Practicum 3 - A.E. Jackson

Interactive Fiction Resources – Practicum 3

RESOURCES | PRACTICUM 1 | PRACTICUM 2 | PRACTICUM 3

Do It Yourself

Self Published interactive fiction is the most accessible and largest portion of the current market.

Twine is quite capable of helping creators build wonderful interactive fiction. The platform is also quite versatile in the formats authors may choose to output their final work.

Test Your Game Locally –

Once the story is complete and polished – it’s time find beta testers who will look over your game. Beta Testers look at the overall story, find any broken code, and give feedback on logistics.

Beta testers can be any potential player for your game. You might ask other authors, friends, siblings, classmates, or coworkers. Ask people who have a sharp eye for detail and at least a little patience.

In Twine, save the current story being developed.

Click the BUILD menu item, then choose PLAY.

The story will load in a web browser just as a reader would experience it.

Click the BUILD menu item, then choose TEST.

The story will load in a web browser, with a debugging tool visible.

Click the PASSAGE menu item, then choose TEST FROM HERE.

(* This option is available when editing a single box also.)

The story loads in a browser at the point of the active editor box.

The debugging tool is still included.

Authors may also produce a proof copy of all the references.

Click the BUILD menu item, then choose PROOF.

The full story is included for review and editing purposes.

Share Twine Online –

There are a couple of options for posting your final work online.

The Internet Fiction Database (http://ifdb.tads.org) will host the Twine project for free.

Set up a free IFDB account.
Navigate down the right sidebar to the Contribute section.
Click Add a Game Listing.

Projects uploaded to IFDB should be complete and ready the public to enjoy. The work will be reviewed before a download link is created.

Host Twine projects on a website managed by the author. Access to the website file area will be necessary.

Upload the Twine HTML files to the public_html directory – or a subdirectory. Then, access the interactive story online by visiting the URL for the story. For example, http://melissafordauthor.com / Empty_Basket_Mobile.html

Hosting the project gives the author ultimate control and flexibility. The only cost is the hosting fee.

In Twine, save the current story being developed.

Click the BUILD menu item, then choose PUBLISH TO FILE.

Name the file

Choose a location to save the file.

The file is in HTML format when exported from Twine.

This can be uploaded to IFDB, or the author’s own hosting.

Convert Twine to a Gamebook –

Convert a Twine novel to a printed book using author David Donachie’s “Gordian Book” tool.

Gordian Book imports a Twine project and converts it to a gamebook by numbering and shuffling the paragraphs. All of the links are converted to “turn to page x” style choices.

Once converted, authors can still view the interactive novel in a web browser, download it as a standalone HTML format file for further editing, or export the completed work as a simple PDF for printing.

In Twine, save the current story being developed.

Click the BUILD menu item, then choose PUBLISH TO FILE.

Name the file

Choose a location to save the file.

The file is in HTML format when exported from Twine.

Visit the Gordian Book website

Click the IMPORT GAME link.

Select the story and upload the file.

The story will automatically convert into multiple formats.

Click PREVIEW GAMEBOOK to explore the references and linking.

Click EXPORT GAMEBOOK PDF to obtain a printable version of the story.

* Other features exist to refine the printable gamebook.