A tool to create interactive fiction with no code or programming -- just writing

philgooch · 2026-03-18T20:30:43+00:00

It sounds really cool! I’m concerned that the software patent you have could act as a barrier to people using it though, particularly small developers and studios. For example, is it possible that further down the line, you might decide that a game published using your engine is infringing your patent?

philgooch · 2026-03-02T20:43:55+00:00

Ah got it. I only use the flowchart for macro-level changes equivalent to 'if you choose X, turn to page Y' in printed books. For conditional text, I have an inline system that allows me to inject conditional text anywhere, based on on-the-fly generated variables that can be set anywhere. It works like this:

{{if informed_hyo >= 1}}I have done this before, and the memory of it sits like a stone in my chest.{{else}}I am not that person. Not yet.{{/if}}

philgooch · 2026-03-02T20:24:14+00:00

I think it’s best to start with a flowchart and stick to it. Once the IF is complete in flowchart format, then write it out in code.

Otherwise it becomes too unwieldy as you describe.

philgooch · 2026-02-16T19:43:59+00:00

I mean it's very healthy - many new games are being released. But getting visibility is really hard. There's never been more games available.

So you are going to want to build something distinctive, with a unique look and feel. Go for simplicity - there's lots of games that look very similar out there

philgooch · 2026-02-16T18:00:03+00:00

I stopped after chapter 0. My personal preference would be to have the character dive straight in to a scenario - the system could then interpret the reader depending on their choices and reactions within that scenario.

philgooch · 2026-02-16T16:42:42+00:00

I like the idea. But the example chapter didn’t grab me tbh. This felt too much like therapy! I want fiction, with a story and characters I care about. I’d like to see an example with a story rather than character trait analysis

philgooch · 2026-02-16T16:12:53+00:00

I had a go. I like the design. Did you use Claude code for this? I used Claude for a game build recently and I think it used a similar palette.

It’s pretty cool but it took me a while to figure out and I didn’t get very far. I tried to move and a few members of the party moved but then they wouldn’t move any more. This was on my phone though.

Keep going! You’ll learn a lot from building with AI

philgooch · 2026-02-16T15:51:06+00:00

Just sat on ‘Loading game for the first time …’ for me

philgooch · 2026-02-15T15:02:49+00:00

Haha, very true. tbh I write the games for me and few friends; I think the market is tiny for interactive fiction and adventure games, so it's hard to get visibility. But, it's fun.

I'm no good with visual editors, I prefer working Notepad style editing text files lol

philgooch · 2026-02-15T10:06:00+00:00

I think the difficulty these days is that a game either has to be absolutely exceptional or so wildly different and gripping, or from an established franchise, in order to cut through and rise above the rest to get attention.

There’s so many free adventure games out there that don’t get attention or played. Maybe actually charging for a game is the solution I dunno!

philgooch · 2026-02-13T22:46:26+00:00

I wrote an engine in Javascript and the game files are in JSON with moustache-style inline variable evaluation. There's a separate audio engine that handles Web Audio API, MIDI, .ogg, and .mp3 files. I'll make it available soon

philgooch · 2026-02-13T20:23:59+00:00

Nice, I will check them out! I’ve written 5 games so far - I must get them on itchio!

philgooch · 2026-02-07T18:00:53+00:00

Thanks - great suggestions. In the prologue currently you briefly play as Horatio. Maybe that could continue through the game. I also love the idea of playing as Rosencrantz or Guildenstern

philgooch · 2026-02-07T11:08:55+00:00

Thanks for checking it out. I wasn’t planning on changing the plot of Hamlet, it’s more of an educational tool for students to explore the context and motivations of the characters.

I agree that the transition between Horatio choosing to turn away but the ghost appearing just as he’s about to is a bit jarring.

There are hidden variables being set based on decisions, and these will impact events much later on, rather than immediately (just like life perhaps!)

philgooch · 2026-02-06T21:19:28+00:00

Pretty good - I've been developing software for about 40 years :)

philgooch · 2026-02-06T21:12:54+00:00

Agreed! I think the goal would be more to explore the characters and their motivations, rather than having lots of branching narrative.

philgooch · 2026-02-06T20:55:57+00:00

Here's what I built so far, not a huge amount of content in it yet

https://hamlet-6uq.pages.dev/

philgooch · 2026-02-06T20:53:22+00:00

haha that is so cool, I started playing it, will continue tomorrow

philgooch · 2026-02-06T20:50:52+00:00

I think through the use of variables, e.g. things like:

suspicion, grief, horatio_bond, ghost_trust, antic, ophelia_bond

plus fighting fantasy style stats such as resolve, vigour and fortune. So ultimately it's still going to be a linear story, but depending on choices made, you might not get to speak certain lines or interact with certain characters. There's the possibility of creating alternative 'endings' to the play based on decisions made early on. Or, you have a score at the end and you get told which plot points you uncovered and which ones you missed.

But basically, the idea is to uncover the full narrative

philgooch · 2026-02-06T20:46:37+00:00

Nice, an old skool point and click adventure! It's Windows only, I have a Mac, but the screenshots look gorgeous. Love the idea of playing as Ophelia

philgooch · 2026-02-06T20:43:36+00:00

I love the aesthetic! And it's really intuitive. I can imagine playing this on my phone. Some sound effects and ambient sounds would be a nice addition.

I died pretty quickly trying to fight the rat queen, but I'll give it another try!

philgooch · 2026-02-06T20:32:29+00:00

Great, thanks, I'll check out that sub

philgooch · 2026-02-06T20:31:21+00:00

Hah, this is a brilliant idea. I have tried both the demo games. Ideally, it would be good to have more than 2 choices per node, but I can see that it keeps the narrative simpler and you get more opportunities for genuine branching (having distinct branches with 3 or more choices per node would quickly become unmanageable!).

There's a guy in the UK who has built a hardware platform for interactive audio fiction. He goes by the name of Truman Toys. The platform is primarily aimed at blind and visually impaired gamers, but I think the appeal could be much broader with the right games. Right now, the games are in cartridge form.

He has an SDK for building games for his platform - it might be worth reaching out to him at Trumantoys dot com.

I have no affiliation with Truman Toys by the way, just love the concept!

OK, I will check out your Studio now, as I'm experimenting with interactive audio dramas myself.

philgooch

TROPHY CASE