Jon Ingold
@jon.inkle.co
Narrative @inkle.co he/him
Writer: TR-49 / EXPELLED! / A Highland Song / Heaven's Vault / Overboard! / Over the Alps / Sorcery! / 80 Days. ink co-creator.
Writer: TR-49 / EXPELLED! / A Highland Song / Heaven's Vault / Overboard! / Over the Alps / Sorcery! / 80 Days. ink co-creator.
Pinned
Jon Ingold
@jon.inkle.co
· Oct 18
AdvX 2018 - Jon Ingold - Sparkling Dialogue: A Masterclass
YouTube video by AdventureX
www.youtube.com
Little thread of talks about writing and interactive narrative I've done, so I can pin it here:
First up - Sparkling Dialogue from Adventure X; how to make interactive conversations that have flow and meaning to them
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vRf...
First up - Sparkling Dialogue from Adventure X; how to make interactive conversations that have flow and meaning to them
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vRf...
Not the onion
We’ve put together this handy guide to make sure newcomers can properly navigate The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
How to Watch The Lord of the Rings in Chronological Order
bit.ly
December 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Not the onion
Did a silly seasonal thing for the @aghotspot.bsky.social Christmas video
Happy Hotspot Holidays 2025 – An Adventure Game Dev Season’s Greetings Video
YouTube video by Adventure Game Hotspot Trailers
youtu.be
December 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Did a silly seasonal thing for the @aghotspot.bsky.social Christmas video
Reposted by Jon Ingold
Hey folks, Jack here. On behalf of Adventure Game Hotspot, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday-of-choice! Enjoy our (revived) annual video filled with personal season's greetings from many top current and/or legendary game developers.
adventuregamehotspot.com/feature/5749...
adventuregamehotspot.com/feature/5749...
Happy Hotspot Holidays 2025 – A Developer Season’s Greetings Video | Adventure Game Hotspot
Adventure Game Hotspot and many of this year’s (or any year’s) top developers share their personal best wishes at this special time of year.
adventuregamehotspot.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Hey folks, Jack here. On behalf of Adventure Game Hotspot, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday-of-choice! Enjoy our (revived) annual video filled with personal season's greetings from many top current and/or legendary game developers.
adventuregamehotspot.com/feature/5749...
adventuregamehotspot.com/feature/5749...
i just tried the machine we built and out of nowhere it did this
December 24, 2025 at 11:41 PM
i just tried the machine we built and out of nowhere it did this
Reposted by Jon Ingold
2nd favorite game of this year. Making multiple play throughs mandatory was fun.
December 24, 2025 at 4:27 AM
2nd favorite game of this year. Making multiple play throughs mandatory was fun.
Reposted by Jon Ingold
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
I had five fascinating conversations for this RPS piece, gathering perspectives on genAI chatbots in games, as seen in Where Winds Meet. Thanks to @meghna.bsky.social, @pyrofoux.bsky.social, @maxkreminski.bsky.social, and @chrisgardiner.bsky.social www.rockpapershotgun.com/horrible-bor...
"Horrible", "boring", and "cheap": Experts pan new chatbot NPCs, but some leave room for optimism
We speak to a collection of developers and AI experts about the potential impact of LLM-powered NPCs in videogames.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
Reposted by Jon Ingold
i got to rant about LLM chatbots in games + my fears about the dead future that tech oligarchs want for all of us, alongside some very clever + thoughtful folks. thanks so much @samuelhorti.bsky.social for giving me the space & time to articulate all of this
I had five fascinating conversations for this RPS piece, gathering perspectives on genAI chatbots in games, as seen in Where Winds Meet. Thanks to @meghna.bsky.social, @pyrofoux.bsky.social, @maxkreminski.bsky.social, and @chrisgardiner.bsky.social www.rockpapershotgun.com/horrible-bor...
