So that was 2021. Although, if big sports events are to be believed, it is still 2020. I hope your year was better than 2020, however. Hopefully, you saw friends more and stayed healthy.
So what happened in the world of blogging and gamebooks? A lot, it seemed. The gamebook community has grown and formed new places to mix and share their ideas and skills and I love it.
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| This is what the gamebook community will look like in 2023 |
Gamebooks
I suppose I should start with gamebooks. I mean, it's in the blog title.
There were lots of gamebook and app releases in 2021. I've been making monthly news updates as there are far too many releases to list now. This is another side effect of the growing gamebook community.
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| Gamebook releases of 2021 |
We have a yearly update from James Schannep.
Click Your Poison (James Schannep)
Click Your Poison year in review:
-With SPIED, 2021 saw the first Click Your Poison book published since 2018.
-INFECTED was re-released as a deluxe illustrated hardback and also as an interactive audiogamebook app on Android and iOS devices in a partnership with Cubus Games and narrator R.C. Bray. MURDERED is slated for an illustrated hardback and audio app version in the 2022.
-Other behind-the-scenes projects focused on the forthcoming HAUNTED (available 2/2/2022) as well as the groundwork for an undisclosed interactive film project.
-The Interactive Fiction & Gamebooks Discussion Group (Book Club) completed a full slate of 12 authors and 12 books, growing to well over 600 members.
Events
There have been several you are the beer-o meet ups this year (virtual, mainly). There is one on the 22nd December, online. Details are here: Fighting Fantasy: Yuletide Virtual Beer-o 2021 | Facebook
International gamebook day happened in August. It was an awesome event done online where we could hear from gamebook authors both from the 1980s and 1990s and also from the "next generation". You can watch the videos from late August on the Storymaster's Tales.
Podcasts
There are three gamebook exclusive podcasts that have been running this year. Instadeath Survivor's support group started this year and has interviews with various members of the gamebook community as well as playthroughs.
Welcome to Instadeath Survivors Support Group by Instadeath Survivors Support Group (anchor.fm)
You can support it on Patreon to get add free podcasts with more content
There are also playthrough podcasts to listen to
Campaign On Dice – Podcast – Podtail
Fantastic Fights — Haunted Phonograph
Online book groups
This group started on the 21st December 2020 and has covered a different gamebook every month.
Interactive Fiction & Gamebooks Discussion Group (Book Club) | Facebook
Zines
Fighting Fantazine - issue 17 is out soon!
The Gamebook Zine - released 3 issues this year.
Warlock Returns - this Advanced Fighting Fantasy zine from Arion games released 4 issue.
The blog
This blog was resurrected in March and I managed a weekly post since then. I plan on doing weekly posts next year (but I'm not planning on doing the April A to Z. I'm not 27). I'm glad to be back.
The Lindenbaum Competition
The Lindenbaum Competition (aka Windhammer 2.0) is still underway! You have until midnight GMT on 1st February 2022 to complete a 100 section, 25000 word gamebook and send it to lindenbaumprize@gmail.com. Remember to read the rules first!
My gamebooks
This year, I managed to get SCRAWL to a state that I could finally accept. Next year, I want to release monthly SCRAWL adventures.
At the time of writing this, I have planned 95% of Rulers of the NOW. It's looking to be around 600 sections and I have written about 200 sections. I aim to finish it early next year after almost 9 years since I wrote the first 100 sections for Windhammer 2012.
There is a lot going on and I look forward to more in 2022!
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