IfdbEdit
IFDB, the Interactive Fiction Database, is a community-built catalog of interactive fiction games and related works. It functions as a centralized index that helps readers discover titles across a broad spectrum of styles, from traditional parser-based adventures to modern choice-driven narratives. The database collects metadata on each entry—such as title, author, publication year, platform, parser, licensing, and genres—and it hosts user-generated reviews and ratings that assist new readers in navigating the field. In short, IFDB serves as both a library and a meeting place for fans, authors, and scholars of interactive storytelling Interactive Fiction Database and Interactive fiction.
Because the platform is community-driven, IFDB relies on volunteers to add, curate, and update information. That openness is a strength, enabling a wide range of works—some long neglected, others newly released—to find an audience. The site includes metadata standards and submission guidelines intended to keep entries useful and searchable for diverse readers, while still accommodating the eclectic nature of the medium. For many readers, IFDB is the entry point to discovering titles they would not encounter through mainstream channels, linking to authors and works across communities that include independent creators, small presses, and hobbyist programmers Creative Commons and copyright law considerations that govern how works are shared and republished.
Overview
IFDB operates as a searchable, filterable repository of information about interactive fiction. Each entry typically records multiple data points: the work’s title, author(s), publication date, country of origin, a short synopsis, the software or platform used to run the game, and licensing terms. The database also supports user-contributed content such as reviews, ratings, and tags that help categorize games by tone, genre, or feature set. Readers can explore by author pages, series, or by cross-referencing related works through internal links to interactive fiction resources and related tools. The aim is not only to catalog the works but to create a durable record that can be used by players, researchers, and developers alike, including preservation-focused communities that care about long-term access to digital works digital preservation and the historical record of the craft.
Features and use
- Metadata and search: The site emphasizes flexible metadata so that entries can be discovered by many paths, including genre, style, and technical aspects such as the parser or platform used. See interactive fiction for the broader context of the medium and its evolution.
- Reviews and ratings: A community rating system and user reviews give readers quick signals about quality, accessibility, and enjoyment. These opinions often reflect personal taste, but they also help authors gauge audience reception and identify areas for improvement.
- Licensing and rights: Licensing data are included to help users understand what can be shared or adapted. This is especially important for works that sit near the boundary between public domain, open licenses, and proprietary releases. Readers are encouraged to consider Creative Commons options and relevant copyright constraints when reuse or adaptation is contemplated.
- Community contributions: Anyone can contribute entries, edit metadata, or write reviews, subject to guidelines that help maintain accuracy and usefulness. This openness is consistent with a broad tradition in digital culture that rewards participation and hands-on curation, rather than centralized control.
- Links to related resources: Each entry often connects to author pages, development tools, and external repositories, supporting a networked ecosystem that extends beyond a single site. For a broader understanding of the field, see interactive fiction and related platforms that host or host-linked content.
Governance and moderation
IFDB’s governance is typically described as a volunteer-driven, community-backed model. Editors and trusted contributors audit entries for accuracy, completeness, and consistency with site guidelines. The balance between openness and quality control is a perennial topic in any volunteer-run project, and IFDB has mechanisms for reporting errors, disputing metadata, and requesting edits. From a viewpoint that values open inquiry and preservation, the model emphasizes keeping archives accessible and information reliable without imposing heavy-handed censorship or professional gatekeeping. In this sense, the database aligns with a tradition of merit-based discovery: readers reward well-documented, clearly described works, and authors gain visibility through accurate listings and fair community feedback.
Controversies and debates
As with many culture-focused communities, IFDB has faced debates about moderation, inclusivity, and the role of cultural norms in describing and presenting works. Proponents of a less restrictive approach argue that the database should minimize gatekeeping and allow readers to encounter a broad spectrum of content, including titles that reflect historical attitudes or provocative themes. They contend that context and critical reviews, rather than preemptive removal, best serve readers who want to understand a work as it was created and encountered by its audience. Critics of this approach sometimes worry that insufficient moderation can enable content that is disrespectful or harmful, especially when sensitive subjects are treated in ways that could alienate portions of the community or misrepresent a work’s intent. Supporters counter that robust metadata, contextual notes, and thoughtful reviews can address these concerns without suppressing historical or experimental material.
From a traditional-preservation perspective, there is also debate about how to handle works with outdated or controversial elements. Advocates for preserving the full historical record emphasize cataloging and presenting works in their original form, with critical commentary and historical context supplied by the community. They argue that avoiding or erasing such works risks erasing part of the medium’s history. Critics of this stance sometimes see it as a form of cultural gatekeeping, claiming it privileges a particular modern sensibility over the artistic and technological diversity that has shaped the field. In these discussions, the question often centers on balance: how to maintain a useful, searchable catalog while providing appropriate context and safeguards for readers who might be sensitive to certain material. In this debate, the central value is to protect open access and preserve the integrity of the historical record, while ensuring that readers can navigate content with awareness and responsibility.
Critics of overly prescriptive moderation sometimes label certain lines of policy as prudent but heavy-handed, arguing that they encroach on reader freedom and artist expression. Proponents of moderation, by contrast, emphasize the practical benefits of clear guidelines: reducing confusion, preventing harassment, and helping users find material that aligns with their preferences. The resulting policy tension mirrors broader conversations in digital culture about free speech, safety, and the responsibilities of platforms that host user-generated content. The dialogue within IFDB reflects a larger ongoing negotiation between preserving a diverse ecosystem of works and maintaining a welcoming, respectful community for readers and creators alike.