19. Balancing Pacing and Action

Hello? Is this thing working? Can anyone read me? These are the opening words of Lifeline, an interactive fiction story by 3 Minute Games that consists of text messages back and forth with an astronaut named Taylor who is stranded on a distant moon after a spaceship crash. Taylor is counting on you to help her get through this crisis because you’re the only person who answered her distress call. Of course, as you know from the last chapter, Taylor’s gender is never defined in this game, but I like to think of her as a clever, brave woman doing her best to get through a very stressful situation. You may picture her...or him...otherwise.

The first time I played Lifeline, the story ended pretty quickly. I eagerly ...

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