This week, I learned about the history of the web, hypertext, and interactive fiction. I read about Vannevar Bush’s idea of the Memex and how it inspired the hyperlinks and connected information we use every day on the internet. I also explored interactive fiction and learned how stories can become more engaging by allowing the reader or player to make choices that affect the outcome. To experience this firsthand, I played The Oregon Trail, which showed me how every decision could change the direction of the story and create a unique experience.
While working through the material, I thought about how much technology has changed the way people communicate and tell stories. Bush’s ideas were surprisingly similar to the internet we use today, and it made me appreciate how quickly information can now be shared around the world. Playing interactive games like The Oregon Trail or Life is Strange made me realize that games can be educational while still being entertaining. I enjoyed seeing how my decisions affected the journey, and it made me think about how interactive storytelling gives the audience a much bigger role than traditional books or movies.
This week, I created my WordPress website, wrote my introductory blog post, completed discussion posts and replies, researched examples of interactive fiction, and reflected on why I chose the Interactive Fiction module. One obstacle I encountered was understanding how interactive fiction differs from regular storytelling, but after exploring examples like The Oregon Trail and learning about branching narratives, the concept became much clearer. This week also reinforced many of the storytelling techniques I learned in my previous Digital Storytelling class, especially the importance of engaging an audience through different forms of media. Moving forward, I want to continue practicing interactive storytelling and learn how to create my own branching stories that allow users to shape the narrative through their choices.
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