"Horrible", "boring", and "cheap": Experts pan new chatbot NPCs, but some leave room for optimism
We speak to a collection of developers and AI experts about the potential impact of LLM-powered NPCs in videogames.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
i got to rant about LLM chatbots in games + my fears about the dead future that tech oligarchs want for all of us, alongside some very clever + thoughtful folks. thanks so much @samuelhorti.bsky.social for giving me the space & time to articulate all of this
Reposted by Jon Ingold
I've seen some of the articles for @jon.inkle.co's Narrative Kaleidoscope and wow, there are some smart, funny people in games, go figure
December 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I've seen some of the articles for @jon.inkle.co's Narrative Kaleidoscope and wow, there are some smart, funny people in games, go figure
Reposted by Jon Ingold
Worth noting that Greg does NOT mean "responses that express the character's personality with the same tangible outcome."
Also worth noting that this abomination is a recent development that I strongly endorse:
- Sure, I'll do it.
- (sarcastically) Sure, I'll do it.
- (lying) Sure, I'll do it.
Also worth noting that this abomination is a recent development that I strongly endorse:
- Sure, I'll do it.
- (sarcastically) Sure, I'll do it.
- (lying) Sure, I'll do it.
Please…. I’m begging you… if your game has a dialogue choice… and all the answers say the same thing in a different way…. You can just remove the dialogue choice……
December 19, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Worth noting that Greg does NOT mean "responses that express the character's personality with the same tangible outcome."
Also worth noting that this abomination is a recent development that I strongly endorse:
- Sure, I'll do it.
- (sarcastically) Sure, I'll do it.
- (lying) Sure, I'll do it.
Also worth noting that this abomination is a recent development that I strongly endorse:
- Sure, I'll do it.
- (sarcastically) Sure, I'll do it.
- (lying) Sure, I'll do it.
Reposted by Jon Ingold
Expelled was one of my favourite surprises this year. Overboard was a really cool concept but felt a touch ‘narrative tech demo’, whereas Expelled really embraced the concept and wrapped it in so much fun writing and design - not least actively rewarding bad behaviour better than any recent game.
Lots of inkle games on sale on Steam, but we wanted to highlight Expelled!
40% off -- 95% Very Positive -- 5-stars in the Observer -- 8/10 in Edge
"A wicked good time."
40% off -- 95% Very Positive -- 5-stars in the Observer -- 8/10 in Edge
"A wicked good time."
Save 40% on Expelled! on Steam
A School Prefect has been pushed out of a window, and everyone's blaming YOU. Can you find the culprit - or someone to take the fall - before you get EXPELLED? Mystery with a wicked twist, from the cr...
store.steampowered.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Expelled was one of my favourite surprises this year. Overboard was a really cool concept but felt a touch ‘narrative tech demo’, whereas Expelled really embraced the concept and wrapped it in so much fun writing and design - not least actively rewarding bad behaviour better than any recent game.
Reposted by Jon Ingold
For fiction fans, contributors to the latest anthology of Palestinian spec fic talk about the question: “can ideological fantasy be challenged, and perhaps ruptured, through the imaginative power of fiction itself?” arablit.org/2025/12/15/o...
On ‘Fighting Ideological Fantasy with Fiction’
Several authors who contributed short stories to the collection spoke about their thoughts on the collapse of time, historical continuities and the notion of fighting ideological fantasy with ficti…
arablit.org
December 18, 2025 at 10:39 PM
For fiction fans, contributors to the latest anthology of Palestinian spec fic talk about the question: “can ideological fantasy be challenged, and perhaps ruptured, through the imaginative power of fiction itself?” arablit.org/2025/12/15/o...
Reposted by Jon Ingold
I'm so happy that Cosmic Dark is arriving! I promise not to rebleat all of the pictures.
(Yes I'm still pushing for rebleat)
(Yes I'm still pushing for rebleat)
Cosmic Dark from @grahamwalmsley.bsky.social had arrived. Hurrah ! And it looks splendid
Unfortunately, I can't read most of it until I've finished playing in @cottonmouthmcr.bsky.social 's Cosmic Dark campaign!
