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.
Several people have mentioned that you can eat paste. But I didn't remember that part!
I don't think there was any distinction attached to the difference. Or, uh, vice versa? It was just something that I Learned, and Learning Things was exciting.
I don't think there was any distinction attached to the difference. Or, uh, vice versa? It was just something that I Learned, and Learning Things was exciting.
January 11, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Several people have mentioned that you can eat paste. But I didn't remember that part!
I don't think there was any distinction attached to the difference. Or, uh, vice versa? It was just something that I Learned, and Learning Things was exciting.
I don't think there was any distinction attached to the difference. Or, uh, vice versa? It was just something that I Learned, and Learning Things was exciting.
I suddenly remember that in kindergarten, the difference between glue and paste was extremely important.
January 11, 2026 at 8:29 PM
I suddenly remember that in kindergarten, the difference between glue and paste was extremely important.
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
IGF nominations are up, and that means it's time for my eclectic review post.
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/2026...
- Arctic Awakening
- Promise Mascot Agency
- The Haunting of Joni Evers
- Carceri
- Prší
- Kid Cosmo
- and Roger
- Jane
(Some other IGF games are already reviewed; see links in post.)
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/2026...
- Arctic Awakening
- Promise Mascot Agency
- The Haunting of Joni Evers
- Carceri
- Prší
- Kid Cosmo
- and Roger
- Jane
(Some other IGF games are already reviewed; see links in post.)
2026 IGF nominees
Oh gosh! The IGF finalists are up. I played a bunch in the first judging round. Many of these are already in my review list, including The Drifter, Öoo, Strange Jigsaws, Type Help, The Roottrees Are D...
blog.zarfhome.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:29 AM
IGF nominations are up, and that means it's time for my eclectic review post.
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/2026...
- Arctic Awakening
- Promise Mascot Agency
- The Haunting of Joni Evers
- Carceri
- Prší
- Kid Cosmo
- and Roger
- Jane
(Some other IGF games are already reviewed; see links in post.)
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/2026...
- Arctic Awakening
- Promise Mascot Agency
- The Haunting of Joni Evers
- Carceri
- Prší
- Kid Cosmo
- and Roger
- Jane
(Some other IGF games are already reviewed; see links in post.)
I missed this one before but I guess it's what everybody is talking about now... okay!
January 9, 2026 at 6:18 PM
I missed this one before but I guess it's what everybody is talking about now... okay!
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
Take-Two stock is down 4.26% this afternoon because of rumors that GTA6 will be delayed based on a podcast in which I did not say that GTA6 would be delayed
January 8, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Take-Two stock is down 4.26% this afternoon because of rumors that GTA6 will be delayed based on a podcast in which I did not say that GTA6 would be delayed
I owe my entire ability to code over the past eight years to SomaFM and the Tron:Uprising soundtrack
(This is an exaggeration but not much of one)
(This is an exaggeration but not much of one)
January 7, 2026 at 3:31 PM
I owe my entire ability to code over the past eight years to SomaFM and the Tron:Uprising soundtrack
(This is an exaggeration but not much of one)
(This is an exaggeration but not much of one)
I'd say it was "date of IPO minus twelve months". They've been trying to juice their numbers for a while now.
January 7, 2026 at 2:37 PM
I'd say it was "date of IPO minus twelve months". They've been trying to juice their numbers for a while now.
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
🚨⚠️ Release Date Disclosure! ⚠️🚨
TRAILER: VIDEO EVIDENCE, see below. Please watch, assimilate and share.
DESIGNATION: TR-49
GENRE: NARRATIVE DEDUCTION / AUDIO_DRAMA
DATE: 21st JANUARY
PLATFORMS: iOS / PC / Mac / Deck
This is what we know, so far.
TRAILER: VIDEO EVIDENCE, see below. Please watch, assimilate and share.
DESIGNATION: TR-49
GENRE: NARRATIVE DEDUCTION / AUDIO_DRAMA
DATE: 21st JANUARY
PLATFORMS: iOS / PC / Mac / Deck
This is what we know, so far.
TR-49 - Official Trailer
YouTube video by inkleStudios
www.youtube.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Ah, interesting. My survey of (was it Creative Computing? Maybe) from 1982 was not thorough.
January 6, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Ah, interesting. My survey of (was it Creative Computing? Maybe) from 1982 was not thorough.
At one point I looked up contemporary ads for Ultima 2. I believe they called it a "Fantasy Role-Playing Game", and did *not* use the abbreviation "FRGP" or "CRPG" because those did not exist yet.
January 6, 2026 at 1:51 AM
At one point I looked up contemporary ads for Ultima 2. I believe they called it a "Fantasy Role-Playing Game", and did *not* use the abbreviation "FRGP" or "CRPG" because those did not exist yet.
That's prefiguring a lifetime of IF authorship if I ever saw one.
January 5, 2026 at 10:44 PM
That's prefiguring a lifetime of IF authorship if I ever saw one.
"...what a wonderful phrase / Nadella bukkake / Ain't no passing craze"
January 5, 2026 at 8:50 PM
"...what a wonderful phrase / Nadella bukkake / Ain't no passing craze"
You can! And thank you!
January 5, 2026 at 5:49 PM
You can! And thank you!
Check out my funtime project from the holiday break!
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...
Will I continue on to Zork 3? Watch this space!
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...
Will I continue on to Zork 3? Watch this space!
The Visible Zorker 2
Hey, remember the Visible Zorker last year? Meet the Visible Zorker 2: The Visible Wizard of Frobozz! It doesn't have a subtitle really. I just like saying
blog.zarfhome.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Check out my funtime project from the holiday break!
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...
Will I continue on to Zork 3? Watch this space!
