diff --git a/effects_plugins/__init__.py b/effects_plugins/__init__.py
index fc3c8d5..64caea2 100644
--- a/effects_plugins/__init__.py
+++ b/effects_plugins/__init__.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ PLUGIN_DIR = Path(__file__).parent
 
 def discover_plugins():
     from engine.effects.registry import get_registry
+    from engine.effects.types import EffectPlugin
 
     registry = get_registry()
     imported = {}
@@ -22,8 +23,8 @@ def discover_plugins():
                 attr = getattr(module, attr_name)
                 if (
                     isinstance(attr, type)
-                    and hasattr(attr, "name")
-                    and hasattr(attr, "process")
+                    and issubclass(attr, EffectPlugin)
+                    and attr is not EffectPlugin
                     and attr_name.endswith("Effect")
                 ):
                     plugin = attr()
diff --git a/effects_plugins/fade.py b/effects_plugins/fade.py
index 98ede65..be106ee 100644
--- a/effects_plugins/fade.py
+++ b/effects_plugins/fade.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import random
 from engine.effects.types import EffectConfig, EffectContext, EffectPlugin
 
 
-class FadeEffect:
+class FadeEffect(EffectPlugin):
     name = "fade"
     config = EffectConfig(enabled=True, intensity=1.0)
 
diff --git a/effects_plugins/firehose.py b/effects_plugins/firehose.py
index 4be520b..38157cb 100644
--- a/effects_plugins/firehose.py
+++ b/effects_plugins/firehose.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from engine.sources import FEEDS, POETRY_SOURCES
 from engine.terminal import C_DIM, G_DIM, G_LO, RST, W_GHOST
 
 
-class FirehoseEffect:
+class FirehoseEffect(EffectPlugin):
     name = "firehose"
     config = EffectConfig(enabled=True, intensity=1.0)
 
diff --git a/effects_plugins/glitch.py b/effects_plugins/glitch.py
index d23244a..eb54cba 100644
--- a/effects_plugins/glitch.py
+++ b/effects_plugins/glitch.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from engine.effects.types import EffectConfig, EffectContext, EffectPlugin
 from engine.terminal import C_DIM, DIM, G_DIM, G_LO, RST
 
 
-class GlitchEffect:
+class GlitchEffect(EffectPlugin):
     name = "glitch"
     config = EffectConfig(enabled=True, intensity=1.0)
 
diff --git a/effects_plugins/noise.py b/effects_plugins/noise.py
index d7bf316..71d6833 100644
--- a/effects_plugins/noise.py
+++ b/effects_plugins/noise.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from engine.effects.types import EffectConfig, EffectContext, EffectPlugin
 from engine.terminal import C_DIM, G_DIM, G_LO, RST, W_GHOST
 
 
-class NoiseEffect:
+class NoiseEffect(EffectPlugin):
     name = "noise"
     config = EffectConfig(enabled=True, intensity=0.15)
 
diff --git a/engine/effects/types.py b/engine/effects/types.py
index 1d2c340..1291af5 100644
--- a/engine/effects/types.py
+++ b/engine/effects/types.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -8,10 +9,11 @@ class EffectContext:
     terminal_height: int
     scroll_cam: int
     ticker_height: int
-    mic_excess: float
-    grad_offset: float
-    frame_number: int
-    has_message: bool
+    camera_x: int = 0
+    mic_excess: float = 0.0
+    grad_offset: float = 0.0
+    frame_number: int = 0
+    has_message: bool = False
     items: list = field(default_factory=list)
 
 
@@ -22,15 +24,42 @@ class EffectConfig:
     params: dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
 
 
-class EffectPlugin:
+class EffectPlugin(ABC):
     name: str
     config: EffectConfig
 
-    def process(self, buf: list[str], ctx: EffectContext) -> list[str]:
-        raise NotImplementedError
+    @abstractmethod
+    def process(self, buf: list[str], ctx: EffectContext) -> list[str]: ...
 
-    def configure(self, config: EffectConfig) -> None:
-        raise NotImplementedError
+    @abstractmethod
+    def configure(self, config: EffectConfig) -> None: ...
+
+
+def create_effect_context(
+    terminal_width: int = 80,
+    terminal_height: int = 24,
+    scroll_cam: int = 0,
+    ticker_height: int = 0,
+    camera_x: int = 0,
+    mic_excess: float = 0.0,
+    grad_offset: float = 0.0,
+    frame_number: int = 0,
+    has_message: bool = False,
+    items: list | None = None,
+) -> EffectContext:
+    """Factory function to create EffectContext with sensible defaults."""
+    return EffectContext(
+        terminal_width=terminal_width,
+        terminal_height=terminal_height,
+        scroll_cam=scroll_cam,
+        ticker_height=ticker_height,
+        camera_x=camera_x,
+        mic_excess=mic_excess,
+        grad_offset=grad_offset,
+        frame_number=frame_number,
+        has_message=has_message,
+        items=items or [],
+    )
 
 
 @dataclass