Gamertell

There seems to be a recent trend in turning books into movies or video games. In an attempt to turn at least part of the trend back on itself, one writer is working books into games.

According to an article in the New York Times, author PJ Haarsma was writing a sci-fi story marketed toward preteens that he wanted to present in a new way. So he coupled it with an online game. The book series and game is The Softwire’s Rings of Orbis. The first book is out and the online game is already up and running at The Softwire’s Rings of Orbis. The online PC game will be further expanded as more books are released.

One of the ways he integrated books into games was through storylines that advance when gamers answer questions based on books. It is much like to the SeeD rank advancement tests in Final Fantasy VIII, if they had been necessary for story advancement.

This is such an interesting move that even educators starting consider integrating video games into education. It’s a good, solid move to try to promote reading to the youth.

According to a blog posted by the Libertarian Party of Illinois, almost 50% of Illinois is functionally illiterate. However, if this is true, Illinois and states with similar literacy problems need to find a way to bridge that gap and get people interested in at least thinking about reading, as well as teaching those who are illiterate. This might be a decent catalyst to help revive literacy and interest in the written word.

The NY Times article also noted that Scholastic, Harry Potter’s American publishers, are following in Haarsma’s footsteps.

Scholastic recently released Maze of Bones, the first installment of a 10-book mystery series that is will also have an online game component. Other publishers are starting to look at video games as a new marketing tool to hook young readers.

Being an avid reader, I hope that it does work out the way Haarsma, educators and publishers hope it will go. It would be a shame to see the book die.

Read [NY Times] Also Read [Libertarian Party of Illinois] Site [The Softwire’s Rings of Orbis]

Photo from NY Times