazine. | * [http://www.ifarchive.org/if-archive/articles/byte87_buckles.html "Interactive Fiction as Literature"] by [[Mary Ann Buckles]] is an early literary analysis of interactive fiction originally published in the May 1987 issue of BYTE magazine. | ||
* [http://nickm.com/if/toward.html Toward a Theory of Interactive Fiction] by [[Nick Montfort]] | * [http://nickm.com/if/toward.html Toward a Theory of Interactive Fiction] by [[Nick Montfort]] | ||
Revision as of 22:51, 24 October 2007
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.
General Theory - Comparisons - Design - History - Taxonomy - Terminology
General Theory
- Why Write IF? by Emily Short.
- Renga in Blue is Jason Dyer's IF blog. Contains several entries on IF theory topics.
- "Interactive Fiction as Literature" by Mary Ann Buckles is an early literary analysis of interactive fiction originally published in the May 1987 issue of BYTE magazine.
- Toward a Theory of Interactive Fiction by Nick Montfort
- The Meta-Puzzle of Interactive Fiction: Why We Like What We Like. Interactivity Is The Message by Marnie Parker
- Discussions about IF theory on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup.
Comparisons
- TADS vs. Inform - a (vaguely) in-depth comparison by Dan Shiovitz.
- Character Gender in Interactive Fiction, Part I and Part II by Doug Atkinson for XYZZYnews issues #3 and #6. Compares how a variety of games handled PC gender.
- Choosing a Language for Interactive Fiction (2004), by Liza Daly for O'Reilly ONLamp.com.
- Discussions about different authoring systems on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup.
Design
- Multilinear Interactive Fiction by Emily Short. Afterthoughts on concept and reactions to Galatea.
- On Chris Crawford and Interactive Storytelling by Emily Short.
- Discussions about game design on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup.
History
- About Interactive Fiction (1996, 2001), by Liza Daly. Very short.
- Let's Tell a Story Together. A History of Interactive Fiction, © 2006 by Jimmy Maher. Long.
- Articles about the history of IF on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup.
Taxonomy
(In other words, lists and categories.)
- NPC Conversations: Ask/Tell Theory by Jim Fisher (2004). Discusses four NPC models: Librarian, Rambling Idiot, Lecturing Professor, and Conversationalist.
- Player Character Identity in Interactive Fiction by John Wood for XYZZYnews #9. Asssociates types of PCs with types of IFs and genres.
- The Player Character's Role in Game Design by Duncan Stevens for Brass Lantern. Discusses certain key techniques in creating a meaningful PC and certain gimmicks that have been used to bring PCs to life.
- Categories of Interactive Fiction by Jason Dyer.
- List of things that may get a player stuck by Jan Thorsby - Contribute!
- List of things that causes automatic playing by Jan Thorsby - Contribute!
- Articles about game genres on the rec.arts.int-fiction newsgroup.
Terminology
- What is IF? by Jim Fisher (2004).
- What's IF? by Emily Short.
- Eric on Interactive Fiction by Eric.xyzzy.