TIGSource: Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive

Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive

Terry — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:08:00 +0000

For the last two months or so, Interactive Fiction veteran Emily Short has been running a cover art drive. The basic idea is that attaching something visual, like a cover, to various works of Interactive Fiction would make it easier for sites (like ours, I guess) to promote the brilliant and very overlooked interactive fiction scene to a wider audience. It’s gone pretty well – including alternates, there are currently 98 submitted covers in the photostream (some examples are included in the side image), but there are still quite a few games outstanding.

I know there are officially only a few days left, but after seeing all the artistic talent on display in tonight’s iScribble session I figured that there are probably quite a few people reading this that could help out with a final push! To take part, all you have to do is create a cover like the ones on the side for any interactive fiction game and send it to Emily. A good place to start would be this post on her blog which lists a few games which have requested cover art but haven’t gotten any yet. Even if you’re not familiar with those games (or any interactive fiction), I’m sure someone on the forums would be more than happy to give you a synopsis or describe a scene. Full details about the project (including detailed clarifications) are collected here. As of right now, here are the games still looking for cover art:

A Dino’s Night Out, by Aris Katsaris
Breath Pirates, by Mike Snyder (to replace existing art)
Goldilocks is a FOX!, by J.J. Guest (to replace existing art)
House of Dream of Moon, by IF Whispers
Learning to Cross, by Mark J. Musante
Legerdemain, by Nathan Jerpe
Luminous Horizon, by Paul O’Brian
Revenger, by Robb Sherwin (to replace existing art)
Tales of the Traveling Swordsman, by Mike Snyder (to replace existing art)
Waystation, by Stephen Granade
Wearing the Claw, by Paul O’Brian

There are officially only three days left, so if you’re interested, get cracking!

"Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive" by Rikard

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:43:56 +0000

I find haowan’s comment interesting. I’ve heard people object to the “game” label before (it happens now and then in the IF community) but then they usually come from the other direction. The people who don’t want to say “game” usually downplay the puzzles and are more interested in the narrative part of IF.

"Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive" by Adam Atomic

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:54:21 +0000

Man I wish I’d found out about this a few weeks ago, I’d have bent straight over backwards to put something together for Dino’s Night Out!!

"Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive" by haowan

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:27:53 +0000

Is he wrong? We call them games, but are they? Is a straight up puzzle actually a game? I would say not. That said, most IFs have many layers and many allow you to screw up and/or die, so it’s not a black and white issue.

"Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive" by The Truth

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:24:28 +0000

Man, Sigvatr’s such a badass.

"Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive" by Sigvatr

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:46:36 +0000

Games?

"Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive" by Shih Tzu

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:57:23 +0000

Covers! Neeet.

"Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive" by ryan

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:52:29 +0000

needs more rybread

"Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive" by Zaphos

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:38:27 +0000

No one has done cover art for “A Dino’s Night Out”? I’ve never played the game but, if it’s anything like the title, the cover art should be awesome! :)

"Interactive Fiction Cover Art Drive" by Pacian

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:22:08 +0000

That Snowblind Aces cover is both surprising and awesome.