I.F. INTERACTIVE FICTION

The Entertainment landscape has massively changed in the last few decades. Futuristic concepts are now part of our daily life. The pandemic has reduced social interaction; thus, we saw the growth in home entertainment means. Streaming media generating rapid content consumption, and the new technologies allowing an unparallel immersion within the narrative bubble, the public is no longer passive but seek interactions. 

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The production industry is working relentlessly on optimizing the process to deliver at a fast pace. New production techniques aim to reduce cost and delivery time, but the public wants more than content; it wants to participate in its evolution. 

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Generated user content is a winning formula and the main factor in the success of social platforms. However, seeing pets and other people's lives doesn't replace the escape of good fiction. 

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It is time to invite the observer within, to join the story! 

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That it is to have the option of modifying the narrative, becoming a character, creating new story paths; it is about immersion.

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Fiction will also become a sharing asset as millions of co-creators will share their adventures on social networks. They will debate who's rendition is the best, which ones didn't respect the stories, talk about the new season themes, and more. 

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The virtual production playground is the only option able to fit all technologies and distribution platforms. 

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Several conventional jobs will be eliminated during the process, while others emerge, many will perceive it as a threat, but most will embrace this new form of escape. 

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Where do we go from this point of "Interactive Fiction" or "IF" evolution? 

There will be a technology battle between the distribution platforms, software, and hardware companies to take the lead. I say that what makes all of it even possible is the content creators. Technology is a tool; let's make sure that the tool doesn't take over the user. 

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For most of us, how those mega-corporations are performing doesn't make a difference in our pockets. It is by the creators' spending that they exist, but this may change as they move toward self-sufficient operation protocols. Getting caught in their wars would be a dangerous distraction. 

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Remembering who and what we are, working together to define this new production system, is essential. It is also about remembering where we come from and help if we can those who want to extend conventional expertise to the virtual. When jobs are lost, so are precious field experiences. The virtual is, for the most part, the reflection of reality.

It is not about re-inventing the wheel but improving on it. 

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But of course, sadly, many are in denial holding firmly in the idea that nothing will change. You can't change others, but you can allow them to learn; the rest is up to them.