1. In your own words, explain the difference between a parser interactive fiction game and a choose your path interactive fiction game.

The differences between the two types of interactive fiction games are their paths to the gameplay and storyline progression. The choose your path interactive based games provides choices for the player to choose by showing various options and based on the selection, the actions of the character will differ and also possibly causing a unique ending based on the selections the user has selected.

The parser interactive fiction game on the other hand uses the input of the user to progress throughout the game by typing ‘commands’ and doesn’t traditionally offer change of storylines and character options but simply just the option to make simple commands such as ‘open door’ as opposed to choose your adventure options such as ‘Kill Trevor’, ‘Kill Michael’ which would result in a different ending story.

2. Name an example of a parser game.

One example of a parser game is Void Quest which uses the Unity game engine and can be found at the following URL. https://gamejolt.com/games/VoidQuest/257270

3. Name an example of a choose your own path game.

One example of choose your own path game is 80 Days that is available to iOS users. The game centers around being an assistance of English gambler.

4. Why does she say interactive fiction virtually died out in the mid-1990s?

The interactive fiction virtually died out due to Activision acquiring Infocom and many contributions for its death. One of the reasons was not using the in-house packaging plant which wouldn’t have doubled the cost from 45 cents to 90 cents. Another reason for their failure was to the demand of production of 8 game titles as opposed to the four games they were used to.

5. Why does she say poetry is an important element of interactive fiction writing? What example does she use?

Heather Albano considers poetry to be an important element due to the importance of text that is relied on for the interactive fiction based games. She believes words can create the atmosphere and also increase curiosity in terms of questioning the text such as the “Ropes span between buildings like enormous spiderwebs blanketing the city” that can be found in the example she uses from the game “With Those We Love Alive’ by Porpentine”.

6. Why does she say that ambiguity is not only unavoidable but also necessary?

Heather believes ambiguity is unavoidable because of the limited amount of graphics and text the interactive fiction games provide resulting in the developers omitting certain things from the game and leaving the imagination of the player to take over.

7. What’s important about complicity?

Complicity is important as it provides players to be accountable and in charge of the player’s action and allowing changing of the character’s actions based on the player.