INST388Q

Explores the design and development of interactive fiction (IF) using Twine, a popular open-source tool for nonlinear storytelling. The entire course will take place within a Twine scientific fiction story, The Vault of Stories. By working through The Vault, students will learn how to structure choice-based narratives, implement game mechanics, and incorporate multimedia elements. Emphasizing both theory and practice, the course will cover key IF narrative structures (cascade, recursive, hub-and-spoke, open map, and triggered progression) and technical features in Twine, like variables, conditional logic, inventory systems,and timed text. Students will analyze existing works of IF, experiment with Twine's advanced features, and develop their own interactive stories. By the end of the course, students will have a functional prototype of an interactive fiction project and a strong foundation in digital storytelling.