David Gürçay-Morris. 32nd place, IFComp 2022.

Well, that’s certainly the most beautifully written piece so far; maybe that I’ve ever read in IF. It’s got a confident clear voice that reminds me of the best short stories, of some Ted Chiang in particular. Also ink seems lovely, UX buttery smooth on mobile.

I’m particularly taken by this format, the retelling of a place, and it seems like a good length for the comp. If this falls down for anyone it’s probably on the interaction side - I haven’t tested the edges. It gave the freedom to do some exploring within the conversation, and to pick the level of detail I cared about; both nice light uses of interactivity. It also let me perform a bit, expressing different reactions to the story. Does this deliver on the promise of IF? Yes, a bit; I think it’s a good use of the form, maybe not a great one. If this story was fully linear it wouldn’t be much diminished, but the interaction is definitely additive. And I find the writing, the conceit, the overall effect so lovely that it overwhelms anything else.

I feel like I should say more about this, but there’s nothing to say - go play it. I hope someday to make something, anything this good.