Experimenting with Twine was an interesting exercise both as a tool and a concept. To allow the reader to be able to make selections of where they choose for the story to go next adds an interactive dynamic that draws the reader in with a form of self-controlled engagement. Even with the option for the reader to be able to choose their preference, it is noted that each connection leads to a narrative written from the author’s angle.
Class discussions about the articles and programs, such as The Oregon Trail and When Rivers Were Trails, reveal the fact that historically, stories are told from a certain point of view, typically with one side being the hero and the other being the nemesis. To be told from only one point of view tends to skew facts and perpetuate the concept of extremes, with the truth being largely subjective. In other words, there is typically more to it than meets the eye. The creators of these games kept those concepts in mind and tried to mold a different type of experience, which would bring in the perspectives of others.
The designers of The Oregon Trail and When Rivers Were Trails also made a concerted effort to include details that gave a better understanding of the historical hardships of travel on the trails. Having not lived during this time nor experienced it, the player was given tasks that would never have been experienced by them in their own lives, such as buying supplies for the trail journey, crossing rivers, and running out of food and supplies, with the dire consequences of incorrect choices costing the player greatly. It is written in such a way that the player becomes a bit emotionally invested through the use of concepts such as being able to name their own children in the program and poor choices leading to negative consequences for them.
My Twine experience of writing a story was one I really enjoyed. With the craft of the written word being one of my favorite activities, to be able to give my reader an element of surprise and let them be able to choose which path they wanted to select was a novel and rewarding experience. It gave me the opportunity to share with the reader my own adventures of being chased by a bull as well as wild boars, and the “Oh no!” responses when my readers were engaged, thrilled me to know they were invested in the situation and felt a part of the encounter. Here is the link to Twine story, The Chase