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The Longest Journey
Role: Writer | Narrative Designer | Project Lead
Platform: Web-based | Built with Twine, BranchTrack, and BBC StoryFormer

Logline:
After being kidnapped by criminals, a determined dog embarks on a perilous journey to return home and reunite with his beloved owner.

 

Project Overview:
The Longest Journey is a branching narrative adventure created as part of a collaborative project at the University of South Wales, in partnership with the BBC. The task challenged us to explore interactive storytelling using the BBC's in-house tool StoryFormer,  
previously used in shows like His Dark Materials.

I led a team of three in the development of the story and interactive structure. I was responsible for the narrative design, branching logic, and overall creative vision, while Sam Alexander-Ford contributed artwork and Tira Pace assisted with editing.

The story was first prototyped in BranchTrack, then developed in StoryFormer, and ultimately converted into Twine for the final interactive format.

Key Contributions:

  • Wrote and structured the story's branching paths, including multiple endings and early player choices

  • Created the moment-to-moment narrative flow, balancing player agency with emotional pacing

  • Designed and implemented interactive sequences using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in Twine

  • Led the team using project management practices to maintain alignment and meet deadlines

  • Playtested and iterated on pacing, logic, and outcomes based on player feedback

  • Finalized and polished the project with a strong focus on narrative cohesion and quality

View the full development process and documentation here:

As you begin The Longest Journey, you're immediately placed in the paws of a loyal dog, disoriented and scared after being taken far from home. Each choice you make feels crucial—do you trust the stranger offering food, or follow the scent of your owner through dark alleyways? The branching paths unravel with emotional weight, as the dog encounters kindness, danger, and moments of hope. With every decision, the story shifts, making each playthrough a unique and heartfelt journey of loyalty, resilience, and the unbreakable bond between a dog and their human. The minimalistic design keeps you focused on the narrative, drawing you into a world where instinct, memory, and emotion guide your way home.

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The branching narrative was converted into Twine to clearly display the interactive story structure. Using Twine, I exported the project as HTML, enabling it to be shared and hosted on Itch.io for public access and playtesting.

Image display of the branching in storyformer which was created for the BBC.

Screenshots 

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