Writing Interactive Text-based Learning Games: Tools and Techniques View Digital Media

Workshop Presentation
Stewart Baker  

Interactive Fiction (IF) is a type of hypertext game where the player interacts primarily with text using links or specialized commands. Because these games consist primarily of text, they require a relatively low amount of technical expertise to create. IF game files are also small and self-contained, requiring no downloads or installs of special software. These qualities make them ideal for those who want to write learning games but do not have advanced coding knowledge or who are looking for ways to distribute learning games in areas with poor internet connectivity. In this workshop, I use my five years of experience as an author and editor of entertainment-based IF to teach attendees the basics of authoring text-based learning games, including common terminology, the different types of IF and how they can be used to create self-instructing media, how to select an appropriate authoring tool, and game-writing tips and techniques. I also walk attendees through the process of creating a game from an existing piece of static instructional material. Attendees should come prepared with an existing piece of instructional material to workshop and may need administrative privileges to install authoring tools in some cases. By the end of the workshop, attendees will understand text-based learning game concepts and will have started to put them into practice in creating their own piece of instructional IF.