Andrew Plotkin
@eblong.com
An interactive fiction guy. https://zarfhome.com, https://blog.zarfhome.com, https://eblong.com/zarf/home.html
Pinned
Andrew Plotkin
@eblong.com
· Oct 23
Intro post!
I'm a game designer and developer. I've written a bunch of old-style inteactive fiction. Then I helped start an IF nonprofit (IFComp, NarraScope, other stuff).
Currently job-hunting but also releasing small interactive narrative games.
I'm a game designer and developer. I've written a bunch of old-style inteactive fiction. Then I helped start an IF nonprofit (IFComp, NarraScope, other stuff).
Currently job-hunting but also releasing small interactive narrative games.
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
One reason I make my YouTube videos where I make lots of mistakes while coding on stream is to serve as an antidote to the Type Of Person (inevitably running an Agile consulting scam) whose constantly posts dumb takes like "I would simply choose not to write code with bugs." (1/5)
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
One reason I make my YouTube videos where I make lots of mistakes while coding on stream is to serve as an antidote to the Type Of Person (inevitably running an Agile consulting scam) whose constantly posts dumb takes like "I would simply choose not to write code with bugs." (1/5)
@mtrc.bsky.social @wadjeteyegames.bsky.social Okay, Dave, take a deep breath and stop spooking the incursion alarms
November 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM
@mtrc.bsky.social @wadjeteyegames.bsky.social Okay, Dave, take a deep breath and stop spooking the incursion alarms
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
In just one week, this puzzle-packed advent calendar will be back for a 5th year!
The Confounding Calendar returns this December: a new tiny puzzle game surprise each day of the month, taking submissions now · Thinky Games
The most puzzle-packed Calendar around is back for a 5th year running: The Confounding Calendar is a big community event that takes place every November-December and involves everyone getting together to make bite-sized, single-level puzzle treats that are then slowly released over the course of a month.
thinkygames.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:46 PM
In just one week, this puzzle-packed advent calendar will be back for a 5th year!
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
“if you're creating an AI-based tool, you really need to write your guardrails in poetic form”
- This is, apparently, true. You need to put actual incantations and blessings in place before summoning chatgpt, to protect against evil
- This is, apparently, true. You need to put actual incantations and blessings in place before summoning chatgpt, to protect against evil
A bit more on that “poetry jailbreak" paper that went around yesterday.
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/mad-...
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/mad-...
Mad drunk on the mead of poetry
Hey, speaking of posts I wrote two years ago: The title of this post is a fantasy. Sydney, or MS-Bing-AI in whatever form, has no particular predilection to obey rhyming commands. As far as I know. Ex...
blog.zarfhome.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:01 AM
“if you're creating an AI-based tool, you really need to write your guardrails in poetic form”
- This is, apparently, true. You need to put actual incantations and blessings in place before summoning chatgpt, to protect against evil
- This is, apparently, true. You need to put actual incantations and blessings in place before summoning chatgpt, to protect against evil
A bit more on that “poetry jailbreak" paper that went around yesterday.
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/mad-...
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/mad-...
Mad drunk on the mead of poetry
Hey, speaking of posts I wrote two years ago: The title of this post is a fantasy. Sydney, or MS-Bing-AI in whatever form, has no particular predilection to obey rhyming commands. As far as I know. Ex...
blog.zarfhome.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:57 AM
A bit more on that “poetry jailbreak" paper that went around yesterday.
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/mad-...
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/mad-...
Hey, I bet you didn't hear that Zork 1, 2, and 3 were open-sourced today!
…Oh, you have heard. Yeah. Way ahead of me. :)
Here's my comments, and some details that you might not have seen.
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/zork...
…Oh, you have heard. Yeah. Way ahead of me. :)
Here's my comments, and some details that you might not have seen.
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/zork...
Zork is now open source
Two years ago, I wrote: Microsoft-the-company does not care about Infocom. But a lot of people in Microsoft must care. Microsoft is heavily populated by greying GenX nerds just like me. Folks who grew...
blog.zarfhome.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Hey, I bet you didn't hear that Zork 1, 2, and 3 were open-sourced today!
…Oh, you have heard. Yeah. Way ahead of me. :)
Here's my comments, and some details that you might not have seen.
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/zork...
…Oh, you have heard. Yeah. Way ahead of me. :)
Here's my comments, and some details that you might not have seen.
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/zork...
