# Triggerhappy

> creative work by Thomson and Craighead

**Wikidata**: [Q132204036](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132204036)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/triggerhappy-q132204036

## Summary
Triggerhappy is a creative work and hypertext fiction created by the artist duo Thomson and Craighead. Originally published in 1998, the piece is categorized as both a video game and a software application. It serves as an early example of electronic literature that utilizes gaming mechanics for narrative purposes.

## Key Facts
- **Title:** Triggerhappy
- **Creators:** Thomson and Craighead
- **Publication Date:** 1998
- **Genre:** Hypertext fiction
- **Instance of:** Creative work, Video game, Application, Exhibit
- **Language:** English
- **ELMCIP ID:** 10424
- **Medium:** Software program designed for end-users

## FAQs
### Q: Who created Triggerhappy?
A: Triggerhappy was created by the artistic duo Thomson and Craighead. They are credited as the authors of the work in academic and knowledge base records.

### Q: When was Triggerhappy released?
A: The work was published in 1998.

### Q: What type of software is Triggerhappy?
A: Triggerhappy is classified as a hypertext fiction and a video game. It functions as a software application designed for end-users to interact with a narrative structure.

## Why It Matters
Triggerhappy represents a significant intersection between electronic literature, net art, and gaming culture. Released in 1998, it stands as an early experiment in utilizing the mechanics of a "video game" to deliver "hypertext fiction," bridging the gap between interactive play and literary narrative. This dual classification highlights how artists in the late 1990s were repurposing familiar software tropes to explore new forms of storytelling. By defining itself simultaneously as a creative work, an exhibit, and an application, Triggerhappy challenges traditional boundaries of how art is categorized and experienced. Its inclusion in the ELMCIP (Electronic Literature as a Model of Creativity and Innovation in Practice) knowledge base underscores its relevance in the academic study of digital humanities and the history of interactive media.

## Notable For
- **Genre Hybridity:** Uniquely classified as both a "video game" and "hypertext fiction," blending interactive gameplay with literary structure.
- **Pioneering Era:** Created in 1998, marking it as an early work in the field of web-based and interactive art.
- **Academic Recognition:** Indexed in the ELMCIP knowledge base (ID 10424), signifying its status as a cited work in electronic literature studies.
- **Multi-modal Classification:** Recognized broadly as a creative work, an exhibit, and a functional software application.

## Body

### Overview and Authorship
Triggerhappy is a creative work authored by the collaborative duo Thomson and Craighead. The piece is a prominent example of the convergence between visual art and software development. It is cataloged within academic records as a distinct creative entity with a specific focus on user interaction.

### Publication and Classification
The work was officially published in 1998. It holds a complex classification within data structures, identified simultaneously as:
*   **Creative Work:** A piece of artistic output.
*   **Exhibit:** A work intended for display or demonstration.
*   **Application:** A software program designed for end-users.
*   **Video Game:** An interactive game played on a computer.

### Technical and Genre Specifications
Triggerhappy is primarily defined by the genre of **hypertext fiction**. This genre utilizes hyperlinks to connect discrete nodes of text or media, allowing the reader (or user) to navigate a non-linear narrative. The work is written in English.

In terms of technical functionality, the work operates as an application class object, meaning it is a software program designed to perform specific tasks for the user. The specific mechanics involve the use of specific technical properties (referenced as property P12204 in ELMCIP data), grounding its status as a functional piece of software as well as an artistic text.