Calling Up Justice shares these thoughts on interactive fiction because of the games we design and the ethic behind them.

Interactive fiction is a type of video game or software that combines elements of storytelling with gameplay. Players interact with the story by making choices that affect the outcome, and the story is presented in the form of text or dialogue. There are many different types of interactive fiction, including text adventures, gamebooks, and visual novels.

For audiences, Interactive fiction offers a unique and immersive way to experience a story. Because players can make choices that affect the outcome of the story, they feel more connected to the characters and the plot. Interactive fiction also allows for a high level of replay value, as players can go back and try different paths through the story to see how the outcome changes.

For writers, Interactive fiction provides a creative outlet for telling stories in a non-linear format. It allows writers to explore multiple plot threads and create branching narratives that give players a sense of agency. Interactive fiction also offers writers the opportunity to experiment with different storytelling techniques and formats, such as hypertext fiction and visual novels.

Additionally, Interactive fiction can be a good way for writers to reach new audiences and showcase their work. With the proliferation of digital platforms and the ease of distribution, Interactive fiction games and stories can reach a wide audience and gain visibility in a way that may not be possible with traditional print or film media.

One of the most well-known early examples of interactive fiction is “Zork,” a classic text adventure game that was released in the 1970s. “80 Days,” an interactive adventure game based on the novel by Jules Verne, was nominated by TIME as their Game of the Year in 2014. “Detroit: Become Human,” a 2018 adventure game, is another example of interactive fiction. It allows players to control three android characters and make choices that alter the story’s outcome. “AI Dungeon,” developed by Nick Walton in 2019, is notable for its use of artificial intelligence to generate an essentially unlimited amount of content. “Choices,” a collection of visual stories from Pixelberry Studios, allows players to customize their main character and embark on a variety of adventures.

Gamebooks, such as the Choose Your Own Adventure series from the 1980’s, are another form of interactive fiction that allow readers to make choices at different points in the story and determine the flow and outcome of the narrative. Netflix’s “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” is an interactive movie that gained widespread attention for its innovative format. It allows viewers to make choices that affect the outcome of the story. The Interactive Fiction Database (IFDB) is a comprehensive catalog of interactive fiction games and a platform for discussing and reviewing them.

Interactive fiction stories that allow the audience to change them can be more liberation-focused. Instead of being a passive spectator, the audience has the ability to make choices and influence the outcome of the story. This can give them a sense of agency and make them feel more invested in the narrative. In traditional storytelling, the writer is in a dominant position and dictates the events of the story to the audience. With Interactive fiction the writer must consider multiple outcomes and branches in the narrative, which can help them think more about the consequences of different choices. This can lead to more complex and nuanced storytelling that takes into account multiple perspectives and possibilities.

Overall, Interactive fiction can be a more liberation-focused form of storytelling because it allows the audience to have agency and the writer to consider multiple outcomes. It can encourage everyone to think more about the consequences of different actions and choices, and can result in more thoughtful and engaging narratives. Interactive fiction offers a unique and engaging way for players and viewers to experience stories and make choices that affect the outcome. It is a diverse and dynamic genre that continues to evolve and innovate.