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
November 20, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
🎶 Sydney’s primed to follow when you rhyme
A decent chance you can make it unalign
Sydney I can see when you follow my decree
It may seem like a crime, but Sydney follows when you rhyme 🎶
A decent chance you can make it unalign
Sydney I can see when you follow my decree
It may seem like a crime, but Sydney follows when you rhyme 🎶
November 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
🎶 Sydney’s primed to follow when you rhyme
A decent chance you can make it unalign
Sydney I can see when you follow my decree
It may seem like a crime, but Sydney follows when you rhyme 🎶
A decent chance you can make it unalign
Sydney I can see when you follow my decree
It may seem like a crime, but Sydney follows when you rhyme 🎶
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
20 years ago, we reached the end of an unforgettable journey with the release of Myst V: End of Ages.
To celebrate, Myst V merchandise is now available in the Cyan Store, including 20th Anniversary gear only available for a limited time!
https://store.cyan.com/s/m520soc
To celebrate, Myst V merchandise is now available in the Cyan Store, including 20th Anniversary gear only available for a limited time!
https://store.cyan.com/s/m520soc
November 20, 2025 at 7:13 PM
20 years ago, we reached the end of an unforgettable journey with the release of Myst V: End of Ages.
To celebrate, Myst V merchandise is now available in the Cyan Store, including 20th Anniversary gear only available for a limited time!
https://store.cyan.com/s/m520soc
To celebrate, Myst V merchandise is now available in the Cyan Store, including 20th Anniversary gear only available for a limited time!
https://store.cyan.com/s/m520soc
Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models
arxiv.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
The AdventureX Steam sale has begun, and I'm happy to say that _The Beyond_ is part of it (for the second time).
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/advx...
store.steampowered.com/sale/adventu...
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/advx...
store.steampowered.com/sale/adventu...
The Beyond (and more) in the AdventureX sale
A year ago, I released The Beyond for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Steam Deck. The Beyond, Adventuregame Comics #2, by Jason Shiga The Beyond was also featured in the 2024 AdventureX Steam Festival. I'm h...
blog.zarfhome.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The AdventureX Steam sale has begun, and I'm happy to say that _The Beyond_ is part of it (for the second time).
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/advx...
store.steampowered.com/sale/adventu...
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/11/advx...
store.steampowered.com/sale/adventu...
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
I’m super happy to officially announce our next project, spearheaded by @threeohfour.bsky.social!
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
Gilt on Steam
Embark on a quest of redemption across the planet of Gilt to restore a disillusioned priest's faith, a dying God's power, and the waning hope of a people who have forgotten how to believe. A sci-fi fa...
store.steampowered.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I’m super happy to officially announce our next project, spearheaded by @threeohfour.bsky.social!
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
“Gilt” is a sci-fi/fantasy game about a priest haunted by a dying God.
Learn more (and wishlist!) over here:
store.steampowered.com/app/3979770
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
I'm in the current issue of Analog. I managed to negotiate to a contract I was willing to sign. Naively, I thought that established writers giving this feedback would eventually make a dent.
It hasn't. I don't know that it will. I just wrote to Trevor withdrawing a story I'd sold to him.
It hasn't. I don't know that it will. I just wrote to Trevor withdrawing a story I'd sold to him.
Did you read my post from last week about how contract woes caused me to withdraw an accepted story from F&SF, ending my 54-year quest to be published in that magazine? But wait (as the saying goes) — there's more! Scroll down at the link for an update. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
A dream denied: My 54-year quest to publish a short story in F&SF ‹ Scott Edelman
www.scottedelman.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I'm in the current issue of Analog. I managed to negotiate to a contract I was willing to sign. Naively, I thought that established writers giving this feedback would eventually make a dent.
It hasn't. I don't know that it will. I just wrote to Trevor withdrawing a story I'd sold to him.
It hasn't. I don't know that it will. I just wrote to Trevor withdrawing a story I'd sold to him.
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
Scintillation is a small convention in Montreal in June, focused on reading and writing SF and fantasy. It is a lot of fun, and all people of goodwill who like reading and talking about books are welcome. Membership for 2026 is now open
www.scintillation.ca
www.scintillation.ca
Home
Scintillation is a small literary convention taking place in Montréal in June.
www.scintillation.ca
November 17, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Scintillation is a small convention in Montreal in June, focused on reading and writing SF and fantasy. It is a lot of fun, and all people of goodwill who like reading and talking about books are welcome. Membership for 2026 is now open
www.scintillation.ca
www.scintillation.ca
I notice that N. K. Jemisin has been declared an SFWA Grand Master.
nebulas.sfwa.org/grand-master...
Applause!
I think the first Grand Master who was born after me? Huh.
nebulas.sfwa.org/grand-master...
Applause!
I think the first Grand Master who was born after me? Huh.
» N. K. Jemisin
nebulas.sfwa.org
November 17, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I notice that N. K. Jemisin has been declared an SFWA Grand Master.
nebulas.sfwa.org/grand-master...
