Reviews of the IF COMP 2004 Games

     Above, the games are listed twice. First, they are shown in the order I played (including one that was withdrawn and one that was disqualified, both marked with a black x). Next, they are in order by score. Quite a few games ended up with the same total scores, and my rankings may be more more top-heavy than those of real judges. When sorting games with the same total score, games that were skewed up are below games where no skew was needed. If all else is the same, I have simply picked the one that was more fun or more appealing to me -- in many cases, not an easy decision.

     These reviews comprise my take on the competition. Even though I write this a few days prior to the announcement of the official results, I suspect that some of the games I found most enjoyable may rank lower in the final tally.

     The 2004 Interactive Fiction has been my preoccupation for months, starting with my original urge to enter, followed by the hours and efforts of getting Trading Punches ready, then the hellish six weeks of waiting for the final results. Most likely, I'll continue to reflect upon the outcome and the feedback for weeks to come.