Multiverse theory

The Bandersnatch effect is in full flow. Like it or not – and many less well-known, far more experienced interactive fiction writers than Charlie Brooker are, understandably, a bit miffed – the choice based Black Mirror film has put a niche genre in front of millions of eyeballs with startling results. Suddenly, the world is sitting up and paying close attention to the role interactivity can play in previously traditional forms of media, and all the major players are after a piece of the pie, from Netflix to the BBC.

All credit to Wales Interactive, then, which has spotted a chance to offer its considerable expertise in the genre to help guide a whole other industry through the wilds of gamified stories. WIST is its brand-new, internally developed interactive fiction tool: it’s being used to simultaneously write and develop several