Chapter 4: Video Games as Literature

    The idea of video games being considered a sector in literature might have seemed novel in the late 20th century. However, thanks to the development of interactive fiction, there is now an entire genre of gaming combined with literature. Originating in 1975, the field was developed by the work of Will Crowther's game, Colossal Cave Adventure, which combined problem solving skills with 'textual geocaching'. Within the next several decades, advancements in digital lit continued, such the MIT designed program Zork. Zork, created in 1977, had a large impact on the interactive literature field, and continues to remembered today. Unlike Adventure, Zork involved more complex language and descriptions, rather than basic sentences and simple directions. Following this design, Infocom games were developed, featuring literary works as settings. For instance, readers could try playing 'Sherlock' and navigate through the material. As the genre evolved, more details and layers were added, so the games began to add additional literary elements. 

    A notable example of this style includes Emily Short's Galatea. With short but effective narration and deeper characterization, it moves beyond simple navigation and brings users into a larger story plot. According to Rettberg's Electronic Literature "what makes her works so engaging is the fact that she writes well: her story situations are inventive, and her language is both lusher and more precise than that of other IF developers. Her works are played as games but she is first and foremost a storyteller." This perspective is interesting to note, as interactive literature has become a mode of both thought and decision making. It bridges the realms of gaming and thought, and provides an interesting glimpse into the various forms digital literature can take.