Violet (video game)
| Violet | |
|---|---|
| File:Violet computer game.png
Violet being played in a modern interpreter.
|
|
| Developer(s) | Jeremy Freese |
| Publisher(s) | Jeremy Freese |
| Designer(s) | Jeremy Freese |
| Engine | Z-machine |
| Release date(s) | 2008 |
| Genre(s) | Interactive Fiction, Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Violet is a work of interactive fiction by Jeremy Freese.[1] It is a one-room puzzle game.[1] It took first place in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition with an average score of 8.53.[2] That score is the highest of any Interactive Fiction Competition entry from 1999 through 2012.[3] Violet was selected as the best interactive fiction game for 2008 by both the Jay Is Games staff and audience.[1] Violet took 35.1% of the vote in the Jay Is Games audience award, compared to 18.7% for the second place winner, Lost Pig.[1] Violet won four awards in the 2008 XYZZY Awards: Best game, writing, individual puzzle ("Disconnecting the Internet in Violet/Getting rid of the key in Violet"), and individual NPC (Violet, the eponymous character).[4]
The protagonist of Violet is a graduate student trying to write 1,000 words for his dissertation.[5] The protagonist's girlfriend, Violet, threatens to leave otherwise.[5][6] The protagonist faces a stream of distractions,[5] including a window with a view of the campus, and a computer with access to blogs and webcomics.[6] In the course of the game, the protagonist must "reconsider—and risk wrecking—" his career and relationship.[5]
A reviewer for The A.V. Club described the puzzles as "smart but logical" and "fit[ting] thematically into the story."[5] The reviewer also called out the ability to disable "'heteronormativity,' so you can play as Violet’s girlfriend" as something that makes the game "Worth playing for".[5] A second review also observes this option, noting that at least one puzzle changes based on the choice.[6]
A writer for Jay Is Games called out Violet for "succeed[ing] in the difficult task of capturing the intricacies of a dynamic relationship."[1] The writer also praised the game for succeeding at engaging the player at "the core emotional level", again noting how difficult this is.[1] Emily Short, in a review on Jay Is Games, noted the strength of the implementation, pointing to the breadth of "interesting responses even to silly or unexpected actions."[6] Short felt that the characters were "seemingly-real" and "their problem is plausible and serious."[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1999 (2008-11-23 archive), 2000 (2008-11-23 archive), 2001 (2008-11-23 archive), 2002 (2008-11-23 archive), 2003 (2008-11-23 archive), 2004 (2008-11-23 archive), 2005 (2008-11-23 archive), 2006 (2008-11-23 archive), 2007 (2008-11-23 archive), and 2008 (2008-11-23 archive)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Violet entry at the Interactive Fiction DataBase — includes link to download the game, walkthrough, and reviews
- IPlayIF — Play online with Parchment.
- Violet — Play online at Jay Is Games (requires Adobe Flash)
