This is a review of Porpentine’s game howling dogs, which is written in Twine.
The review is also written in Twine, and here it is:
It does not require any downloads or special software to use, and is hosted by the Ontological Geek, so you should have no fear of viruses.
Wow. A brilliant review of a brilliant game.
This was absolutely amazing. It expanded upon my appreciation for ‘howling dogs’ (after finishing the game, then replaying it in part, I had gone on to read various people’s writings about it, including Porpentine herself and Emily Short among others) but also added to what I took away from ‘howling dogs’ itself — more so than anything else anyone else had said about the game.
And then, on top of all that, it gave me a deeply personal view of what the game had meant to you, specifically and individually. This facet of your review also expanded upon my appreciation for, and added to what I took away from, ‘howling dogs’; but it meant far more than that.
Thank you for sharing so much of yourself in ‘A Eulogy for Kuranes’ (though I’m no longer sure, having reached the end of it, that calling it a ‘eulogy’ is entirely correct, I do think it was necessary for it to be construed as such at the outset). (Or perhaps it’s entitling it as a eulogy specifically for Kuranes that’s what’s not quite right…?)
Transformative works are often considered — not unlike works created with Twine, apparently — “women’s” in nearly every negative way that label can be construed: emotional, niche, weak, soft, silly, lesser, insignificant, embarrassing, childish, simplistic, missing the point, of interest only to women, etc. Fanfiction is a prime example of this, but far from the only one. And a transformative work is precisely what I would call your ‘Eulogy for Kuranes’; it builds on a prior creator’s work and will have the most resonance for someone who is familiar with the original work which inspired it. The fact that it’s also a highly analytical work of literary criticism does nothing to diminish its transformative nature.
Congratulations, sir, on proving yourself to be “a straight, white, cisgendered American male. A Christian, even!” who gets it. You’re absolutely correct that it would be stupid (I avoid “dumb” as some people who cannot speak well, or at all, using their mouths consider it ableist) for anyone to suggest that you shouldn’t use Twine, just as it would be stupid for anyone to suggest that you shouldn’t create transformative works.
Congratulations also on having crafted a powerful and moving review/game/experience.
And thank you, sincerely, for sharing it with us all.