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
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.)
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
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
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.
Keeper (the game) is very chill and pleasant.
December 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Keeper (the game) is very chill and pleasant.
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
I don't know if I'm going to be able to work this snippet in somewhere, and it's still a little rough, but it has @eblong.com so it's not all bad.
#WIPSnips #WriteSky
#WIPSnips #WriteSky
December 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I don't know if I'm going to be able to work this snippet in somewhere, and it's still a little rough, but it has @eblong.com so it's not all bad.
#WIPSnips #WriteSky
#WIPSnips #WriteSky
Had a nice dinner in with my partner's family and sang some song around the table afterwards. I remembered this one and brought it out:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY3A...
"Jesus, the Fugitive Prince" by David Massengill.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY3A...
"Jesus, the Fugitive Prince" by David Massengill.
"Jesus the Fugitive Prince" David Massengill. Roches X-Mas show NYC 1990
YouTube video by Jonathan Bernstein
www.youtube.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Had a nice dinner in with my partner's family and sang some song around the table afterwards. I remembered this one and brought it out:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY3A...
"Jesus, the Fugitive Prince" by David Massengill.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY3A...
"Jesus, the Fugitive Prince" by David Massengill.
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
I'm legit kind of surprised not a single commenter observed the mini-map style timeline and built-in backtracking and joked "Wait, is this essay a Metroidvania??" Maybe I didn't call enough attention to it? 🤔
December 24, 2025 at 1:22 AM
I'm legit kind of surprised not a single commenter observed the mini-map style timeline and built-in backtracking and joked "Wait, is this essay a Metroidvania??" Maybe I didn't call enough attention to it? 🤔
There, I have played Despelote.
It's good!
It's good!
December 21, 2025 at 2:07 AM
There, I have played Despelote.
It's good!
It's good!
Gearing up to tackle Visible Zorker 2 over the holidays.
This involves a lot of boring refactoring right now. Like, the list of ZIL source files is hard-coded in a bunch of places, but Zork 2 has different source files, so I have to separate that out in a tidy way. Stuff like that.
This involves a lot of boring refactoring right now. Like, the list of ZIL source files is hard-coded in a bunch of places, but Zork 2 has different source files, so I have to separate that out in a tidy way. Stuff like that.
December 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Gearing up to tackle Visible Zorker 2 over the holidays.
This involves a lot of boring refactoring right now. Like, the list of ZIL source files is hard-coded in a bunch of places, but Zork 2 has different source files, so I have to separate that out in a tidy way. Stuff like that.
This involves a lot of boring refactoring right now. Like, the list of ZIL source files is hard-coded in a bunch of places, but Zork 2 has different source files, so I have to separate that out in a tidy way. Stuff like that.
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
Second pick: The Thaumaturge is a game set in a version of 1900s Poland that happens to have magic, but the political intricacies and struggles of our world are looped in with characters’ needs and dilemmas. It refuses to sanitize its own history for accessibility (in the audience sense).
Games industry experts: What are the games of the last three years that have been the most enlightening for your craft? The games that showed you something new or helped give you an insight you’d not had before?
I need to build up my backlog, give me your recs!
I need to build up my backlog, give me your recs!
December 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Second pick: The Thaumaturge is a game set in a version of 1900s Poland that happens to have magic, but the political intricacies and struggles of our world are looped in with characters’ needs and dilemmas. It refuses to sanitize its own history for accessibility (in the audience sense).
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
it is always going to drive me insane that we discovered a mathematical model of the conception of all human language and ketamine-brained billionaires have decided that its best use is writing scam emails. go to hell
December 17, 2025 at 7:58 AM
it is always going to drive me insane that we discovered a mathematical model of the conception of all human language and ketamine-brained billionaires have decided that its best use is writing scam emails. go to hell
I missed that Monument Valley 3 was released for iOS last month. A regular purchase — no longer part of Netflix's brief flirtation with being a subscription game service.
Also, some new levels (“The Garden of Life”).
Also, some new levels (“The Garden of Life”).
December 14, 2025 at 4:36 AM
I missed that Monument Valley 3 was released for iOS last month. A regular purchase — no longer part of Netflix's brief flirtation with being a subscription game service.
Also, some new levels (“The Garden of Life”).
Also, some new levels (“The Garden of Life”).
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
This is just to ursonate
I have eaten
wee bee fümms
bö wö
tää zää uu
and which
you were probably
ziiuu
ennze rinnzkrrmüü
pögiff müü
grimm glimm gnimm bimbimm
so kwiiee
and so bö
I have eaten
wee bee fümms
bö wö
tää zää uu
and which
you were probably
ziiuu
ennze rinnzkrrmüü
pögiff müü
grimm glimm gnimm bimbimm
so kwiiee
and so bö
December 14, 2025 at 2:15 AM
This is just to ursonate
I have eaten
wee bee fümms
bö wö
tää zää uu
and which
you were probably
ziiuu
ennze rinnzkrrmüü
pögiff müü
grimm glimm gnimm bimbimm
so kwiiee
and so bö
I have eaten
wee bee fümms
bö wö
tää zää uu
and which
you were probably
ziiuu
ennze rinnzkrrmüü
pögiff müü
grimm glimm gnimm bimbimm
so kwiiee
and so bö
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
TIL the original lyrics to Deck the Halls are awesome and “don we now our gay apparel” is temperance movement bullshit
December 13, 2025 at 10:44 PM
TIL the original lyrics to Deck the Halls are awesome and “don we now our gay apparel” is temperance movement bullshit
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
December 13, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Reposted by Andrew Plotkin
A new challenger approaches!
We just got a donation challenge from our friends at @cyan.com, creators of Myst and Riven! If you donate toward our Winter Fundraiser right now, Cyan will DOUBLE your contribution. If you were waiting to donate, now is the time! givebutter.com/vghf-winter-...
We just got a donation challenge from our friends at @cyan.com, creators of Myst and Riven! If you donate toward our Winter Fundraiser right now, Cyan will DOUBLE your contribution. If you were waiting to donate, now is the time! givebutter.com/vghf-winter-...
December 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM
A new challenger approaches!
We just got a donation challenge from our friends at @cyan.com, creators of Myst and Riven! If you donate toward our Winter Fundraiser right now, Cyan will DOUBLE your contribution. If you were waiting to donate, now is the time! givebutter.com/vghf-winter-...
We just got a donation challenge from our friends at @cyan.com, creators of Myst and Riven! If you donate toward our Winter Fundraiser right now, Cyan will DOUBLE your contribution. If you were waiting to donate, now is the time! givebutter.com/vghf-winter-...