Twine (Choice-Based)

Twine is an interactive text (interactive fiction tool) developed by Chris Klimas. Now in version 2.0.11, Twine allows writers to design interactive texts in a choice-based format. In the most basic of Twine texts, the user reads a passage (usually written in second person to address the user as the main character) and then selects from a set of links that represent choices within the narrative and lead to new passages, and so on. Twine also has a series of programming features that allow designers more control over there interactive texts. It is a superior tool for enabling teachers and students to construct interactive historical texts with only an extremely basic knowledge about coding (just the syntax to make links).

Resources

My Work on Twine Histories

  • I drafted a multi-part series on Twine at Playthepast.org. Part 1 compares Twine and Inform, Part 2 discusses a student design project for history, and Part 3 reflects on some ideas about meaningful choices in Twine in the context of my own experience designing a Twine text. The Twine historical text that I am (slowly) developing on an aristocrat in the Roman Republic climbing the political ladder, Path of Honors, is hosted on philome.la and my section on that site is www.philome.la/gamingthepast
  • I’ve been slowly blogging on Path of Honors in a FAQ format too. Part1, Path of Honors: Thoughts behind the design of an interactive history &  Part 2, “Meaningful Choices in Twine: History and Counterfactuals”
  • My presentation slides for the ISACS workshop in Columbus 11/4/2016 “Crafting Simulated Worlds of Interactive Text: The Basics of Twine for History, English, and Language Teachers” isacs-twine

Examples of Historical Twines

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