Simple Prototyping Tools
Alice holding onto a flamingo used for croquet

Resource: IF Prototype PowerPoint Guide

Resource: IF Prototype PowerPoint Template

Several IF prototype development tools exist, including general tools like PowerPoint, popular IF authoring systems like Twine, and general-purpose programming languages reserved for the more ambitious. You may download our "IF Prototype PowerPoint Guide," above, which walks you through a basic IF prototype development process within the Microsoft PowerPoint software. Use of other tools falls outside the scope of this course, however everything that you need to learn is available online.

If you want to just get straight to work, consider making use of our downloadable PowerPoint prototype template (also above). This template provides an adaptation of the Jabberwocky poem and may be reworked to suit your own project needs; or simply consult it as you build out your own from scratch.

The approach that you take should be based on your comfort level with technology. If you already know how to code in Python, then this might be a good option for you. If you don't have a programming background, then it's probably best to seek out a tool that is more accommodating, thus freeing you up to write. You may even go "old-school" and write a short CYOA book if that's more your style. Again, your goal at this stage is to complete a minimum viable product (hence "prototype").

General tools:

IF Authoring Systems: