the "digi-novels" aren't interactive content per se. they are specifically part ebook and part video. most of the non readers i know wouldn't bother with this when they could just rent or watch a video.
and not a single person who reads that i know likes to be interupted when they're reading (i wouldn't consider web surfing to be reading even if there's reading there) and don't like having their imagination derailed by seeing a particular rendition of the characters. one of the main reasons i like to read is that my imagination makes the characters, scenery, tones of voice, etc, my own.
reading allows me to get very involved and focused on what i'm reading. in a sense, i am there and then, in the story. anything that interferes with that ruins the entire experience for me. that is equally true for graphic novels, of which i have many, where the words and images are both part of the whole experience, married together rather than alternating.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelFStewart
Hi, all, I'd like to play devil's advocate.
I'm an author and write both graphic novels as well as novels. This is just another way to tell a story. I assume they're taking advantage of two things. One is that books are really good at delivering information, thoughts, and what is film terms is sometimes call sequel. Video is really good at action and sex. Why not put them together. Trick would be to make them more seamless. The second thing, what could make this VERY interesting is the interactivity component. Phone calls for prerecorded messages? That doesn't sound very interesting, but I wouldn't mind being pushed new information, or clues via email or Facebook, or whatever. The more I can be placed in the story the better.
What bugs me is that they say this is the first diginovel - BS - there is a ton of interactive content mixing media on the Internet. Alternate reality games are the best example. Some of them really worked. Some didn't. This isn't a revolution. But some stories will fit it better than others.
Michael F Stewart
Author of 24 Bones, a supernatural thriller
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