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Interactive Fiction Competition

Article Discussion

Template:Short description The Interactive Fiction Competition (also known as IFComp) is one of several annual competitions for works of interactive fiction. It has been held since 1995. It is intended for fairly short games, as judges are only allowed to spend two hours playing a game before deciding how many points to award it, but longer games are allowed entry.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The competition has been described as the "Super Bowl" of interactive fiction.<ref name="wsj-20051115"/>

Since 2016 it is operated by the Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation (IFTF).

OrganizationEdit

In 2016, operation of the competition was taken over by the Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation.<ref name="gamasutra-20160630"/><ref name="rockpapershotgun-20161207"/><ref name="rockpapershotgun-20170703"/>

The lead organizer 2014–2017 was Jason McIntosh, and in 2018 it was Jacqueline Ashwell.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

CategoriesEdit

Although the first competition had separate sections for Inform and TADS games, subsequent competitions have not been divided into sections and are open to games produced by any method, provided that the software used to play the game is freely available.

In addition to the main competition, the entries take part in the Miss Congeniality contest, where the participating authors vote for three games (not including their own). This was started in 1998 to distribute that year's surplus prizes; this additional contest has remained unchanged since then, even without the original reason for its existence.

There is also a 'Golden Banana of Discord' side contest; the distinction is given to the entry with scores with the highest standard deviation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

EligibilityEdit

The competition differs from the XYZZY Awards, as authors must specifically submit games to the Interactive Fiction Competition, but all games released in the past year are eligible for the XYZZY Awards. Many games win awards in both competitions.

JudgingEdit

Anyone can judge the games. Because anyone can judge and participate in the competition, there is a rule that "All entries must cost nothing for judges to play".<ref name="rules-2021">"Rules for the Competition – Rules for Authors" (archived), ifcomp.org.</ref>

RulesEdit

The competition has rules for judges, authors and everyone to ensure that everyone agrees on the purpose, scope, and spirit of the competition.<ref name="rules-2021"/>

PrizesEdit

Anyone can donate a prize. Almost always, there are enough prizes donated that anyone who enters will get one.

WinnersEdit

The following is a list of first place winners to date:

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  • 2023: Dr Ludwig and the Devil by SV Linwood
  • 2024: The Bat by Chandler Groover

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Only two competitors have won more than once: Paul O'Brian, winning in 2002 and 2004, and Steph Cherrywell, winning in 2015 and 2019.

ReceptionEdit

A reviewer for The A.V. Club said of the 2008 competition, "Once again, the IF Competition delivers some of the best writing in games."<ref name="avclub-20081222"/> The 2008 competition was described as containing "some real standouts both in quality of puzzles and a willingness to stretch the definition of text adventures/interactive fiction."<ref name="kotaku-20081117"/>

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

<references> <ref name="wsj-20051115">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>


<ref name="kotaku-20081117">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="avclub-20081222">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="gamasutra-20160630">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="rockpapershotgun-20161207">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref name="rockpapershotgun-20170703">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> </references>

External linksEdit

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