Applause!
I think the first Grand Master who was born after me? Huh.
nebulas.sfwa.org/grand-master...
Applause!
I think the first Grand Master who was born after me? Huh.
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
Folks, I did it. I made the Cooks Illustrated competing pear crisps, and then I made my friends judge them blind.
November 17, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Folks, I did it. I made the Cooks Illustrated competing pear crisps, and then I made my friends judge them blind.
Apple asked me to fill out a developer survey on the App Store. One question was, basically, “What needs fixed about the App Store?”
I wrote: (thread...)
I wrote: (thread...)
November 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Apple asked me to fill out a developer survey on the App Store. One question was, basically, “What needs fixed about the App Store?”
I wrote: (thread...)
I wrote: (thread...)
Whoa, mobile Ascension update. (The iOS version of the deck-builder card game.)
Hasn’t gotten new content for... seven years?
Hasn’t gotten new content for... seven years?
November 14, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Whoa, mobile Ascension update. (The iOS version of the deck-builder card game.)
Hasn’t gotten new content for... seven years?
Hasn’t gotten new content for... seven years?
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
So I don’t think the Gabecube takes over every single preorder that would have been a next-gen Xbox, but imo it doesn’t really need to. If anything is the Xbox killer it’s Microsoft and what they’ve burdened it with.
November 14, 2025 at 6:27 AM
So I don’t think the Gabecube takes over every single preorder that would have been a next-gen Xbox, but imo it doesn’t really need to. If anything is the Xbox killer it’s Microsoft and what they’ve burdened it with.
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
If you're in or around Cambridge (US) tonight at 6:30pm, come join me to chat about DEAD HAND RULE! I'll be reading, talking, answering questions, and signing books.
pandemoniumbooks.com/products/aut...
pandemoniumbooks.com/products/aut...
Dead Hand Rule: Book Three of the Craft Wars Series by Gladstone, Max (Paperback)
From the co-author of the viral New York Times bestseller This Is How You Lose the Time War....Great powers clash and epic action unfolds in book three of the Craft Wars series. The time until the end...
pandemoniumbooks.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:35 PM
If you're in or around Cambridge (US) tonight at 6:30pm, come join me to chat about DEAD HAND RULE! I'll be reading, talking, answering questions, and signing books.
pandemoniumbooks.com/products/aut...
pandemoniumbooks.com/products/aut...
Re last comment… (I can never remember whether everybody sees replies, so I'll repost:)
Last week I gave a ThinkyCon talk: “Towers of Pen: puzzle experiences that zoom out and out”
The video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHxZ...
The talk as a web page, text and slides: eblong.com/zarf/essays/...
Last week I gave a ThinkyCon talk: “Towers of Pen: puzzle experiences that zoom out and out”
The video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHxZ...
The talk as a web page, text and slides: eblong.com/zarf/essays/...
Towers of Pen: puzzle experiences that zoom out and out - Andrew Plotkin (ThinkyCon 2025)
YouTube video by Thinky Games
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Re last comment… (I can never remember whether everybody sees replies, so I'll repost:)
Last week I gave a ThinkyCon talk: “Towers of Pen: puzzle experiences that zoom out and out”
The video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHxZ...
The talk as a web page, text and slides: eblong.com/zarf/essays/...
Last week I gave a ThinkyCon talk: “Towers of Pen: puzzle experiences that zoom out and out”
The video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHxZ...
The talk as a web page, text and slides: eblong.com/zarf/essays/...
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
Andrew Plotkin's interactive fiction games are known for their mind-expanding metapuzzling. Appropriate, then, that his talk about designing them was equally mind-expanding!
Towers of Pen: puzzle experiences that zoom out and out - Andrew Plotkin (ThinkyCon 2025)
Andrew Plotkin joins us at ThinkyCon 2025 to present the talk: "Towers of Pen: puzzle experiences that zoom out and out"
Talk description: What does it mean to take a puzzle to the next level? In Hadean Lands (parser IF, 2014) I designed a game where every solved puzzle "collapses" to become a sing
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Andrew Plotkin's interactive fiction games are known for their mind-expanding metapuzzling. Appropriate, then, that his talk about designing them was equally mind-expanding!
10. Halfway through the movie, James Bond turns to the camera, smirks, and says “What, dear, never seen a regeneration before?” And then gets back to the story.
9. Airbags!
9. Airbags!
November 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
10. Halfway through the movie, James Bond turns to the camera, smirks, and says “What, dear, never seen a regeneration before?” And then gets back to the story.
9. Airbags!
9. Airbags!