CGDEV

The recent 2004 interactive fiction competition encouraged me to try this antiquated form of computer gaming once again. A decade ago when I last played these games they were called text adventure games, and while the quality of writing has improved, the gameplay is still as frustrating as ever. What would it take to bring interactive fiction (IF) back into the mainstream? I suspect that when IF was part of mainstream gaming twenty years ago, most gamers were the type of person who could appreciate the slow-paced detail and delightful frustration that it offered. It was also unique, in that other games of the day (mostly arcade games) could not match the depth of play. These days it is less unique, when even 3D shooter games offer adventure in the form of deep storylines, puzzles, and scripted dialog. Add to that streamlined action, tactics, special effects, and intuitive interfaces, and it’s no wonder that IF has withdrawn to the fringe of gaming. However IF does still have somet