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...
Will I continue on to Zork 3? Watch this space!
NarraScope call for proposals is open! We're at the University at Albany, June 12-14.
Now accepting:
- Talks
- The Showcase (games)
- The Experience (new this year!)
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/narr...
narrascope.org
Now accepting:
- Talks
- The Showcase (games)
- The Experience (new this year!)
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/narr...
narrascope.org
NarraScope is open for submissions
Happy New Year! NarraScope is once again calling for talks, games, and -- new this year -- experiences. NarraScope will be in Albany, NY this year (June 12-14), thanks to support from the University a...
blog.zarfhome.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:43 AM
NarraScope call for proposals is open! We're at the University at Albany, June 12-14.
Now accepting:
- Talks
- The Showcase (games)
- The Experience (new this year!)
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/narr...
narrascope.org
Now accepting:
- Talks
- The Showcase (games)
- The Experience (new this year!)
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/narr...
narrascope.org
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
Narrascope 2026 open call:
The Experience
Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds through Narrative
Seeking projects in the realms of augmented/mixed reality, interactive installations, haunts, escape rooms, live performances that leverage tech, and more.
narrascope.org/experience/
The Experience
Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds through Narrative
Seeking projects in the realms of augmented/mixed reality, interactive installations, haunts, escape rooms, live performances that leverage tech, and more.
narrascope.org/experience/
NarraScope 2026 | The Experience
NarraScope is a conference that brings together the writers, developers, scholars, and players of interactive narrative.
narrascope.org
January 3, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Narrascope 2026 open call:
The Experience
Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds through Narrative
Seeking projects in the realms of augmented/mixed reality, interactive installations, haunts, escape rooms, live performances that leverage tech, and more.
narrascope.org/experience/
The Experience
Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds through Narrative
Seeking projects in the realms of augmented/mixed reality, interactive installations, haunts, escape rooms, live performances that leverage tech, and more.
narrascope.org/experience/
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
📣 NarraScope 2026 submissions are open! This year NarraScope will feature three different areas for submission: our classic talks, the second year of our game Showcase, and the debut of The Experience. 🧵(1/4)
January 2, 2026 at 5:21 PM
📣 NarraScope 2026 submissions are open! This year NarraScope will feature three different areas for submission: our classic talks, the second year of our game Showcase, and the debut of The Experience. 🧵(1/4)
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
NarraScope submissions are open, and you have a month to get your talks, games, etc. in! Don't sleep on it!
📣 NarraScope 2026 submissions are open! This year NarraScope will feature three different areas for submission: our classic talks, the second year of our game Showcase, and the debut of The Experience. 🧵(1/4)
January 2, 2026 at 5:33 PM
NarraScope submissions are open, and you have a month to get your talks, games, etc. in! Don't sleep on it!
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
Okay, I will preface this with the GIGANTIC disclaimer that I promise I know how this looks, and I *swear* this is not personally motivated: If you have an old #LiveJournal account, and it has things you still care about in it, download it or import it to Dreamwidth SOON. Details:
January 1, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Okay, I will preface this with the GIGANTIC disclaimer that I promise I know how this looks, and I *swear* this is not personally motivated: If you have an old #LiveJournal account, and it has things you still care about in it, download it or import it to Dreamwidth SOON. Details:
Last post of the year! It’s reviews. Short ones.
- Despelote
- Many Nights a Whisper
- Keeper
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/12/ador...
- Despelote
- Many Nights a Whisper
- Keeper
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/12/ador...
Adorable little games that you should just go play
It's the last day of the year. I can squeeze in one more post, right? If I keep it short. I can keep it short. Here's some little games that I don't need to say a lot about. Despelote Many Nights a Wh...
blog.zarfhome.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Last post of the year! It’s reviews. Short ones.
- Despelote
- Many Nights a Whisper
- Keeper
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/12/ador...
- Despelote
- Many Nights a Whisper
- Keeper
blog.zarfhome.com/2025/12/ador...
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
Regulating AI would be really hard, especially if you don’t want to make it so the big guys are fine and no one else can compete. Anything that would do any good would have shell of a time passing. So I’ve been trying to think of ideas, mostly as I reread and reread the NIST AI RMF.
December 29, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Regulating AI would be really hard, especially if you don’t want to make it so the big guys are fine and no one else can compete. Anything that would do any good would have shell of a time passing. So I’ve been trying to think of ideas, mostly as I reread and reread the NIST AI RMF.
But no particular authors come to mind from those threads.
I have *no* idea what will be on the award ballots in 2026.
I have *no* idea what will be on the award ballots in 2026.
December 29, 2025 at 3:38 PM
But no particular authors come to mind from those threads.
I have *no* idea what will be on the award ballots in 2026.
I have *no* idea what will be on the award ballots in 2026.
That's a good question and I feel out of touch with it myself. Even though I went to Worldcon this year!
I'd say there's been a common thread of SF/F fans digging through the flood of what's marketed as "romantasy", looking for the standouts. Or the ones close enough to our tastes to enjoy, anyhow.
I'd say there's been a common thread of SF/F fans digging through the flood of what's marketed as "romantasy", looking for the standouts. Or the ones close enough to our tastes to enjoy, anyhow.
December 29, 2025 at 3:37 PM
That's a good question and I feel out of touch with it myself. Even though I went to Worldcon this year!
I'd say there's been a common thread of SF/F fans digging through the flood of what's marketed as "romantasy", looking for the standouts. Or the ones close enough to our tastes to enjoy, anyhow.
I'd say there's been a common thread of SF/F fans digging through the flood of what's marketed as "romantasy", looking for the standouts. Or the ones close enough to our tastes to enjoy, anyhow.