Interactivity sneaks into Literature

Previously most of the past class weeks we have been looking into interactive fiction in many game forms. As this course revolves around interactive fiction games, which computer gaming company, infocom, is a huge part of. Honestly Infocm was the catalyst of computer gaming and it hit it peaks in the 80's. It including elements like plot, setting, and the concept of protagonist v antagonist. It was the ground zero of the evolution of gaming. Players who were once readers, actually have the power to go on whatever path they choose. The ending is reflected through the players decisions. Anything the player does reflects the story. So the gaming element combines reading and interactivity. Games like Zork, Advent, and Deadline are a huge representation on the evolution of interactive fiction. This is the startup of the future of modern storytelling and modern gaming. Now continuing on with the term interactivity, it can come in different forms. Forms that are deemed digital literature makes the reader a part of the story and helps them pay more deeply attention. Instead of messages through text, its messages within hypertext or images that appear with a click on a mouse or the tap of a screen.

For instance recent work that we looked at was called "Mr. Plimptons revenge". It was formatted on google maps. This story was about how a student who escorted an editor named George Plimpton. This experience was a living hell for Mr. Plimpton and after that he wanted to forget who the narrator was. Throughout the story this is referenced and the key point to Plimptons revenge. Would recommend this to readers who are newly introduced to this genre of interactive fiction.  It was an interactive story as each location on the map is pin pointed. Once the location is clicked, a story emerges. Order seems to matter in this piece because the narrator tells the story in each location that is pin pointed first. Its fine to go to other of the locations, but the story follows along in a specific order. Some of the pin points can either can text alone or with images added. Stories like these can also be found on other platforms like twine and coding software's.

What's the time "9:05"

When I played "9:05" by Adam Cadre, the ending of the game really pulled me back in. When going through the game and discovering who you really are, was well put together. Honestly my first go through the hints of the ending or closer to the ending, I didn't guess the end. In my mind though once I discovered the body under the bed, being a murderer was a possibility. Like most interactive fiction games like these, paying attention to certain details and commands are important. Going ahead on my second run I discovered that if you examine the body, the game then gives you a little back story of what actually happened. Yea one has to pay attention to detail, but this game isn't too complicated to play. If you are familiar with these types of games commands come naturally and easy. If it's all new then research is important before playing.

9:05 Walkthrough

Adam Cadre, who also made "Photopia", which in this game the identity of the characters are hidden, later in the game these identities are revealed. Of course this is use to shock the player to strengthen the plot. He uses this same concept in the game "9:05", as at the beginning the players identity isn't revealed, but certain clues can be shown to find out who you are. For instance, in the beginning you wake up and you hear the phone ringing. On the stand where the phone is, a wallet and keys can be found. When you open the wallet it reveals the players identity. But the truth about what we have done is hidden. This can be discovered once you type the examine command, it tells you the backstory of the dead corpse under the bed, who is the guy who owns the house. Towards the end, the car chase with the cops tells it all, you are a......(play the game to find out). This modern semi detective game has all the right elements that will keep the player invested.