Interactive Novels: Has Their Day Come?
By Anna Johnson on December 21st, 2009Ever since the invention of the CDROM (and probably earlier) there has been talk about the rise of the interactive digital novel – that part-game, part-story, multimedia novel that ‘readers’ can interact with.
Despite the talk, however, interactive novels have never really taken off. But has their day finally come?
Today, the technology is certainly available for the creation of rich media, interactive novels. Both on the software front and on the hardware front, with plenty of devices – from Microsoft’s Xbox, to Amazon’s Kindle, to Apple’s iPhone, and not to mention the humble computer – capable of displaying interactive novels.
All that’s missing are the creative geniuses to create engaging interactive novels and an audience to demand their creation.
Perhaps the success of ‘Inanimate Alice’ – an award-winning interactive novel by Kate Pullinger – will see the tide turn for interactive novels.
Interspersed with puzzles and games, this interactive novel has been rolled out in schools in Australia and elsewhere. Not only is it being used as a teaching tool and resource in English speaking countries, but it’s also being used to help teach English as a second language.
According to its producers, Interactive Alice begins off simply, growing more complex with each episode as the story unfolds. Moreover, the series has a layered structure and multi-tasking environment.
Series producer, Ian Harper, says the interactive novel has been a hit with school students:
“What is really exciting is for us to receive messages from young students on their home computers telling us they have been working on Inanimate Alice at school and asking when the next episode will be available.”
But can the interactive novel go beyond being a teaching aid to being a popular form of entertainment? Or do most people prefer a clear distinction between games in which they are active participants… and stories in which they are passive recipients?
