Friday, October 23, 2020

Electric word, "life": IFcomp 2020

Electric word, "life" is an interactive story by Lance Nathan. 

In his author's note, Nathan states "I like games with meaningful choices and branching paths, but this is what I wrote." 

This is a linear Twine work where the reader can receive more detail about specific passages before arriving at the conclusion. It plays to its strengths, narrating a 1999 Halloween party and examining the protagonist's relationship with the guests. 

As a work of fiction, Electric word, "life" has been carefully constructed. The writing is thoughtful and polished. The reader is free to explore the party environment and learn more about the narrator's life, but facts are also revealed in a deliberate sequence to tell a complete story.

There is one instance of timed text that I understand from an artistic perspective, but as a reader it looked like a broken passage — the "back" arrow, displayed prominently throughout the story, was the first thing that caught my attention before the rest of the text materialized on the screen. 

This is a solid entry, and my main recommendation would be stronger packaging (blurb, cover image). It's the story of five friends who won't recognize the importance of their Halloween encounter until it's over.

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