Unfortunately, I can't read most of it until I've finished playing in @cottonmouthmcr.bsky.social 's Cosmic Dark campaign!
December 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I'm so happy that Cosmic Dark is arriving! I promise not to rebleat all of the pictures.
(Yes I'm still pushing for rebleat)
(Yes I'm still pushing for rebleat)
Reposted by Jon Ingold
Lots of inkle games on sale on Steam, but we wanted to highlight Expelled!
40% off -- 95% Very Positive -- 5-stars in the Observer -- 8/10 in Edge
"A wicked good time."
40% off -- 95% Very Positive -- 5-stars in the Observer -- 8/10 in Edge
"A wicked good time."
Save 40% on Expelled! on Steam
A School Prefect has been pushed out of a window, and everyone's blaming YOU. Can you find the culprit - or someone to take the fall - before you get EXPELLED? Mystery with a wicked twist, from the cr...
store.steampowered.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Lots of inkle games on sale on Steam, but we wanted to highlight Expelled!
40% off -- 95% Very Positive -- 5-stars in the Observer -- 8/10 in Edge
"A wicked good time."
40% off -- 95% Very Positive -- 5-stars in the Observer -- 8/10 in Edge
"A wicked good time."
+1. As I tried to prove out in my adventure x talk, the point of research is precisely because you *don't know* what you don't know
As both a writer and researcher I am trying hard not to post endless opinions about the latest games drama…
I’m part of a chapter in an upcoming academic book, the chapter title features a quote of mine from the interview that says “research is a creative process”. Yep.
I’m part of a chapter in an upcoming academic book, the chapter title features a quote of mine from the interview that says “research is a creative process”. Yep.
December 18, 2025 at 7:02 PM
+1. As I tried to prove out in my adventure x talk, the point of research is precisely because you *don't know* what you don't know
Great joy of the newer Heavens’s Vault novels is that, everyone reading them is, by now, an archaeologist of the Nebula. If I open with a short legend about a bird, everyone is right in there looking for symbols, resonances, plot clues. They check the citation, the translators name, everything
December 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Great joy of the newer Heavens’s Vault novels is that, everyone reading them is, by now, an archaeologist of the Nebula. If I open with a short legend about a bird, everyone is right in there looking for symbols, resonances, plot clues. They check the citation, the translators name, everything
Inkle has made one game a year for 15 years without AI. Sometimes - and I stress only sometimes - two.
December 18, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Inkle has made one game a year for 15 years without AI. Sometimes - and I stress only sometimes - two.
Billionaire enclaves are fine. After they leave: cut off their imported electricity supply, rendering their bitcoin worthless; extort them to resupply; and maybe subsidise some solar / wind farms with the proceeds.
Similarly, if Musk goes to Mars we can withhold food shipments etc.
Similarly, if Musk goes to Mars we can withhold food shipments etc.
I love that crypto guys are setting up these little barbarian camps all over. little annoying civilization-style NPCs that pop out a bunch of resources when you conquer them. piñata nations
Belgian crypto billionaire Olivier Janssens is planning to establish a "libertarian community" with its own legal system in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
December 18, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Billionaire enclaves are fine. After they leave: cut off their imported electricity supply, rendering their bitcoin worthless; extort them to resupply; and maybe subsidise some solar / wind farms with the proceeds.
Similarly, if Musk goes to Mars we can withhold food shipments etc.
Similarly, if Musk goes to Mars we can withhold food shipments etc.
Reposted by Jon Ingold
Big changes on the latest Adventure Game Hotspot “Hotly Anticipated” list. Head over to the website to see who takes the top 2 spots. WHICH ONE ARE YOU THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT?
#adventuregame #indiegame #pointandclickadventure
#adventuregame #indiegame #pointandclickadventure
December 18, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Big changes on the latest Adventure Game Hotspot “Hotly Anticipated” list. Head over to the website to see who takes the top 2 spots. WHICH ONE ARE YOU THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT?
