Wikiquote:Manual of styles for interactive fiction

This is a draft, and describes common practice.

For more information on interactive fiction, see Interactive Fiction at Wikipedia

For an example page, see Frenetic Five.


 * Only output lines (descriptions of rooms, responses to commands, etc.) should be styled normally. If a game uses styles, you should preserve those styles when possible.
 * All lines in a quote should be indented with a leading :. Preserve blank lines by placing a  on its own line (suitably indented).
 * Use [Explanation or context] lines when necessary. This includes quotes that are responses to a command; for example: [In response to a command to open the mailbox]. It is inadvisable to use the actual command from the game, since they may not be understandable to those who have not played the game before; summarise the command instead. You may exercise some variety in the construction of these lines.
 * Separate quotes with .

The following is the sample transcript from the Interactive Fiction page on Wikipedia, translated to this format:


 * [The player looks around]
 * You are in a big room with tall pillars. To your north reside the large doors into Wikiquote.
 * [Upon the player's attempt to go north]
 * The doors are locked. Wait, that makes no sense. Wikiquote is for everyone! Something must be done...
 * [The player searches his possessions]
 * You are carrying a soda, an umbrella, The Key to All The Information in the Universe, and a little plastic bottle cap.
 * [Unlocking the door with the key]
 * The door opens easily and noiselessly, and before you can walk through, there's a mad rush of people who enter the library and begin improving it.
 * ***Your mission is complete!***
 * Would you like to restore a saved game, restart, or quit?
 * [The player quits]
 * ***Your mission is complete!***
 * Would you like to restore a saved game, restart, or quit?
 * [The player quits]
 * Would you like to restore a saved game, restart, or quit?
 * [The player quits]
 * [The player quits]