Interactive Story Platform

Overview

The Interactive Story Platform is an engaging web application built using the MERN stack. It offers users a dynamic storytelling experience where they can generate stories based on custom prompts or explore predefined storylines that evolve based on their choices. The platform integrates various features to ensure a seamless and captivating user experience.

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Features

User Authentication

• Sign Up: Create a new account with ease.
• Login: Securely log in to access personalized features.
• Password Reset: Recover your account using the reset password option.

Navigation

• Homepage: A welcoming dashboard with links to:
  • About: Learn more about the platform.
  • Contact: Reach out for support or inquiries.
  • Stories: Access the main storytelling feature.

Story Generation

• Custom Story Prompts: Use your imagination to create stories from scratch with custom prompts powered by the Gemini API.
• Predefined Stories: Dive into interactive tales where your choices determine the narrative’s progression.

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Technology Stack

Frontend

• HTML, CSS: For a professional and aesthetic design.
• React.js: To build a responsive and dynamic user interface.

Backend

• Node.js & Express.js: Middleware to manage API requests and application logic.

Database

• MongoDB Atlas: Secure and scalable storage for user data and story records.

APIs

• Gemini API: Enables dynamic generation of story prompts.

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Installation

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the following installed:

• Node.js
• MongoDB Atlas (or a local MongoDB instance)
• Git

Steps

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <repository_url>

2. Navigate to the project directory:

   cd interactive-story-platform

3. Install dependencies:

   npm install

4. Set up environment variables:
   • Create a .env file in the root directory.
   • Add the following:

     MONGODB_URI=<your_mongodb_connection_string>
     GEMINI_API_KEY=<your_gemini_api_key>
     PORT=<desired_port>

5. Start the application:

   npm start

6. Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:<PORT>.

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Usage

1. Sign Up or Login: Create an account or log in with your credentials.
2. Explore the Homepage: Navigate through the About, Contact, and Stories sections.
3. Generate a Story: Enter a custom prompt to create a story or select a predefined headline.
4. Play a Story: Make choices that influence the storyline’s outcome.

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Future Enhancements

• Leaderboard: Showcase top story creators or participants.
• Community Features: Allow users to share and rate each other's stories.
• Advanced Story Options: Introduce more complex branching narratives.

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Contributors

We acknowledge the efforts of the following individuals who made this project possible:

• Pranav Rajesh Narayan
• Pranjalaa Rai
• Roshini Ramesh

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please fork the repository and submit a pull request with your improvements or new features.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

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Contact

For questions or feedback, please reach out at [email protected].