#adventuregame #indiegame #pointandclickadventure
#adventuregame #indiegame #pointandclickadventure
Reposted by Jon Ingold
Now that I've submitted my piece...
I'm happy to let y'all know I am in the same boat with so many talented people for this dizzying kaleidoscope of articles about narrative & writing!
My theme? Local vs. Global. Sign up and don't miss out on it!
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting
I'm happy to let y'all know I am in the same boat with so many talented people for this dizzying kaleidoscope of articles about narrative & writing!
My theme? Local vs. Global. Sign up and don't miss out on it!
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting
Interested in game-writing?
In early 2026 we'll be publishing a kaleidoscope: short articles by 100+ game writers - experts, freelancers, and juniors - about the craft.
~1/3 of them are in: multiple bangers, from some very famous names and games.
Sign up to be notified when it's ready here:
In early 2026 we'll be publishing a kaleidoscope: short articles by 100+ game writers - experts, freelancers, and juniors - about the craft.
~1/3 of them are in: multiple bangers, from some very famous names and games.
Sign up to be notified when it's ready here:
Sign up for news about the Game Writing Kaleidoscope
In early 2026 we’ll be publishing The Game Narrative Kaleidoscope, a collection of over 100 short essays by game writers about writing.
Featuring some very famous names, some highly experienced free...
forms.gle
December 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Now that I've submitted my piece...
I'm happy to let y'all know I am in the same boat with so many talented people for this dizzying kaleidoscope of articles about narrative & writing!
My theme? Local vs. Global. Sign up and don't miss out on it!
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting
I'm happy to let y'all know I am in the same boat with so many talented people for this dizzying kaleidoscope of articles about narrative & writing!
My theme? Local vs. Global. Sign up and don't miss out on it!
#NarrativeDesign #GameWriting
Reposted by Jon Ingold
I enjoyed putting together this web-based exploration of the material Jon found in his great uncle’s attic! Can you figure out the code?
⚠️ TR-49 -- an archive of books that don't exist ⚠️
We began investigating through a simple prototype - before we built the machine.
The "game" has moved far, far beyond this now. But the old prototype is "playable".
You may find it revealing.
❗ www.inklestudios.com/tr-49/pinboa...
We began investigating through a simple prototype - before we built the machine.
The "game" has moved far, far beyond this now. But the old prototype is "playable".
You may find it revealing.
❗ www.inklestudios.com/tr-49/pinboa...
December 17, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I enjoyed putting together this web-based exploration of the material Jon found in his great uncle’s attic! Can you figure out the code?
Reposted by Jon Ingold
⚠️ TR-49 -- an archive of books that don't exist ⚠️
We began investigating through a simple prototype - before we built the machine.
The "game" has moved far, far beyond this now. But the old prototype is "playable".
You may find it revealing.
❗ www.inklestudios.com/tr-49/pinboa...
We began investigating through a simple prototype - before we built the machine.
The "game" has moved far, far beyond this now. But the old prototype is "playable".
You may find it revealing.
❗ www.inklestudios.com/tr-49/pinboa...
December 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
⚠️ TR-49 -- an archive of books that don't exist ⚠️
We began investigating through a simple prototype - before we built the machine.
The "game" has moved far, far beyond this now. But the old prototype is "playable".
You may find it revealing.
❗ www.inklestudios.com/tr-49/pinboa...
We began investigating through a simple prototype - before we built the machine.
The "game" has moved far, far beyond this now. But the old prototype is "playable".
You may find it revealing.
❗ www.inklestudios.com/tr-49/pinboa...
But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights
To weave the mirror's magic sights
December 17, 2025 at 4:46 PM
But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights
To weave the mirror's magic sights
last vocal performance for TR-49 just came in and i have a massive smile on my face
December 17, 2025 at 3:14 PM
last vocal performance for TR-49 just came in and i have a massive smile on my face