At a Glance: Finalists of the 2017 XYZZY Awards (Second Round Voting!)

I know what you’re thinking, and yes, I am addicted to all things interactive fiction. As such, with the first round of voting on the 2017 XYZZY Awards over… I’d be crazy not to let everyone know that… the second awaits! Time to hit the virtual booths again – or whatever you use for these things – and cast yet more votes.

So, since you’re still reading, I’m going to assume you’ve already made an account and have a keen interest in making sure your voice is heard. Fortunately, that’s easily taken care of: check the list at the bottom of this article and, you know, start playing the lot! Then, once your favourites have been decided upon… vote! That’s all there is to it. No need to even leave the comfort of your home.

Best of luck to participants, newcomers and IF veterans alike!

Best Game

• American Angst (m3g1dd0)
• Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
• Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• The Owl Consults (Thomas Mack)
• The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson)

Best Writing

• Absence of Law (mathbrush)
• American Angst (m3g1dd0)
• dripping with the waters of SHEOL (Lady Isak Grozny)
• Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
• Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• Will Not Let Me Go (Stephen Granade)

Best Story

• 1958: Dancing With Fear (Victor Ojuel)
• American Angst (m3g1dd0)
• Harmonia (Liza Daly)
• Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• Will Not Let Me Go (Stephen Granade)
• The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson)

Best Setting

• 1958: Dancing With Fear (Victor Ojuel)
• Absence of Law (mathbrush)
• Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
• Tuuli (Daurmith & Ruber Eaglenest)
• Voyageur (Bruno Dias)

Best Puzzles

• Absence of Law (mathbrush)
• A Beauty Cold and Austere (Mike Spivey)
• Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
• The Owl Consults (Thomas Mack)
• The Wand (Arthur DiBianca)
• The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson)

Best NPCs

• Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
• Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• The Owl Consults (Thomas Mack)
• The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson)

Best Individual Puzzle

• discovering the rest of the game in The Wand (Arthur DiBianca)
• getting past the dragon in The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson)
• getting through the undersea vent in Measureless to Man (Ivan R.)
• Learning the Cycle in The Wand (Arthur DiBianca)
• Milking the cow in Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
• Navigating the swamp in Crocodracula: What Happened to Calvin (Ryan Veeder)

Best Individual NPC

• Anja Kaczmarek in Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• Kaz Kaczmarek in Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• The narrator in Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
• Olivia Kwon in Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• Squire Tuck in The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson)

Best Individual PC

• Amelia Derringer in The Owl Consults (Thomas Mack)
• Fred Strickland in Will Not Let Me Go (Stephen Granade)
• Kareene Veet in Word of the Day (Richard Otter)
• Lev/Lyubov in dripping with the waters of SHEOL (Lady Isak Grozny)
• Nadia Nazari in Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• Salomé Vélez in 1958: Dancing With Fear (Victor Ojuel)

Best Implementation

• Absence of Law (mathbrush)
• Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
• Harmonia (Liza Daly)
• Seedship (John Ayliff)
• Thaumistry: In Charm’s Way (Bob Bates)

Best Use of Innovation

• 10pm (litrouke)
• Harmonia (Liza Daly)
• Unit 322 (Disambiguation) (Jonny Muir)
• Voyageur (Bruno Dias)

Best Technological Development

• Vorple for Glulx

Best Use of Multimedia

• 10pm (litrouke)
• Absence of Law (mathbrush)
• Harmonia (Liza Daly)
• Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• The Rats in the Bulkheads (Bruno Dias)
• Salt (Gareth Damian Martin)

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