Code changes for Oct. 2025:

(NEW) Story Grammar (github.com/videlais/sto...). Think of it Probably Too Complicated Tracery(TM).

(UPDATE) Quis (github.com/videlais/quis). Handles complex expressions.

(UPDATE) SimpleQBN (github.com/videlais/sim...). Added event-based state.

As there has not been a new Twine update, I'm also not updating the Story Formats Archive this month.

However, I did update the search functionality (videlais.github.io/story-format...) and provide some new API endpoints.

You can now ask for JSON results or use files from GitHub Pages directly.

The #DiGRA2026 conference theme is Intersectional Pleasures. The theme invites a critical and celebratory exploration of how digital games enable, mediate, or restrict pleasure across lines of identity, genre, platforms, politics and more. www.digraconference2026.com #DIGRA

Roll with Advantage: Creative, Collaborative, and Critical Responses to Dungeons & Dragons (Play Story Press 2025) edited by Suzanne Richardson & Edmond Y. Chang: playstorypress.org/books/roll-w... - in print or open access PDF! #analoggamestudies #creativewriting #dungeonsanddragons #dnd

Snowman has also now been updated to latest dependencies across all branches.

3.X: github.com/videlais/sno...

2.X: github.com/videlais/sno...

1.X: github.com/videlais/sno...

Extwee was just updated to 2.3.4

Mostly a minor, maintenance release with an extra demo added on how Extwee could be used in the browser (videlais.github.io/extwee/demos...).

github.com/videlais/ext...

My DSL for data filtering, quis, has been updated to 1.1.0

It now supports using dot-notation, $user.name, and bracket access, $user['name'], as part of value lookup.

github.com/videlais/qui...

As we get near to Oct., I've been messing around with Extwee to prepare for its minor update. Tonight, I put together a quick demo of how the web build of Extwee could be used.

In the example, you can type or paste Twee code and create a HTML file without Twine.

videlais.github.io/extwee/demos...

🗓️ We are thrilled to announce the Call for Papers for the conference+journal track of the 5th annual Conference of Computational Literary Studies, May 28-29, 2026, in #Potsdam, #Germany! #CCLS26 #CfP

Submit your article by January 8, 2026, and be part of our big 5-year jubilee edition! 🥳🥳🥳

*Points at screen* Twine! That's Twine!

The Bitsy book needs to be done first, but, yes, I'm also basically sitting on a mostly done "Volume 1" of a series I started back with my Twine 2.6 -- now Twine 2.10 -- video tutorial series a couple years ago. Currently, it is around 145 pages, but it needs new screenshots and an editing pass.

And finally for the night (and mostly for the month of September), there is also a new Snowman 3.0.0 build as well (github.com/videlais/sno...).

The extensive (github.com/videlais/sno...) end-to-end testing doesn't work, so I can't verify past code, but folx can at least try it!

For those feeling adventurous, a beta build of Snowman 2.1.0 is available now (github.com/videlais/sno...).

I've been trying to address some long-standing JavaScript issues.

I have no fixed timeline for when it will make it to Twine itself, but hopefully by the end of the year (2025).

New update for SFA-Get is now out. It is now 1.0.1.

As mentioned in the notes, unless a new version of a story format comes out, I plan to update the tool every couple of months.

github.com/videlais/sto...

Monthly update for Extwee is now out. It is now 2.3.3.

I did some long overdue optimizing of the web build process, reducing the core functionality build from 290 KiB to 78.5 KiB. (A 73% reduction!)

github.com/videlais/ext...

NEW ‼️ TWINE TEMPLATE:
🗺 DESTINATIONS

a fully customizable template for the sugarcube format, featuring a navigation dropdown

check out the demo and download directly on itch!
gcbaccaris.itch.io/template3

This is open to anyone! You can reserve your spot at the link below. Note that classes meet Saturday nights New York time / Sunday morning Beijing time.

I'm continuing my slow progress toward recording early works created using various tools. I've added six more videos to the Bitsy series this week.

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Huh. POML (Prompt Organization Markup Language) for organizing conplex prompts to LLMs.

Love an example that starts with "You are a patient teacher...". Can't wait for that to be the subtitle of a talk in the future.

microsoft.github.io/poml/latest/

As I'm teaching both Unity 6.0 and Unreal 5.6 this coming semester, I'm also considering posting the videos I make for my students.

I'd also like to close out (finally) my long-running series on Twine 2.6/2.8/2.10 in the coming weeks. It will be my last on Twine after 12 years.

My new set of "traversals" are now out with 20 new videos of Twine works (from July 2009 to September 2012).

Next week, the plan is at least 10 (mix of Bitsy, Ren'Py and Twine), as I'm still focused on preparing for my new courses starting in 10 days.

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

We're excited to announce that applications are open for the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant 2025 🎉

The grant will award $15,000 to five thinky puzzle game developers from all over the world, and a year's mentorship with genre veterans.

Deadline: September 28th
More info 👇
grants.draknek.org

Very cool!

I know collections like The Next (the-next.eliterature.org) have been using emulated systems to preserve access.

During my recent traversals through early Ren'Py works, I had to experiment with different virtual machines (Windows 98, Windows XP, and even Windows 10) to play projects.

This is exciting news! A Sharp is the King of Dragon Pass group.