CYOW* #2

*Choose Your Own Way #2: Home

Featuring: K. Alix Anttila, Louise Chow, Jonathan Dawes, Christopher Alan Slater, Kay Slater, Lisa Smedman

We made some (more) interactive fiction! Using the theme HOME, we worked to create interactive stories/games/art during the month of November with the intent to share with folks on November 30th.

The writing theme that connected our work was HOME, but the format in which folks presented their interactive stories was up to them. Mini booklets, Twine projects, performance pieces, RPG games, audio projects, or any other format folks could think of! People worked within the theme and then got their projects ready to share with a public audience for November 30th at our salon. During the month, we invited folks to use the hashtag #clubIFHome so we could document the event!

Check out some of the featured projects from our event:

• Yamate Line
• Merminsta II

Our application process for CYOW events was very informal. As long as folks adhered to basic rules of respect, were willing to label any content that might have been unsuitable for public consumption, and were willing to challenge themselves to produce work on theme with the event – you were welcome. The CYOW jam (which happened throughout November) involved conversation and sharing our our social media platforms. The final salon event showcased work that was produced and our collective members reserved the right to review and approve all materials presented at our public event.

Notes:

The Papercut Arcade defines *artist as a person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, photographer, painter, novelist, poet, or filmmaker. The keyword is practice; therefore, if you make art or produce work with the intent of participating in a The Papercut Arcade challenge or exhibition, you ARE an artist.

CYOA = > CYOW: We had previously called these events CYOA in honour of our childhood love of Choose Your Own Adventure Gamebooks. They shaped who we are now as people. However; one of the original authors has since formed a new company and formalized a trademark with which they are going after indie game designers and publishers. Rather than deal with any of that (but still keeping in the spirit of the choose your own narrative adventure games), we’ve renamed our narrative events CYOW or Choose Your Own Way.