The Space Under the Window
Encyclopedia
The Space Under the Window is a 1997 interactive fiction
game by Andrew Plotkin
. The game is part of a collaborative art piece, also entitled "The Space Under the Window", by Kristin Looney (of Looney Labs
) – each piece had to have this title, but was otherwise unconstrained.
This game uses an entirely different structure than that of traditional IF, veering away from score-based puzzles and one set goal. At the beginning, a short descriptive scene is displayed. Instead of entering commands, the player selects one of the words from the text, and the scene is altered - often subtly, for example, an addition of a few words or a shift in atmosphere. There are multiple paths along the narrative, and several endings ranging in mood.
The Space Under the Window was a finalist in the 1997 XYZZY Award
s for Best Use of Medium and Best Writing. It has inspired parodies
such as The Chicken Under The Window by Lucian P. Smith, at ChickenComp 1998.
Interactive fiction
Interactive fiction, often abbreviated IF, describes software simulating environments in which players use text commands to control characters and influence the environment. Works in this form can be understood as literary narratives and as video games. In common usage, the term refers to text...
game by Andrew Plotkin
Andrew Plotkin
Andrew Plotkin , also known as Zarf, is a central figure in the modern interactive fiction community. Having both written a number of award-winning games and developed a range of new file formats, interpreters, and other utilities for the design, production, and running of IF games, Plotkin is...
. The game is part of a collaborative art piece, also entitled "The Space Under the Window", by Kristin Looney (of Looney Labs
Looney Labs
Looney Labs is a small game company based in College Park, Maryland, USA. It is named after its founders, Andrew Looney and Kristin Looney.- Card games :...
) – each piece had to have this title, but was otherwise unconstrained.
This game uses an entirely different structure than that of traditional IF, veering away from score-based puzzles and one set goal. At the beginning, a short descriptive scene is displayed. Instead of entering commands, the player selects one of the words from the text, and the scene is altered - often subtly, for example, an addition of a few words or a shift in atmosphere. There are multiple paths along the narrative, and several endings ranging in mood.
The Space Under the Window was a finalist in the 1997 XYZZY Award
XYZZY Award
The XYZZY Awards are an event to recognize extraordinary interactive fiction, serving a similar role to the Academy Awards or Grammy Awards but for a far smaller community. The XYZZY Awards have been presented yearly in the early spring since 1996 by Eileen Mullin, the editor of XYZZYnews...
s for Best Use of Medium and Best Writing. It has inspired parodies
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
such as The Chicken Under The Window by Lucian P. Smith, at ChickenComp 1998.
External links
- Homepage
- The Space Under the Window, an Electronic Book, created by Kristin Looney
- Baf's Guide review of The Space Under the Window
- The Space Under the Window – SPAG review by Duncan Stevens